Merry Christmas! We love making and sharing memories with you, and there have been many this year. We are having a great time already this holiday season. Most of all we are eternally thankful for our Savior, Jesus Christ, for His gifts which constantly bless our family, and the privilege to feel His influence daily.
2008 was all about change and transition. On Feb. 3rd Judd was called as bishop of our new ward. So we ran away to Hawaii…actually we’d planned this for months. It was the first time to Hawaii for both of us and completely took our breath away. Alas when we got home, it was time to hit the ground running. Serving in the church is always an investment of time and emotion, but extremely rewarding. Besides, that’s just how we roll.
A few weeks later Judd started officially working from home. As you can imagine we’ve had to renegotiate how we do certain things, like making NOISE while daddy is on the phone, or daddy making noise (on the phone) while the girls nap in the next room. We have few formal boundaries these days since we both work and serve (I still teach in Relief Society, and am an Art Docent at the school) and care for our family at the same time and in the same space. But we’ve managed pretty well to integrate and “it’s all good”. We liked not commuting 70 miles/day when gas got close to $5/gal. And, the house got cooler this summer with daddy at home (awesome). It did get pretty crowded and pretty CRAZY during the summer with all of us home. By mid-July, I was counting the days until school started, but was feeling better by Halloween (ya, mommy was a little frazzled).
Cameron is our typical over achiever, diligent, get the job done (preferably first), give a helping hand, almost ten year old. He likes learning, thinks science is cool, and must explain everything around him. This year at school he tried guitar, and really liked it, then broke his wrist – weeks after getting another cast off the same arm. That’s 16 weeks of stink!
Favorite color – green. Favorite food – nachos. Fun stuff and recognition – Cameron was awarded “the best flyball catcher” on his baseball team this summer. He recently earned his Bear rank in Cub Scouts, as well as lots of belt loops, beads, and arrow points throughout the year. Cameron loves scouting – hanging out with the boys, fun activities and project, and cool awards to wear on his uniform. Future prediction – Scientist or Science fiction writer, ‘cause so many of Cameron’s explanations and theories would only make sense in some alternate universe. Frequent quote: “It’s the girls…”
Morgan has really started to come into her own. We are coming up on her eighth birthday, December 28th. She will be getting baptized in January, and we are all really excited for that day. Morgan is the girliest of girls. She loves all things singing, dancing, and pink. Having finally mastered the whole reading thing, she actually enjoys spending time with a good book and has become a stellar student. She also likes hiding out in mommy’s room (so the “little” girls don’t mess up her stuff) to work on projects which she showers on family and friends. Favorite color – still pink. Favorite food – spaghetti. Future prediction – dancer, the girl has moves. Notable Quote – “Mommy when I grow up I want to live next door to you so we can take our twin babies to the park together.” Boy is she in for disappointment; I don’t do parks (allergies), and the twin babies? No comment.
Jordan is our exercise in opposites - a kindergartner who loves to play school, but doesn’t actually do much homework. She is and will “forever” be my snuggle-bug; she loves spending time with her fuzzy blanket on mommy’s lap. Be advised however that she has a very large personal space – do not touch, speak to, or look at the Jordan without pre-authorization or there will be loud screaming and gnashing of teeth. While she is often mellow, sometimes tart, occasionally explosive – our favorite Jordan is super smiley and goofy, and dances “like a maniac on the floor”. Favorite color – blue. Favorite food – Top Ramen. Future prediction - Rock star in training. Quotable moment – during a recent Family Home Evening discussion I asked “Where would you like to go on a mission?” A: “Disneyland!”
And Ryan – Ryan is always happy, laughing, and has great comic timing. This is good, since she is also always running - usually away from her mommy. If there is anything climbable, jump off-able, throw-able, breakable, or you simply don’t want to be gotten…she is ALL over it. Ryan is fast, curious, and smart as a whip. I call her: tornado with a smile, monkey child, crazy girl, aaaaaagggghhhh and so on. She’s so darn cute you just want to gobble her up, and then she smacks you in the face with a TV remote or jumps off the top of the couch onto the window blinds like a leaping squirrel (sadly these are real examples– not pretty). Living with Ryan is a bit of an emotional roller coaster – you love her, she makes you crazy, you love her…but what a ride! Favorite food – also Top Ramen. Accomplishment – finally growing some hair. Future prediction – Perhaps Ryan will become a world famous base jumping toothpaste model. We’re not sure exactly how this one will develop, but we expect it to be exciting and exhausting. Stay tuned for more details from the jungle.
