merry christmas

Better late than never, right? Maybe having an on-time Christmas card will be a New Year's Resolution for 2010. We shall see!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

(sorry - the scan's a little crooked, but click on it to open it up and read it)

family weekend

We had so much fun with my family in town. Thanksgiving was fabulous with our own personal Chef who flew all the way from Seattle for cook for us! My brother-in-law Eric is a phenomenal Chef who is amazing in the kitchen. Even breakfast on Thanksgiving morning was so fancy and divinely delicious! And then he brought all sorts of yummy goodness to the dinner in side dishes to add to the deep-fried turkeys my other brother-in-law did and my sister's famous mashed potatoes. Basically it heaven on a plate. SO GOOD. If you want to look at the menu, Eric posted 'em all on his amazing cooking website here.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were mostly just hanging out with everyone. We enjoyed singing around the piano, playing with the grandkids, making candy Buckeyes, shopping, taking naps, celebrating Mindy's birthday, getting pedicures, playing corn hole, watching the BYU game, talking late into the night, and going to church together. It was perfect.

And since everyone was in town together, we did our own Christmas! It's the best when you get to watch everyone's faces as they open their presents! I think the most beloved gift of all was Kendra's Twilight old-school lunch box. She opened it pretty early in the festivities, and in every single picture I have of her, she's still holding it! Makes me laugh - love that girl!

There's something special about having family near you. Even if you are just sitting and talking, it's absolutely wonderful. Family helps make ordinary, every-day things seem like so much more. Thank you to everyone who had to take time off, spend extra money for plane tickets, worry about Christmas fitting into your luggage, sleep on air mattresses that kept on deflating, and even arrive home at 4 in the morning only to have to shower and get ready for work in a few hours.

It was a fast weekend, but meant the world to us all. We have the best family ever.

And for your viewing enjoyment, here's L playing with a new toy Grandma Bonnie and Grandpa Bruce gave him for Christmas. He has LOVED this toy and carries it everywhere he goes. He wants to take it to church, in the car, into the doctor's office, everywhere! We've successfully lost two balls already, but he is perfectly fine with substituting anything else he can find (tictacs, golf balls, travel sized toiletries, small toy cars, etc.). And L is now a pro at using a hammer ... even if this video does not show it. Thanks Grandpa and Grandma!!

fun with friends

A good friend of ours interviewed at OSU for a residency program in OB/Gyn this past weekend, and since they live in Hershey, PA, the whole family came! It was great to see TJ, Amber, Kate, and meet Ethan! We were in the same ward back in Provo, and love how we've kept in touch through the years.

Since it's absolutely freezing here, we didn't get out and do a whole lot. I just don't know what to do in Columbus when it has to be inside. If you have any suggestions, fellow C-bus friends, I would love to hear them! On Saturday just to get out of the house and let the kids run, we went up to the mall. Once we got there I realized what a bad idea that was! We were totally oblivious planning it, but duh! It's a Saturday, at the mall, in December. Christmas shopping mayhem! It felt like we were pushing our way through and scouting out territory the entire time. But hey, the kids enjoyed it, and it was an adventure. I'll remember next time to never do that again! :)

Kate and L took a little while to warm up to each other, but quickly became best buds! They would hold hands walking, and L would willingly go and give Kate hugs and kisses. SO CUTE! (although I couldn't catch it on camera) They took turns pushing each other in the stroller while at the mall, and they both really had fun together!

Thanks for coming out guys! It was so fun!

raising money

The Jones' family has established a few ways for those who can to donate to Emily and her children. I have been touched by the dozens of people all over the country who have made comments on the various news articles online saying that they are praying for this family and want to help out. Especially at the beginning of this Christmas season, what a better way to give? If you would like to contribute, donations can be made to:

The John & Emily Jones Memorial Fund (Utah Community Credit Union and Wells Fargo)

The Emily Jones Children Donations (Zions National Bank)

For those of you not able to go to these places, you can donate online here.

