Thursday, December 6, 2007

Christmas Newsletter - Cutting Room Floor

Holiday greetings to the 6 or 7 of you who visit this site (and welcome to any newcomers resulting from the holiday mailing):

When I started the blog, the goal was to provide a place to create a weekly version of my Christmas newsletter -- as well as to have a type of "director's cut" of the newsletter in December since it can't all fit into the two printed pages of the mailed out newsletter.

Below, you'll find some things that didn't make the letter -- either because I just thought of them after mailing out the letter (which always happens) or due to space restrictions. As with most director's cuts, you'll soon realize that what got left out initially wasn't all that great...hence why it got cut! But to remain true to the objective of the blog, I figured I needed to list them:

• When asked how many children we have, Mark likes to apply the same scientific principle that allows weathermen to declare the "Real Feel" temperature is colder than what the mercury reads, so he'll say "We have four children, but as they are all under the age of 9, the "Real Feel" is like having 8 children!"

• We are constantly disarming Sammy of pens, pencils, etc. otherwise known as "Sammy Weapons"

• One of Mark's greatest accomplishments was to learn self-restraint and not look ahead on his daily Dilbert calendar

• Matthew drinks apple juice like it grows on trees

• Kathryn has figured out the next big LDS commercial venture: General Authority trading cards! Collect the whole set! Learn amazing General Conference facts. Get an Apostle's coveted Rookie card from the first year he served as a General Authority

• Samuel is our Kung-Fu Grip baby as he always has to grasp a toy, stick, or something else in his fists at all times

• All Caroline wants for Christmas are her two front teeth

• In the new house, Mark can no longer play his favorite game of "Find the freezing draft coming into the house"

• Mark fears that all the kids will finally sleep through the night about one week before Josh starts going to early morning seminary.

4 comments:

Mumsy said...

I think those are great, Mark. I love the "real feel." Fred and I are petrified for the day when our kids outnumber us. And it's coming faster than we know.

Baerman said...

I like the trading card paragraph. I've got the Quintin Cook rookie card! Can't wait to get the real thing.

Anonymous said...

Loved your Christmas letter Mark, and you Christmas card, Kathryn. Also love your blog.

Valerie Chandler said...

Mark, I am one who is peeking in because of your fine marketing. I need to put you on Greg's favorites' list then we can share a giggle every once in a while. We always get a kick out of your Christmas letter. Your sense of humor tickles us.

Your family is beautiful. The picture of the kids was darling.

Glad that we are still in touch.

..and I still make cheesey chicken from the recipe file of Kathryn. That was abeautiful Sunday dinner eight years ago.