Welcome to the McKneely Family Blog! I decided that I had already documented our year in blog form and so instead of the annual Christmas Letter I always write, I decided to refer all my friends and family to here to see what we're up to. If you're new, then here's our year in a nutshell. I encourage you to look further and see what excitement our 2008 has been, and we wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! January: We enjoyed life with a relative newborn and 2 other li
ttle ones. Sam and Kaitlyn adjusted pretty well to baby sister, and loved her a lot--at times too much but we survived! Lindsey was a great sleeper and eater so Mom was hanging in there pretty well. Stephen went to Arizona for Leadership training for a week. February: Mom turned 30! I know you're shocked! Kaitlyn almost gave Sam a new hairdo (teaser for looking in February)
. Stephen did a funny lipsync with the Teachers Quorum. Mom performed in a Stake Production of the 10 Virgins. It was fun for her to be back on stage. March: Katilyn started Preschool which was a welcomed change for all of us. A wayward snowstorm suprised us on her first day of school so it's a day we'll remember. We had a crazy Easter weekend. Melissa had to have an unexpected surgery, Stephen was attending the Stake Young Mens' encampment AND we were trying to celebrate Easter with our family.
ttle ones. Sam and Kaitlyn adjusted pretty well to baby sister, and loved her a lot--at times too much but we survived! Lindsey was a great sleeper and eater so Mom was hanging in there pretty well. Stephen went to Arizona for Leadership training for a week. February: Mom turned 30! I know you're shocked! Kaitlyn almost gave Sam a new hairdo (teaser for looking in February)
. Stephen did a funny lipsync with the Teachers Quorum. Mom performed in a Stake Production of the 10 Virgins. It was fun for her to be back on stage. March: Katilyn started Preschool which was a welcomed change for all of us. A wayward snowstorm suprised us on her first day of school so it's a day we'll remember. We had a crazy Easter weekend. Melissa had to have an unexpected surgery, Stephen was attending the Stake Young Mens' encampment AND we were trying to celebrate Easter with our family.
April: Our month of Birthdays. KP turned 4 on the 1st, Sam turned 2 on the 12th and Stephen turned 31 on the 16th. We found a great train exhibit on Sam's Birthday. Later in the month we had a family celebration for all 3 birthdays--what fun to have the McKneely's come and visit us. Another random thing worth noting is that our home was struck by lightening and we lost a bunch of electronics (DVD player, VCR, Sprinkler system timer, etc), but thankfully it wasn't worse!
May: Stephen went to anther Leadership training for a week to Rhode Island. Sam attended his very first Fathers and Sons outing. He was the youngest kid in there and totally had a blast. This year he developed this fettish for hats and insisted on wearing one often!!
June: Brought a bit of a downer, Stephen has played on an indoor soccer team for years and really enjoyed it, playing injury free. Well his luck ran out and he badly sprained his ankle tearing ligaments and bruising bones. He was off it whenever he could but did decide he was well enough to attend the Young Men's High Adventure trip Mountain Biking in Arkansas. (I know brilliant right?) Well he had a great time, he wasn't in too much discomfort but the ankle still didn't heal quite right. Long story short just last week he had Orthoscopic Surgery to clean it up and is now in a boot for 3-4 weeks. Merry Christmas sweetheart!! In July Uncle Joey came to visit and we took a much anticipated family excursion to the Dallas Children's museum. We had a blast!! We also sadly suffered the loss of Stephen's grandmother Betty Day. She was a great lady and she'll be missed.
June: Brought a bit of a downer, Stephen has played on an indoor soccer team for years and really enjoyed it, playing injury free. Well his luck ran out and he badly sprained his ankle tearing ligaments and bruising bones. He was off it whenever he could but did decide he was well enough to attend the Young Men's High Adventure trip Mountain Biking in Arkansas. (I know brilliant right?) Well he had a great time, he wasn't in too much discomfort but the ankle still didn't heal quite right. Long story short just last week he had Orthoscopic Surgery to clean it up and is now in a boot for 3-4 weeks. Merry Christmas sweetheart!! In July Uncle Joey came to visit and we took a much anticipated family excursion to the Dallas Children's museum. We had a blast!! We also sadly suffered the loss of Stephen's grandmother Betty Day. She was a great lady and she'll be missed. 
