Merry Christmas from Our House to Yours!

Hi Everyone:

Well, all the packages have been wrapped with care and are already packed in my car. I'm heading up to MN on Tuesday and Ryan will come up on Friday afternoon. We are so excited to share our Christmas with both the Ehlen's and the Jennissen's (we are so lucky that our families live so close together....bonus when you marry your high school sweetheart!). I ordered my christmas picture cards over the internet and hopefully they will be arriving tomorrow. Our camera was broke at the time we ordered them, so we had to rely on some old pictures and a family picture a friend took for us. Last night before going to a Christmas party, we took a few pictures in front of our tree with our new camera. Hope you enjoy them. I also thought I'd put an electronic version of our Christmas card on here so if you had any trouble reading it, maybe it would be more clear on here. Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everyone
Well it’s time again for the annual Jennissen Christmas letter. Although writing these letters is a challenge for me, I do enjoy receiving them from our family and friends. Many thanks to those who send pictures. I have them on display on the door going from our kitchen to the garage for the entire year! It’s so nice to "see" you as we walk out the door each day.

In January, Ryan decided as part of a New Years Resuloution (we like to call it a lifestyle change!) to start running. He started out hating every second he was out there, but now he looks forward to his run each day. If he misses a day, he feels like something just isn’t right in his life. The running has really paid off and he has lost a significant amount of weight. Ryan doesn’t like to get attention for this (he’s not going to like that it’s in this letter, but too bad, I gave him the chance to write this, but he declined!) He says he is just doing his penance for 30+ years of unhealthy eating habits. He ran his first race here in Madison, on April 29th. Our friend, Megan Frank, ran the whole way(5 miles) with him and encouraged him when doubt set in. By May, he had convinved me to start running too (how could I not after seeing him loose so much weight?). So on Mother’s Day, we took the boys out with us and pushed them in the stroller for my first 1 mile run. I then started to train for Race for the Cure (5K race) with Ryan, his sister Jennifer and her husband Steve, brother Patrick and wife Brenda. We then started a trend and continued to run a 10K in August and then another 5K in October together. Ryan has continued running, but I have slacked off now that our races are done. I am looking forward to getting a used treadmill so that I can get my miles in where it’s warm and watch the kids at the same time! Ryan is planning on running a half marathon in the Spring.

Jacob is enjoying his second year of preschool. He has two really good friends (besides his neighborhood friends) that he has had playdates with this fall. Jacob has finally evened out on the growth charts this year and is right at the 50 percentile for both height and weight. How he has gained weight off of half eaten peanut butter sandwiches is beyond me! His favorite phrase these days seems to be, "oh, pickle juice."

John continues to be a little cutie, getting into trouble everytime you turn your back. He loves to crawl up onto the table, the countertops, the endtables, you name it, he will climb it. He isn’t talking much yet, but occaisionally we will hear a new word. His favorite word is NO...we can ask him: Do you love Daddy? Do you love Mommy? Do you love cookies? Do you love candy? Do you love brother? He always answers with an smile, "No."

We are so thankful for our boys and their love for each other. Jacob and John love playing together and chasing each other around the house. They have recently started sharing a full sized bed. It’s so precious to see them snuggled up next to each other.
In May we took a family trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fl. Ryan’s parents and Patrick and Brenda came along to help us. Jacob loved the Winnie the Pooh ride, Splash Mountain and the Haunted Mansion that’s full of "spooooooky ghosts."

Ryan and I both had all school reunions this summer and enjoyed going "back home" for these. Most of my brothers and sisters were home for mine, and we enjoyed spending some family time togerther as this was the first time my brother Rick had met John. We spent some time with Ryan’s family at "the lake" this summer and the boys enjoyed going on jet ski rides and swimming in the lake.

In late October, Ryan and I had the opportunity to go to Detriot, MI for the weekend to watch our friend, Aaron Frank, run in the Detriot Marathon. What an experience that was! We enjoyed seeing him run by us at several points in the race and of course watching him cross the finish line at mile 26.2! Way to go Aaron!
Then in early November, Ryan and I got another weekend away from the kids, as he had a business conference in Scottsdale, AZ. I had a wonderful time lounging by the pool and reading. Ahh, relaxation.........

Ryan is starting his second year with Propex Fabrics. He travels quite a bit, which can be challenging, but the frequent flier miles he had accumulated were nice when I found out I could go to Scottsdale, AZ with him! He is still serving as VP for our neighborhood assoiciation. My job doing medical billing ended in April, but I have started to do some very part-time work again (3 hours a week). I am also active as the Treasurer for Jacob’s preschool and I am a table leader for our local MOPS (Mothers Of PreSchoolers) Chapter.

We hope that this letter finds you well and in the best of spirits for the coming of our Lord Jesus. Merry Christmas and Happy 2007! Oh, I almost forgot, please check out our Christmas present to you: www.jennissenfamily.blogspot.com

Love,
Ryan, Beth, Jacob and John Jennissen