Merry Christmas!

Highlights of 2014

January - Unseasonably warm weather! We take advantage of it and spend a lot of time playing outside.

Charlotte says: “Mom, sometimes I call your last name “Honey.”

February - Cousins visiting from Minnesota equals play-dates galore. Mitch takes a work trip to Oklahoma and reunites with old Sooner friends. Also drives out to Texas to see Great Aunt Martha (who turned 100 years old this November).

Charlotte says (after twirling in circles): “Whoa, I got busy!”

March - Iditarod time! We head downtown for the ceremonial start and then to a nearby park to watch the sleds ride by. Got hit with almost two feet of snow mid-March. Grateful for our snowblower!

Charlotte says (to Elliot): “Emmy! Don’t go astray!...Follow the Charlotte, Follow the Charlotte…”

April - Snow melts and we rediscover parks and playgrounds. Per Charlotte’s specific request, we eat watermelon slices outside, despite the still-brown grass. Charlotte discovers a new-found love of boiled eggs. Elliot prefers his eggs scrambled.

Charlotte says: “Emmy, do you think I’m so cool? 
Elliot: "Yes." 
Charlotte: "Do you love me?" 
Elliot: "Yes."

Charlotte: "Grateful then you're gonna be my brother! 
Then thank you, you're gonna be my prince!"

May - Elliot turns TWO! Celebration coincides with family visiting from Utah. Cupcakes are a big hit with the birthday boy. Natalie throws a bridal shower for her sister, Rebecca, and has a blast with preparations.

Charlotte says: "Emmy, do you want to play with me?" 
Elliot: "Faaah (translation: I want to run fast)."

Charlotte: "Okay, do your thing." 
Natalie: "Charlotte, did you just say 'do your thing'?"
Charlotte: "Yeah, I say that a lot."

June - First camping trip with two kids. Success! Soak up the gorgeous scenery at a little spot off the highway near Hope, Alaska. We celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary.

Charlotte says, “I wish Heavenly Father was down here to see you kiss me…cuz I smiled real big and it was so pretty.”

July - Watch the 4th of July Parade downtown with a donut stop at our favorite little shop “The Kobuk.” Occasional day-trips, such as “hiking” around Bird Creek. Natalie revels in wedding plans for Rebecca’s upcoming big day.

Elliot says (every day after waking up from his nap): “Where sisah go?”

August - Say our goodbyes to Grandma Beryl Walther before her passing. Lucky to attend her funeral literally hours before getting on a plane to Utah. Then it is COUSINS! COUSINS! COUSINS! to everyone’s delight. Love the time with Mitch’s parents (straight off their mission to Ecuador). And thrilled to be in the temple to witness Rebecca and Ryan’s sealing for eternity. Wonderful (and wonderfully tiring) vacation!

Elliot says, “Never do again. Never ever!”

September - Overnight stay with the kids at Alyeska Resort. Ride mountain tram, hike around, swim in the pool, soak in the hot tub, and love our little “getaway.”

Charlotte says: "Guys, you're the goodest parents."

October - Charlotte wants a “Monster Party” and celebrates her 4th birthday with friends. With the first snow of the season we build a giant 7-foot snowman. Halloween arrives along with a cute pink monster and a ferocious pirate!

Charlotte says, “Can you listen to this funny, funny joke? What did the tomato say to the lettuce? You're seedless!”

November - Natalie loves the snow-free roads and very little snow on the ground. We have a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration at our home with friends and family.

Elliot says, “A-dong-it!” (Translation: Doggone it!)

December - Get to see baby Sego #3 at the big ultrasound! Decide to wait till baby makes its grand entrance to find out the gender. Couldn’t be more thrilled for this little one to join the gang next April! And most importantly, loving the peace and beauty of this season and pondering the birth and life of our Savior, to whom we owe everything. Merry Christmas!

“For God so loved the world , that he gave his only begotten Son, 
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John: 3:16

Love,  Mitch, Natalie, Charlotte, Elliot, and Baby Sego #3

Camera angst

I found this draft from two years ago (has it already been two years?!) and the pictures gave me quite the chuckle.

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Charlotte went through a phase where anytime I pulled out the camera she would get so upset because she wanted to look at the pictures RIGHT. NOW. As a result, I didn't take many pictures during that phase. And the ones I did take turned out, well, see for yourself...

Lest you think there was any lasting damage, the following photo was taken less than a minute later (accompanied by begs of, "Please? Say Cheese! Smile for Mommy? Plleeeease???)

Then, she quickly remembered that she was supposed to be sad...so the camera had to go "bye-bye."

And here she is in action. (You'll hear a lot of "beeeees!" = "please"). At least she asks politely through her tears!

Baby's First Haircut

I finally decided to give Charlotte her first haircut! 

Initially she was worried we were going to use the razor for her, just like we do when we cut Elliot's hair. After some reassurance (and chocolate chip bribes) she was game for "a little trim."

Before...the ends were just a littttle bit raggedy.

And after!

All trimmed up.

Her hair looks so nice and fresh on the bottom. No one but me can really tell, but every time I see the back of her hair, I just think to myself how much more "grown up" she looks without those wispy baby-hair endings. Little by little the baby is all but disappearing in this girl. And it makes me happy and sad all at the same time.

The Best Apple Pie -- and I don't like apple pie!

Okay, I said it! Apple pie...not my fave. But I'm usually not a fan of most fruit-filled desserts. Something about all the chewy crust (especially if it is store-bought) with thick, gummy "fruit" in the middle just doesn't do it for me. So I called off developing any kind of relationship with fruit pies--until I met this bad boy (after Mitch specifically requested an apple pie for Thanksgiving several years ago). It has been a passionate affair ever since!

The best part about this pie is the topping. It means only making one pie crust (plus!) and eliminates the too-much-crust problem. Yum.

So without further ado: go make an apple pie!

Crumb-topped Apple Pie

(I found this recipe in a Taste of Home magazine...you can find the original recipe online here).

Pie Crust

• 1-1/4 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 shortening
• 1/4 cold water

1.   Combine flour and salt, cut in shortening. Gradually add cold water; toss with a fork until the 

      dough forms a ball. 

2.   Wrap in saran wrap and refrigerate for 1 to 1-1/2 hours or until easy to handle.

3.   Roll out pie crust for a 9 inch pie pan. Transfer to pie pan, trim, and flute edges.

Filling

• 5 large tart apples, peeled & sliced thinly (I usually use what I have, which are sweet apples, and it makes the pie VERY sweet. So, depending on your tastes, you may need to adjust the sugar or make sure to use tart apples).
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 5 tsp. flour
• 1-1/4 tsp. cinnamon

4.   Place apples in crust. Combine the sugar, flour and cinnamon; sprinkle over apples (shake pie 

      slightly so sugar settles throughout).

Topping

• 2/3 cup flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup cold butter

5.   Combine flour and sugar in a small bowl; cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over filling. 

6.   Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Bake 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees; bake 50-60 minutes 

      until topping is golden brown and filling is bubbly.

7.   ENJOY!