Don and Linda - January 2009

Dear Family and Friends,

Perhaps you noticed you didn’t hear from the Snyder’s this Christmas. Life was just too busy and I was just too slow to get it out. We had a wonderful holiday with some great family time and it definitely was white. It’s been great hearing from many of you over the holidays. Thank you for taking the time and thinking about us.
So, this year you get a “Family Update” from 2008. Our lives are rich and full. We are grateful for our good health and employment. Prayers have been answered and we are reminded how much we need our Heavenly Father. We are indebted for the miracles and blessings of the Priesthood.

CHRIS is still employed at ATK (space, defense and aerospace contractor.) He loves working with things that explode. He’s been taking college classes each semester and doing well, coaches indoor/outdoor soccer, spends a lot of time with his family doing fun things, loves – camping, fishing, golfing, has been married 12 years.
Melissa enjoys her time with the High School Color Guard team and they have done well in competitions. They have a trip planned to Disneyland to perform next month. She still works in the Pharmacy and teaches Pharmacy Tech classes at the Tech College. She has a great family blog that keeps us informed with great photos.
Austin is 10 and in the 5th grade. He plays indoor/outdoor soccer, basketball and does clogging. He rode a sheep at the County Fair, played “Professor Snow-it-All” in the school Christmas program (great singing and dancing). He loves to play any kind of game and is so good with all of his younger cousins.
Taylee is 7 and in the 2nd grade. She is getting taller ( her legs longer) and her hair is cut short so she looks very grown up. She lost her first tooth just before Christmas. She loves school, socializing, Hannah Montana, Cheering and Dancing. She offers to help with anything when she comes over and it is greatly appreciated.
Brinley will turn 4 in March. Her hair is lighter red than the other girls in her family. It used to be long but thanks to some gum, it’s now short and cute. She’s in preschool a couple of days a week and enjoys being home with mom the rest of the time. She likes dancing, her princess back pack and playing in the snow.

MATT has moved to Bloomington, Indiana and is in Graduate School at IU in a program called Human Computer Interaction design. They sold their home quickly in SLC last spring and so got to live with us for the summer until they moved. We loved having them here and getting to know the boys better before they left. We miss them all.
Amy has adjusted to college-wife wife and seeing her husband whenever possible. She’s made some good friends and shopping partners. Her goal this year is to learn to make stained-glass windows. She helps entertain/host neighbors and Matt’s fellow classmates. They had a fun trip to Louisville, Kentucky over the holiday. She has a great family blog too.
Jackson will be 4 in May. He’s not a little boy anymore but growing tall. He enjoys a fun preschool group and taking his lunch. He’s a Sunbeam and in Amy’s class. He took swim lessons, his favorite color is green and has fun playing with Gray. He has been on several fun outings around their new town and made some good friends.
Gray is 18 months old and his favorite word is “NO!” He loves to keyboard with Dad and vacuum with Mom. He is very vocal and pretty much runs the family. He adds a heightened level of excitement to their home and is full of energy and has a fun personality. His favorite color is yellow and he was Superman for Halloween.

MICHELLE is a busy dairy-farmer’s wife. She loves gardening and working in her yard. She built a wooden fence around the garden & re-built a retaining wall where flowers are going. She’s done some fun things decorating inside too. She teaches piano lessons, plays volleyball & basketball & has found that school runs their life now.
Shane is the busy dairy farmer in charge of hiring/firing, vet checks, milk testing, etc. He likes shooting his new pistol & large remote-controlled jeeps. His latest hobby is wood-burning leather/wood in western scenes. Serves on the Star Valley Conservation District; introduced us to the game “Settlers of Catan” which we now love.
Ellie is 6 and goes to all-day kindergarten. She catches the bus at 7 am and it’s very dark and cold in December at that time. She loves the bus ride, her teacher, cold lunch and reading. She played softball and soccer and is a big help at home. She got to move into her new bedroom downstairs and takes piano lessons.
Devin will be 4 next month. He is now the “man of the house” during the day and enjoys his time with Mom and Reagan. But if he ever has a choice, it’s outside to work with Dad or Grandpa Crook. He likes to help cook and can follow-through with his chores. He is a good big-brother and has the cutest sense of humor.
Reagan is 2 ½. She learned to walk by pushing a stroller/walker & can take some steps by herself. She has a mouth full of sharp teeth, helps with the laundry, blows kisses and can “say” the prayer now. She is still the best sleeper in the house and she definitely does not like the physical therapy visits. She looks cute in her glasses.

