2013 was a year of significant growth and change for us all.  Jaden moved up from preschool to kindergarten, continuing friendships with a wonderful group of preschool buddies, and making new friends in his class.  He is thriving with a fantastic teacher, and relishes his blossoming inventory of new academic skills.  Jaden has a creative flare, which he puts to good use making masks, writing and illustrating stories, making up skits/ puppet shows, and keeping us all laughing with silliness.  He jumped into the world of sports this fall, joining AYSO soccer, and also learned to ride his two-wheel bike.  Brandon is enjoying 3rd grade, his last year at this school (and the only year the boys are at the same school until High School).  He continues to love reading, math, and science, and enjoys learning with a wonderful teacher who challenges him and keeps him engaged with dynamic lessons.  Brandon put his abundant energy to good use this year, playing baseball, soccer, and now basketball.  He loves playing sports with his friends and meeting new friends as new teams are formed.  Brandon’s most noticeable growth this year was in his hair (though we should mention that he grew an inch in just one three-week period this summer!).  He decided in the spring to grow his hair out, and has now cultivated a luxurious set of locks that have really changed his “look”.  Jess increased her work responsibilities this year in April, moving up from her clinician position, to become a clinical program manager.  She is enjoying the challenge of running the program she has supported for the previous four years, and being a supervisor and advisor to the staff providing behavior and mental health treatment to children and families.   She continues to enjoy as much time as she can squeeze in to help in the boys’ classrooms.  This year she supported the “Gross Up Close” workshop at Brandon’s art and science fair, partied with both classes for various holidays/ celebrations, and helped Brandon’s class start a worm composting bin.  Tyson has continued to enjoy his work with DNA sequencing.  He has increased his travels to support the company’s collaborations and presence at scientific conferences around the world.  He continued to play basketball with a group at work, until breaking a finger when going up for the ball.  His newfound love of ping-pong did not suffer despite the finger splint, and he continues to have fun in the competitive tournaments put together by the office ping-pong club.  After his second successful year running the Cub Scouts Pinewood Derby, Tyson stepped up to fill the departing leader’s shoes and is now Pack 565’s Cub Master.  He also managed to find time to ref Brandon’s soccer games, where he was recognized by the coaches for his fair calls, even when they were against his son. 

We have all enjoyed a busy year full of short trips to fun destinations where we played with family and friends.  Tyson and Jess celebrated 15 wonderful years of Marriage in August.  Thanks to Grammy’s timeshare and both Grandparents’ child care offers, we were able to remember what it was like before kids came along during a blissful week in Cabo San Lucas.  We all have been grateful this year for our amazing community of friends and neighbors in Menlo Park, and all our lifelong friends and family everywhere.  Wishing you a wonderful new year and a 2014 filled with the blessings of laughter, health, and peace.