MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE HAINES FAMILY!

Another year has come and gone. We want to wish all our friends and family a Merry Christmas! We wish we could be closer to do so in person. Here is a quick update on our doings over the past year...
Chris continues to serve in the US Air Force. We left Hawaii in April to move to Wright Patterson Air Force Base which is near Dayton, OH. It was a big change for us. We missed the great tropical beauty of Hawaii and the many wonderful friends we made when we were there. Those memories will be with us always.
We bought a house in Beavercreek, OH, about 11 minutes from Chris's work. He now works with Acquisitions/Test Pilot Program. He recently finished a two month deployment to Dover Delaware where they were running some Flight Tests on the C-5. He ran his first marathon this year - the Air Force Marathon here in Dayton. (You can see some pics on one of our older posts). He loves playing with his boys and loves BYU football (Go Cougs!). He also loves his wife:) and is currently finishing two of the rooms in the basement. He sure is a wonderful husband and father.
Rachael started teaching aerobics again after a 3 1/2 year hiatus in Hawaii. She loves to teach and to spread the love of fitness. She is also busy raising these four rambunctious and wonderful boys. In January she plans on going back to school to work on some pre-reqs for a Master's Program once Ben enters first grade.

Joseph turned 11 this past summer. He is in 6th grade and really enjoys the adventure of Middle School. He loves going to a different classroom for each class and enjoys the social scene of meeting lots of new people. He played his first year of tackle football. He loves to read and has read all the Twilight Books, Harry Potter series, Hunger Games, Tennis Shoes among the Nephites, and also the Rick Riordan Olympian series. He is always joking and brings a lot of "fun" into our family. And did I mention he is now babysitting for us! Hallelujah!

Jacob turned 8 years old in October and is in the 2nd grade. It was wonderful to see him get baptized this year. Search through the old posts if you want to see the pictures.
He played basketball at the beginning of the year when we lived in Hawaii, and also played tackle football. He loved it and would often tell me he was excited to go "crash some skulls" on the way to practice. He was diagnosed with dyslexia this year, which explained some of his reading struggles but he works very hard to overcome that and is improving a lot. His favorite subjects are art, math, and science. He is a very hard worker and the first to get his chores done!


Samuel turned 6 in October and is in the 1st grade. He is a great little piano player and very smart student. He comes home from school and practices the piano and does his reading without even being asked. He has an amazing mind and picks things up very easily. He is our little Einstein. He is a wonderful helper to Mom. He helped me make 30 bottles of minestrone soup to pass out at Christmas. He is a sweet boy!








Ben is our little 3 1/2 year old. He may be the youngest, but he is not afraid to hold his own with his older brothers. He is so much fun. He loves to give mom and dad great big hugs and kisses. He started preschool this year and really enjoys that. He loves having his friend Howie come over and play. Mom is teaching him how to read and he is doing really well. He loves sports and will often tell Dad or Joseph to play football with him. This is interpreted as, "chase after me and tackle me". He is a joy in our home!



We wish you all a wonderful holiday season. I am always grateful this time of year to reflect on the birth of our Savior. He came to the world in humble circumstances and learned line upon line, grace by grace. I am grateful for his example of love and for his atonement that allows me to repent and become clean again. That is the best gift he could give.

Love, Chris, Rachael, Joseph, Jacob, Samuel and Ben

The University of Dayton Creche exhibit

Our friend Steve Merrill suggested we take the kids today to the University of Dayton library to see the international creche display. I am so glad we did! We all had a wonderful time. They had nativity displays from all over the world. It was interesting to see how the different cultures displayed their "personalities" into the designs of the nativities.

For example, the Navajo Nativity had all the characters dressed in traditional Indian/SouthWest dress. The Nigerian nativity was all carved in a dark local wood and the facial characteristics reflected the country of origin. The organizers passed out a pamphlet with characters from the displays and challenged the kids to see if they could find the display number for each character listed in the pamphlet. (I think there were probably 100 different creches.) What a fabulous way to engage the kids. They loved it!

Jacob's Baptism

We had a wonderful event Wednesday night! Jacob was baptized. It is amazing to think he has reached the age of accountability. Opa Austin gave a talk about baptism, explaining that even though Jesus led a sinless life, he was baptized to set an example for all of us. Together they talked about how baptism represents the birth of a new person - just as the Savior died and was resurrected, we are buried under the water and brought forth clean and forgiven.

After the baptism, Grandpa Haines gave a wonderful talk about receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. He shared how the Holy Ghost can help guide and direct us in our life and lead us to things that will keep us safe and will protect us. One of the stories he shared was about his conversion to the church. He was 31 year old when he was baptized. His wife was in the process of being taught by the missionaries. He initially wanted nothing to do with it, but listened in the other room to the things that they taught. On one of these days that the missionaries were in his home, he heard a voice clearly say to his mind that the things he had been taught were true. He said he looked around to see if someone else was there, because of the power and clarity of the voice. Then he heard the words "Tell them you want to be baptized!". He could not deny the clarity of the message and of course told the missionaries that he was ready to be baptized!

Afterward, we had several friends over for a delicious soup bar of split pea, turkey noodle and white chicken chili.

