Christmas Newsletter

We had another adventurous year in 2011 and our lives don't look like they'll be slowing down anytime soon.  Here are our top highlights from the year:

Ignore the picture quality.  This is just a proof of a picture that we're ordering.  :)

1. Brian finished his 15 months in Iraq and came home in October.  We're so glad that this "adventure" is in the past and we're looking forward to the coming year.  
2. I spent the year at home with our kids in my hometown of Cedar City.  My parents have loved having Eliza and Simon around and are not looking forward to us moving.  In addition to spending time with my parents, I also flew with the kids to Idaho to see our good friends the Heiners.  
3. Eliza danced in two more recitals, turned four years old, had a princess birthday party and started preschool.  She also had her tonsils out in September following multiple bouts of strep throat.   She still loves all things princess-y and likes the colors pink, purple and white.  She also loves to play with her cousins and participate in reading time.  She likes chicken, noodles, broccoli and sweets but does not like sweet potatoes, squash or tomatoes. 
4. Simon learned to crawl, walk, climb, eat solid foods and many other things this past year.  He had a construction-themed birthday party when he turned one in September.  He has four teeth (which he has used to chew the sides of his crib), crooked pinky fingers and is the master of making "stink eyes".  He gives full, open-mouthed kisses with his tongue hanging out and loves to be outside.  He does not like getting his coat put on or getting his teeth brushed, but he can usually be coerced into compliance.  He likes to eat just about anything, but won't touch squash or potatoes.  He really likes olives.       
5. We traveled to Hawaii, Jamaica, Yellowstone National Park, Disneyland, DC/VA/MD, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City as a family.  I don't think we'll ever tackle this busy of a travel schedule again, but we had a lot of fun.
6. We've spent the holiday season sorting our house and getting ready to move.  Everything seems to have finally fallen into place and our movers will be here next week.  It will be a couple of weeks past that before we'll actually fly to our new home, but it's coming up quickly.  Things I am most looking forward to: Brian being on a regular work routine, year round summer, better school choices for Eliza and backyard movie nights.   

That's all for now!  We don't really have any other updates.  We'll probably be closing out this blog and starting a new one in the next few weeks.