Happy Holidays from The Pederslie's

Where does the time go? Seriously?? Where?? I am pretty sure yesterday it was summer and I was in shorts and a t-shirt enjoying some leisure time by the pool. Now I am wrapped up in flannel jammies, a sweatshirt and curled up under a blankie. WHERE DOES THE TIME GO???

Someone just told me Christmas Eve is tomorrow...WHAT THE F&CK!?!?!?!

Anywho...the last few years we have not sent out Christmas cards. I apologize as I know everyone waited with baited breath for our card and annual Christmas letter to arrive in the mail. Hopefully you will enjoy our letter via the interweb and know that we appreciate and enjoy cards and letters you have sent to us.

I just asked Chad what we did this last year and he goes "Nothing?" Then he said "Let's see, what did we do this year??" Um...he is still thinking..... :)

I guess the most exciting adventure we had this year was a trip to Europe! Chad was going to Hamburg for a trade show for Astronics where he has worked since October of last year. We have always wanted to go to Ireland so we were like "Well let's just add another week and go there as well" So we spent one week in Germany, had a 24 hr layover in Paris, because when in Europe you have to see Paris right, and then a week in Ireland. So much fun!! The history of it all is just amazing. All these old buildings. I am not used to that since in America it seems if it's 10 yrs old we have to remodel or demolish and rebuild.

Shelby finished off her first year of high school on the honor roll! She must get her smarts from her daddy because I was never on any honor roll! Though he wasn't either....but I think that is just because he didn't care! What irks me is Shelby will go "I don't even study for the tests"

Right as school ended Shelby had Pneumonia. She is never sick so when she had a high fever and it lasted for more than a day we were like "Something isn't right!" Luckily school was out but we had plans for the 4th of July with friends that we had to alter a bit.

Chad enjoyed Germany SOOO much that he went back in July. Again it was for work - I think I need to find a job there! And if you are in Europe, you might as well go to London right? One of Chad's coworkers resides there so he visited there for a few days as well.

As I mentioned in last year's letter, my job is being transferred to Nashville end of June 2019. So the last half of this year as meant a lot of traveling for me to Nashville to train my replacements. Kind of bittersweet but...I get free trips out of it! I went in August, September when Chad came for the last part to spend our anniversary together, November and then again in December. The people there are great and Nashville is not what I expected. It has been called the New Vegas.

When I was in Nashville in September my coworker was like "Luke Bryan is giving a free concert on Broadway in honor of the Grand Opening of his restaurant. Wanna go?" So we decided we would check it out. OMG....SO...MUCH...FUN!! Though Chad pointed out, there was a price to pay for the concert....being extremely tired and having to work the next day! But SOOO worth it!

Oh Luke!!

During this trip Chad decided to join me for the last few days since our anniversary was that weekend. We spend a few days in Nashville then drove up to Chattanooga and then to Pigeon Forge where there is a Titanic museum! A fun way to celebrate 18 yrs of marriage!

And what would be a month without a bit more traveling? Shortly after coming back from Nashville Chad went to Boston for work. His friend Jaime joined him for the last part of that trip and they took in a Boston vs New York baseball game at Fenway Park.

 Miss Shelby turned 16 in November! She is now a licensed driver! Scariest moment of my life...EVER!!! That moment where she drives down the driveway by herself.....Luckily right now she is just driving to school and back, and makes the drive to the grandparents houses. She can't have people in the car that aren't family until she has had her license for 6 months so she isn't doing too much gallivanting yet. Maybe I can tell her in May that rules have changed and she has to wait another 6 months before having non-family passengers in the car! :) We did buy her a car, a 2005 Subura Impreza WRX. She always commented on how she liked/wanted my car when she started driving. Well since that wasn't an option (I still love my car!) we decided to look for a Subaru for her. It's sporty but we also know it's reliable and durable. Makes her driving out of the yard on her own a little less stressful :)

That is about it for 2018 I think. We are kind of a boring family. We work, come home, repeat the next day :) No new additions this year - no new half siblings, no furry critters..I am sure there has been a few car additions that have come and gone but I start to lose track of what goes on in the shop :)

It's just amazing how quickly the time goes. You have every intention of doing certain things or getting together with people and then time just slips away from you. Before you know it another year has gone by, people may have come and gone from your life, and your child suddenly has grown taller than you (though that wasn't too hard considering I am short!)

So as we swiftly slide into the New Year we just want to wish everyone a VERY Merry Christmas and to have a safe & Happy New Year!

Love Steph, Chad, Shelby, Harley, Pinto, Nova and Peaches 2.0 (Shelby's fish)