merry christmas.

Contrary to what Dave may tell you, we were asked to to portray Mary and Joseph for a primary activity in our new ward. Wanting to make a good impression in the ward and in my neighborhood (i'm surrounded by primary presidency on all sides) I agreed happily.

Dave wasn't as happy about it.

Based on several conversations I had with the presidency about the activity I had a feeling that my traditional nativity costume, involving towels, ties and bathrobes, wouldn't cut it. So I set out to make our costumes. No pattern. I simply studied some pictures online and start sewing. It was my first time freestyling a sewing project since I was probably 9. Granted I was only making a simply shapeless tunic, but I couldn't help feeling like one of those pretentious designers on Project Runway.

Based on reactions, I think we made the good impression I was looking for. Hopefully any future opportunities with the ward won't involve playing dress up.

Easter

I'm still so behind on my blog and I'm ready to be caught up. Here's a little slide show of easter pics for your enjoyment.

I've been thinking a lot today about how quickly the last two years has gone. How I strange it felt to call myself "mom," but how I can't imagine life without that title. Its amazing how life changing this last two years has been. I feel overwhelmed at how much love it has required but also given me in return. The thought of having so many more years of this and the thought of having another little one that completely captures my heart is unfathomable to me. I really don't know how my heart can get any bigger, but I don't doubt that it will.

Will I always have such an emotional reflection every time one of my children has a birthday? Its almost exhausting! But its mine and I love it.

a couple weeks ago...

We looked like this. We were getting ready to move to move from Saratoga to our new home in AF. We didn't have much furniture as we'd used my cousins while living in her house. So our house looked like this:
As often happens when securing a mortgage we learned our move would be pushed back a week. So instead of waiting in our big empty home for a week, a week when Dave would be mostly gone at a conference, Sol and I decided to take a trip to Laramie to hang out with G&G for week.

While there we went to look at the trains:
It snowed while we were there (no big surprise) and Sol really wanted to put his feet in the snow. We kept telling him it was too cold for bare feet but he insisted. So...
Sol loves to eat snow. "Margon" (Grandma in Sol speak) would fill a little cup full of snow for sol to snack on in doors where it was warm. He ate cup after cup.

We had a great week in Laramie, very relaxing. My mom came back to Utah with us to help us move. My sister and her kids came to help as well. I needed muscle where I'm pregnant so they were a huge help. My dad came on the weekend when we actually moved all the big stuff. He was a really big help too!

We all enjoyed some Rock Band, kids included:

And then we moved.

(insert fun moving pics here)

I fully intended to document the big event but when it came down to it, taking pictures was never a priority. But we made it! We're all here and so is our stuff. Here's a picture of the view from our front window.

We're so glad to be home.

Solomon Skis.

I'm thrilled to have a guest blogger on my blog today! Please welcome Skimoab from skimoab.net....

I'm funny. Do I sound like a crafty blog queen?

I copied this post verbatim from Dave's blog cause I loved his telling of the story. Thanks hun.

You thought I was going to talk about Salomon brand skis, didn't you? Nope, instead i'm looking to enthrall you with a post about Solomon's first day on skis. Sol will be turning 2 on April 15th so I thought it would be cool to get him on skis while he was still 1. Last Thursday morning posed the perfect opportunity with some fresh snowfall and a warm, spring day.

We took him to Nyman's Ski Shop on the way up to sundance where Scott was kind enough to hook us up with some 70cm skis.

There were several steps along the way where I figured he might decide this wasn't for him, the first being after trying out the boots.

He did tip over once, but caught on pretty quick. He's always liked shoes so to him this was just a cool new pair of boots.

Sol has watched skiing with me on TV and we talk about it a lot, but he was really fascinated once we got to watch some kids skiing at the base of the hill.

He kept saying "Ski?" and was urging us to get going.

Once we got the actual skis on him he was a little more hesitant. He definitely wanted to go but knew it was a little over his head.

We mostly pulled him along while he tried to balance himself, though he did get a couple of 4-5ft long slides in by himself.

After 20 minutes or so he decided he had learned enough for the first day.

So I took him up the ski lift. I knew it might make him a little nervous but he settled right in and had a blast.

He kept pointing out the trees, snow, and mountains.

We rode up to the midway stop on Ray's and I held him as we skied down. He loved skiing through the Magic Forest, the spot just under the lift before you get to the midway stop. He kept laughing and saying "fun?" I did set him down and let him ski a little more on his own, then I carried him the rest of the way down.

It turned out to be a beautiful day and a lot of fun. We figured at some point he would have lost it, but he had a great time.

Today I showed him a picture of the trip and he said, "Ski? Fun?" Yes Sol, ski fun.

girl. ...I mean GIRL!

That's right! Baby is a girl! We're so very excited. I've felt very strongly all along that this baby is a girl but I knew it could just be hormones. I'd be just as excited about a little boy and probably a lot less nervous. Girl is uncharted territory for me. I love little boys, they are so much fun and in many ways they are so easy. So I know this little rose petal will be a new challenge for all of us. But we couldn't be happier!

Sol came to the ultra sound appointment. I expected him to be bored in after a few minutes of the fuzzy, grainy video but he was as mesmerized as we were by seeing our dear little peanut on the tv. She looked beautiful. Sol kept saying "Baby?" over and over and pointing to the screen. Once we learned she was a girl and told him it was his sister he kept saying "Sister? Sister?" and pointing to the screen. It was so awesome. Its incredible to make a family 'where there once was none.'

Alive.

We've survived our 3rd and hopefully final move (for a long while at least). I love our new home! The neighborhood is amazing, everyone is so friendly already. We're still dealing with boxes and getting things in order, which I'm sure will take a while.

So amidst all the "excitement" (I'm tired of calling it craziness) of moving I've fallen behind on some blogging. I'm going to start with just a bit at a time.

A couple weeks ago Daddy sluffed work for a few hours and accompanied Sol and me to the aquarium in Sandy. Its no Sea World, but its great for a kids Sol's age. We made it through all the exibits about the time he was done. Perfect! Here are some pics. Enjoy!

Studying the Jellyfish

"Shish, shish, shish" (fish) Sol said over and over

The Octopus or "Oposus" and Sol calls it. Yuck.

Harassing the Sting rays

We all had fun!