Hangin' with the Hicks: December 2011

Dear Family and Friends~

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6.

We couldn’t be more thankful for the Lord’s blessings and provisions that He provides for us daily. Jesus really is the reason for the season!

Looking back at 2011, we really had a great year. Despite all the snow that we had last winter, or should I say feet of snow. We had a nice spring, and our summer was amazing! My parents and my brother and his family came during July and we had a blast with all of them! Trips to the beach, lake, min-golf, fishing, eating out, BBQs, and just enjoying being together! Then the four of us went to Cape Cod in early August. We had an awesome time swimming at different beaches, taking a boat ride, and just being together as a family. Our fall was nice and warm too except for our freak snowstorm at the end of October that knocked out power for 5 days, and school was closed for 4 days. I also broke my finger pretty badly too during that time, but it has healed nicely.

I am looking forward to my parents returning for Christmas. We have kept it a secret from the girls, even though we have almost spoiled it a few times. I can’t wait to see the look on their faces when Nana and Papa ring the door bell. Priceless!

Darryl continues to work at ALPCO Diagnostics and he is going on 10 years now. He takes care of all the shipping and receiving for their medical testing kits. He works with wonderful people and the company has been very good to him. He spends some of his free time playing drums in our church worship band a few times a month. He works hard around the house and always has a project underway. Our new bathroom turned out amazing! He enjoys playing Wii and games with the girls.

I am still teaching 3^rd grade at Bicentennial Elementary. I have a wonderful class this year and they make going to work each day such a joy. I just finished my very last graduate class, and I couldn’t be happier! I will finally graduate on May 12^th with my Masters of Education in Reading. Eventually, I’d love to switch roles into being a Reading Specialist. I am ready to come out of the classroom and work with small groups from kinder-5^th grade. I love our girl’s ages now as they enjoy helping around the house, baking, and going shopping at Target (our fave).

Lindsey is 7 ½ and in second grade. She loves her teacher and going to school. She is doing quite well! She will read to anyone or anything who will listen. She plays school all the time, and poor Hayleigh is always the student. She joined Brownies this year, and enjoys her bi-weekly meetings with wonderful friends while earning patches for her vest. She is taking a hip-hop dance class weekly, and really loves it! The recital in June should be real interesting. Lindsey loves one-on-one attention and we take her hugs and kisses when we can get them.

Hayleigh turned 5 this fall, and is in her second year of preschool. We are glad we didn’t push her into kindergarten, even though academically she would have been fine. She missed the cut-off by 6 days! She spends her days enjoying life, giving compliments, being a “helper” to the little kids at school, and making projects. She is taking gymnastics and really doing quite well! She has always been our little monkey so gymnastics fits her perfectly! She is very tall and she and Lindsey already share clothes! Really?! She loves to cuddle and always makes us laugh.

Have a very Merry Christmas and wonderful New Year in 2012!

Feel free to follow us on our family blog at: http://hanginwiththehicks.blogspot.com

With Love~ Nancy, Darryl, Lindsey, & Hayleigh