2011 for the Betkes:
As you may or may not recall at the end of 2010 Aaron decided to start his own business. We are pleased to report that one year later this has been an incredibly successful endeavour. He continues to build self-framed metal buildings, primarily for companies within the oil and gas industry, but has started to take the occasional job on with a partner to increase the size and complexity of the buildings he can bid on. On top of that he has spent the better part of December in Pennsylvania training an American contracting company on how to put these types of buildings together. This has been a bit tough on the three of us left at home, as this has been Aaron's longest stretch away from home in the past 2 years, but we have managed and are eagerly awaiting his return tomorrow.
I have also had some changes at work. I continue to work at the Strathmore Health Unit as a speech-language pathologist, but this fall decided to try my hand at an all school-aged caseload. This was a difficult decision, as I love the preschool age group, but I found that it was just too difficult to spend 7 hours of my day with other people's preschoolers, only to come home to two of my own. Since the switch things have been much better on the home front, even if my caseload took a jump of 20 clients. So I now provide service to 5 schools in Strathmore and surrounding area.
Maria continues to grow and blossom. She impresses me everyday now with her logic, reasoning skills and ability to take the things she learns in one context and apply them in other completely unrelated settings. She amazed us this year with her performance in the Sunday School Christmas Pageant, not only performing her dance routine but by also learning and singing all the verses to "Away in a Manger". I was simply hoping she would know all the words to the first verse, but after only 5 times through the song, she knew the entire song! I was impressed. She is really looking forward to Christmas this year too. She is full of questions regarding Christmas, the meaning of Christmas, Santa Claus and various other aspects. She has picked out the gift she would like Santa to bring her and talks non-stop of the "Breanne" doll Santa is bringing her for Christmas. Should Santa be so kind as to grant this wish this year I am certain many of you will get the opportunity to meet "Breanne" as I have a feeling Maria will want to bring her with us on a great many outings in the new year. 
William will not stop growing...or talking for that matter. Why I ever worried I'm not sure. After all his mom is a speech pathologist who teaches the late-talker program at work. Applying all those techniques to William has resulted in a 2 and a half year old who will NOT STOP TALKING now. He comes up with new words every day, multiple times a day. William also continues to be obsessed with Mickey Mouse and hockey, the latter being an obsession that began just before his second birthday after his aunt and uncle took him to two live Hitmen games. As such, Aaron and I are hoping to get both kids on the ice some time in the new year. We have also decided that we should cherish our "free" weekends now as we anticipate spending many a weekend in arenas in just a few years time, should this obsession continue.
I think that about sums up the last year, and last few months, for us. We wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and hope that 2012 brings us many opportunities to catch up in person with many of you.