Dear Family
& Friends- December 2017
Merry
Christmas to all of our dear family and friends! This year started out with
the simple joys of washing our van together on a warm day to experiencing the winters first snow on the trampoline all in the same first week of the year! That’s
life in Texas for ya! Within a matter of months, after prayer and much
deliberation, we decided to move forward on a whirlwind of changes that ended up sweeping over
much of this year as we put our house on the market and start building a new
home. We knew there were a few
modifications we wanted to make on our home, which would allow us to stay more
long-term and accommodate a growing family with room for friends and family
visitors. So…the decluttering,
re-arranging, and preparing for staging began at the end of February. In the meanwhile, we carried on with our
everyday activities including Jonathan
working and attending MBA school at the same time, Jenna rotating teaching Gracie’s Joy School Preschool Group, and
the kiddos taking on new
homeschooling adventures, making field trips to the local arboretum and zoo
with friends as well as a nearby produce farm, wildlife farm trip and many
visits to the library. We were all
excited for us to join a local homeschooling co-op called Classical
Conversations, where we all made many new friends, learned some awesome songs
about history, did science experiments, art projects, presentations and more!
In March, we were so thrilled to
welcome sisters/aunts, bro-in-law/uncle and cousins Susan & Cory, her
kiddos and Aunt Rebekah for Spring Break where we visited some fun discovery museums, had a campfire
smores night, explored a pioneer village
in Fort Worth together, played lots of
games and enjoyed being together. We also enjoyed family time out in the lake as the weather warmed up! When summer
finally arrived, we were so glad all our Ralph family came to Texas this year
as Liz & Austin hosted an “Armor
Up!” themed Family Reunion week of fun adventures including team
challenges, Kid Mania, Whirly ball & laser tag, inflatable & water
balloon fun day, a variety show, games, baby blessings, fam pictures and day
out on the lake together! We made the most of zoo trips and fireworks in July
and celebrated Jonathan graduating with
his MBA AND our 10th year anniversary in August, woo hoo!
Despite our plans made a year in advance, we also managed to sell our home and embark on our anniversary/graduation family trip to the Caribbean
all in a matter of a couple weeks! Aww! Crazy, but everything worked out well,
and we were glad to have family members including grandpa & grandma, Susan
& Cory & their kids come along to share some fun times together.
A few days after we got back, Jenna
and the kids flew to Washington to spend a few months in a normal routine with
Jon’s family while the builders continued working on the house and Jonathan
worked from Liz & Austin’s home. While
it was hard to be apart, we were so thankful for everyone’s generosity and
hospitality to welcome us in and we sure enjoyed several long visits from Daddy
during that time up in WA. Our
adventures included the Washington state
fair, music classes, ballet,
gymnastics and swimming, a pumpkin patch & pirate maze with Aunt Beka,
the zoo & aquarium, throwing the ball to
Jersey, riding the 4-wheeler, hikes, outside projects, trips to Wendy’s & the dump with
grandpa, games & tea parties with grandma, tickles
from uncle Samuel, and grandpa earning a new nickname “Ollivander” for making
some awesome Harry Potter wands for the kids for Halloween! We were so thankful for this time we
will treasure where we could spend one on one time with family members and
share some very special memories too!
Near the end of November, we headed
back down through Idaho to Utah on our way back to Texas. It was the perfect timing, because on the
way, we stopped in Idaho to see Jenna’s
Furniss-side of the family for Thanksgiving with her dad, Finau brothers,
sisters, aunt, uncle, and cousins. It
was heart-warming to see them all! Then, wa sweet time it was to be there for Sarah & Russell Weber’s Temple Wedding
Day and to celebrate this exciting time for them! We made sure to see the Christmas lights on temple square,
spend time with Jenna’s mom & Terry
at a local aquarium (free passes are
the best!), Thanksgiving point, and
a fun day trip to Moab together
before heading back to Texas. We stayed
with Liz & Austin’s family for another 2 weeks in Texas, where the kids had
the time of their lives building forts, playing family, board games at a moments
notice, homeschooling, seeing
Christmas lights, a live nativity, making gingerbread houses and reading lots of Christmas
books together!
Love, The Jonathan & Jenna Ralph Family
Katelyn
(9), Nathan (6), Gracie (4), Joshy (2) & Baby Girl (coming May 2018!)
