And to all a good night.

We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas day, a perfect ending to a season of gratitude and a year of blessings.

And just what were some of those blessings, the highlights from the past twelve months? Here are a few we came up with for our annual newsletter...

Rasmussen Family Favorites 2009

Nate (almost 3): Talking, asking questions, singing, and generally using his voice in many (loud) ways; mastering nearly every child-proof restraint in our home and car; managing to combine charm and mischief in an irresistible, exasperating way.

Dallin (5): Learning and loving to read; participating in his first sports class; creating Lego creations for hours on end; playing with a new best friend who moved in across the street; filling our lives with funny sayings.

Jamie Beth (7 in just two weeks): Starting 1^st grade with a fantastic teacher; discovering that she loves washing dishes and organizing anything; continuing dance classes; figuring out how to ride a bike without training wheels.

Matthew (10 1/2): Improving snowboarding skills; entering 5^th grade; playing football, and enjoying alternating between quarterback and receiver; going to BYU games with his dad; reading nearly as many books as his mom.

Cissy: Traveling, traveling, traveling...to the Grand Canyon for spring break, to Washington D.C. (by myself!) for sister's dissertation, to San Diego for family reunion, to Idaho to visit brother's family, to Alabama (driving) for sister's wedding; making time to go to more lectures, museum exhibits, and other cultural events; reading some really great books.

Matt: All the trips, especially the Grand Canyon; but since that's essentially copying Cissy's answer, he adds: playing in a golf tournament with his dad; improving his snowboarding skills; being Matthew's basketball coach last winter.

Our Christmas season favorites include: seeing “A Christmas Carol” at the local (live) theater; attending a beautiful Christmas concert at church; reading all our Christmas books again and again; playing carols all day long; and spending Christmas Eve night at Papa & Nana's with all the aunts, uncles, and cousins (36 total--what a party!)

We wish you a peaceful, joyful celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas!

Left to do.

-One more gift for Matt

-One more gift for Matthew

-Christmas cards for immediate family

-Finish up Mom R.'s gift

-Wrap it all

-Help kids wrap gifts to each other

-Buy more stocking treats (note to self: do not buy chocolates early--they are almost gone.)

-Finish baking neighborhood treats

-Deliver neighborhood treats

-Practice songs with Jamie Beth and Dallin in preparation for family program; try to keep both from breaking down in tears of frustration, distraction, or exhaustion.

-Keep watering the tree

-Clean the house (again)

-Watch It's a Wonderful Life

-Be done with it all by Thursday morning, so I can enjoy Christmas Eve bowling without biting my nails

-Add nothing to this list

Supporting local talent.

My sister-in-law developed this handy little letterpress that, after she did a family demonstration, I've decided I could operate with my minimal crafting skills. Enter to win one here.