Merry Christmas!

Here is a copy of the first (and only?) Christmas letter that we've ever sent. If you didn't get one I'm sorry, it's probably because I know you read this blog. Or because you live in Vancouver and know what we're doing. Or because I didn't have enough stamps to send one to everybody. Or because you're blog-stalking me and I don't know you.

Whatever the reason, due to the magic of technology you too can be a part of our lives!

Dear friends and family,

Well, another year has come and gone and for the first time we have decided to write a Christmas letter. We have graduated, moved, bought a house, gotten a “real” job, and had a baby so pretty much every aspect of our lives has changed in the last year. As good a time as any to update everyone I’d say!

Tyson graduated last December from BYU with his Doctorate in Electrical Engineering and got a job with a company called nLight doing high tech top secret stuff. It’s not really top secret, but since I do not have a PhD in EE, it may as well be. In Tyson’s own words; “I work on designing and manufacturing lasers for various government uses.” Ok, maybe I know more about his job that I thought because those ended up being mostly my own words. Anyway, since nLight is in Vancouver, Washington we moved here at the end of last year and began a life outside of Utah. Tyson is also working hard in church with a calling as a primary teacher. He teaches the 10 turning 11 year olds and they love him.

I (Mari) graduated Summa Cum Laude in December from UVU with a Bachelor in Music Education. Before the ink on the diploma dried we found out I was pregnant and eagerly began preparing for our baby’s arrival. I elected not to get a job and instead spent my days searching for a house that we could raise our family in. We found a beautiful new home and quickly discovered that one apartment worth of furniture does not a decorated house make. I have loved the opportunity to paint and decorate our home although I still have a long way to go. I am also working hard in church with callings as ward chorister and as 1st counselor in the Young Women’s presidency.

Logan Grant Lowder was born September 25 after a fairly easy 23 hour labor. He has been a wonderful baby who already sleeps through the night and eats like there’s no tomorrow. Tyson and I will do anything to make him giggle and spend countless hours tickling, cooing, and grinning at him.

The three of us are thoroughly enjoying our transformed lives here in Vancouver. We have made so many friends here already and have found that we don’t miss being in school at all! We are looking forward to the next year and can’t wait to see what it brings us. If you would also like to see what it brings us, you are welcome to visit our blog at www.just-me-and-t.blogspot.com. You can also go there to see a current family picture since my desire to send a birth announcement usurped the traditional family portrait.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Tyson, Mari and Logan Lowder

And, as a bonus for reading the blog you get a family picture too.

:-)