LAURA is heavily involved with the Department of Child & Family Services – both as a foster mom, a peer-parent & with the local Foster Parent group here. She attends lots of meetings, is good at “juggling” schedules, coached Collins’ soccer team and is learning to sew on her new machine. In free time she exercises, scrapbooks or cleans.
Ryan is an Agronomist and is still working for the USDA up on campus. He works on different plant research projects. He is a hard worker and traveled to Texas for some training. He has started in a Graduate program at USU this semester. He loves to shoot his new gun and tease his mother-in-law. He plays basketball too.
Collins is 6 and a 1st grader who loves school, reading, soccer and swimming. He cracked his head open (bumped heads with a kid at the bottom of a waterslide), got a brain concussion, had surgery & a metal plate put in his head. He was recently released from the doctor’s care at Primary Children’s Hospital & can do any activities now, even recess. We are thankful for his recovery & appreciate all the fasting and prayers in his behalf. We know they were answered.

BRIAN , honorably returned from the Houston Texas Mission. He loved the people and the work there. We love having him home and see great maturity in him. He’s had knee surgery from an accident on his mission. He works as the Head Chef in the Deli at the Macey’s grocery store and does a great job. He’s attending Utah State University and likes learning. Last summer he met a cute girl on a blind date (actually she was the “substitute” for the blind date). Now they are engaged and plan to be married in August 2009. She already seems a part of our family and we love her very much.

DON had knee #2 replaced during the summer and he’s glad to have it behind him. Just before school started he got to ride his horse for the first time in 2 years. He is teaching 2 classes this semester and still does some traveling (I try to tag along whenever I can). He’s trying to overcome a throat/voice/speaking problem and has seen some improvement with therapy. He loves being a grandpa and has lots of patience with me and my many “projects”.

LINDA had a great time traveling cross-country with Matt to Indiana in a huge Penske Truck, pulling their car and pretending like we were truckers. We enjoyed seeing some new country along the way and even recognized some church history names. There are trees & green grass the further east of Wyoming you go. I have been consumed in a project called “The History of the Don Snyder Family” which I have loved doing. I appreciate all the help and input of many. I didn’t get it done in time for Christmas but I’m close now.

We hosted two really fun family reunions during the summer. The Don Snyder Reunion had several firsts: pit-roasted pig BBQ; all the kids and grandkids together, an officially designed t-shirt, water-slide, outdoor movie, shot-gun/hand-gun shooting, and swimming at the High School. We had lots of good food, visiting and family memories. And we even got a good family photo!
Second, we hosted the extended Snyder Family Reunion and had a great turnout. As our children spread out and move further from Utah it’s increasingly difficult for everyone to come. But we really appreciate the effort made. People were camping in tents, campers, on the lawn, in the house – everywhere. Food and visiting were in abundance. It was fun to see the cousins getting reacquainted with spouses and children. Don’s mom would be pleased to see her tradition of 30+ years continued. This time we (Don’s brothers and sisters/spouses) felt like the “older” generation. Thanks, mom.
And so, our year has ended and a new one started. We hope and pray that you are well and meeting the challenges of life. Our faith in Jesus Christ is what makes it do-able and our families make it worth it. We have counted our blessings and find ourselves rich in the things of the spirit. Take care. We love you and appreciate your care and friendship.

The Don Snyder’s