July also brought a big change to our family as Stephen was called to serve in the Bishopric of our ward. This was a shock and adjustment for sure. Sacrament meeting continues to be a challenge with this crew but we're thankful for a patient ward and good friends who help us every week. We love you: Hamblins, Fluckigers, Jacobsons and Hay's!! August took Dad to LA for busy week of leadership training. We had a celebrated day in the temple with friends Joe and Arhely Sanchez. We enjoyed a Hawaiian activity day and dancing in a rainstorm. 
In September Kaitlyn started school again and Mom welcomed the new routine and time to spend with just Sam. We got into Webkinz and we took our first trip to the ER with a child due to an injury. Sam got 3 stitches to the side of his right eye after getting hit with a rocking chair. He looked pretty beat up, but if you know Sam, it's pretty typical. We also finally made it to the Dallas Zoo as a family and had a wonderful day! We're going to go again next year for sure! With October came another Leadership training this time to Washington DC and Stephen got to spend an evening with friends Matt & Cassie Albrecht. Halloween was very exciting. Sam was Bob the Builder and Kaitlyn was a Princess. Sam told people for about 2 months he was going to be Bob, and even now, in December, still tells people as it's his most amazing piece of news.
Lindsey reused Sam's old Giraffe costume--it's her Aunt Rachel's favorite. In November Mom took a turn getting away and went on a scrapbook retreat for 2 wonderful kid-free days! She's decided that it's an annual tradition. Lindsey took her first steps and has become quite mobile and independant. We got to spend Thanksgiving with both our parents (the Lewis' came to the McKneelys) and we had a feast! Now December is here and with it has come cold weather and looking forward to Dad having 3 weeks off from work. We're going to stay here for Christmas and let our family come to us. We're so grateful to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and everything good that comes out at this season. May your holiday be focused on Him and having Mas (more) Christ in everything you do! We love you!!
In September Kaitlyn started school again and Mom welcomed the new routine and time to spend with just Sam. We got into Webkinz and we took our first trip to the ER with a child due to an injury. Sam got 3 stitches to the side of his right eye after getting hit with a rocking chair. He looked pretty beat up, but if you know Sam, it's pretty typical. We also finally made it to the Dallas Zoo as a family and had a wonderful day! We're going to go again next year for sure! With October came another Leadership training this time to Washington DC and Stephen got to spend an evening with friends Matt & Cassie Albrecht. Halloween was very exciting. Sam was Bob the Builder and Kaitlyn was a Princess. Sam told people for about 2 months he was going to be Bob, and even now, in December, still tells people as it's his most amazing piece of news.
Lindsey reused Sam's old Giraffe costume--it's her Aunt Rachel's favorite. In November Mom took a turn getting away and went on a scrapbook retreat for 2 wonderful kid-free days! She's decided that it's an annual tradition. Lindsey took her first steps and has become quite mobile and independant. We got to spend Thanksgiving with both our parents (the Lewis' came to the McKneelys) and we had a feast! Now December is here and with it has come cold weather and looking forward to Dad having 3 weeks off from work. We're going to stay here for Christmas and let our family come to us. We're so grateful to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and everything good that comes out at this season. May your holiday be focused on Him and having Mas (more) Christ in everything you do! We love you!!
5 comments:
Great alternative to a Christmas letter. We hope you have a great Christmas.
That works--I emailed mine to you. Did you get a chance to read it? Don't writing these letters make us see how blessed we all are? Have a great Christmas with everyone! Love ya!
Great Fun, and no postage to pay!
What a whirl wind year. So well documented. Definitely a KEEPER. Love you!!!!!! All!!!!!
It's crazy how much can happen in one year when you write it all out each month.
p.s. you have such cute kids. Maybe that sounds vain and shallow, but it's the truth.
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