I also know of an online auction that started today by stephanie over at A Daily Scoop. She doesn't know the Jones family, but wanted to do what she could to help out. There will be daily auctions, and she gives instructions on how to bid (check out the first auction here). If you would like to contribute any item to be auctioned off rather than bidding, then you can e-mail her (stephaniewaite@gmail.com) or comment on her blog saying you would like to contribute. I think it's a great opportunity to make Christmas gift buying turn into a double blessing for those in need. I have some friends who are contributing items, and I'm excited to be apart of something that will help Emily and her children.

Merry Christmas Emily - I hope this helps.

thankful thoughts

Thanksgiving this year was a very bitter-sweet experience. My entire family came out to Ohio to be with us for the holidays, and my sister hosted the big dinner. Ryan and I had come home to give L a nap, and as we were working on making our dessert we got a phone call from a friend telling us that a good friend of ours had passed away while exploring the Nutty-Putty caves in Utah. We had met John and Emily Jones at our BYU ward in Provo when we were both newly weds, and were immediately drawn to them for their goodness. They both simply radiated Christlike love and charity. We became friends with them and built memories and have continued to keep in touch as both John and Ryan have gone to medical school and Emily and I have become mothers. Our hearts and prayers go out to John's family, especially Emily and her daughter (and another on the way). We love them so very much.

With that news, my view of life and what I am thankful for has shifted dramatically. While life here on this earth is temporary, I am grateful for my testimony that families can be together forever, and that Ryan and I are sealed in the temple for time and all eternity. It is through our faith in Jesus Christ and His life, ministry, and atonement that bind us together. The knowledge that this life "shall be but a small moment" encourages and inspires me to try harder to be better and do better. I am thankful for friends like John and Emily who live their lives worthy of the choicest blessings of eternity and for the example they give me. Most importantly, this year, I am grateful for my family. Both my small family of three, our extended families who make life worth living, and for those precious friends who become family. It may be very simple, but the sacred nature of our family is by far the greatest blessing in life we can enjoy.

every day life

We've been busy getting ready for the upcoming holidays, and enjoying every day life with this handsome boy. I realized it had been over a week and a half without me even pulling out my camera to take pictures. For some that may not be a big deal, but for me that feels like I have neglected a huge part of myself! It felt good to snap a few pictures of L the other day showing off a new shirt from Ry's Grandy. Thanks for giving me an excuse to get camera happy again!

Next week we will welcome the entire Adamson side of the family (except one brother on a mission) to C-bus to celebrate Thanksgiving! I cannot wait, and I better have my camera handy.

halloween

Pretty much the cutest giraffe I've ever seen. We went to a party a week before Halloween with some friends and had a great time. L cried when we first put the costume on him, but once he saw other kids dressed up he kinda liked it I think.

They do things a little differently here in Columbus, and we did trick-or-treating on Thursday night. It was so much fun! L got the hang of it, and with a little friendly reminder signed "thank you" to all our awesome neighbors who had candy.

Without even telling or showing him what to do, we took off his costume and he immediately sat down to view his spoils. He was so cute lining up all the pieces, and he eventually started sorting them all into groups (snickers, skittles, taffys, etc.). So stinkin' cute to watch his mind work!

This was the third time we tried to put the costume on him - our ward Halloween party. He was exhausted from a LONG day, and would NOT let us get that giraffe over his head. Good thing we had a back-up! He was already tired and grumpy, and then in the middle of the party, a balloon popped right on his face. Needless to say we had a meltdown, and he was VERY needy the rest of the night. Ry & I played it easy this year, and switched roles for Halloween. I was a surgeon and he was a mom in a bathrobe. Pretty creative I know ...

All in all a very fun Halloween week! Can't wait for next year!

october

"Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn."
- Elizabeth Lawrence

nonnie's visit

It was so wonderful having Ryan's mom come visit us for a few days! Although it was really sad to say goodbye, I couldn't help but feel rejuvenated and uplifted from her visit. Thank you for your positive influence Nonnie!