Here are some individual highlights:
Katelyn (9 years) is a super determined, hard-working, energetic, kind, smart and helpful big sister around our house. She enjoyed finishing her 2nd and starting her 3rd year of music lessons, and her eyes continue to light up each time she works on and masters a new song. She also had a blast this year playing soccer with a good friend, exploring museums & the pioneer village, building block towers and forts with siblings and cousins, expanding her gymnastics skills, especially on the bars, going on hikes & helping grandpa with projects in WA, along with helping whip up recipes in the kitchen with mom and grandma too! She loved completing art projects at our CC homeschool co-op, making new friends, and took on reading chapter books, her multiplication tables and writing stories like a champ. She would never pass up a chance to plan a cousin party, lemonade stand, or play monopoly deal, life or family. Her favorite moments of this year might include really delving into Harry Potter audiobooks with Daddy, dressing up as Hermione for Halloween, casting pretend spells and making potions for her birthday in November and spending time with lots of family, climbing rocks in Moab, and singing Christmas carols and delivering homemade treats in December!
Nathan (6 years) never ceases to amaze us with
how activate and quick his mind is and his swift feet! He improved his soccer
abilities this year, learned a cartwheel in gymnastics, and really enjoyed
strengthening his swimming skills at swim class! He was excited to finally
start playing the piano, and enjoys any chance he can get to play checkers,
monopoly, life, labyrinth, Legos, or nerf shooters with his siblings, cousins,
grandparents, parents and friends. He
memorized 1 Nephi 3:7 for his primary program part this year and nailed it with
flying colors! He is progressing well through his 1st grade year too,
zooming through his Math books, and reading faster than even he can keep up
with haha, and slowly but surely improving his handwriting. He continues to be very active and loves
shooting hoops with Dad, helping grandpa with house even cleaning off leaves on the roof!, and clean-up projects in
WA, climbing in Moab, dressing up as Harry Potter, and is becoming very
reliable and responsible in keeping up with his chores. We are proud of his caring nature for others,
thoughtful prayers, his bright mind, and fun-loving spirit. So thankful to have him around!
Gracie (4 Years) is still the sweetest
June-bug around! She enjoys helping in the kitchen flipping pancakes, trying to
keep up with her sister and brother, as little Miss Ginny Weasley, chasing them
around wherever they go, playing hide and seek, games, especially Uno, tag,
jumping on the trampoline, and singing and dancing to her hearts content. She
was so thrilled to finally take her first ballet class this fall and enjoys
playing polly pockets and dress up princesses with her sister and cousins. She is very sensitive to others needs, loves
to give hugs, and play cars with joshy whenever he needs a friend. She beamed with radiance singing primary
songs in the Primary program and sharing her part, and loves to pop up like a
popcorn on the tube at the lake. We are so thankful for her ray of sunshine in
our lives!
Joshua (2 Years) is the funnest little
side-kick to his sisters and brother around and grew so much this year! He is everything boy, loves playing with
cars, trains, anything that goes, tossing balls, gathering sticks, climbing up
anything and jumping off it (including his crib!! oh yikes!) and doesn’t mind
getting wet in the bath with his PJs on or dirty searching out, collecting and
throwing rocks outside ether! He is full of energy and fearlessly conquers
anything he sets his mind to do. He
enjoys riding the little power wheel ‘Gator’ with his siblings, singing “child
of God” like the big kids for sharing time during FHE, playing with play-doh, swinging
at the playground, holding Mommy’s hair in his hands to help him fall asleep
(very texture mindful) and insists on Mommy singing him at least 10 primary
songs to bed each night. 😉
He loves playing basketball with lifting boosts from Daddy, runs super fast,
doesn’t stay still for too long, but we love giving him the biggest squeeze
hugs and capturing this sweet boy. He
has captured our hearts, and while he sure keeps us on our toes, we have loved seeing
him light up our days with his jubilant and joy-filled smile.
Here are some individual highlights:
Jonathan powered through his last couple
semesters of his MBA program at UT Dallas while still working full time from
home at Cisco Systems and balancing his load with family time and service. He enjoyed the chance to work with the young
men in our ward and then was made ward Executive Secretary to help support the newest
bishop after another ward change. He was
given some new responsibilities at work but was able to step up and fulfill the
needed tasks. We were proud but not
surprised when he was awarded the best deal maker in his Deals &
Negotiation Class and so excited when he graduated in August! Some of his
favorite moments this year were spending time on the lake with family,
diligently trying to go deer hunting in the fall, visiting his family up in WA,
helping teach Katelyn and Nathan how to wake board, making Gracie smile and
experiencing the joys of basketball hoop shooting with Joshy and Nathan.
