Feliz Navidad!

We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

updates from the crew


Eleanor: Walking, talking, smiling (now with teeth, finally), dancing, all around happy girl who loves a purse and an arm full of bracelets.

Adeline: Dancing, telling stories, singing, make believe, preschool, gymnastics, Spanish with her darling teacher, Josephina. She is part Batman and part Princess. Favorite outfit is her Batman costume and her Rapunzel hair.

Jack: Riding the bus to Kindergarten where he is in a Spanish immersion program, teaching us all how to pronounce things in Spanish, reading, writing, building, demolishing, singing, airplanes, airplanes and more airplanes.

Ryan: Thrilled to be done with the Boards. No more late nights studying. Now it is just late nights preparing lectures. "Enjoyed" his first trip to NYC; except for that part where he had to give a lecture to an international audience. Happy to be home for dinner on most nights.

Amy: Homework supervisor, taxi driver, gym rat, head chef, vacation planner/family memory creator, or as, Ryan says, "The glue that holds this ship together." Loves volunteering in Jack and Addy's classrooms and having Ryan home to help with the bedtime routine.

Favorite Moments from Thanksgiving

Feels like we've been traveling for the past month. We've been home in between trips but it has been a busy November and early December. Our yearly trip to Atlanta for Thanksgiving made for lots of memories.

The GIANT pile of leaves in Mike and Steph's backyard is still being discussed by our children.

Addy preferred to sit and watch or sweep leaves but we did catch one shot of her in the leaves.

How can you not love Eleanor?
This face melts my heart every day.

Jack would play outside all day and night if we lived in a warmer climate.

More to Come

1/1968

but one of my favorites

Give me some time and I will share the rest of our trip with you.

Ryan's Birthday-- or Ella's Second Birthday

With Ryan's birthday the day after Eleanor's birthday his birthday gets a little overshadowed.

In attempt to make it a special day,

I made him his very own Tarantula Cake with eyes and pincers.

It was Jack's idea to make Ryan the spider cake and it was a yummy idea.

We learned that Eleanor prefers chocolate cake. I will remember that next year.

She even fed her Daddy some cake.

I think Ryan is pretty okay with sharing his birthday week with such a cute little girl.

Happy Birthday Ryan!

The Happy Birthday Girl!!!

She started her day with a cute new outfit and a trip to Jack's school to have lunch.

(Jack said he was pretending to be me. I guess I always look REALLY happy)

Ella loved all the attention from the girls in Jack's class, while Addy and Jack ran around the playground for recess.

The butterfly cupcakes were a hit with everyone except

Eleanor was not sure what to do with it at first.

She eventually just mashed it into her tray without really eating it.

How can you not love this little girl?
She is full of smiles, giggles, lovey hugs and joy.

except when being forced to wear a party hat.

And they brought me Tim Tams

Laura, Lachlan, Cheryl, Tamara and Neil Campbell
came for a weekend stay.

So happy to spend time with them and introduce them to my kids.

I played with Laura, Lachlan and Tamara when I lived with their family 11 years ago in Sydney for an internship at LDS Family Services.

I loved spending time with these guys as adults too. They are delightful kids and have turned out so amazingly well.

Spending time with Neil and Cheryl brought back all of the wonderful memories that I have from my time in Australia. I loved coming home from work each day and doing the crossword puzzle with Cheryl and having intellectual discussions/debates with Neil. (Apparently I was quite opinionated. Who knew?)

Can't wait to visit these Aussie cousins in 2 years. We'll bring the pop tarts!

It's been a good year

It really has been a great year.

Since my last birthday, this little girl joined our family. She brings me such joy each day. Her spontaneous smiles, giggles and kisses make my day brighter. Her easy going temperament teaches me to relax, take it easy and remember what is most important.

Since my last birthday, he started kindergarten. He continues to teach me how to be the best mother for him. I am learning to focus on his excitement for life, sensitive spirit and desire to please. I am thrilled when I see him run off the bus with a huge smile and an excited story about the day. He's helped me bring a focus in my life on more spiritual things and to see how that blesses our entire family.

Since my last birthday, she started preschool. With her brother at school all day, we've had time to spend together. I am learning to make crafts with kids again. She entertains me with her stories, dramatic reenactments, and make believe characters. She's teaching me how to pretend again and use my imagination every day. She reminds me that I am not always the boss and that I need to remember to prioritize. Sometimes playing fetch with Addy the puppy is really the best way to use my time.

Since my last birthday, Ryan has done a lot to carry the family at home. People often ask me how I do everything that I do. The simple answer is that I have Ryan who supports me. He never complains when I have to dash off to a meeting just as he gets home or if I take longer visiting with someone. He steps right in where I left off at home. He teaches me to set limits. He reminds me of my strengths and that I can do hard things.

This has been a year where I have grown in so many ways. I would not change the experiences of this past year. I feel stronger in so many more ways now than I did on my last birthday. I am open to the experiences that I am having in my life and allowing them to shape me into a better person. It's been a good year.

Here's to hoping that next year is just as good or even better.

Addy's First Day of Preschool

Addy's been waiting for her turn to "go to school with teachers" since we dropped Jack off at Preschool 2 years ago.

Her teacher came to meet her a week before the first day and Addy was in love.

All set for her first day.

She loves Teacher Tom and the "Biggest, Purple Castle in the Whole Wide World."

"I'm the king of the castle!"

She is going to love this year!

2nd Day

The second day of school could not come fast enough for Jack. He asked every day of the 3 day weekend when he could go to school again. He popped out of bed today and quickly got dressed and eagerly waited for the bus.

He again tried to give his bus driver his emergency contact information. I guess we need to tell him that he only gives it to her when she asks for it. At least she and I both got a good chuckle this morning.

Addy's reaction when Jack rode away waving, "Where is Jack going? He wants to stay with me." She is not so thrilled with the bus whisking her favorite playmate away each morning but soon she will start school herself and ballet and gymnastics. She is already planning what she will wear to her first day of school when she gets to ride the mommy bus and meet Mr. Tom. (Addy was so excited when I told her Tom's name that she said, "Tom is my favorite name." She will love school too.)

1st Day of Kindergarten

Comfortable clothes and favorite shoes: check

Favorite back pack with lunchbox inside: check

Nice bus driver: check

(funny story: I made an emergency card to put in Jack's backpack so that his driver could contact us in an emergency. I trained Jack to give it to the bus driver if he needed to. First thing he did when he got on the bus was take it out and hand it to her. She had a good laugh and promised to give it back to him. I think he may have thought it was his ticket to get on the bus.)

Safely on way to school: check
Sister who wishes she could go with him: check


So excited for Jack this year. He has a great teacher and great school to attend. We are thrilled that some of our friends from preschool are in his class. And Jack is excited that Mr. Padron has a railroad crossing sign in his classroom. Can life get much better for Jack?

Today is one of those days . . .

when I wish I did not live a 3 days drive from my family. I wish I could load my kids in the car and head on over to hear this boy

speak as he gets ready to leave for his mission on Wednesday.

This boy means the world to me. I was just a freshman in high school when he was born. I remember meeting him in the hospital for the first time. I remember how he learned to walk holding one arm straight in the air for balance. I can still hear his dad ask teasingly, "Question?".

I spent vacation time and holidays with his family before I had a family of my own. Ryan and I took him snowboarding when we were dating. Now that I have my own kids, I love watching this cousin of theirs playing with them. He and his brother are the big brother Jack does not have.
I will forever cherish the memory of being with him in the Salt Lake Temple this summer.Riley, you are one wonderful young man and we cannot wait to hear of your adventures and life changing experiences in Chile. We love you!