{L was more interested in the back hoe clearing out an exhibit than the actual animals! So cute}

We love you. Thank you for coming!! See you again soon!

long day

I don't get it. He normally loves cheese.

Slept all the way through the diaper change, clothing change, and long enough for Mom to run downstairs to grab the camera. This was too good to miss.

The most loved bear.

He even slept through all the flashes. Very impressive!

Granted, it did take waking up at 4am and not sleeping all day (very much against Mom's wishes) to make this little boy so tired. As much as I loved watching him sleep ... 14 hours of solid awake time is not worth it to me.

This morning was a tad better, but not by much. And he's crying through his nap again. Ryan's on call tonight and I won't see him until tomorrow around noon - maybe. I am not sure if I can handle this again! Ahhh ... hanging on to that peaceful look on his face when he finally zonked out. I love that face. I'm excited to see it again tonight.

apple picking

Enjoying the wonderful fall out here in Ohio. We got dumped on while visiting our favorite apple orchard, but that just made the adventure more fun! Honestly - it did. L was in high heaven - apples are his favorite and they were everywhere!

We went with my sister and her family, Ryan had the day off, and we finished it all off by eating apple crisp at home with ice cream. It was a perfect day!

family time at tahoe

{I was trying to remember what we did this summer, and my memory is apparently very connected to the things I write down on this blog. A friend asked me if we had a good time at Tahoe a few months ago, and I did a double take - Tahoe? Did we go? Was L with us? Was it last year? Nope. It was July. I just never blogged about it. Therefore, it never happened. Hah! No longer! Here's my official documentation - for my own memory sake!}

Ry's extended family goes to Lake Tahoe in CA every year around the 4th of July. We've missed the past couple years, and it was SO nice to go back and be surrounded by the beautiful lake and mountains and play with wonderful people. Ry and I both said we really could live there ... it's perfect year round!

Already in control of way too many things ...

Loves loves loves water!

Fanny Bridge

Hiking adventures

Grandkids on R's side of family

Three generations

Full day of picture taking!

We love our family!

just talking

I'm beginning to learn that L is a relatively quiet toddler. Don't get me wrong - he LOVES to scream, yell, and make really loud noises - believe me. The quiet that I am talking about is in reference to actually talking, or babbling like babies/toddlers do. He was that way from the beginning and that's why we've tried to teach him some sign language to help us understand what he wants/needs. So far he knows and can repeat these signs to us:

Food/Eat, More, Milk, Cracker, Help, Again, Please, Thank You, Up, Down, Rain, Dog, Bird, Horse, and a lot of others that he understands but doesn't repeat.

But as for as words that are verbal? Zero.

Thankfully, this past week or two he has randomly started babbling and I find it incredibly adorable. He is starting to mimic sounds and inflections more - but only on his schedule. We try to get him to "talk" on demand, and it works maybe 50% of the time.

On Sunday, he picked up his play cell phone and for the first time that I have seen, held it up to his ear and talked. He even gave his other play cell phone to Dad so they could call one another. I realize that this is old news for every one else who has ever had or seen a kid do this - it's nothing special. But for me, considering the lack of talking L does, this is absolutely perfect. I could listen to him babble all day ...

zoo video!

It finally worked! I think something is wrong with our SD card because it wouldn't load directly from it, but once I used our camera cord it worked! Yay!! Here is the previously mentioned monkey video in full glory. I love that little boy!!

end of summer splash

There's a tree in our apartment complex that has already lost all of it's leaves. Fall has started, which means summer has ended (tear ...). While I do like routines and structured days, I loved playing outside and doing fun things with L. He's at such a great age for lots of new adventures!

Unknowingly, this might have been our last hoorah for summer. Not quite sure if it will be warm enough outside to do this again! And this time around we enjoyed it with two cousins which made it even better! Love those bunny fountains! (and maybe someday I'll snap a picture of the bunny statues that are the source of the nickname)