Trish and I never do a Christmas letter. Our reluctance to pen our annual feats probably has to do with me growing up with an aspiring journalist whose letters could win the Pulitzer. But, now that even she has relinquished the word processer to her husband I figured I’d give it a try.
Dear Family, Friends and random creepy internet stalkers,
2011 was awesome. I added like fifty new facebook friends, managed to make it through the year without tweeting pictures of myself in my underwear, I’ve got ten million bucks waiting for me in Nigeria and my marriage lasted more than 72 days. Now, that’s how you spell Winning!
Despite all my personal success over the past year, my wife and daughters made my achievements look pedestrian. Reese turned one in January and has been in a race to get to two ever since. She’s gotten great at talking, loves to sing Christmas carols and Happy Birthday and is now working on her stand-up comedy routine. Reese loves to read books, giggle and dress in pink. In December Reese declared she’s done with the crib and loves to pronounce that “I sleep in big girl bed”.
Payton turned four this year with a princess cake, a princess bounce house and a princess dress. Payton has blossomed into a very sweet girl, who loves to instruct her sister (and Dad), ride her bike and take care of her dolls. She has informed us she plans on being a princess when she grows up; we’re just happy we let her watch Kate Middleton’s wedding and not Kim Kardishian’s.
Trish survived her first Bay Area winter and has settled in nicely to her new career. In addition to raising the girls she launched an organization business. Luckily, I still qualify for pro bono service. To pile it on even more she worked out nearly every day of 2011, learned how to make some of the most amazing culinary dishes (peanut butter and chocolate brownies!), got the family eating healthy and once again won wife of the year (seven years running).
As I reflected on my post about Father’s Day, this was just an awesome year. I completed my first year at my new job and continue to love it. I got back into a healthy lifestyle of running, indoor rowing, playing basketball and even took up squash this year; of course I counter balanced all this physical activity by eating lots of Tricia’s peanut butter and chocolate brownies. We were lucky enough to spend ten days in Hawaii with my family and Payton and I took our first of many father/daughter camping trips in Yosemite. I’m looking forward to 2012 and making that trip to Nigeria to pick up my money.
Happy New Year,
Jeff, Trish, Payton & Reese
‘
