GIRLS RULE!

Or at least they do now. Yup, it's a girl. We're overjoyed. The boys are going down!



This lovely picture is of the kiddos with their pink celebratory cupcakes. Although you might not believe me, they really ARE excited for a baby sister to join the family...

Merry Christmas!!

Here's our 2009 Tomlinson family Christmas letter! Procrastination has gotten the best of me and we'll have to settle for the online version. It sure is convenient! We'll get back to the "real deal" soon, I promise!

I won't bore you with all of my childrens endless achievements. (Isn't that what a blog is for anyway?) But I will try to remember how greatly we've been blessed this year.

Our greatest blessing is our family.

John still works for the Transportation Department, which he really enjoys. I can't articulate how grateful I am that John enjoys the work that he does. He's a hard-working husband and father and I am quite certain that our family would fall apart without him.



I am blessed to be able to stay at home with our two little ones, and I am plum-tuckered! (That's a common family phrase...) Every day is filled with smiles, joy, tears, frustration, tantrums, and chaos. (In no particular order.) I love being a mom, and I can't imagine what life without my munchkins would be like. I hope that we're ready for baby #3 coming in May! Are you every really ready?



D-man is my big boy! He is officially potty-trained!! That news might not make other Christmas letters, but it does ours! He mastered it a while ago, but we're still pretty stoked. He is a great big brother and loves Rachel to pieces. (I am actually afraid at times that we might find her in pieces...) He is still obsessed with all construction trucks-- the excavator being his favorite. He has told us that he would like to be a dentist when he grows up, or a teacher, or a doctor. Sounds good to me. He loves all Disney movies since enjoying Disneyland this past Fall with his grandparents in California. A day doesn't pass that D-land isn't mentioned. Danny is a smart kid that has limitless energy and countless questions. We love him!

Rachel is quite the little charmer! She knows how to smooth trouble over with those sparkling eyes and contagious smile. She follows D and does everything that he does (for better and worse). Rachie-bop loves to read with others or by herself. You can see her entertaining herself with stacks of books... That's my girl!! :) She's a complete nurturer. All of her dolls and stuffed animals receive special attention from this little mommy. Rachel is a sweetheart. She enters Nursery in church next week! Yup, she's eighteen months! She is such a joyful little girl and you can't help but smile when you're around her. I count my blessings every day that she is part of our family.



Our other blessings include our new home! We moved into a larger home at the end of Summer and we have loved stretching out a bit and letting the kids run free. In a time where many people have little, we are keenly aware of what a rich blessing it is to have a roof over our head, clothes to wear, and food to eat.

Lastly, but certainly not least, we are grateful for our knowledge and testimony of Jesus Christ, our Savior. It is Him that we are most mindful of and desiring to emulate this Christmas season. Life has been good this year, and we look forward to future adventures in 2010.

Merry Christmas to all!