Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!  Ok so it's a little late, but that has become a theam with my blog, and I would hate to change things and mess everyone up.

My plan was to not stress about the Christmas letter this year, and simply write one on New Year's after all the Christmas rush was over.  Well you know what they say about best laid plans...  I guess I had too much Christmas, because a head cold with killer sore throat hit me New Years Eve day, and I was down for the count.  So, I guess those that read my blog will be the only ones to see my Christmas Letter this year.  Ok, maybe an abbreviated Christmas letter, as most of you who read this will have read previous blogs of mine.

Kyra got braces on her teeth on New Years Eve day.  Since I was sick, Mark and Lexi took her over to Scottsbluff to get them on.  She hurt for only a day or 2, and seems to be doing fine, as long as she doesn't play "spoons" and get elbowed in the mouth by her Pastor.  She had a multi cultural fair at school this year.  Her country was the Netherlands.  Texas Grandma made a costume for her to wear, and a nice patient of mine, lent her some wooden shoes to wear also.  She and her Dad made a wooden windmill, and all her artifacts and landscape items went on a table to display to the school and the community.  She had so much fun researching and finding everything, and so did her parents.  She just had the food day (everyone brings in food from their country for the class to try) this last Friday.  Kyra and I made a "Thousand Layer Cake", which took forever as each layer had to be cooked under the broiler for 2 min, and there were 12 layers.

Lexi is a teenager.  Enough said!  She has discovered boys, or should I say they have discovered her.  No fears, Mark got a new gun for Christmas, and is not afraid to use it!  Lexi's "boyfriend" was here for Christmas this year.  His name is Zac, and he lives in Michigan.  He is the nephew of our minister and his wife.  I have never heard so much giggling in my life!  Zac is a good kid, but kinda glad he lives hundreds of miles away.  I am not ready for my baby to be dating.  We did let them go out to dinner one night while Zac was here, but had spies in the restaurant that reported back to us.  Yes, we really did.  After the date, we picked them up and they came out here and watched a movie with the entire family.  The day Zac left, Lexi started practice for her traveling basketball team.  We will have 3 tournaments, and all of them will be closer this year.

Mark continues work at 21st Century Equipment.  He has really gotten back into hunting this year, bringing home 3 deer, that have to be cut up on my clean counters.  I hate the outdoor channel!  Actually it is good exercise for him, and since someone else is going to make the sausage and jerky, it's a win for me.  Mark has spent most every weekend, but when he was working, since the fire fixing fence at the ranch.  They are done for the winter, as the ground it too frozen to do anything, but will start again this spring I am sure.

I continue to work for the local hospital, but work everywhere but in town most of the time.  I mostly split my time between Sidney or Scottsbluff nursing home, and sometimes do both in the same day.  Not much has happened with me this year, so will not talk about boring things!

We hope everyone has a blessed New Year!
The Douthits