Change-is-a-coming

I was just about to purchase myself a pair of these.

Now, I'm thinking I might purchase these instead.

Why the change of heart you might ask? Just prepping for a slight change.

Instead of frequent trips to this "gate" into the US,

we just might make more frequent trips to this "gate" into the US.

Our "sign" will be changing from this

to this

Oh, yes folks. We are heading 3,000 miles across the country. Ty was offered a position at KPMG's National Office in New Jersey, essentially right across the Hudson from NYC (here is a visual for you). We couldn't help but accept the opportunity for adventure for the next 2-3 years.

We are sad. We really love our life here in California, which made the decision really hard for us. But, we are also really looking forward to what the future holds. I am SO NOT excited for the weather, but I figure I'll manage (with a few tropical vacations in between).

B-Man is growing up

It's true. Bennett turned one. Since we were all enduring on and off sickness, we had zero energy to exert on this boy's party. Good thing he was turning one and therefore we avoided any expectations. So we whipped up a mickey cake, grabbed some ears and called it a party.

Double fisting it. My other kids played in their cakes. Not this kid. He didn't stop until it was gone, then he cried.

Happy Birthday, my big boy!

So we might call him Ezra.

Any idea what these two people have in common?

Other than their deep spirituality, of course.
(hint: take a look at their left ears)

notice a tomato in his hand-no surprise.

I know this is a repeat picture, but it may be the best indicator of our little Ezra.

So what if his left ear sticks out. So did Ezra Taft Benson's. I think it is pretty cool (along with vampire teeth...and a bald head).

Meet Ruby

I had a couple favorite gifts that I gave this year. They happened to be given to the same two little girls.

Meet Ruby Stitch, which happens to be in the form of Ava and Anna. I gave one of these handmade dolls to Ava and her cousin Anna. They were made to look like them by my good friend Abby. Ava's even has a few freckles in just the right spots. Really, you should check these out. Don't worry, she makes boys too, complete with masks and capes.

Aren't they cute.

My other favorite gift was to my boys and Ava and Anna. I see me books are awesome. They are custom books all about your children. Ava's is about finding the fairy princess and each fairy brings a letter to make her name and crown her the princess. The boys are about a baby that was born with all the animals to name it. Another item you really should check out.

The Joys

December is always a joy with the fun things going on. Here were a few of our joys as well as a few not so joyous moments.

Taking my YW ice skating was great.

I was waiting all night for someone to eat it...it was me. I was trying to do things like I was 15 again. I should have expected this result. It was surprisingly painful to fall on the ice.

Tyler's last week of work before we went to Utah for Christmas was absolutely horrible. He worked Mon-Thursday and racked up 75 hours. That means he was home 21 hours in 4 days. Awesome. But it is over, YAY! During that week everything went perfect at home, as usual. After falling out of the van, head first on the curb, Christian recorded another trip to the ER, this time the real thing (not just urgent care) since it was 3:00 in the morning. No, I didn't intentionally let him sit around with a concussion. He seemed fine after the initial spill, until he woke up in the night and wouldn't stop throwing up. Finally Tyler got home around 3 and I headed to the ER for some CAT Scans and Zofran.


Surprisingly cheery at this point.

Five days later, Ava woke up sick and also threw up all night long. Tyler got home around 4:30 after her throwing up was complete. She woke up feeling better, so we packed up and headed to Utah, only to find out that we spread the worst stomach bug I have ever seen. We watched as it passed through well over 30 people. Every adult in the house got sick. Lovely.

We were, however, able to enjoy ourselves here and there.

Salt Lake Temple Lights:

Freez-ing! How do people live like that?
Little ms. happy.

There we go, that's better.

Noah and Christian

Bundled like we've never been bundled before. Ava came to a consensus, "California is WAY better than Utah. It is too cold here." Christian, on the other hand could not have cared less about the cold. After sledding for a long while we came in and found that every extremity was frozen and he hadn't complained once. Typical Christian.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were part of my time being sick, so our pictures are few. Here you go.

Christian has known for awhile that right before his birthday he gets to start swim lessons (he's finally old enough to do it without me). The goggles were a huge hit from Santa. He wears them to ALL of Ava's swim lessons, the entire time.

This darling picture was when the vicious stomach bug was getting passed from Ava and Christian to Papa Jim, Noah and Luke. Sorry guys!

While in Utah we went bowling a couple times. Our kids loved it. They ask to go all the time now.

It seriously took Christian ball 30 seconds to get to the pins and honestly we kind of expected it to stop at the pins, Uncle Buck style.

Aww, it was fun to spend time together in Utah.

Bennett's 1st birthday to come.