Christmas Letter 2007

Family and Friends,
How do you start a Christmas letter without using the clichéd openings: “It’s been another year,” “I can’t believe how time has passed/ I can’t believe it’s Christmas time again,” or “During this wonderful season we wanted to let everyone know how our family is.” There just aren’t a lot of creative openings when you send a letter once a year. You know the Bird family though, we will think of something. How about… oh, I guess we already have a full paragraph opening. It’s Christmas 2007!
For those that don’t know I will update everyone on Lori. When we last wrote Lori was in the middle of having her Chemotherapy and doing well despite the treatments. Well, she now visits the doctor only every few months and everything is looking great! She is cancer free, healthy, and growing quickly. The biggest thing the surgery and chemo did was slow her growth. Once the treatments stopped she grew quickly and gained weight back. We know prayers were answered with Lori and have been since the very beginning. Thank you again, to all of you that help and have helped as well as prayed for our family.
I might as well keep the update with Lori going even though it will be chronologically out of order. But what do I care about that. Lori is now in a young age tap and ballet class through the city and is enjoying that. Next summer she wants to play soccer and be like Ty. She just turned 4 on the 7th of December and loves being able to say she is 4. She is also sitting here helping me write this letter.
Ty is a giant among boys even 12 year old boys. There are some boys in our ward that are 12 or just about 12 that Ty is either the same height or a touch taller. I bring this up because has this fascination with being taller than people. He is almost 9 and is basically growing like his dad. Hopefully it won’t be too similar as I stopped growing my sophomore in high school. He enjoys sports and school. He played baseball (check out our youtube video @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMxiHDIGFqY ) and soccer this year. I was his coach for baseball and fill in coach for Soccer. The wins came easier in baseball and the losses easier in Soccer but he had fun in both. He has fallen in love with baseball and is debating Soccer and basketball as to which sport he will participate. Ty also is involved in Cub Scouts and likes getting as many things passed off and done as quickly as possible. He will also be starting piano lessons in January.
Michelle is back to being extremely busy now that she had time freed up as Lori is healthy. She is Cub Scout Committee Chair, program putter togetherer, and Relief Society VT coordinator. Michelle also had a great year as a mom. She had her most difficult pregnancy that resulted in an early birth of Bryn Lucy on July 18, 2007.
Bryn is growing as all kids do and we are happy to see her healthy and happy. She gets straight A’s, plays the flute, volunteers at the shelter, and quilts blankets for the cold. She stays as busy as her mom.
I am still at the hotel and do my best to help the family and hope that my contributions add to instead of detract from any growth we have.
Our family joined the 21st Century and started blogging. You can read our Pulitzer Prize winning material at www.zmbird.blogspot.com . There we have updates and pictures and all kinds of Birdtastic things. We hope that each of you have a great Christmas and as Pedro says, “all of your wildest dreams come true” in 2008.
Love the Birds (Zack, Michelle, Ty, Lori, and Bryn) zmbird@sbcglobal.net 661-285-8989

We love our Children!!

I think the picture says it all. What a good looking family we have. We feel so blessed to have 3 wonderful children.

Christmas Parade

In Scouts we are part of a 4 pack. 4 wards have come together to do scouting. We choose to be part of the Palmdale Christmas Parade. I was not thrilled. Ty was not a first. It took up our whole morning on Saturday. When we left the house it was 38 degrees so you can tell why I did not want to go out. It was to cold for Bryn, so Zack stayed home with her. (I'm sure he was sad to miss the fun) Lori rode in the Bishops truck. She had fun being inside but watching everything.

All the boys took turns holding posters, flags and passing out candy. They were very shy at first to run up and down passing out candy and flag stickers. (Theme was red, white and blue)

To get the boys and other leaders excited about passing out everything I started. I ran up and down yelling Merry Christmas! I was passing out candy and making sure the boys were keeping up with the float. (some of you would say that sounds like Michelle. I have claimed down A LOT in my older years)

Scouts has taken me out of my comfort zone for sure. The boys had lots of fun. I was so tired by the end of the two miles. I for sure got my work out for the weekend!!
I did run into Friends I have not seen in a few years. That was fun!

Visiting Santa

When we were at the Mall on Friday we had to go by and see Santa. Ty and Lori love it of course and Bryn was not to sure about what was happening.

Lori's Birthday -- 4 years old

Happy Birthday to Lori.

We had a fun day, playing games, going to Ty's awards, going to McDonald's for lunch, going on a bike ride with Dad and Ty and going out to Dinner with the family.

The top picture of the family is coming out of the Mall and it was FREEZING. They all had hats on but Mom. So we had to take a picture. I think that was the fastest we have walked back to the car. We were all cold.

Ty's 4.0

On Friday Ty was given two awards for the first tri-mester. One was for good citizenship and the other was for a 4.0 grade. Ty works VERY hard to get good grades. We are so excited for him. He for sure has taken after his Dad in school. :) :)

side note. - as most of you know Ty is our worrier. He also gets very sad when he is not with Zack and I. The last night at Dad and Mom's when going to bed at 11pm he was sad and worried and tired. He told Kate that he was sad and worried that he will not pass 3rd grade. He now knows he is doing well and once again we remind him not to worry.

Our way home from our weekend get away

As most of you know, Zack and I just celebrated 11 year of marriage. YEA!!! I have been so blessed having Zack in my life. Ty and Lori had lots of fun with there Aunt Kate and Rachel and their cousins. They had a sleep over with Anna and Carly. They got G and G Barlow's Christmas Tree with Kate. Then even stayed up late decorating it. (I'm sure they were up late each night)

From these pictures can you tell which child was with us resting and relaxing......? Lori was out by the time we got to Santa Rosa Rd. Ty by the time we were in Moorpark. Bryn just was playing and talking to me on the way home.

Thanks to all who helped with our children so we could get away for a few days. :)

Our Barlow Cousins

When ever the kids are together we have to take a pictures. It's been fun having everyone together so often this last year. They are all growing up so fast.

Lori's Birthday with the Barlow's

Here are some of the pictures from Lori's Mickey Mouse Birthday. She had a fun weekend and loves all of her gifts.

Thank you everyone for coming and your gifts.

Aunt Nunna jumping

Melinda came to spend time with us during Thanksgiving break. She asked the kids what do you want to do?, I'll do whatever you want. Ty said "Whatever?" As you can tell they got her up on the trampoline. Ty and Lori had SOOOOO much fun! I think Melinda did also. :) :)

Bryn - 4 months old

On November 18 Bryn turned 4 months. She is a GREAT baby. She is looking more and more like Ty. We feel so blessed having her in our family.
On Dec. 4 we went to the Dr. for her 4 month check up. Bryn is becoming another Bird baby.
She weights 15 lbs. 8 oz. ht. 24 inches and 16 1/2 inch head.
She started off small but is getting feed well. :)

Our Girls

Lori and Bryn visiting their Dad at work. They love to go have lunch with Dad on Wednesdays after Library class.

(sorry I cannot figure out how to fix picture)

Ty in scouting.....

October 24th Ty earned his Wolf badge in Cub Scouts. He also earned his Faith in God patch for scouts. He loves scouts!! We are so proud of him. Our Cub Master was out of town so I was giving out the awards that night. It was fun to give Ty his.