Christmas Letter 2013

Greetings and Merry Christmas 2013! 

Life always changes when you least expect it to. In February, we received news that rocked our life in New Hampshire. We went to visit Minnesota, to celebrate my mom’s 60th Birthday! We were shocked to hear my mom had “just an isolated tumor” that showed up under her armpit during a routine mammogram. Only to find out there was more, much more in my mothers CAT-scan. My mother was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkins and non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. She received an aggressive form of chemotherapy every three weeks. Besides being exhausted and having food aversions, she handled chemo pretty well and even managed to work part-time to full-time at work. In June, the lymphoid under her arm became infected and she was hospitalized twice. That was scary for us, especially my mom. In August, her doctor told her that she was responding to her treatment well, but there were still some spots in her pelvis that needed attention. After another biopsy and 2 more chemo treatments, my mom was told that she was officially in reemission on Halloween! Life is just so fragile and my mom undoubtedly was blessed with a miracle! Feel free to check out her journey at www.caringbridge.org/visit/suemasson.

Before we left New Hampshire at the end of March, we celebrated Ronnie’s cousin Sean’s wedding in Boston! The last weekend in March, Ronnie and I packed up what we needed and moved the kids and myself back to Minnesota to help out my mom. The kids and I settled in with my parents while Ronnie packed up the rest of our house in New Hampshire. Ronnie lived with good friends of ours in Nashua, until he got paperwork approval to move him back to Minnesota to join us. The boys finished their last 2 months of the year of school at Saint Anthony Park Elementary in St. Paul. They adjusted very quickly with good friends and great teachers! In May, I went to visit Ronnie-with NO kids!- in New Hampshire for a long weekend and we had the best time! We spent two days in Boston staying in a nice hotel, shopping, seeing the sites and eating a fancy dinner. Then we spent the last couple of days in New Hampshire restaurant hopping, a movie, vineyard, and a fun afternoon with our friends, the Bedards. It was a great break to all the stress of the snowy Minnesota spring and the move. In June, Ronnie finally got orders for relocation back to Minnesota! Upon arrival, Ronnie also used some vacation time! We had a blast driving up to Fargo and staying with family! We also spent a couple days at Ronnie’s Uncle’s cabin! We really had a blast! The remainder of the summer was busy and fun!

Ronnie works at the Army St. Paul Midway Recruiting Station and also on the University of Minnesota ROTC campus. He keeps busy and is great at his job! Ronnie flew down to Florida to spend a long weekend with his sisters the first weekend in December! He had a great time and even got to spend some time with his cousins, Jim and Dave, who both live in Florida! We also received great news that Ronnie tested out of his last class to graduate, so, as we speak, he is now in the process of applying for graduation and getting through finals! He’ll get a bachelors degree in political science! We couldn’t be prouder of him!

I have been busy enjoying my life as a stay at home mom! I know that these years can’t last forever, but I am cherishing my kiddos as much as possible! They grow up too fast! I volunteer for the kids’ field trips and in the classroom when the opportunity arises. Vivian and I attend ECFE (Early Childhood Family Education) once a week. Between being with the kids and playdates with friends, I have no idea where the days go. I try to keep sane with some yoga or working out. I also enjoy painting when I can. In spite of my lack of sanity (haha), I smile everyday at my children and I am proud of who they are becoming!

Hayden is going to be 8 years old in a couple weeks and is in 2nd grade! Both he and Wyatt attend Saint Anthony Park Elementary in St. Paul. Hayden is super sweet and thoughtful, however, Ronnie and I can vouch that this age has attitude! He loves playing hockey, soccer, baseball, basketball, flag football! He really has gotten into the show Ninja Warrior where contestants try to finish obstacle courses. Hayden “trains” everywhere on playgrounds, backyards and even in our back hallway! Everything about school makes Hayden happy! He just loves it! Hayden is so funny and enjoys to tell jokes! He treasures his friendships and his family.

Wyatt will let you know that he’s   6 1/2 years old and not a day less! Wyatt is so kind and will always be our snuggle bug! He is so sensitive but has strong, thoughtful opinions…I have NO idea where he gets that from?! haha He loves sports like his big brother and really enjoys his friends! Wyatt enjoys all sports as Hayden except hockey. Wyatt and Hayden even tried Tae-Kwon-Doe and really enjoyed it. We are hoping to fit it into their schedule after the holidays! Wyatt also does cartwheels wherever he goes! He always has a unique way of looking at the world. Wyatt really loves his 1st grade class! He loves math and science! 

Vivian turned 3 years old in August! She attends preschool 3 days a week at Roseville Lutheran Nursery School! She loves socializing with her friends! She surprises me daily with her crazy and sweet personality! She is so stubborn, entertaining and bright! She is always busy and loves to run a muck with her brothers and her cousin Maddy! She makes friends wherever she goes! Vivian just started Sunday School this year with her brothers and I think she just likes that she goes to some kind of “school” with them. She adores her boys!

We are all so thrilled to be living close, once again, in Minnesota! Our lives are full and blessed with my mother’s recovered health scare, new life (my brother, Bart and Tina are having a little boy in May!!) and continuous love of friendships and family! This is what its all about!

We wish you a loving and warm Christmas season! We hope your New Year is always filled with hope, goals and dreams!

We love you all!

Ronnie, Clare, Hayden, Wyatt and Vivian

A Whole New World...

Since my children are with me most of the time, I have had Radio Disney on in the car. During the lunch hour, they have Disney Junior music during that consists of preschool type music or songs from Disney movies. Otherwise, it's modern teeny bopper music. Yesterday, "A Whole New World" from Aladdin came on the radio. I felt like I was 11 years old again. I knew the song word for word and could recall how I felt at that age, especially about love. Love by definition is beautiful and untouchable but is much more complicated as an adult. To me at the mature age of 11, (haha) love was a constant and thrilling feeling. A sense of freedom and everlasting life. I dreamt that I would meet that special person and instantly know my place in his world and he would know his place in mine. Love is a hard feeling to describe. I giggle at my innocent idea about love at that age but feel proud that I feel I have replicated but evolved it so well into my adult life. Ronnie and I still look at each other as if we have just met. I especially look at Ronnie when he talks passionately about something or smiles or while he talks with a friend or when he spends quality time with our children. We aren't always perfect to one another, but we always are trying to be better people to each other and build our love so it can grow. What I find funny is that Ronnie and I have the same New Year Goal-I dislike the word "Resolution" because I don't like to resolve. I like to continuously grow. We both want to be better spouses and better parents. I believe with that comes better ability to take care of ourselves, to be better friends and to live a happier life. 2013 is for brushing our shoulders off and starting a whole new world.

Happy New Year!