Happy Holidays!

For those of you who would like a recap on what the Burleigh family has been up to this past year, here is the letter we sent out in our Holiday cards:

Dear Family & Friends,

This past year has been filled with excitement & many memories for the Burleigh Family!  

We started off this spring buying a house in Happy Valley, only 3 miles east of work.  It is nice being so close to work, however, we did have to find new childcare, which as many of you know can be quite the challenge to find someone that meets all of your needs.  It ended up working out very well for us in the end.  The girls are at a small at home daycare where Addison goes to preschool & comes home with projects daily.  We are really happy with our new home.  Lindsay spent the first month or so painting at least 2 rooms each weekend & the girls got to pick out the colors of their rooms (or should we say Addison picked out pink for her room & she selected purple for Kennedy’s room).  This summer, Brian & his dad put together a nice wood play structure for the girls that we had purchased.  It has swings, a slide, a rock wall, a picnic bench, and a little tower.  The girls love it & are so thrilled to have a “park” in their backyard.  

We are both still working at Kaiser Permanente in the outpatient surgery department, however, this year Lindsay was selected for the Orthopedic Surgery & Podiatry Surgery lead nurse.  Basically, Lindsay orders any of the special supplies needed for the surgeries in these particular services & makes sure the surgeons have what they need.  We decided to get bicycles & start biking to work.  I’ll be honest, we don’t bike as much as we would like, mainly because we are fair weather bikers & it is hard to get up, get ready, drive the girls to daycare & back home to get our bikes.  Not to mention that we race home on our bikes & whoever (always Brian) gets home first jumps in the car to drive over & pick up the girls.  However, we are hoping to increase our bike commuting this year once the weather warms up.  

Addison turns 4 years old this month (4 going on 14!).  It is amazing how much she learns, she loves going to “school” (daycare) & can’t wait until she turns 5 & can go to Kindergarten.  Addison is always practicing writing her letters & numbers & is constantly asking how to spell different words.  In November, Brian took Addison (for an early birthday present) to see one of her favorite shows, Yo Gabba Gabba, live.  Addison was so excited, she got to go backstage to meet the characters & have her picture taken with them!  Addison loves to color & draw (she is pretty good for her age!), & she can’t wait to take dance or gymnastics (which we plan to sign her up for now that she is 4).  

Kennedy turned 1 years old this past February.  In September, Kennedy ended up having tubes put in her ears, as she had fluid in her ears that wouldn’t drain.  What an improvement that has been for her. She couldn’t hear & that impacted her speech, now she is talking all of the time!  Kennedy loves playing with dolls, kitchen, & pretty much anything that her sister is doing that she can keep up with.  Kennedy is lucky to have such a great big sister.  Addison is always looking out for Kennedy & saying how much she loves her sister.  Kennedy’s own personality is beginning to blossom & it is so fun to watch, aside from the “terrible twos” stage that is upon us.  It is sad to see our baby becoming a little girl, but amazing all at the same time.  

Happy Holidays!
Love, Brian, Lindsay, Addison & Kennedy Burleigh
www.burleighfamily.blogspot.com for updates on what we have been up to!