Christmas Cards 2011

In case we missed you, but really, if you watch the blog . . . you've already heard it all.

(Can you believe I got cards out?!  It was a small feat, I'm sooo proud of for this year.  We missed last year, and I couldn't skip 2 years in a row!)

2011

So, it’s a full on letter this year since Ashleigh has the “down time” (see below) to get one all hammered out (but still couldn’t get the cards out on time).

Addison (8) was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints this year. She (after lots and lots of work) perfected her back handspring, started dance, started 3rd grade, continues to fuel (with the help of her Mom) her love for Harry Potter, reads like a fiend and loves to create. We'll say it a million times and it will never do it justice . . . Addie is just a good, good kid that we would be lost without. Our neighbor really asked what it was like running a family with 3 responsible adults . . . not far off.

Olivia (5) started kindergarten this year and the house is actually quiet for 3 hours a day. She also started dance, gymnastics and loves the new challenge of reading. She is still our "energetic" child and there’s always something with her . . . like the hand mixer stuck in her hair, her ultra sensory skills for clothing seams, and running into everything (that’s how we know she’s really Ashleigh’s daughter). Our home might be pretty dull without our Ollie Dollie to liven things up.

Drew (2) is finally talking like no one's business and sometimes we miss the old days with our little "mute boy." Unfortunately, he's 2 and he's experimenting with boundaries - every day, all day. He's potty trained, he's an expert at being a dog for his beloved sisters, he loves to leave long phone messages for "my daddy,” he finally got over an “always naked” phase, and though he definitely has some special skills with balls, he also loves his Rapunzel Barbie Olivia finally just gave him.

Ashleigh has been eternally busy until a pretty terrible car accident that recently put her on a mandatory "vacation" for 4-5 months (broken pelvis, back, ribs, and a collapsed lung). Thankfully, with time, she will make a full recovery. In the "old days" she stayed busy with too much work, lots of church, food storage, not enough quilting and crafts and then the obvious class parties, carpools, kids, kids, kids . . . And loved every (fun, difficult, proud, frustrating) minute and can't wait to be back in the throes of motherhood and life again.

Ansen loves his new job at Miche Bag - a company that makes interchangeable purses. He's become quite the purse enthusiast, but for the record he does the accounting, not the designing. He still plays golf, has successfully trained his 2 girls to be Yankees fans who really know how talk the talk and walk the walk (there are some strong friends and foes in our neighborhood), and is currently filling the vacant position of "Mom" and full time care taker to Ashleigh.