Counting Our Blessings

(Our Foyer 2009!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Dear Family and Friends,

Happy Holidays 2009! I know you cannot wait to hear what our brilliant family has been up to the past twelve months! It has been a whirlwind year filled with joy, magic, wonder and blessings!

Ethan started first grade in September. His teacher reports that in her twenty-three years of teaching, she has never met a smarter student. Even though he is only in first grade, he is reading at the eleventh grade level and just finished his class math project on fluid dynamics and string theory (*the other first graders in his class are still learning to count change! Bless their little hearts!). There were some rumors that MIT may be approaching us to ask permission to use Ethan's math project to teach their incoming freshman class, but that is, as of yet, unconfirmed. I'll be sure to let you know with a mass email with many exclamation points and capital letters when I hear more.

Ethan's interests this year are not limited to advanced math and reading Jane Eyre, he also enjoys his share of enriching extracurricular activities. We make sure he never has more than fifteen minutes of unscheduled time. To quote Chaucer (just like Ethan did in last night's homework assignment!), "An idle mind is the Devil's workshop."

Ethan played basketball this summer, not long ‘til the NBA scouts come knocking! He made fifty baskets in the first half-hour of practice! Because he is so gifted and naturally coordinated, the team voted unanimously to move him up from youth player to assistant coach on the second day of practice. And then they gave him a giant trophy and gold medal to commemorate his achievement, which we now display in a specially-made custom case in our foyer (*See above!). Moving him up to assistant coach was an excellent choice, since our son has natural-born leadership tendencies! We are so proud!

While Jeff(y) and I appreciate the importance of athletics, we both agree that well-rounded children are the best! With that in mind, for the spring, we have signed Ethan up for conversational Mandarin lessons, sous chef instruction with Chef Michel Richards of Citronelle (never too early to learn to deglaze!), and advanced falconry at the Greenbrier Resort.

Because Ethan has SO very many diverse interests and natural talents that keep our family busy, I made the tough decision to leave my law firm this year. The official word on the street is that I am “taking a sabbatical” (wink, wink). It turns out that this was the BEST decision EVER because now I get to support Ethan’s formative development every minute of every day! Of course, my Jeff(y) makes tons and tons of money at a job that he LOVES, so now we have the best of both worlds!

A Christmas letter would not be complete without mentioning my fabulous hubby! Speaking of my Jeff(y), his office recently offered him even more money! In fact, his boss offered to quadruple his salary for being so amazing and brilliant and because he liked the blue tie Jeff(y) wore to work that day! How exciting! But my Jeff(y) just had to say, enough is enough. He told them that he could not possibly accept, because he just loves his work, and would do his job for free! So, he told his boss to please send all that extra money to homeless pets in the Sudan since they need it more than our family does. Ethan and I are truly blessed to have such a special and selfless Hubby/Daddy!

Jeff(y) and I keep reading that the economy is suffering, but since we are so blessed, this national economic downturn has not impacted us even one little bit. I am tempted to say this may actually be due to our brilliant financial planning in the past. Even with me being on "sabbatical" (wink wink), we have not had to go without any of life's necessities, such as luxury SUVs with leather interior, weekly dinners at French Laundry in Napa (we take the company jet so we can be home to tuck Ethan in, we've never left him overnight with a sitter! Can you imagine?), or Christian Louboutin glitter shoes (Santa, are you listening!??! I have been a VERY good girl this year!).

When Jeff(y) is not at the office doing important work being The Vice President of Awesome at a Very Prominent Prestigious Firm, we enjoy spending time together taking long walks hand-in-hand through the countryside, enjoying picnics, tasting vintage wines, and planning Ethan's extracurricular activities on our Blackberries.

We wish all of you a wondrous, prosperous and BLESSED holiday and perfect New Year!!!!!

Blessings and Hugs from Our Super Incredible Amazing Family to Yours,

JS