Member Blogs

Our Christmas Letter

We write a Christmas letter to put in our cards every year, along with an photo of all nine of us with Santa. It is just a way for us to update everyone on our accomplishments during the previous year. Some years are more auspicious that others.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

2008 has been a very busy year for the Hoad family. We had a great visit with Aunt Stephani and her family. They traveled all the way from Austria to see us. We managed to go on several trips this summer, to the lake and to the Frio river. Vacationing with four adults and eleven kids is always an adventure.

James and Michelle went to Colorado in February, with Avery of course. It was a real treat to be able to play in the snow. Michelle tried sledding and James made snow angels and wrote his name in the snow. Avery loved the snow and laughed every time we put her down in it. We stayed in a beautiful cabin in the woods and we saw elk and mule deer tracks in the snow just feet from our cabin. We hope to make a return trip soon with the kids. James finished up his ninth and last year coaching football. He is looking forward to sitting on the sidelines and cheering for a change. Michelle managed to go back to school and get her real estate license. She is working for Keller Williams and looking forward to the challenges of being a working mom.

Michael started high school this year and played football for the Rouse Raiders. He started at center again on the offensive line. Michael caught a record catfish on our RV trip this spring. Dad almost fell in the water trying to get it up on the banks. There wasn't a scale, but we estimated that it weighed 25-30 pounds. It was delicious.

Nick is starting his last year in Junior High. He has grown more in the last year than we thought possible. He now towers over his mom and is eye to eye with James. He tries to eat us out of house and home, but it just goes to fill up his hollow leg.

Chris played his last year in Pop Warner with the Pee Wee Lions. They made it to the play offs and were finally eliminated in Dallas against the Pleasant Grove Wolverines. He was once again only one more game from going to Nationals. The boys were disappointed, but I think the parents were a little bit relieved. Or maybe that was just us. Chris has also been very successful this hunting season, killing two does and a hog.

This year Ryan started at Defensive End for the Jr. Pee Wee Bears. His team went undefeated the whole season, but they unfortunately lost in the first round of the playoffs. Ryan killed his first buck this year. It was a really nice eight point that is now in the deep freeze, waiting on Papa T to mount for him.