Ben & Shae Cecka's family in Gilbert, AZ

Dearest family and friends,

I’ve been looking forward to writing this letter for some time, and at 5am with a nice cup of tea I think I finally found my opportunity. It is not often that I wake before the baby Byrds.

We welcomed the newest addition to the Cecka family in March of this year. Joshua is the boy who came out singing. He has hummed in his sleep since the first day of his life, and often joins in on the routine melody before bed. Our little “son of the sea” loves his bath. He sticks his face under the faucet while the water is running and can work up quite a splash. We are having so much fun with Josh at this stage in infancy. He has become really good at the copy cat game, and this can be rather entertaining, and also very useful. I’m sure they exist, but I’ve never met another baby that can blow his own nose! He currently has three and half teeth, communicates four words, (more, potty, milk, food) and can pack in a pound of apples or two in one sitting. When he isn’t drooling, pooping or cooing, Joshua loves to roll a ball, “drive” hot wheels, and unload the dishwasher.

May 12 marked one full year since our love and loss of Jeremy Logan. Had he not died shortly after birth, he would have been one year old. We observed this dear and sensitive anniversary with a trip to Sedona to see the beautiful red rock, and floated daisies down the Oak Creek. As a cleansing/grieving ritual, I buzzed off 17” of hair and sent it off as a donation. We also compiled a year of emotion through music, and shared the album online. You can download it at http://www.ben-shae.com/category/jeremy. I want to thank everyone that called, sent cards and/or kept us in your thoughts on his birthday. It means so much to us that you remember our little angel. He is a part of our family that will forever live in our hearts.

When we announced that we probably would not carry the tradition of the Santa Clause gift in our home, one of the concerns we received was that this might hurt our children’s imagination. Anyone who has ever spent an hour with Johnathan knows that this has not been the case. He usually carries himself with a super hero alter ego, and has the most inventive names for his pets and stuffed animals. There is Melagee the hermit crab, Austie Gaustie the monkey, Aargord the dragon, and so on. Djai has made some friends here after joining some preschool classes through the Gilbert Parks and Recreation. He has enjoyed studying math, Spanish, art history and phonics, just to name a few. When the John-a-nator isn’t defeating villains, solving equations, or chattering like a beat box, he enjoys computer games, lego construction, and playing with his baby brother.

And now for the part of the letter which I always dread, where Ben and I usually stand around and scratch our heads and try to think of something that Shae has done. No one would argue that running a household and raising children is not both a tough and rewarding job, but this isn’t anything that every other homemaker does as well, and I’ve always felt like I would be looked down upon if I didn’t come up with additional accomplishments to prove myself. It is under this note that I must share that this year I am finally comfortable and confident with my role as SAHM (stay at home mom) and I am the happiest I have ever been. Our house is still always messy, but our sons are well fed and full of joy. We have a four year old that dreams up comic book characters and invents his own words, and we have a nine month old who is learning sign language and using the toilet. And I think that is pretty darn cool. When I am not wiping tiny noses, brewing stock or humoring imaginary super powers, I like to dance, craft, and complete my chores with an audio book on in the background.

Ben’s part of the letter always has the opposite dilemma as mine. We can’t fit all of his accomplishments on to one page. He both works and goes to school full time, and still manages to be a caring husband and loving father. He is actively involved in the biggest project his company has taken on since his employment with Crown Mailing, and has been the head of the security and IT department for over a year now. It is not uncommon to find him still stooped over his laptop when the boys and I come down for breakfast in the morning. He is excelling in his online classes and expects to graduate with his BS in Information Technology by this summer. I am also proud to brag of his involvement with KnowMore.org, an organization that promotes ethical consumerism by exposing harmful practices in corporations. Ben occasionally writes an article to update companies that they profile. All this, and Papa still manages to make it upstairs for a bedtime story. When Ben isn’t busy preparing a presentation, reading Dr. Seuss, or informing the world of corporate injustices, he squeezes in time for the driving range, virtual games, and if time permits, some recreational reading. Though, the line between educational and recreational is often blurred.

Well look at that, I finished my cup of tea and our family letter before the sun and the boys are still in bed. What a great start to a productive New Year’s Eve. I hope this greeting finds you all well. Happy 2009!

Wishing you love and light,
Ben, Shae, John and Josh