Sending out the Christmas LOVE!

December 2008

Dear Family and Friends,

 

It is amazing that it is already the holiday season again.  We have had the awesome opportunities to travel and visit several family members all over the country this past year.  First, last Christmas we drove up to Milwaukee to be with our family and celebrate the holiday at Amanda’s brother and sister-in-law’s (Johnny and Laura’s) lovely home.  Then, off to Ken’s family at the end of March and the beginning of April.  This was the first time Gavin got to meet his aunts, uncles, and many other friends and family.  Ken’s brother Robert just returned off of his mission just before we came; it was nice to see him again.

After that, we returned home and traveled down to Virginia in April; where Amanda’s brother Johnny is attending school.  We had the chance to see him following his amazing talent of acting and directing.  Laura; Johnny’s wife came also; it was fun having the family there.  While we were in Virginia we also went to see the home of Thomas Jefferson, Monticello.   Next, Amanda and Gavin flew with Wendy and Jeremy out to San Francisco, California at the end of May.  Amanda’s brother Joe and his girlfriend graduated from SFSU with their master’s degrees.  We knew about this trip in advance and Ken’s mother was able to come up and spend some time with them while they were there.  It was fun and exciting to see the Redwood trees, The Golden Gate Bridge, Pier 39 and all the other sites around San Francisco.

In the first few months Ken decided it was time to start looking for a home of our own.  We looked for several months and then found the home we wanted to purchase.  It’s closer to Ken’s work, but still with in the ward boundaries which so many of our loved ones insisted we stay.  With the market being the way it has been Ken enjoys telling everyone it is a steal.  However, it needs some TLC; which we are more than willing to give.  We moved in the first week of June and have been unpacking, re-arranging, upgrading, painting, and much more ever since!

Following that in mid- July we went on a family vacation up to Seneca Lake where Laura’s family owns a lake house.  It was a very nice, calm, and relaxing family vacation.   We have decided we would love to go back again and this time for a little longer.   That brings us to August, where we had Ken’s mom and dad come out for Gavin’s first birthday!  We cannot believe he is already over a year old.  We loved having Ken’s parents here to see our new home and spend this important time with us.   Subsequently, at the beginning of October we had Ken’s brother Robert come out and visit us!!  While Robert was on his mission, we got married and he missed out on coming east with the rest of the family.  We decided it would be fun to have him come out.  While he was here we went to Cedar Point and Kirtland.  It truly was a blast having him here.

Gavin is doing great!  He celebrated many firsts this year everything from his first new years, to his first build-a-bear visit and many in between.   We had his first birthday party where many of our friends and family came.  We are grateful for the love you all have for us!! Gavin walks, talks, signs, waves, gives high fives and smiles that can melt anyone’s irritation away.  His love for cell phones makes us giggle everyday!  We watch in awe as he grows, discovers, and adventures his world around him.  We are blessed to be a part of his life.  Ken is still pushing along in college and working at Liberty Mutual.  He hopes to be able to work from home with this new program they are trying at work.  Amanda loves staying at home with Gavin.  She occasionally needs some time out of the house and to herself so she has taken on a little job on the side.

We have also added a few members to our little family.  In April Ken was approached by a lady at work who needed to find a home for a cat they had found, fixed, and had shots for.  We debated for a while and then decided to go forth; now we have Sylvia.  She is very cautious, and only comes down stairs if she’s hungry.  This works for Sancho Panza.   We also cannot forget our fish that Ken won in a street festival for us; he is really good at the fish bowl game!   Sancho Panza is doing well, he has a hard time with separation anxiety whenever we leave but that only proves how much he loves us.  Casper is coping.  When we moved, his dear friend Pink had to go and live with his family in Alliance.

We have indeed been blessed by our loving Heavenly Father to do the things we love so dear; traveling and spending time with family and friends.  We especially have been blessed to be able to purchase our own home.

We love and Miss you all,

The Corbett Family

Ken, Amanda, Gavin,

Sancho Panza, Casper, and Sylvia!