I am so pleased to see Jacob make this decision to be baptized, and through the power of the preisthood receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. He is an amazing boy!

Lifting Burdens

Watched this today and was strengthened by it! I wanted to pass it along to all...
I love you all...
Rachael:>

Halloween Fun

We went over to the community center yesterday and carved pumpkins. The kids had a great time carving pumpkins, and also loading down on sugar-laden cookies and hot chocolate. Only two more weeks for Halloween!!

The Air Force Marathon

September 19th Chris ran the Air Force Marathon. Our friends Beau and Sandra which were in our ward in Hawaii, but currently live in Baltimore, came out to run it also. No, I did not run in it - I watched the kiddies!

A Visit from Chris's Folks

Chris's parents, Larry and Priscilla, came to visit in September over the Labor Day Weekend. Here are some shots of us on a short hike to an ancient Indian Mound. The plaque next to it said it was either as a lookout, or as a large burial site. It is about 30 min from our house.

Summer Road Trip

We went on a week long summer adventure the second week in July. We covered about 1500 miles in one week. It was jam packed but we created lots of great memories
We were heading toward New Jersey for some meetings Chris attended for work. On the way we stopped in Philadelphia and saw the Liberty Bell.

This is the room where the Constitutional Convention occured. The original woodowork still remains. How amazing to see this room where the miracle of the Declaration of Independence was sparked and a new nation formed!

They have even preserved the old outhouses, though they are not open for public use. Joseph had to "go" really bad!



These are some cool planes on display at McGuire AFB. My little Ben LOVES planes! He has to check out any plane he sees. The large plane is the C-141 which Chris flew before the C-17. the smaller plane is an F-4 - the fighter plane of the Vietnam Era.



We left McGuire a few days later and headed north. On the way, we stopped at Liberty Park and took a ride out to the Statue of Liberty. It was a beautiful day, sky clear and in the mid-70's. Lady Liberty was a beauty and it was a special event to talk with the kids about how she came to the United States. "Give me your tired and your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free, the wretched refuse from your teeming shores..."





Afterwards we headed up to Connecticut to visit with Chris's sister Linda and her husband Steve. I can't believe it but I didn't get a picture of all of us. I guess that means we will just have to get together again! We enjoyed hiking on their property and also eating ice cream at Rich's Dairy. Delicious.


Then we headed to Palmyra New York to attend the Hill Cumorah Pageant.

Here is a family shot of all of us!

Joseph and Ben in front of American Falls
Sammy hamming it up in front of Horseshoe Falls
We finished out our trip by heading to Niagara Falls, NY. We parked the car and walked the path to see the great American Falls and Horseshoe Falls. They are massive and powerful. At Horseshoe Falls, the force of the water hitting the bottom of the falls creates a pervasive mist. The mist is everywhere! Standing at the top, you are encompassed by the mist.

Summer Fun

Some various pictures of our summer activities. They have this enormously long slide at one of the local parks. The kids like to take large squares of waxed paper to sit on and oh my goodness they travel down fast!

Sam is in the purple, in the process of hitting the softball. Joseph is in the bright orange playing catcher. He is also playing softball this summer.

The Art of Corn Hole

So we learned shortly after arriving here that to become natives of Ohio we needed to learn the fine art of "Corn Hole". This is a big deal here!! It's like the Midwest's version of horseshoes. The idea is to throw your bag filled with corn feed through the hole of the board opposite from you. We play in teams and I usually get the pants beat off me. (Well not literally). My brother Chris and his wife Malia visited a few weekends ago and we were able to indoctrinate them in the art of Corn Hole!

Happy Birthday MOM!!

Today is my mom's birthday. I am happy to brag that she is now 60 years old. You would never know. She is beautiful inside and out!! I love her and am amazed by the fabulous woman she is! Love you Mom...

Happy Father's Day

BEFORE WATCHING, SCROLL DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE AND PAUSE THE BLOG PLAYLIST!This is a little late for Father's Day! I am so happy to have many wonderful fathers in my life. My father that taught me to work hard and to do my best in everything. My father-in-law who is a great example of selflessness. My sweet husband who provides for us and makes the effort to create fun memories for his children. Most of all, a loving Father in Heaven who knows us and loves us despite our weaknesses and imperfections.
Take a moment and watch this video and you will not be disappointed.

Pictures from Paradise

My friend and neighbor in Hawaii took these darling photos of us right before we left the island. I am so glad she did. As I look through them, they bring back all the wonderful memories of living in that special place.

The Oreo cookie room

We call this the Oreo cookie room. I love it!! It turned out great. As you can see, most of the house had previously been a dusty pink and then painted over with a whitish gray. It has been a lot of work getting this house ready, but I am finding that that process is quite enjoyable.

How much do I love to garden?

Saturday we spent the entire day doing yard work. First at the church to beautify the ground there. Then at our own house. We spread two yards of mulch on all the flower beds and filled up two container gardens with two more yards of mushroom mulch. We are excited to plant our vegetable garden tomorrow afternoon!!

This is a view of the front of the house...

Ben standing in front of the flowerbed along the front walk way.

Sam is having fun in front of the woodpile in the back yard.