Tasty soup

Kate is my good eater. She loves to eat (well minus rice and oats, but that's another story). Fun picture watching her make sure she got every drop of her chicken noodle soup.

Oh the joys of COSTCO

Jackson and Kate love going to COSTCO with me. They enjoy looking at the books and eating the snacks while I shop. They've become friends with many of the sample employees (which means we get extra sometimes). And, they love the COSTCO frozen yogurt. Good times.

Gymboree

Jackson and Kate enjoyed attending Gymboree music, art, and play classes during the past several months. Jackson especially liked the play and learn course that allowed him to run and jump and slide in creative ways. For example, one class was centered on the post office. They used letters to slip into the "mailbox" (aka a slit in the slide ladder) and then "stamped" the letters by jumping off a platform onto a cushioned mat. Kate loved the rocking horse and the inflatable tubes. We enjoyed meeting other children and moms and loved Miss Cheryl and Miss Shannon. Can't wait to start again this fall.

California sun and fun

The kids and I made our annual trek to Palm Desert, California for a week of fun in the sun with my mom. I really love it there! Well, I didn't really enjoy the insane traffic we braved ( in a minivan nonetheless) when we arrived Friday afternoon. We enjoyed the warm weather (70s and 80s and came back to snow and 22 degree weather) and spent most of our days outside. Mom and I worked out for two hours a day - our routine 5 mile walk followed by lifting weights. We swam with the kids (the pool was a little chilly and I put on a brave face for my two kiddos). We ate yummy ice cream (ever heard of Ben and Jerry's Milk and cookies? My new fav and Jackson's too). We shopped until we dropped (or until we both spent our allotment :). Jackson and Kate enjoyed exploring their "new home" but didn't adjust well to the time difference. Most mornings we were up at 5. The kids loved driving the cars we found at every store we went to (Jackson is still learning that pretending to drive is almost as fun as spending the money to "really" drive it) and talking to the ducks swimming in the lake at the nearby Marriott. We loved our time with Grammy and can't wait until next year. (Note: Jason couldn't come with us this year as he is studying every spare minute for his upcoming boards examination. We'll all be glad when that's over!)

Kate's doctor's appointment

Kate had her one-year healthy child visit a couple of weeks ago. Stats: 22 lbs. and 28 inches. Her head circumference is in the 95th percentile (lots of brains in there Dr. Yu said :). She also had to get five shots. I hate the feeling as a mom of holding your child and them smiling at you and then they see your face just as they feel that poke. Kate wasn't happy, but she's immunized and ready to face flu season.

Kansas City

We thought we'd be in Kansas City for a year while Jason finishes a 12-month refractive fellowship at Durrie Vision. Turns out, that we'll be making our home here long-term. After months of interviewing with various practices around the nation, Jason accepted an offer from his current boss, Dr. Dan Durrie, to join Durrie Vision. We are thrilled. Kansas City has felt like home to us since we moved here last May. We love our ward, our friends, the climate, the non-stop to Salt Lake City, and much more. We met some wonderful people during the interview process in Orlando, Atlanta, Memphis, Utah and California. So grateful for the time they spent showing us their beautiful cities. I really loved a lot of different things about each city, and had pretty much found a house that would be "just perfect" for our growing family wherever we moved. So grateful for the Durries, Stahls and all the people at DV who have made such a positive impact in our lives.

Christmas

We spent Christmas in Kansas City. My parents and brother were able to come out for a week and join us. Anyone who knows me knows I love Christmas. And, I love spending Christmas with my family. Jackson and I went and picked them up at the airport Christmas Eve. He and Grandpa looked for Christmas lights all the way home. We ate a yummy Kansas City barbecue dinner, then opened presents (pajamas) and read the Christmas story. Santa found his way to our house around midnight. Thank goodness he came early this year because Jackson woke up at 2 a.m. and luckily I was able to convince him to come sleep with Jason and I until 6ish. Christmas morning we opened gifts, ate pancakes and went to church. I love having Christmas fall on Sunday. It brings the right focus to the day. The program was amazing. Our Relief Society president is also the ward choir director (yes, she volunteered for the latter assignment) and did an incredible job. She really is a phenomenal lady. Jackson received a bike and his "fireman" engine and Kate a princess car. They are so cute riding around together. Christmas night we ate a traditional ham dinner and enjoyed helping Kate and Jackson have fun with all of their new toys. The next week was spent going to the gym (had to try and get rid of all that yummy food we ate), fixing things around the house (my dad is a whiz; Jeff, too), playing with the kids, etc. I also went shopping with my mom. My favorite bargain find: nice grey window-pane slacks from Ann Taylor for $7.00 :) Love that! Sure loved having my family here. We also enjoyed talking with Greg and Sally and Sam via SKYPE. So happy that modern technology allows us to communicate with loved ones around the world.