Jenna ‘s abilities and capacities as a wife,
mother, homemaker, homeschooler, house-stager, and keeping up with the kids
activities were continually stretched this year as Jonathan was finishing up
his MBA and we prepared our family for a big move and multiple extended stays
with family members in multiple states.
But through it all, she knows the whirlwind of change that swept around
us this year also brought lots of learning, growth and blessings. Some of her favorite moments this year were
having Daddy home, teaching about healthy habits & fitness, seeds, plants
& gardening, geodes and volcanoes, seeing the kids’ eyes light up with
excitement in learning, watching Joshy develop his own spunky personality,
seeing the kids learn new skills, attending the women’s session of general
conference with Katelyn for the first time in April, spending time with family
playing games, sharing some memorable times with Daddy and family on all of our
adventures. She was called to be the
Relief Society Secretary part way through this year and although has never had
a calling in that auxiliary, is looking forward to getting to know the sisters
of our ward and finding ways to uplift and serve them! She is also thankful for
the blessings we’ve received as we prepare for the special little girl that
will be joining us soon! Hoping to get unpacked from our move before then! 😉
Katelyn (9 years) is a super determined, hard-working, energetic, kind, smart and helpful big sister around our house. She enjoyed finishing her 2nd and starting her 3rd year of music lessons, and her eyes continue to light up each time she works on and masters a new song. She also had a blast this year playing soccer with a good friend, exploring museums & the pioneer village, building block towers and forts with siblings and cousins, expanding her gymnastics skills, especially on the bars, going on hikes & helping grandpa with projects in WA, along with helping whip up recipes in the kitchen with mom and grandma too! She loved completing art projects at our CC homeschool co-op, making new friends, and took on reading chapter books, her multiplication tables and writing stories like a champ. She would never pass up a chance to plan a cousin party, lemonade stand, or play monopoly deal, life or family. Her favorite moments of this year might include really delving into Harry Potter audiobooks with Daddy, dressing up as Hermione for Halloween, casting pretend spells and making potions for her birthday in November and spending time with lots of family, climbing rocks in Moab, and singing Christmas carols and delivering homemade treats in December!
Nathan (6 years) never ceases to amaze us with
how activate and quick his mind is and his swift feet! He improved his soccer
abilities this year, learned a cartwheel in gymnastics, and really enjoyed
strengthening his swimming skills at swim class! He was excited to finally
start playing the piano, and enjoys any chance he can get to play checkers,
monopoly, life, labyrinth, Legos, or nerf shooters with his siblings, cousins,
grandparents, parents and friends. He
memorized 1 Nephi 3:7 for his primary program part this year and nailed it with
flying colors! He is progressing well through his 1st grade year too,
zooming through his Math books, and reading faster than even he can keep up
with haha, and slowly but surely improving his handwriting. He continues to be very active and loves
shooting hoops with Dad, helping grandpa with house even cleaning off leaves on the roof!, and clean-up projects in
WA, climbing in Moab, dressing up as Harry Potter, and is becoming very
reliable and responsible in keeping up with his chores. We are proud of his caring nature for others,
thoughtful prayers, his bright mind, and fun-loving spirit. So thankful to have him around!
Gracie (4 Years) is still the sweetest
June-bug around! She enjoys helping in the kitchen flipping pancakes, trying to
keep up with her sister and brother, as little Miss Ginny Weasley, chasing them
around wherever they go, playing hide and seek, games, especially Uno, tag,
jumping on the trampoline, and singing and dancing to her hearts content. She
was so thrilled to finally take her first ballet class this fall and enjoys
playing polly pockets and dress up princesses with her sister and cousins. She is very sensitive to others needs, loves
to give hugs, and play cars with joshy whenever he needs a friend. She beamed with radiance singing primary
songs in the Primary program and sharing her part, and loves to pop up like a
popcorn on the tube at the lake. We are so thankful for her ray of sunshine in
our lives! 
We are thankful for the meaningful
experiences we have shared this year and the chances for learning and growth we
have continued to experience on our Texan adventure! We know that it is truly
through Jesus Christ where we can find our greatest source of peace and
strength. We are thankful for the
blessing He is in our lives and for the Atonement and gift of His life for each
of us. We know He is the true meaning
for the season and He is the greatest gift of all! We love and are thankful for
Him and each of you as our family and friends, and hope that you know how much
we appreciate you in our lives and how much we sure love you! May you feel of
His love and strength this season and all throughout the year!
All the best wishes,
The Jonathan and Jenna Ralph Family :)
