Happy New Year!

To all our friends and family,

Wishing everyone a belated Christmas, but an on-time Happy NEW Year! (late in the evening on January 1, 2012 - NEW Year's Day)

A lot happened in 2011. Many of the OLD things from previous years we continued to do, but there were a lot of NEW things in our lives, just like this NEW year that has begun. Here is a little bit of a rundown on the OLD and NEW things for each of us.

Clinton
OLD things: employment at Call One, buses and trains to downtown Chicago, 12+ hours of work each day, stress, Family History Consultant, Family History Center worker, read, cooked, helped to chauffeur 3 kids around during soccer season and attended their games, wii games with kids, etc.

NEW things: took lots of pictures and created memories when he attended Benjamin's week-long scout camp, chaperoned Anna's 5th grade Outdoor Education overnight fieldtrip to White Pines Ranch in Oregon, IL, changed jobs and became self-employed, works his own hours, has different kind of stress starting his own business, is at home more, goes grocery shopping, looks through the paper for grocery sales and bargains, drives the kids to school most of the time, went to Justin's preschool when he was the "Big Cheese" or VIP, texted on new cell phone, released from family history callings at church and called to be a counselor in Elder's Quorum, finally caved in and joined Facebook because of his mom.


Debbie
OLD things: soccer mom to 3 kids that play (soccer mom to 4 kids once Justin is old enough), busy member of the PTO, worked in the Young Women program at church, chauffeured 3 kids around during soccer season, always on the go taking kids places (school, preschool, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Activity Days, Girl Scouts, playdates, etc.), helped with and looks over kids' daily homework, did wood craft projects, did a little sewing, tried to "de-junk" my house (it's a constant battle that I lose), completed the Harry Potter Years 1-4 wii game, became pregnant with #5.

NEW things: Mother to 5 kids (a new little one in the house keeps me busy), changed to a different PTO assignment (I still stay busy though), attended cross country meets, texted on new cell phone, began "Bosch" breadmaking and love it, look forward to playing Harry Potter Years 5-7 wii game we received for Christmas, signed up on Facebook, and began creating a blog for me and my family.


Benjamin (12)
OLD things: soccer, basketball, scouts, wii games, DS games, Pokemon, reading, band (trumpet), loved doing things with family, especially Justin.

NEW things: started Junior High (7th grade), started Young Men's at church, received the priesthood, attended his first week-long scout camp (everyone now knows of his great love for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches), started playing in the Jazz band as well as band, did cross country and toned up his body, grew several inches and has gotten taller than me (the picture doesn't show it because I am wearing boots), and cares about showering regularly and doing his hair.


Anna (10)
OLD things: soccer, Activity Days, Girl Scouts (loves selling Girl Scout cookies, which she gets to start doing January 7th), participates on a "Battle of the Books" team, is in the advanced literacy class & advanced math class, made lots of arts and crafts projects, began biking to school with friends, reading, cooking/baking.

NEW things: started 5th grade, began attending an advanced math class with 6th graders and uses a 7th & 8th grade book, started chorus, started playing the flute in band, received a sewing machine for Christmas and is anxious to start sewing, learned how to change Cameron's diapers.


Emma (8)
OLD things: soccer, social with everyone, attended lots of playdates and birthday parties, smiled all the time, loved playing with little kids and babies, wore jewelry (clip-on earrings), took Accelerated Reader tests at school on books she read, read more books (though she is not a bookworm like Benjamin and Anna)

NEW things: started 3rd grade, is on Student Council, is a second "mom" to her brother Cameron, turned 8 and was baptized, received the gift of the Holy Ghost, had her ears pierced, started Activity Days, learned how to feed Cameron a bottle and change his diapers.


Justin (4 - soon to be 5 on January 15th)
OLD things: attended preschool or "Totschool", played wii games and DS games, played soccer with his siblings, laughed a lot, played a lot with Benjamin (whom he loves and admires so much).

NEW things: is now a "Big Brother", advanced from Nursery to Primary and became a Sunbeam, played games on mom's new cell phone and dad's Nook, walked home from preschool a few times with his dad.


Cameron (2 months)
OLD things: grew, slept, ate (all inside of mom)

NEW things: grew, slept, ate (all outside of mom), looked at everything and everyone, developed baby acne and went bald like all babies do, copied sounds that we make, smiled back at us, laughed, had pacifiers, had bottles and formula, celebrated holidays (Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Years Eve, New Years Day).

Clinton and I celebrated 14 years of marriage on Friday, December 30th. I won't mention how old I am, but after 14 years of marriage and 5 kids later, I am still grateful for Jesus Christ and the spirit of the season that Christmas brings. I'm grateful for the "Out with the OLD and in with the NEW" that each NEW year brings. It's a time to look back and reflect on what we have done, change what needs changing, and improve on what needs improving. Without the Savior, Jesus Christ, I wouldn't be able to make up the difference when I fall short. I couldn't have survived this past year without him and I don't plan to survive this NEW year without him either. Once again, Happy New Year!

Love,

The James Family