Christmas Letter 2008

Written by Chad Clifford
The Cliffords are doing well in San Diego just loving life each day. This is what we were up to during 2008:
Andrew (2) We believe that our son Andrew, who is so terribly two, is the physical, living, walking, talking (elf-like gibberish) image of the boy Calvin of the famous “Calvin & Hobbes” comic books. Buddy Love has us mentality at the brink of insanity and physically exhausted to the point that the Iron Man race in Hawaii looks like a morning jog. We were just laughing/crying about our episode of taking Andrew out to eat at Pei Wei. Andrew loves the movie Kung Fu Panda. He karate chops everything in sight and he throws flying roundhouse kicks at chairs, tables and especially human legs attached to family members or perfect strangers. It hurts! Some of Andrew’s antics are pretty aggravating like when he runs out of the restaurant laughing like a hyena and plays “Frogger” with the cars in the busy parking lot. But some of his “stuff” is really funny. For example, whenever he hears music – especially hip-hop that has a good beat – he just starts dancing and grooving like a wild man. Andrew can cut-a-rug like a well-trained Latin hip-swinging rumba king at Carnival in Rio.
Andrew is quite the orator although no one knows what he’s talking about. He does have some favorite words like Poo Poo (Michele… Andrew needs a change) and Thanks – because he is so spoiled and everyone gives him what he wants. He thinks he is a trendsetter and fashion icon. Andrew is too cool to wear just one watch. He wears 2 watches, an iron man watch to show off his manly side and a pink Disney princess watch to honor his older sisters. It’s the new Swatch trend of 2008 to wear multiple watches. It’s big in Paris. He also carries around his Curious George lunch pale loaded with goodies. He demands his snacks whenever his cravings happen to hit. Andrew loves the movie Cars, Kung Fu Panda and Alvin & The Chipmunks. He loves his Blankie, throwing balls and kicking soccer balls with Dad.
Emily (7) There’s a word for Emily that fits her perfectly – Exceptional – meaning unusually outstanding. Emily is the model of perfection in everything she does. She begs to practice on the piano. She does her homework without asking. She’ll be found off reading her books in a quiet corner of the house. It’s really quite amazing. 2008 has been a year of losing for Emily. She has lost a mouthful of teeth. The tooth fairy is crying “Uncle” under the enormous financial strain and it appears like she won’t get her government bailout after her latest antic of “flying” into Washington on her “special” wings. Emily’s doctor encouraged her to lose her tonsils and adenoids. She was so brave and quite the trooper while under going the surgery. Emily took the promise of unlimited ice cream and gummy bears to the fullest extent under the law. She was so stoked to get her food rewards that she literally was running into the operating room asking for the fruity gas hoping to get the procedure done and make way for unlimited treats. The power of the gummy is not to be underestimated.
Emmy is the quite the hip-hop dancer and part-time rapper. She has a little stuffed dog labeled “Chilly Willy” that raps and Emily has mastered the Chilly Rap perfectly. Emily is going to make 50 Cent look like Vanilla Ice at the R&B awards next year. Emily wants to shout out to her peeps to catch her on ABC in March – she’ll be the one wearing the gold grill. Emily not only raps but also loves all music and musicals like Wicked and has extended her career into acting in Hairspray and Annie. She is quite the sports animal. She loves gymnastics and soccer. Emily was the shutdown mid-fielder and scoring machine on her soccer team, “The Coyotes.” She’ll dominate the league next year. Emily as well as Kate have a new nickname - “Triple Threat” – model looks, Rhode scholar brains and crazy athletic skills.
Kate (10) That’s right, Double Digits. This new achievement has ushered in some new “challenges” that directly affect me as the father. I’ve always joked about having a plethora of bats, num chucks and shotguns to keep the boys away. Kate is truly a beautiful young lady and the time is going to be soon at hand where I’ve got to limber up and get ready to go to battle. I’ve encouraged Kate to wear ugly brown gunnysacks and she still shines and looks as cute as ever. I’m in trouble.
