Merry Christmas y'all, and to all a g'night!

We have succeeded in finally sending out some actual, paper Christmas cards this year. It was Shane's choice and I think he was wise to make it. However, I don't have everyone's physical addresses, nor do many of you three readers of this blog probably want to receive a hard copy of what will inevitably be posted on here as a blog, therefore whether you receive a hardcopy or not, we still love you! All that being said, here is our 2008 Christmas letter. If you really want a hardcopy of the following posting, please feel free to drop a note with your address and we'll get one to you asap! :)

Merry Christmas and welcome to the 2008 Shane Snow family newsletter. 2008 has proven to be as busy as our last few years, and Shane and I are starting to look forward with faith to calmer times! That being said, I don’t think either one of us would trade what we have now for anything in the world!

January brought two great new additions to our family. Cael Shane and Landry Snow were born January 20, 2008. They were small at 4 lbs. 14 oz, and 5 lbs. 6 oz., but they are really starting to catch up now. After making us nervous for a few days, Cael was able to come home with us after only one day extra in the hospital. Landry was a trooper and though she lost a lot of weight she never had to be in the NICU.

January also brought with it a decision to move to Texas. Talk about an emotionally trying period of time! After weighing our options, between law school, flight school and other jobs we decided to plant ourselves in Midland, Texas and managed to purchase a house just two blocks from Shane’s parents! It’s great that we still have family close, though we miss our friends and family that we left in Utah.

February included a visit from Shane’s parents. When asked what OnaMarie could do for us for the two weeks she was with us we simply replied, “potty train Savannah!” which she happily did! I’ve got to admit that’s the way to potty train your kids!

March was house showing month (or day, actually!). We listed the house on a Tuesday, showed it Wednesday and sold it Thursday! Obviously our prayers were being answered by all the pieces of the puzzle falling so easily into place. We also had the opportunity to spend most of the month with my mom while she lent her house to a family in her ward. It was so great to have her with us, spending time with her before we moved. We were so grateful to her constant help.

March ended with Lincoln’s eighth birthday, his baptism and the babies’ blessings. It was such a great way to end the month and our lives in Utah. We appreciated the help, love and support from all of our friends and family as we struggled to make the move. It was not easy emotionally or physically.

April started a new life, new job, new friends, new ward and a completely new perspective on life! Seriously, there are no mountains down here! We quickly found a niche for ourselves, within our ward and with friends. We also found a house that we love! We lived with the Snows while we worked on getting the house in livable conditions. They also had to make serious lifestyle changes, four little kids, six more mouths to feed! Lincoln started Cub Scouts and his new school by immediately making new friends. We also enjoyed attending Rhett and Missy’s wedding in May.

Mom and Lincoln’s dad were able to come up for a visit the beginning of June. We had just moved into our house and we welcomed their visit. Lincoln drove back to Utah for a month stay with family and we enjoyed a few days with mom before she flew back to Utah. We also enjoyed a fake doggy pregnancy, Shane’s birthday, OnaMarie’s birthday, Brooke talking in church, and Lyndon’s birthday party.

In July the kids and I were able to head back with the Snow’s for a visit to Utah. It was so great to be able to see a few of our friends and some family! We picked Lincoln up and enjoyed seeing the Teichert’s, the Snows, the Billings’, the Rigtrup’s, the Davis’ and Christensen’s. I was also able to see some friends from work.

July included major plumbing renovations to our house. Lincoln was able to attend Cub Scout Day Camp which concluded with an egg drop. We did a great job and his egg survived unscathed! Shane spoke in church, Natalie came to visit and Savannah turned three! We had a great princess party for our little princess.

In August we were able to visit Clint and Karen in Dallas. I was so happy to see there were areas of Texas within driving distance that had hills and greenery! We went to the zoo and the Dallas Temple grounds and enjoyed time with their family. School and soccer started in August and all of the sudden the fairly casual atmosphere of August turned hectic once again! With scouts, soccer, homework, church callings, playgroups, dinners with missionaries, doctor appointments and family home evening we loved the few minutes we had to spare!

Shane took Lincoln and I to our first West Texas high school football game in September. There is really nothing like it in the world. Utah college football isn’t as big! We continued on the hectic pace set in August, enjoying a little time together to celebrate my birthday.

October was full of more of the same. We were able to get together with friends a few times this month and really appreciated the time spent with them. I don’t think the transition to Texas would have been as easy if we didn’t have friends here to enjoy time with. We enjoyed Halloween parties, the primary program, and the completion of the soccer season, as well as a visit from my mom! I was really starting to get homesick so it was so great to see her!

November started with Lincoln’s opportunity to be in a commercial for a local frozen yogurt shop, Your Way Yogurt. We enjoyed time with the Coleman’s who have returned to Mecca Midland. We welcome anyone willing to move down here; if you’re only up for a visit we still welcome you! We celebrated Thanksgiving with a houseful at the Snow’s. We shared the weekend with almost the whole Snow family (we missed you Natalie) and Lincoln’s dad and a friend. Lincoln attended a birthday party and became a true Jedi knight; and he spoke in Primary.

Here we are in December, wondering where the year has gone. It’s amazing that you can fill a year with as much as we did and still wonder where the time went. We stay busy, and happy. We have the gospel in our lives and stay in touch with family and friends to stay grounded. We wish we could see more of the family and friends that are far away, but they say “absence make the heart grow fonder”. We think about you often and wish you all the best. Though we try to stay in touch as best we can, we will continually try to do better. We try to keep up on our blog, by posting pictures and all the latest events. You’re welcome to check us out at http://shaneandbrookesnowfamily.blogspot.com/ We hope to hear from you often and look forward to seeing you soon!

Love,
Shane, Brooke, Lincoln (Steffens), Savannah, Landry and Cael Snow