Christmas Card

Derek – “I love my bike and my commute” He loves the change in commuting time which was about an hour, one-way in Atlanta and is now about 15 minutes by bike! He has successfully adjusted to working in Salt Lake City. One thing is for certain though; public accounting is just plain busy, whether you are in a big city or a smaller one.

Sidsie- “Moving is a lot of work Where did all this stuff come from” We moved twice during 2011. The first move, in April, was from Atlanta, Georgia to Salt Lake City, Utah a distance of about 2,000 miles. This was because Derek transferred with PwC to the Salt Lake office. The second move, in December, was a distance of less than half a mile. This was because we found a home that fits our family’s needs better.

Jensen- “I go to school a LONG time. How much longer will I have to go when I am in 2^nd grade?” He was thankful to find out six hours was it. Jensen finished kindergarten and has successfully completed almost half of first grade. He enjoyed playing soccer again and has also found a new love - Karate.

Siesa- “I will not forget to draw on the paper only” Siesa is our budding little artist and author. She draws and writes letters everyday most of the time on paper but often the wall, couch, books, mail, clothes, herself, her sister… you get the idea. She has also enjoyed her preschool class and learning all about writing and letters.

Elsie- “Elsie not done screaming yet” Elsie is full of energy. She is our boisterous little two-year old. She is always right in the middle of the action and is so concerned about what everyone else is doing at all times.

Family photo 2011

There were so many that I loved. I just had to include them all. Thank you Liybie!

All I want for Christmas in my two front teeth

According to Jensen "you couldn't actually give me my teeth if you wanted to because you are not a dentist"

My adventure with out kids

I went to Boston for a long weekend to visit my sister and her husband. I had a fabulous time!

I watched the sun set by the river and then Teppo took me on a tour of MIT. All I have to say is there are some pretty crazy buildings there.

Thursday Maria and I rented a car and drove to Concord and Lexington. We went to the Alcott home where Louisa May Alcott wrote “Little Women.” We also went to a museum about the area and all the people from there, visited the bridge where the revolutionary war started and the spot about the famous quote “the shot heard around the world” . We also visited Walden pond (much bigger than I envisioned, it really should be called Walden lake) and the sleepy hollow cemetery.
That night we went to the Union Oyster house which is the oldest restaurant in the United States. The building has been around since the seventeen hundreds and it became a restaurant in 1826. We feasted on sea food and Boston cream pie Yum.

Friday we walked the Freedom trail. It started at Boston common (a big park) and is a 2 ½ mile walk through Boston and ends at Bunker Hill. There were lots of things to see along the way like Paul Revere's house, the old north church (where the lanterns were hung to single if the British were coming by land or by sea and then started his famous ride) the USS constitution (one of the first battle ships built by the united states), and much more. It was very interesting to see all the historical places and understand the timing of everything that happened. I have a much better appreciation for our founding fathers and for our great country.

Sunday we went to church and then walked around Boston and looked at old churches and the Boston library. My flight home was very uneventful which is always nice. I came home to sleeping children and a very clean house. I am so blessed to have a husband that is such a good father and housekeeper.

Trick -or- Treat

We have had a fun October! Friday we had a few parties so my kids finally got to dress up.

Jensen is Meriwether Lewis (the Lewis and Clark that explored the Louisiana purchase but according to him he will just go by Lewis because Meriwether is a funny name) He originally wanted to be a crazy star wars character but I wouldn’t let him. After a few weeks of debating, getting a few documentary movies and book all about mountain men and him finding out that mountain men carried a gun he was hooked. He is according to him “posing how they do in books”.

A few weeks ago Siesa wanted to be a ginger bread man but when we pulled out all my costumes and she saw the candy corn witch costume I had(last years closeout that I got for 4 dollars) she wanted to be the witch. A few hours before our first party she was asking me if I could take her shopping to get her witch shoes. What? I quickly made her some spats that topped off her costume.

Elsie is a puppy and will bark upon request. She loves her costume and wants to wear it all the time.

Happy Halloween!

Dark Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Ganache Frosting

This is my new favorite recipe. It is so yummy.

Did I mention that it is dairy fee, soy free, egg free, gluten free, nut free and sugar free.

Happy to be 2

Elsie had her birthday last week. She kept saying all day “happy birthday Elsie, eat cake grandma and grandpa come.” She opened her gifts first thing in the morning and then we had her favorite breakfast, French toast.

She got a little play puppy that walks and barks, miss potato head doll, a shirt and socks and her favorite, a box of band-aids. She had used the whole box of band-aids by 7 in the morning.

The grandparents came by after dinner to sing and have some cake which Elsie didn’t eat because she said she was “too sick” she had just eaten a huge dinner including lots of jello.

I can’t believe she is already 2. She is a ball of energy and such a doll. We love you!

Tax Season Widow = projects

Well it has been 6 weeks and we haven’t seen much of Derek, this week not at all since he has been out of town. I am glad to report that we have made it though another busy season and we all glad it will be over today. Here are a few of the project I work these last 6 weeks.

This was one of my Mom’s favorite quotes that she told us as children. I made the sign for her birthday.

I made my girls trick or treat bag for Halloween this year.

Seisa is modeling a new apron I made. I am still trying to decide if I should add some pockets.

My Mom’s birthday cake. I made marshmallow fondant. I was so fun to use and it tasted great too. Sorry I couldn't get the picture to turn.

I covered some metal containers for my kids to use as drums.

For years my jewelry has been a mess so I dug through my fabric and made a holder. Now I can actually see what I own.

I also switch out all the summer clothing, reorganized our storage closet, mended a lot of cloths, read some good books and watch a few chick flicks.

In 6 months busy season will start again and I will need to think of some new project to do. For now I am just glad to have my husdand and best friend back.

School

Jensen started first grade (last month, I am a little behind). It has been a big adjustment for Jensen. He rides his bike to school with our neighbor which has been very convenient, he looks so cute on his bike riding off to school, when did he grow up? For the first day of school Derek took him. I can’t say he really likes school but he does like his teacher and of course recess, gong to the computer lab, playing with friends and PE. He looks forward to the weekend when he has no homework for 3 days and can just play. The other day he was comparing school to jail . . . hum . . I can't decide if I should laugh or cry.

Seisa started preschool and liked it. She didn’t want to come home. She likes all the crafts, writing her letters and snack.

Summer is . . .

Making mud baths

Eating ice cream

Playing in the water

Picnics in the park

And visiting new places

What a wonderful summer we have had!

My week

My week started off not to great, piles of laundry and very sick kids. Actually Elsie never got sick but she played along with the big kids. Really I think she just wanted to drink the juice.

By Thursday everyone was well so went out to and got some frozen yogurt to celebrate.

I love summer and I love healthy kids!