Kate is truly the “Triple Threat”. She loves her sports. Kate's soccer team just took 1st Place in Regionals. She has scored some critical goals and she has improved tremendously. We’ve come along way from the old days of tickling her friends and picking the grass on the field to dominating the offense zone and giving the shake and bake to helpless defenders. I’m starting to cry just thinking of how great it is to have kids who like sports. Katie made honor roll and is acing the 4th grade. Kate is also in gymnastics and hip-hop. She’s got some J-Lo in her just like her mommy. She likes to move it. Kate and Emily are quite the pair and they do a lot of fun sister things together like acting in Hairspray and Annie and learning piano. Kate is an animal bike rider and snow skier. Christmas will be fun in Utah with all snow.
Michele (29) The girls get the status of “Triple Threat” from the original Triple Threat. There’s only one way to describe Michele for 2008 – on fire. Michele gives and gives and then gives a little more. I’m exhausted just thinking of what she does each day. She loves being a mom first and foremost. She devotes her life to the kids in a manner that is incredible. Michele volunteers for EVERYTHING at school and gives of her time as Homeroom Mom, Soccer Team Mom and volunteer in the girl’s classrooms. She goes to almost every activity and always has a camera. The camera is actually surgically attached to her hand. She records everything. It’s like having a pictorial photo journal of our family’s activities.
If you think that between her current calling in the Stake Young Women’s Presidency and working at the temple and running kids to every activity known to man, there’s little time for fun, you’re wrong. She helped plan her parent’s 50th Wedding Anniversary. She made a DVD presentation that had great music and photos of their marriage. See what I mean about the Triple Threat? 2008 wasn’t all work. Michele and I went to the musical Wicked in Los Angeles for her birthday, took a family cruise in April with some great friends from Utah in April, attended numerous San Diego Padres games, caught some Anaheim Ducks hockey games in Orange County, and of course made plenty of trips to Disneyland, Sea World, Legoland, Old Town San Diego and the beach. We also took the crew to Colorado for huge family reunion. Michele and I went on a Pioneer Trek with the youth of our Stake this summer. It was a special time for us.
Chad (29ish) Strangely, Michele threw me a 40th year birthday party although I’m only 29. It was an 80s party and everyone who came dressed the part. It was the best party I’ve ever attended let alone hosted. That event sparked a revolt of responsibility and I quickly decided to go into a midlife crisis of fun. I threw myself violently into a dizzying spiral of surfing, golf and skiing. Surfing is like a relationship with an abusive spouse. She can smash your face into your board leaving a huge hole in your new board that you got for Christmas and then turn around and give you some love and produce a cornucopia of tasty waves on a perfectly windless, sunny day that forces you to pinch yourself to make sure it isn’t a dream. I’m not spoiled – just justly compensated for just being me. I’m just living the dream.
I’m sort of known as a spiritual giant at church and I was finally placed where I could really showcase my gospel knowledge. I was called to be a nursery assistant. Yep, the 1-3 year old crowd literally screams with excitement as I enter the room. I’m like a Beatle when I work that nursery crowd. Okay, Okay, they are screaming at me to give them more crackers and apples during snack time but it still feels great to pretend. I’m also in the world’s greatest calling; 11 year old scout leader. The boys are old enough to have a great time and not old enough to give you boatloads of lip. I love working in the scouting program. It is truly inspired. A huge highlight for all of us Harrison Ford fans came this year too. The long awaited Indiana Jones movie finally was released. I was as happy as a little girl in a build-a-bear store. I got out my Indiana Jones hat and with a couple of families went and saw the movie. It was so fun! Harrison Ford is my favorite actor by the way. I even have an action figure of Han Solo. I’m not crazy – just passionate.
I’m always amazed at how great each year is when I write these Christmas updates. You don’t really get the full picture of how wonderful the year was until you look back at ALL of the great memories that have been created. That is what this life comes down to – a collection of memories and events that will always remain with us. It humbles me to realize how blessed we are. It’s amazing to acknowledge how much we have been given and how much we are loved by family, friends and especially by our Heavenly Father. I encourage all of you to count your blessings and soak up the Christmas spirit that is the spirit of Christ. There’s hope and most importantly love that pours upon us during this special time. We pray that you may create memories during 2009 that brings you true joy. Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
The Cliffords – Chad, Michele, Kate, Emily & Andrew