Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas!! Last year in the midst of having recently had a baby, acquired a puppy, and moved across the country, we chose to do our Christmas "card" on this blog instead of the traditional in-the-mail kind. It felt a little lame, but spared so much stress and was so budget-friendly that the happiness of it outweighed the lameness of it. And to my surprise, we got an overwhelmingly positive response to our new method! So...here we are again. 

We love and are grateful for each of you. Truly. We have been blessed with family and friends so wonderful and numerous that it takes our breath away. For the first time in a long time, our life has felt sweetly stable and consistent this past year. We know it won't last forever, but have been greatly enjoying it while it does. Thank you all for your wonderful-ness, love, and support of our family! At this time of year, we are especially mindful of and grateful for the Son of God, born as a poor baby boy to loving parents so many years ago. Every good thing in our lives is a result of Him, His atonement, and the truths taught in his gospel. We are are so blessed.

Merry Christmas! 

Love,

The Servino Family

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MALACHI (16 months):

* proficient climber * happy laugher * blessedly gifted sleeper * quick smiler * speaker of  "Dada" and "uh" (meaning everything that is not David) * daily cupboard-contents extractor * profuse kisser * refuser of all four very cute, handmade-by-Grandma blankets and, instead, intense lover of one really old, ratty, hand-me-down pair of too-small, brown footie pj's (whatever!)

DANE (3 1/2 yrs):

* train and car lover * #1 absolute dog adorer * family comedian * outdoor preferer * confident stranger approacher and conversationalist * grandparent entertainer * sure but illogical reasoner * kitchen cooking/baking assistant * silverware putter-awayer * music lover * aspiring monster (what he says he would like to be when he grows up)

HAVEN (5 1/2 yrs) :

* happy kindergartener * art creator * pickle and pomegranate consumer * cat and horse desirer * new reader! * shoe tie-er * tender-hearted friend * patient and attentive big sister * piano experimenter * finally jeans wearer, but still sparkle-bling-skirt preferer * passionate loud outfit chooser * sans-training-wheels bike rider * constant snuggler * independent swimmer

ELIJAH (7 1/2yrs):

* second grader * first-time football player * voracious nighttime reader * bike lover * hot chocolate seeker * piano player * beta fish and snake desirer * sibling tickler and wrestler * witty joker * careful observer * deep-end swimmer and diver * table setter * very nearly Book of Mormon completer * outdoor and recess enjoyer

LINDSEY (30! yrs):

* content mother * furniture refinisher * first-time marathon trainee (Myrtle Beach, Feb 16th) * long-term care  (very) part-time nurse * piano teacher * book reader * proud miter saw owner * deep-South true enjoyer * school lunch packer * homework cheerleader and enforcer * ecstatic USMC Mud-Run completer * quick laugher * good-night's-sleep appreciator

DAVID (32 yrs): 

* Dept of Veterans Affairs marriage and family therapist * "Movember" enthusiastic participant * good book enjoyer * Italian food seeker * first-time USMC Mud Run participant and probable team MVP (he sort of had to throw Lindsey over a number of obstacles she wasn't quite equal to) * Apollo's puppy years survivor * quietly content dad * kid wrestler and cuddler * backyard raker and mower * super supportive husband * Oregon Ducks college football superfan (and we do mean SUPERFAN) *talented musician appreciator

APOLLO (2 yrs):

* young child adorer * excellent short-run companion * Kai's dropped-food consumer * stranger-approaching-the-house warner * happy tennis-ball fetch participant * occasional wooden train-track chewer * contented snuggler *