Nichols News 2013 Edition

Ellie is turning 3 in just a matter of days. She loves going to preschool each week and playing with her friends. She loves singing and is getting quite the repertoire of songs. She had her own tumbling class this fall and LOVED getting on her leotard like her big sisters. The hardest part was getting her to sit still to listen to directions! Ellie loves to set the table and dress herself, and is learning to hold her own with her two big sisters.

Amanda started kindergarten just after her 5^th Birthday. She is an excellent reader and loves it! She is a great helper to Mom and Dad. Amanda loves to spend her mornings playing with Ellie, going to story time, helping at preschool, and having play-dates, before spending the afternoon at school. Amanda is excelling in her gymnastics and amazes us with her progress.

Katie is in her second year (2^nd grade) of Chinese Immersion at school. This year they are focusing more on reading and writing the Chinese characters. She is doing well and her teachers rave about her. She has entered the world of Legos (they now have girl Legos!). She is also in gymnastics and taking piano lessons. Katie is a social butterfly and loves to organize play dates whenever possible. Katie is preparing for her baptism this next summer when she turns 8.

Wendy continues to work in clinics in Salt Lake and Provo. She takes turns teaching Ellie’s preschool and volunteers in Katie and Amanda’s school classes. She’s learning to juggle two sets of homework and keeping everyone up on chores. Sometimes the house gets cleaned, but at least the family gets fed every day! J

Brett continues work with his business law firm in downtown Provo. He celebrated the completion of a successful case this fall. He keeps busy with his church calling, maintaining home and yard, taking his girls to baseball, football, and basketball games, and has even read a few books this year!

We miss our Disney trips, but this year we headed north to Island Park, ID. We had a great time at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center, sledding, and exploring West Yellowstone.

May you be blessed this season as we rejoice in the glorious birth and life of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Love, The Nichols Family

It's official

The season has officially started.  That's not mentioning we've had our Christmas lights up for 6 weeks and on for 3 weeks!  :)  Tonight we saw the Christmas lights on Temple Square, the lights and water fountain show at the Gateway (and rode the trax train twice--the girls love the train). We're so excited for Christmas and I'm already loving the season.  It helps that the shopping is all but done!  Really, I think Christmas just keeps getting better and better, and I love who I get to share it with!

Merry Christmas!

like bandits

Hope you had a nice Christmas. We made out like princess bandits! Thanks Santa!

Our Polar Express

Brett got us a train set on our first or second Christmas. After Katie had a head-on collision with it on her first Christmas (over which Mom shed many tears), the train has been it in it's box, for the preservation of the train or the children. We decided it wasn't worth storing if we weren't going to use it, so we pulled it out this year. Needless to say, the girls LOVE it and have actually done quite well to not step on it or completely break it up. It's such a thrill to be the driver!

Amanda calls to the train as it rounds the track. "Come here train." Which it always does!

Merry Christmas--

In the words of the one year old: "WOW!"
Merry Christmas. We sure did.

Didn't Even Ask

Asked to get my computer and printer fixed. Shopped around a lot and it never quite worked out. . . . then got a surprise. Are you kidding me? Look what I got for Christmas!! And a new hairdryer, but who noticed? Thanks to my sweetie who wheeled and dealed, and lied a bunch to surprise me on Christmas morning! XO