feedy

Pete earned a fish by behaving well at school. He picked out this reddish-orange fighting fish (Betta) and named it "Feedy." It's not a dog (that's what he really wants), but needles to say, he loves his fish!

santa was here

This was the first year that Pete woke up early. He went into the living room to scope it out and then came into our room and excitedly woke us up saying, "Santa was here!"

The boys have been playing ball, dinosaur, trains, shooting wheels, racing cars, and building with legos, tinkertoys, and puzzles for the past week. It gets better every year to see their little eyes light up and their understanding increase of why we go to such lengths to give gifts to each other.

One of my favorite new family traditions this year (thanks to Wade), was singing the same Christmas song every night at bedtime. Silent Night was this year's song and I'd like to choose a new one each year to teach the boys.

It was a Merry Christmas, in more ways than one.

2009, the highlights

Happy Holidays!

We've had a busy year with lots of exciting things to share.

2/10/09- Jack and Ben turn 2

5/09- The boys managed mischief, and more mischief

5/16/09- Peter turns 5

5/20/09- Mom turns 30

5/20/09- Pete plays soccer

5/09- Mom joins the YMCA and runs in her first races 5/25 , 7/24, and a 15k 10/09

6/09- Dad gets a paper published in Science

6/09-11/09- Dad goes on a "man-cation" and some other adventures 6/09, 8/09, 9/09, 11/09

7/09- Our family vacation to Utah including some visits with family, friends, and more family

7/09- Family camping trip to China Meadows

8/09- Pete starts Kindergarten

12/09- We celebrate the end of another happy year and wish you all joy and happiness in the year to come!

big south fork, tn

We took a day trip to Big South Fork, TN and did some hiking. It was unusually warm and of course these boys LOVED every minute of it. Our family at Twin Arches (not pictured)

Pete

Jack

Ben

the best use of a november afternoon

Ben

Jack

Peter

all dressed up oct. 30-31, 2009

at our Ward trunk-or-treat (Oct. 30. 2009), and the next day...

...ready to trick-or-treat the neighborhood (Oct 31, 2009).

on wednesday...

...we had a preschool Halloween party,
in which Jack and Ben danced with their friends,

ate snacks,

and played ring-around-the pumpkin.

We also turned pumpkins into...

...Jack-O-Lanterns!!!

All in a day's work!

smoky mountains, oct. 23-25, 2009

Wade and Pete spent the weekend camping in the Smokies.

mischief managed, part VI

Just coincidence? Or have I two 2.5 year old, cold, calculated, cruel mischiefers (perhaps with a highly developed sense of humor) on my hands? This morning they emptied a box of cheerios on the floor downstairs, this afternoon they emptied a gallon milk on the floor upstairs. Unfortunately, I did not share their highly developed sense of humor as I mopped up milk and picked up cheerios.

couldn't get up in the morning

As it does in Tennessee, it rained A LOT. As they do, these boys took full advantage of the situation. As he often is, Wade was nearby with camera in hand.

Jack