The Short & Tall of It: January 2012

It's always better late than never!! I know I don't update our blog as often as family would like, but this year will hopefully be better. Since we didn't get our family Christmas card out, I thought I do a quick year review of the family and what we've been doing.

Bruce

Extra busy at work this year. So many projects going on and trying to keep all the products in order and make sure they have enough.
Teaches a class at church for the High Priests
Built two great gardens this year. So much zucchini and so many tomatoes! Right now we have lots of peppers, radishes and carrots. The broccoli and peas are flowering.

Erin

Survived her first year as Relief Society president in the ward -- over about 178 women at church.
Has had a blast volunteering in Sarah & Breanna's classrooms. Makes her miss teaching -- SO MUCH! Just a few more years and maybe she'll head back into teaching.
Continues make cards each month with her friends -- it's a great night off each month.
Started babysitting a little baby a couple of days a week. She has been a great blessing in our home. It's fun to watch the kids take care of this little one.

Sarah

Currently in 3rd grade and absolutely loves her teacher -- and we do too!
Got baptized. A huge thanks to so many who came to celebrate this special occasion.
Passed a level in abacus math. Loves to play the piano.
Loves to play basketball and is finally riding a bike on her own (it's late, I know, it's our fault).
Her mom and dad have gotten her hooked on playing card games. Some weekends she's been able to stay up late to play with us. One night she was up until 10:30pm because her dad had to win at least once.
Loved having lots of cousin sleepovers this year.

Breanna

Started Kindergarten this year and is loving it! After the first day she said, "Do I have to go again tomorrow? I don't want to go for so long!" It's been an adjustment for her, but she's doing great!
Learning to read -- her favorite books are Dick & Jane. She loves to read them to Mom & Dad. She's getting really good at sounding out words.
She is very creative -- she loves to draw, color, paint, basically anything that has to do with art. She loves to create something all the time.
Lost her first tooth! She tried pulling it out herself, then saw the blood and mom had to finish the job! So exciting. She has another loose one and wanted to pull it out, but it's not quite ready.

Rebecca

Started Preschool this year and loves it. She loves everything about it and all the fun activities they do. Her favorite centers to play in at school are the kitchen and painting station.
Broke her foot in three places while playing on the fun stuff at the mall. It was a rough adjustment for her because she's so active. She managed and her foot healed just fine.
Loved having a "tea" party with Mom, Nanny, Auntie Megan, Andie, and sisters while dad & Hunter were camping.
Within a two day period she got gum in her hair and cut it herself, then fell while caroling and scraped her nose and got a fat lip.

Hunter

Loves tractors, firefighters, and K'nex. His new found love are Legos. He loves to build.
His favorite thing to do is work with his daddy. Whenever Bruce has a yard project going on, Hunter has to be by his side with goggles & gloves on.
Has had a lot of fun riding a bike. He's been our only child to catch on really quickly to riding. He understands to pedal in a circle. We have two little girls who can't quite catch on to that concept. Hopefully this year we'll have all four kids riding without training wheels -- 1 down, 3 to go!
Went on his first Fathers & Sons outing with Bruce. He loved everything about it!

We've been so blessed this past year with good health and fun. We've made many family memories such as the snow, camping in the yard, swimming, trips to Holbrook, going to the Arizona Science Center, Schnepf Farms, spending a few days at a local hotel, having fun with family and playing games.