Merry Christmas From the Kusileks!

We have had a lovely year!  

Wade
year highlights: 

Turning three, potty trained [We wish we could say 100%], 3 stitches on his chin, finished his first preschool class.

At 3 and a half years old, Wade is the tasmanian devil tornado-ing through the house!  He could easily win an award for most unique [annoying] noises.  He is very observant and will often bring up details from a conversation weeks before.  For example, driving to a friend's house I told him what street we were looking for.  More than a week later we were in the same neighborhood and he asked if another friend also lived on "Crabapple"?  I was completely floored, he is always surprising us.  

Wade's a little nervous to try new things sometimes.  This summer Ali wanted to ride with him on a tube at the lake.  He refused, but she pulled him on and said "hang on!" and off they went.  He didn't make a peep through the ride, but was caught nervously smiling :)  

When Wade hears music he always asks what they're singing about.  This keeps our music selection very innocent—A blessing in having curious children to keep us straight!  Once, upon hearing the Mormon Tabernacle Choir women sing he said, "Mom, what's Mary singing about?"  Then the men sang and he asked "Mom, what's Jesus singing about?"

He is fascinated, possibly obsessed, with knives, swords, and all things like unto... Kitchen knives have been found in many places this month, which does not bring comfort and joy to our household.  He just wants to be like the fighter guys on shows he watches (Tangled, Frozen. Thanks Disney)!

We are really tickled to have sweet Wade in our family!!

Hank

Year highlights:
Turning 1, walking & talking, favorite phrase is “Let’s Go” which is more like “Dets doe!”, has had an incredible amount of hair cuts with fast-growing hair.

Hank is 18 months this month!  He is our wild fire child!  His favorite phrase fits him perfectly: always ready to get going, and loves to be around people.  Hank is our acrobat and is often found jumping free-fall style onto things/people.  He flips delightedly over church pews, successfully begs food from strangers, and is into everything!  He has a real sweet tooth, just like his Momma.  Hank is a tease and is found saying “Boo” or roaring his way around the house, ready to be chased and tickled constantly.  We love our “Hanky baby.”

Perris

Year highlights:

Ran a Tough Mudder Race, rappelled down a 30 story building in downtown Minneapolis, successful pheasant hunting, unsuccessful deer hunting, & produced our first family lip sync dance video!

Perris is enjoying Minnesota immensely.  Winter & summer campouts with boy scouts, running and biking, hunting…growing a winter beard…he’s doing it all!  He has a real knack for restoring cast iron skillets/griddles and Ali has appreciated the new cooking method!  He loves serving at church and has worked hard at his job this year.  Perris is always looking for someone he can serve and is a great example and blessing in our family.

Ali

Year highlights:

Honed in on her homemaking skills canning peaches, jam, and chicken all by herself (the full story of which you will never know!), attended a movie all by herself for the first time ever (loved it), and successfully raised [chased] two growing boys with several laughs and tears along the way.

Obviously she is really learning to grow up and do things by herself! Hah! 

Ali also loves living in Minnesota!  She has made some good friends, a few of which are from other cultures which has been a great joy for her.  In May, she enjoyed a trip to see her 5 sisters and parents for the youngest sister’s high school graduation.  She even made time to read two books (!) and has experimented with several leather and sewing creations through the year.

We have had a great year together.  We have been blessed to make a few visits to far away family in Utah and Texas, and we are grateful for the much more frequent visits to our nearby Wisconsin & Minnesota family.  Having Perris’ Mother as a weekly visitor in our home has been marvelous, to say the least. We celebrated 5 years of marriage in June and are full of gratitude for our life together.  We are grateful for the goodness of God in blessing us abundantly.

We have really felt that our activities in the Gospel of Jesus Christ have enhanced our life.  

Wishing for you rich blessings this Christmas season and in the year to come!

Love,

Perris, Ali, Wade, and Hank