2008 was all about change and transition. On Feb. 3rd Judd was called as bishop of our new ward. So we ran away to Hawaii…actually we’d planned this for months. It was the first time to Hawaii for both of us and completely took our breath away. Alas when we got home, it was time to hit the ground running. Serving in the church is always an investment of time and emotion, but extremely rewarding. Besides, that’s just how we roll.
A few weeks later Judd started officially working from home. As you can imagine we’ve had to renegotiate how we do certain things, like making NOISE while daddy is on the phone, or daddy making noise (on the phone) while the girls nap in the next room. We have few formal boundaries these days since we both work and serve (I still teach in Relief Society, and am an Art Docent at the school) and care for our family at the same time and in the same space. But we’ve managed pretty well to integrate and “it’s all good”. We liked not commuting 70 miles/day when gas got close to $5/gal. And, the house got cooler this summer with daddy at home (awesome). It did get pretty crowded and pretty CRAZY during the summer with all of us home. By mid-July, I was counting the days until school started, but was feeling better by Halloween (ya, mommy was a little frazzled).
Cameron is our typical over achiever, diligent, get the job done (preferably first), give a helping hand, almost ten year old. He likes learning, thinks science is cool, and must explain everything around him. This year at school he tried guitar, and really liked it, then broke his wrist – weeks after getting another cast off the same arm. That’s 16 weeks of stink!
Favorite color – green. Favorite food – nachos. Fun stuff and recognition – Cameron was awarded “the best flyball catcher” on his baseball team this summer. He recently earned his Bear rank in Cub Scouts, as well as lots of belt loops, beads, and arrow points throughout the year. Cameron loves scouting – hanging out with the boys, fun activities and project, and cool awards to wear on his uniform. Future prediction – Scientist or Science fiction writer, ‘cause so many of Cameron’s explanations and theories would only make sense in some alternate universe. Frequent quote: “It’s the girls…”
Morgan has really started to come into her own. We are coming up on her eighth birthday, December 28th. She will be getting baptized in January, and we are all really excited for that day. Morgan is the girliest of girls. She loves all things singing, dancing, and pink. Having finally mastered the whole reading thing, she actually enjoys spending time with a good book and has become a stellar student. She also likes hiding out in mommy’s room (so the “little” girls don’t mess up her stuff) to work on projects which she showers on family and friends. Favorite color – still pink. Favorite food – spaghetti. Future prediction – dancer, the girl has moves. Notable Quote – “Mommy when I grow up I want to live next door to you so we can take our twin babies to the park together.” Boy is she in for disappointment; I don’t do parks (allergies), and the twin babies? No comment.
Jordan is our exercise in opposites - a kindergartner who loves to play school, but doesn’t actually do much homework. She is and will “forever” be my snuggle-bug; she loves spending time with her fuzzy blanket on mommy’s lap. Be advised however that she has a very large personal space – do not touch, speak to, or look at the Jordan without pre-authorization or there will be loud screaming and gnashing of teeth. While she is often mellow, sometimes tart, occasionally explosive – our favorite Jordan is super smiley and goofy, and dances “like a maniac on the floor”. Favorite color – blue. Favorite food – Top Ramen. Future prediction - Rock star in training. Quotable moment – during a recent Family Home Evening discussion I asked “Where would you like to go on a mission?” A: “Disneyland!”
And Ryan – Ryan is always happy, laughing, and has great comic timing. This is good, since she is also always running - usually away from her mommy. If there is anything climbable, jump off-able, throw-able, breakable, or you simply don’t want to be gotten…she is ALL over it. Ryan is fast, curious, and smart as a whip. I call her: tornado with a smile, monkey child, crazy girl, aaaaaagggghhhh and so on. She’s so darn cute you just want to gobble her up, and then she smacks you in the face with a TV remote or jumps off the top of the couch onto the window blinds like a leaping squirrel (sadly these are real examples– not pretty). Living with Ryan is a bit of an emotional roller coaster – you love her, she makes you crazy, you love her…but what a ride! Favorite food – also Top Ramen. Accomplishment – finally growing some hair. Future prediction – Perhaps Ryan will become a world famous base jumping toothpaste model. We’re not sure exactly how this one will develop, but we expect it to be exciting and exhausting. Stay tuned for more details from the jungle.
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