CHRISTMAS 2008, HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009!

Dear Friends & Family,
We hope this year’s Christmas letter finds you well and healthy. We are counting our blessings this Christmas season and wanted to share the Past Year in numbers...

THE 1’s = Some 1 year anniversaries that we hit this year included: living for 1 year with a Toyota Prius and saving enough money in gasoline in 1 year’s time to finally get going on our 1 year supply of food (since gas prices reached record highs this year). We survived 1 year of living with peanut, tree nut and egg allergies. And Julie completed 1 year serving as a counselor in the Primary presidency (children’s organization at church).

THE 2’s = This summer we spent 2 days at amusement parks (Cedar Point, Ohio and Michigan’s Adventure, Michigan). Jon eagerly hit most of the roller coasters and Julie hand-picked a few to endure. Hailey was lucky enough to share rides with 2 friends at the “Snoopy places.” Hailey taught Rachel to put her 2 hands high in the air while riding; Rachel loves the concept so much she’ll tell Hailey to put up her 2 hands now when driving down a hill. In October Jon hit 2 years in the bishopric (church leadership assignment) and Julie realized she can’t remember driving to church with Jon anymore. The girls sit near the front of the chapel and Rachel occasionally finds her way up onto to the stand to sit on Jon’s lap.

THE 3’s = During August we spent 3 days camping near Lake Michigan. We loved the warm weather, the beach, the white-capped waves and the salt-less water. Rachel turns 3 right before Christmas and will be joining the other 23 Sunbeams in Primary next year. Rachel is an expert on our 3rd computer and thinks she owns it.

THE 4’s = Jon is still the only “4 eyes” in the family. Sorry, couldn’t think of anything cool to say here… In Japan the number 4 is unlucky anyway. Maybe we should just leave this # out like they always leave the 13th floor out of high rise buildings?

THE 5’s = This year Hailey hit some big milestones celebrating 5 years of life, starting Kindergarten and riding the big yellow school bus with 5 other girls. Before moving to Michigan, we devised a 5-year plan. We figured that after 5 years, we would head back out west to live closer to family. Well, our 5 years are up and we are still here. (We love almost everything except the snow and cooold temperatures, sometimes seeing 5° F.) In September, Jon celebrated his 5 year anniversary with Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems. This means we’ve been in our home for 5 years and that our 5 year ARM is about to reset.

THE 6’s = This fall, Rachel and Hailey loved spending 6 Wednesday mornings taking a “painting class.” Hailey enjoyed spending 6 Wednesday afternoons enjoying gymnastics. After spending 6 years on an article for publication, Julie finally received word that the manuscript is approved for publishing.

THE 7’s = Jon and Julie celebrated 7 years of wedded bliss this past August.

THE 8’s = This summer Hailey and Rachel had 8 class days of swimming lessons. We enrolled Rachel in the Tot class and Hailey in the Beginner’s class. However, Rachel often migrated to Hailey’s class and we think Hailey secretly wished she was in Rachel’s class. The girls loved the pool and look forward to next summer.









THE 9’s = You would think we have “9 Ladies Dancing” around here with Rachel dancing at every song she hears, but alas it’s just Rachel prancing around in a dress. Hailey read 9 pages of Dr. Suess' Hop On Pop all by herself this fall.

THE 10’s = Quoting Hailey, “Dad, 4 + 4 + 2 is 10. Did you know that?” It’s amazing everything kids learn. Julie loves that Hailey is enjoying math because now Hailey can help Julie shop. Julie spent 10 months this year learning the art of couponing and discovered that on average she only spent 10% of the shelf price on products at one local store.

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and hope that you find joy, peace and love in your Holiday season as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and the many blessings we partake of each day because of the love and mercy of the Savior.

The Plummer clan,
Jon, Julie, Hailey & Rachel
Jon’s e-mail: plummer@byu.edu
Julie's e-mail: babe@byu.edu
Web site: http://plummerfamily.com/jon