Our 2011 ABC list...

If you've been reading Delicious as Pie for any length of time at all, you know that I inject creativity into just about everything I do. So when it comes to the annual Christmas letter, I can't just dash of a few paragraphs, can I?

Nope.

Instead I write the D___ Family's ABCs of 2011 (or whatever year we happen to be finishing). Now I can't take complete credit for the ABC's. I have to get the family involved so that if anything significant is forgotten, it's not my fault alone! (LOL)

And so, Delicious Readers, here are the D___ family alphabetical highlights from 2011!!!

Awarded! Scott received 2 Hustle Awards and a Regional Outstanding Engineer Award

Bronze Award (Girl Scouts)—Emma made blankets for Project Linus to earn this award

Confirmed at church in May—Hayley

Disney the Dog (a sheepadoodle) is our newest family member

Emma made Honor Roll and ATC (Above the Crowd) in her first trimester of middle school!

Finding Truth is Kate’s first novel. She finished it in October and is now looking to publish it.

Girl Scouts! Hayley and Emma are both in a multi-level troop which Kate leads.

Hayley started high school this year and loves it! She, too, made the Honor Roll!

In July, Emma went to church camp for a week and Hayley went camping with friends.

      January found Kate in Chicago visiting two of her BFFs for a few days   

Kate manages the middle school student store

Long drive up north three times this year to spend time with Kate’s family to celebrate brother Will’s 40^th, Matthew’s baptism and Thanksgiving

Music in the house—Hayley continues to delight us with her piano playing

November was National Novel Writers Month—Kate wrote 50K words and Hayley wrote 20K

Oh what joy to find a 100% hypoallergenic dog!

Presidential Award for Academic Excellence—Emma received this award last June

Quite the trip—Hayley spent 5 days in Philly, NYC and DC with her eighth grade class in April

Regarding said trip, Hayley raised almost $800 with her card-making business to help pay for it

Sea kayaking—Scott and Kate tried this in La Jolla Cove. So fun!

TV-Emma made her TV debut while singing with her school choir this year

Upgraded (for free) to the Presidential Suite at the Hollywood Marriott—3200 sq. feet of fancy!

Visitors: Barbara, Ken, Will, Gillian, Sophia, Melanie and Gabrielle

Wicked—Hayley saw her first Broadway show in NYC

    Xciting that Disney graduated from Puppy Training 1! (And he, too, made the Honor Roll(over)!(Hahahaha!)

     Year’s favorite book (according to Kate): Love, Ruby Lavender

     Zowie! We saved thousands of dollars this year by couponing