Happy Thanksgiving!

Each year we send a Thanksgiving letter to our family and friends - our version of Christmas cards - to reflect back on the past year and give thanks for our many blessings. This year's letter...

Happy Thanksgiving:

This has been a year of many firsts for our family!

Last December, we celebrated our first Christmas as a family of three! Both Michelle’s and Dave’s families were in town, so it was a very festive holiday at the farm. Vivienne loved having a house full and enjoyed her cousin’s help in tearing open presents.

On May 30, Vivienne had her 1st Birthday! We had a cookout with family and friends at our home to celebrate. We made homemade butterfly cupcakes, which were Vivienne’s first time tasting yummy, sugary frosting. Let’s just say that she loved everything about having a birthday!

Starting in June, Michelle began working part-time for the first time in her career, in order to spend more time home with Vivienne. It was a wonderful summer for the three of us with lots of trips to the pool, fun times at local parks and a day of adventure at the zoo. Dave is enjoying his “stay-at-home-daddy-day” each week! Vivienne loves following him around the farm and helping with chores. She is becoming quite the little farmer.

This fall has been busy but wonderful! We’ve enjoyed hosting several fall parties and hayrides for various groups from church at our farm. The best conversation overheard, as one of the parties was ending, was a mom telling her toddler to thank us for the fun time. It went something like this:

Child: Thanks Farmer Dave!

Mom: Be sure to thank Miss Michelle too.

Child: Thanks Farmer Dave!

So as you can see, if you aren’t the one driving the tractor, you don’t count. Ha Ha!

A couple weeks ago we had our first long road trip with a toddler. We went to visit Michelle’s brother and family. Vivienne is a huge fan of the portable DVD player. Elmo saved the day on the 8+ hour trip!

We are celebrating Thanksgiving this year with Dave’s family including his mom, sister, aunts, and cousins and we look forward to the upcoming Christmas season. We also hope to take a family trip to Florida to see Grandpa & Grandma and Disney World this winter!

We pray you are doing well and look forward to hearing from you this holiday season.

Much Love,

Dave, Michelle, and Vivienne