Christmas Cards

Well I know I am a slacker but Thursday I FINALLY got all my Christmas cards off in the mail!! Way to go ME!



December 2008

Dear Friends and Family,

It is already that time of year, for me to sit down and type our annual Christmas letter. I can definitely say this has been “One Happenin’ Year”! We have tried many new adventures, and even took some chances and now hold dear many new accomplishments!

Last November Marko started doing technical work on his own, almost like his own business. He has been thrilled doing work he loves and even being able to work a decent schedule most days! He has frequently worried about what to do IF work dries up, but so far nothing we see shows any signs of drying up! Then in September he was contacted by an employer who is having him do similar work- even better pay and even more hours. So now he is working by contract but still basically for himself. He is considered a “preferred provider” in both organizations he has worked through. His exciting personal non-work accomplishment would be his concealed gun permit. Oh brother is he ever happy with that!

Nothing special with me work wise. I celebrated my 5th year working at Burger King in management and I celebrated my 3rd year as the main manager, RGM. My big accomplishment for the year most friends have already heard of, but Dad and I did the MS150 bike ride to help raise money for the MS society. We rode from Lewisburg, WV to Snowshoe, about 150 miles. We not only met our minimal money needed but surpassed our goal of doubling the minimum by $44! We registered for MS 2009 as well and will soon start our training regiment! As we do every year at BK, I attended a manager’s conference, except this year I was given the pleasure of being the co-pilot which was lots of fun even landing in Hershey, PA right close to John McCain and Sarah Palin’s planes when they were doing talks on Oct 30 and 31.

Anthony Robert turned either 4 or 1 on Leap Day February 29, 2008 with a Kangaroo themed party at a bounce house! He successfully “passed” his 3 year old class at school and had to leave behind his awesome teacher and is now in the four year old class… also known as Pre-K!! His current love is video games and WOW is he good. He frequently beats Daddy on the Xbox and Mommy on the Wii and gets super excited! The kids got a trampoline this winter/spring and have enjoyed hours of non stop jumping and are yet to allow any amount of hot, cold, rain or snow prohibit their jumping. Anthony can even do a full flip in the air! He completed his second year of soccer with the YMCA and scored the most goals of anyone on his team!

Jayna Olivia, what should I mention about our little fashion diva? She had her 3rd Birthday on April 20th, 2008 at the huge indoor playground at church completely themed as Flip Flops because Jayna has a true love and obsession for them! She even got some as a gift and stopped open presents just to try them on. Jayna has her own fashion sense and loves to play dress up, wear Mommy’s make up, and even lets mommy practice her new hobby- hair styles. Jayna started her first year of preschool and loves it. She also did soccer, and we’ll just state that we won’t waste our time or money with that again. We plan on starting Gymnastics after Christmas, much more her style. Jayna loves playing babies, and house make believe with her kitchen and heels and purses. She too enjoys the trampoline and is always asking Mommy to come and jump! She talks non stop and is full of life and energy.

And our huge accomplishment, for the first time ever…. We have NO house guests!!! It is just our family! We have enjoyed the previous 5 years with my best friend and her husband, Marko’s brother Derek, my brother Zac, Marko’s brother Ray, My sister Karlee and various pets belonging to the people who stayed with us living with us, but I must say I LOVE having my OWN house, with my OWN 4 bedrooms and my OWN space! This month we are celebrating our 5th Wedding Anniversary. So many things have changed in 5 years, and yet some thing have remained the same! I can say We have so much to be thankful for and we have been so richly blessed. You turn on the news and realize just how much you truly have during what is a very difficult economic time for so many others. We have watched too many friends and family and newborns of friends die this year and just in that we know we are blessed.

I hope your family has a joyous holiday season and remember to be thankful for the many blessings in which you have been given. Have a safe and happy year to come!

Love Always,

The Sykes Family

Marko, Bethany, Anthony, and Jayna


Feel free to visit our family blog through out the year with heards of pictures and updates:

http://bethanysykes.blogspot.com