2015 Christmas Card Picture and Letter

I always want a record of the picture and letter we send out at Christmas time.  I put a card in my filing cabinet, but I thought it would be safe to keep one here as well!  This way it won't be forgotten!

Sam writes our letter each year, and takes great pride in it.  He loves to keep everyone on their toes!

Hello Family, Friends, and people who probably shouldn’t have gotten this,

  Happy Holidays from the Balukoff’s!  For those not interested in the story, please enjoy the picture, and have a very Merry Christmas!

For our real friends – here is an update on members of our family:

GRACE

Grace graduated from 1^st grade (hooray!!) and is now in 2^nd grade.  Grace absolutely LOVES school, and is our social child.  She is always telling us about new friends, and even bringing home some of the sassy phrases and sayings that those new friends have taught her! Bless them…  Grace has been very hard at work with some of her new hobbies – Piano Lessons, gymnastics class, and reading.  She is a happy girl, who brightens the world around her.

LILLY

Lilly has started her own educational adventures this year in Kindergarten.  We were a little worried that she would struggle with school based on her time at pre-school, but she is doing great.  She hates to admit it, but she also loves it.  Mostly the bus… but it’s a start!  She is working very hard at learning how to read, and is doing a pretty darn good job.  Lilly has also started Gymnastics, and is our athlete. She asks us all the time when she can start Karate!  Lilly loves to laugh, and play with kids around her.

PEARL

Pearl has been “2 and a half” all year.  She is our talker.  She has two wonderful teachers who have been helping her, and thus has been speaking since before she was 2.  The trick is actually getting her to stop talking.  Pearl loves to have fun.  She is a curious girl who gets into EVERYTHING!  She loves making messes, and telling Mommy how much she loves her while mommy cleans up the mess.  Pearl has a wonderful sense of humor, and has already learned how to play tricks on her sisters and mommy.  She can’t game daddy yet.  He’s too smart for this 2 ½ year old.  Someday, Pearl.  Someday.

BABY GIRL # 4

Kidding!  Hahaha.

ALISHA

  Alisha has done some incredible things this year!  While always maintaining her CEO status of the home, she has been on a journey of fitness.  She made numerous goals, from running a 5K and 10K to biking 1,000 miles on our stationary bike.  Well, she accomplished all with time to spare.  And did I mention she lost 60 lbs in the process?  What an inspiration!  Fitness has healthy eating have become her new hobbies, and she is happier (and sexier) than she has ever been.  Alisha has also gone through a couple of callings this year – starting in the Young Women’s presidency (just for a few weeks) and then currently in the primary presidency.  And she has loved both.  The highlight of Alisha’s year was going to Hawai’i and enjoying some of the tropical sunshine and beaches in November of this year.

SAM

Sam is still employed.  So that’s a good thing.  He’s enjoyed a bunch of adventures with Geisinger from working with the Anesthesia department, to helping with some of the coordination between the various hospitals here in the central PA area.  Sam’s favorite part of the day though is still coming home and seeing his house full of girls.

Early this year Sam got put into the bishopric of our ward.  We were a little worried about the demands of this calling, but it has proven to be Sam’s favorite calling so far!  Alisha and Sam also accepted a call to be temple workers one shift a month. So we get to travel to DC once a month and do our shift which is the best part of our month, and then we get to go explore the city a little bit. We love it!

Thank you all for your friendship and impact in our lives!  We feel blessed to have so many wonderful friends and family to influence our lives.  Be grateful for the things you have, and love one another this holiday season.

John 13: 34

A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

                                                                                                            With Love,

                                                                                                The Balukoff Family