Merry Christmas!!

The 2010 Mills News


What a year this has been! It has definitely been a year of “News” for us!!

In March, Dave took a new job with AgriNorthwest in Kennewick, Washington. He is in the management training program, and after only 6 months they gave him a promotion, with new responsibilities and new co-workers. He is learning lots of new things about potatoes and corporate farming.

Finding new doctors is always interesting, but his health has been very good, a wonderful blessing.

Kate had a new experience as a single parent when Dave started his new job, staying behind with the boys to get things taken care of for a month. Our new family motto is “Families are meant to be together!” In April, we all moved together in a small, not new apartment, but learned a lot of new things about each other in that situation. We are also first time landlords, giving us a new outlook and the ability to buy again. In October, we were able to buy a new home and love having a new yard, new kitchen, new bedrooms, and new neighborhood. Opening the boxes that had been in storage for 7 months was like Christmas and it felt like everything was new again.

Making new friends and finding our spot in the ward isn’t always easy, but it has been nice to find others with similar interests and kids the same age to spend time with. There are good people everywhere!

Tanner turned 5 in April and is now a Big Kindergartener. He is like a new person as he has come out of his shell and is no longer so shy and quiet. He is loving his new teacher, Mrs. Lybeck, and his new friends in his all-day kindergarten class. Tanner is learning new things as he did soccer and swimming lessons this summer, as well as the many cool new things he learns at school, and is almost reading.

Colty had his 4th birthday at the Beach near Tillamook, OR, as we took a family trip to somewhere new. He is not loving the new situations, but has made new girlfriends fast, and boy-friends too. He is enjoying his preschool class that is 2 days a week and all the new things he is learning there. He also did soccer and swimming lessons, and has loved the new parks and libraries that we have found.

Every day is a new adventure with Braden. He will be 2 in February, but thinks he is nearly as big as “Nanner and TeeTee” . He has had lots of news this year – new teeth, new words, new messes, new sleeping arrangements (as he has decided he wants to sleep with Colty now, so they share a bed, when he isn’t snuggling with his mom.)

As a family we have also had bought a new TV, new computer, new furniture, found lots of new places to go and see, and are meeting lots of neat new people.

Although there are lots of News in our lives, we are grateful for the Olds too – friends and family that are always there to love and support us in all that we do. We are grateful for this time of year that we get to celebrate the birth of our Savior and the true meaning of Christmas.

With love,

Dave, Kate, Tanner, Colton, and Braden Mills