Trying Times

Hi blog! So sorry we haven't updated for awhile. The end of 2009 ended up being a very mixed experience for us. We had a wonderful time reuniting with Mom's family in AZ, our first trip to Grandma and Grandpa's beautiful retirement home. The girls got to meet their cousin Jimmy for the first time, and we all got to meet little Emerson Hayes Engle and see Evan and Kim's beautiful home for the first time as well. At the same time, Mom has never experienced such a trying time traveling by air ever before in her life, and I hope we never go through anything like it again. I don't want to belabor an already well known story, but girls, in case you forget, remind Mom to tell you about the year it took us two day to get out of DC, two days to get back (including flying to CA to get back to DC) and dealing with delays, cancellations, vomiting, and (sorry if this is too explicit) explosive gastrointestinal issues. Mom spent the entire flight from Phoenix to San Francisco running back and forth to the bathroom with Hannah PRAYING that there was one that was not occupied.

The worst of it all, however, were the people that we lost over this holiday break. First and foremost, we lost Great Grandpa Wright. I am glad that the girls both got to meet him, although it makes me sad that they never got to spend much time with him. It makes me sad that I never got to spend much time with him either, although I know enough from my interactions with him and the stories my aunts and uncles and father and mother have told me to know that the world is poorer without him. I also take great comfort knowing that he has been reunited with Grandma. In addition to Grandpa, we lost friends to a shocking and reprehensible act of violence that has left me mostly numb. This is the first time I have personally felt the human loss behind a news story and it is terrible, and my heart goes out to the families of all involved.

Life however goes on, and we are slowly but surely getting back into our routine. The girls are happy to be back with their friends and teachers at school, and Mom is continuing to try and get the hang of her new position at work. Dad as usual continues to do amazing work at his job and receive praise from all concerned. We are very very proud of him.

So here is hoping that 2010 will be a better year all round and all through. We will have several milestones this year, including Hannah starting Kindergarten in September, Molly moving into second grade, Mom's first class graduating in April, and Dad inching closer to the big 5 -0 (OK, Mom is also inching closer to the big 4-0, but let's just focus on Dad for now, shall we?). Hope you all had a great holiday break and are this far having an excellent New Year. The Packers losing today is an inauspicious start to mine, but if this is the worst thing that happens to me all year, I'll be OK.

All the single ladies!!

The Moo and the Bean have discovered Beyonce. :) They were a little tired of dancing by the time it occurred to Mom to record it, but this gives you a sense of the fun we have been having today. I am still struggling to explain what the singer means when she says "if you like it then you should have put a ring on it" though -- they think she just likes sparkly things. :)

Trick or Treat

My budding entomologists ready for a night of trick or treating -- Mom is sick with strep so she will not be going! The girls look great in their costumes though, and poor Fidel is the saddest trick or treating dog I have ever seen (the girls insisted on dressing him up).

PreK Halloween Party 2009

From Movies

Mom is the room mom for the Bean's PreK class, and was in charge of organizing this year's Halloween party. One of the other Moms was kind enough to take LOTS of pictures of the kids this year, so there are A LOT in this movie, but it goes fast and you get to see the Bean in all her butterfly glory. Mom came down with strep right after this, so I will not be trick or treating this evening, but will be sure to post pictures of our butterfly and her dragon fly big sister after Dad takes them out!

Random Pictures of the Girls

These are from Molly's first LCDS swim meet of the year -- she finished first in freestyle, second in breaststroke, fourth in backstroke, and cut her butterfly time in half. Yay Moo!! Grandma and Grandpa were here to see it as well, and then we had a wonderful but short visit before they left to attend Aunt L's wedding. CONGRATS to Aunt L and new uncle F!!

Taylor Mali

Busy Weekend!

We are on the tail end of a VERY busy weekend, the most important part of which is Daddy's 48th birthday!!! Happy birthday daddy!!!! The Moo and Bean each painted a canvas for Daddy to hang in his office, both of which turned out very nicely. This morning we made him his favorite sausage and egg casserole for breakfast in bed. As we were making it, the Moo asked if we should sing him the "Mom, it's your birthday" song from Phineas and Ferb (with "Mom" being substituted with "Dad," naturally). We were going over the words to the song, and got to the line "when I'm climbing up the walls, you're the one who stays calm" when the Bean said "Wait a minute! We can't sing this song for Dad." We asked her why not, and she said "If I was climbing up the wall, Daddy would not stay calm, he would say, "Come down here before you fall and break your head off!!"" So, that was the end of that idea.

Right now we are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Grandma and Grandpa from their flight out of Paris. Poor Grandma and Grandpa will have to go straight from the airport to the pool, though, to watch the Moo compete in the first LCDS swim meet of the season. We had a SNOW swim meet last weekend and the Moo swam a personal best 25.15 25-meter free and a much improved 29 25-meter back. This meet she is competing in all four strokes, and we are excited that Grandma and Grandpa will be there to see her!

We spent yesterday at the LCDS Fall Fun Fair which was a great time, despite the fact that the rain forced the organizers to move it inside. The highlight for Mom was watching the girls compete in the pie eating contest. The Moo took one bite, made a face, removed her napkin and came off stage, saying "I don't like it." The Bean planted her face, devoured the whole thing, and took first place among the PreK participants. And that, in a nutshell, illustrates perfectly the differences between my two children! :)

Right now I have to sign off to get to the airport and collect our visitors! We are concerned about poor Fidel today, who has done nothing but shake and vomit since he woke up this morning, but are waiting to see how he is tomorrow before freaking out entirely. He seems a little better right now, and I know a visit from Grandma and Grandpa is going to perk him right up. Hope everyone had a great weekend, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!! We love you!!