The Milne Family: 2011 Christmas Letter

THE MILNE TIMES

Special Christmas Edition

TIMES STAFF KICKS OFF NEW YEAR WITH TRIP TO DISNEY WORLD

Orlando, FL – The Times’ staff began the New Year with a week-long family vacation to Disney World. Exceptional accommodations at a 6 bedroom home complete with game room and heated pool were shared with Nana and Papa Milne, the Yoho cousins and Auntie Tam.

The week was filled with highlights: adults battling for high scores on Toy Story, Jacob riding Big Mountain Railroad and Zachary riding Goofy’s Barn Stormer roller coasters for the first time, and Lydia wondering in amazement of it all.

LOCAL

Teacher of the Year Awards

Private: Mrs. Yoho, Grady Lane Day School. Lacey’s students continue to perform exceptionally well not only academically but in character development. One of the May graduates of her two year pre-school program, Jacob Milne, recently reported to Public Kindergarten reading at the 2nd grade level.

Public: Mrs. Bush and Mrs. Miller, Old Bridge Elementary School. They are outstanding kindergarten teachers who personalize the educational experience for each student. They provided opportunity for first grade level reading and math instruction for one of their new students (Jacob) and, as Christians, have greatly encouraged him in his faith.

New Teacher: Julie Milne, Chancellor Preschool. New to the home schooling ranks, Julie has begun a two day a week Christian based educational program for star pupil Zachary in the Grady Lane Day School tradition. A new garden also provides healthy vegetables for the school lunch program. Julie is a devoted mother of 4 and loving wife. In her spare time she also gives back to the community as a Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) leader.

TRAVEL

Massanutten, VA (4 Stars) - For winter sports enthusiasts, the Times highly recommends a getaway to local Massanutten Resort. Last February, the staff along with Nana and Papa enjoyed three days experiencing many of the local attractions including the indoor waterpark, a full day of skiing on the slopes (a first for Jacob and Zach) and 2 hours of tubing down the 900 foot run.

Myrtle Beach, SC (4 Stars) –The Hopper family of Rock Hill, SC who began traveling to Ocean Lakes Family Campground in Myrtle Beach over 20 years ago returned this June with grown children and grandchil-dren for a memorable reunion. This 310 acre facility boasts one mile of beach front, two pools, an ice cream parlor and a mini-golf course. While there the Hoppers celebrated Zachary’s 4th birthday riding go-karts at the NASCAR Speedpark. The Hopper-Needham team came in 2nd place in the campground’s golf-cart scavenger hunt.

Corolla, NC (4 Stars) - In August, the Times’ staff as part of the Milne/Yoho clan of 23 (12 adults and 11 children) headed to the Outer Banks to vacation together in a 9 bedroom beach house. A pool-deck talent show revealed emerging stars: Zack as an aquatic cannonball, Jacob as a Nerf-gun sharp-shooter, and Dean as a pool-basketball dunking stuntman. Boogie-boarding, sand-castle building, Water Olympics, water balloon launching, and a scavenger hunt rounded out this wet-and-wild adventure.

RELIGION

Woodbridge, VA - First Baptist Church of Woodbridge continues to be a Times favorite. Tuesday night home group is hosted each week at the Milne’s home with two wonderful families (Sipes & Wise) enjoying Bible study and fellowship together.

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS

Dean and Julie Milne proudly welcomed the arrival of their fourth child, Eliza Grace on November 2, 2011 at 8:06 am with both nanas in attendance. Eliza weighed 7 lb, 1 oz and was 19 ¼ inches long. With a full head of brown hair she looks just like her big brother Zach. She is named after her great-grandmother, Elizabeth Eugenia Nance.

The Milnes also celebrated the re-birth of their oldest son Jacob William who, on the morning after Thanksgiving asked Jesus Christ to come into his heart to be his Lord and Savior. Jacob is thrilled to be a Christian and can often be seen reading his Bible or Praying to God.

The Milne children welcomed 2 new cousins to their family this year: Potter Hazzard and Marshall Hinson. Potter is the 6 year old son of John Hazzard who married Julie’s sister, Sara, last New Year’s Eve. Marshall, the son of Julie’s sister Emily and her husband Rodney, shares a birthday with Dean and will turn 1 on January 17th.

SPORTS

Team Scrappers (Coaches Ryan Yoho and Dean) finished their inaugural T-Ball season this spring. This team highlighted the emerging talents of Hannah Yoho, cousins Elizabeth & James Yoho, and Jacob Milne.

Zachary participated in gymnastics this spring, displaying his new found skills on the trampoline, pa-rallel bars and balance beam.

Outstanding soccer seasons were recorded by Zachary scoring his first competitive goals on Team Rockets, and Jacob who continued development as a prolific goal scorer & exceptional defender on Team Heat - both led by Coach Dean. The coach also remains busy as a player (church league softball, basketball) and DoD consultant for IBM.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Thoughts on Christmas

from ZACHARY MILNE

Christmas is opening presents. The present of God is Jesus. Christmas is Jesus’s Birthday. Jesus came to die for our sins. Whoever in Japan believed in Jesus during the hurricane (Tsunami) could go to Heaven.

The End

THE Book oF Jesus

a Short Story by JACOB MILNE

God. We thack You for Siding Yor olnly Son Down for us so that he clod tack ore sins so we clod come and live with you and we clod have a new life.

The End.

CLASSIFIEDS

5YOSWM, smart, athletic, seeking competition on soccer, football & baseball fields. Enjoys all sports, chess, board games, singing, reading chapter books, camping, playing Wii. Natural leader in the classroom, on the field and at home with three younger siblings. Future aspira-tions: next Tim Tebow.

4YOSWM, sensitive, bright, seeking identity outside big brother’s shadow. Emerging gymnast, soccer and t-ball player; enjoys puzzles, games, pre-school with Mom, baking, creative sleeping locations (floors, chairs, closets). Excellent big broth-er and helper around the house. Future aspirations: Fire Fighter.

21MOSWF, cute, active, seeking durable playmates. Inexhaustible energy level, excellent climber, highly conversant. Extremely conscious of family, “Where Zack’wy at?” and decisive, “I need dat!” Budding equestrian, frequently seen riding daddy’s foot or Zachary’s back. Future aspirations: potty training, avoiding stitches.

7WOSWF, precious, totally adorable, seeking safe refuge from Big Sister’s helping hands. Loves to snuggle, sleep in the car seat in her crib, and eat every 2 to 4 hours. Future aspi-rations: sleeping through the night.