Happy Holidays from the Loftus Quartet! We thought we would attempt a holiday letter this year to let everyone know that we are healthy, happy, and optimistic that 2011 will be another great year for our little family. As we reflect on 2010, we realize time is moving at much too fast a momentum and life gets busier and busier with each passing moment. We hope this letter finds everyone in good health and joyful hearts. I’ll be brief in our family update and do my best to stick to the facts :o)
Martin J.Loftus once told me that boys should be born wearing helmets. Martin T. Loftus wasn’t sure what to make of that statement being that his father’s knowledge of this must have been based on his own childhood, but 2010 proved my father-in-law’s statement to be true. Christian is 100% boy and I find myself repeatedly stating, “Slow down, sit down, settle down, calm down, quiet down…” Apparently “down” is the common denominator in most phrases used towards our tenacious three-year-old. However, amongst all that wonderful energy, there lies a sweet and lovable little man. He adores his father and at least 104 times a day he claims that he will grow up to be a “fixer-helper” with his dad because HIS dad, and ONLY HIS dad, can fix anything in the whole world and they are the best buddies ever!
It is amazing how with your first child you cannot wait for their first words and phrases and then with your second child, you realize that as soon as they begin talking, silence as you know it will cease to exist. Christian’s speech has exploded this year and I cherish that adorable way he pronounces words with the “r” sound, but as you can imagine, we hardly get two words in while our children are awake.
Marissa is now in the 1st grade (unbelievable!) and her speech and pronunciation is starting to sound more like her brother’s…I guess we could blame her teeth for that, or rather, the lack there of; this has been a year of frequent visits from the tooth fairy. The lack of teeth has not slowed her down in regards to being a little chatterbox at school though! Regardless of her articulation, her reading and writing skills are sky-rocketing and she is excelling in all school subjects. This year, she has taken great interest in history. She’s always eager to learn more about Native Americans, Pilgrims, Colonial times and more recently, Maryland history. We took a couple trips this year to historical landmarks. We visited Uncle Greg and Aunt Diana in Colonial Williamsburg and then visited friends in Massachusetts to see Plymouth Rock and Plimoth Plantation.
Marissa’s obvious true love is music. This is apparent in her non-stop singing. She is in her third year of piano lessons and she is progressing beautifully. I like to say that Marissa wakes up with a “song in her heart”. The happier she is, the more she sings. She finds music in just about every moment of the day and it is both wonderful and challenging to hear the music coming from every cell in her body. We will be amazed if Marissa doesn’t grow to have some career in musical arts. We do our best to teach her appropriate moments to share her melodious delight, but we’re quickly realizing that we are characters in the musical production, “The Life and Song of Marissa Loftus”. We’ll be sure and notify you all when this hits Broadway.
Marty and I are working hard, as usual, and there isn’t much to report on the business front. We’re still in business and that’s a blessing in itself based on the previous years in this economy! Our businesses were not immune to the struggles 2009 and 2010 brought upon so many, but we buckled down and persevered and we truly hope 2011 brings brighter days for all! Marty has started another business venture and we’re optimistic that it will do well. He’s working with a partner and they started the business, LB HOMES, a design and build company. As you know, Marty loves new projects and I think this will be something he can really sink his teeth into!
Our main goal for 2010 was improving our health, both physically and mentally. We both lost a substantial amount of weight and in my efforts to keep up with my young husband; I pushed myself to extreme goals and competed in a Women’s Figure Competition, a division of Body Building. I did very well, considering it was my first time competing in this athletic event. I worked with an amazing personal trainer for over 6 months and got into the best shape of my life! I was so fascinated by the science and the process that I went on to achieve a certificate in personal training myself.
Marty was an immense support and trained and dieted alongside me. He researched everything from supplements to diet plans, bought kitchen equipment, developed workout routines, tolerated “carb cycling”, etc. It gave us something to work on together and we truly enjoyed the process. We were both competitive and supportive towards each other and I believe we discovered another element in our friendship through it all. I would say that both Marty and I are in top shape and feeling very good!
Marty and I just returned from our annual trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. We had a wonderful 5 days as a couple and enjoyed the weather, the food, the peace…but definitely missed the kids and home. We’re back just in time for the freezing temperatures, snow and holiday bustle. We will be spending Christmas here in Annapolis and then heading to Bethany Beach for the New Year. We hope that everyone’s holiday season is filled with love, laughter, family and friends and may 2011 bring prosperity and many blessings for all!
