Christmas Greetings 2013

 Dear family and friends,

We are a family who loves to read! Jared listens to audio books during his 25 minute commute to work, Kristi reads books while the kids play at our favorite playgrounds, and Anwyn wakes up at 5 a.m. and reads in her bed (or climbs the tree in our front yard and reads among the leafy branches). Lily and Zach can often be found snuggled up on the couch with mom reading aloud (most often picture books and Magic Tree House). Jared and Kristi take turns reading to Anwyn or Zach and Lily before bedtime. This year Jared and Anwyn worked through the first four Harry Potter books as well as the Chronicles of Narnia, while Kristi and Anwyn enjoyed the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Here are some of our favorite books and authors of 2013, along with a few other updates.

Zach (turns 4 in April): loves any books about superheroes! He enjoys the Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Willems, and AlphaOops is a favorite picture book. He is a sweet, good-hearted boy who likes to play trains and cars and dress up in superhero costumes.

Lily (turned 6 in October): she is a big fan of the Magic Tree House series and we just finished book #30! She started Kindergarten this year and is working on learning to read herself. Lily loves to be outdoors and is a “creature lover”; she can often be found catching lizards and frogs and assorted bugs. She lost two teeth and is wiggling her third!

Anwyn (turns 9 in December): anything by Beverly Cleary, Hoofbeats and Horse Diaries and All of a Kind Family series, and Tuesdays at the Castle. She finished the last three Harry Potter books on her own by July. She is in third grade and is progressing very well as a piano player. She was baptized in January and enjoys attending Activity Girls.

Kristi: discovered the princess and dragon books by Jessica Day George, Matched series, and Gregor the Overlander series. Wonder is a book that everyone should read. Squeezed in time for 65 books this year! Kristi enjoys life and stays busy as a wife and mother and all that that involves. She teaches piano lessons and the Sunbeam class at church on the side.

Jared: tried to have a mix of biographies, histories, and fiction. He enjoyed reading about David O. McKay, Stonewall Jackson, Thomas Jefferson, and Steve Jobs. He’s been particularly enjoying books by Brandon Sanderson. The big news for Jared is that he finally received his Ph.D. after finishing his internship at Duke! He now works as a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Florida in the same lab he was during graduate school. He is kept busy with his church calling on the stake high council.

As a family we also enjoy riding bikes, watching movies and listening to good music (we especially love The Piano Guys, Lindsey Stirling, and Caspar Babypants). The big change for the year was a move from North Carolina back to Florida in July. We are grateful for the wonderful family and friends we have, and the sweet memories we share.

Love,

The Tanner Family