Unpacking

This is what the living room and kitchen looked like just a few days ago:

Once I get motivated to take more pictures and/or video of our place, I'll post it so you can see what our home looks like now!

Brooke's House

We stayed at my sister Brooke's house one night on the drive.  Kaitlyn was copying everything Hunter was doing.  They were having so much fun together - it was adorable.

Saying Goodbye to Our Cedar City Home

We had three people come help us pack up the truck.  We sure appreciated their help!  We also had people bring us dinners, snacks, and watch the kids while we were getting everything packed and cleaned.  We love our friends and neighbors from Cedar City!

Saying Goodbye to North Elementary

The last day of school in Cedar City, I brought the boys to school.  They brought treats for their entire class (Ethan: peanut butter bars; Aidan: chocolate brownies), and they also brought presents for their teachers (both boys: a 12 pack of Diet Coke and a fake rose that plays a song and a hand-written letter to their teacher).

North Elementary

 It was pajama day at Aidan's class

 I don't know how to work with window glares, but I tried to get the front window sign.

It was difficult for all three of us (me, Aidan, Ethan) to say goodbye to their school.  Sniff, sniff.

Sitting on the Couch

We carpet cleaned a couple of days before we left, and Christian put the couch up on its side to get it out of the way.  It quickly became Kaitlyn's favorite spot (to share with her dog, Violet):

Run and Jump

We have packed our bed frame and headboard.  Kaitlyn is taking advantage of the floor-level mattress right now.

Talking

By 18 months old, toddlers are supposed to be saying a handful of words.  Kaitlyn is almost 20 months old and has only really said like 3 words - dada, all done, and ball.  I haven't been overly concerned because she signs so many words, but just last night Christian and I were talking about the fact that she isn't saying many words.  Less than an hour later, Christian was holding a ball and signing ball and asked Kaitlyn, "What is this."  Kaitlyn did the sign for ball and said, "It's a ball."  We couldn't believe it and for a moment wondered if it was a fluke, but she deliberately said it a second time, "It's a ball."  Her first sentence!  Of course, we couldn't get her to do it again, but I know she is just sinking all of the language into her mind and before long will be speaking in sentences.

My Final Piano Recital

My last recital was December 16. I woke up that morning with one of the worst colds I have ever had.  Thankfully, this made me too tired to be nervous/anxious about the recital.  My students all did a fantastic job, and I sure will miss them!  I'm not sure when/if I will be teaching again, so it's great to have this photo as a memory of the time I spent teaching here in Cedar City. 

More Pictures

 Shooting with Grandpa Roger

 Green tongue!

 Ice fishing with Dad.

Looking cute in her church clothes.

Pictures Since I Don't Really Have Time to Update

 Aidan playing "the long one" in his first grade play.

 Kaitlyn wouldn't give up this bear in the store (we eventually purchased it for her for Christmas).

 They found the perfect tree... look at how the sunlight is glowing just so, proving that it is the right one!

 Kaitlyn fell asleep in front of the tree just like this.

Ethan as the wise man in the church Nativity.

Ethan's Christmas Performance

Last night was Ethan's third grade Christmas performance.  The entire third grade had memorized a one page, single spaced narrative (wow!) along with a number of songs.  At the end, Ethan and two other people had a special musical number on xylophones.  (The girl is Jacey, one of my piano students, and Thomas is the name of the third person.)  I took pictures and Christian took video.  However, we seem to be having a problem figuring out how to get video from Christian's iPhone to upload and work.  So here are some pictures!

 Ethan's awesome teacher, Mrs. Riesen.

Consequence of a Tantrum

Kaitlyn was playing in the boys' bedroom, near their bunk bed.  She picked up a couple of rocks and started banging them together.  Aidan took them away from her, and she had an immediate meltdown.  Unfortunately, she was so close to the bunk bed frame that she hit her nose on the way down.  Which, of course, turned into a real cry because she was hurt.  It looked like she might have a black eye too, but thankfully, it didn't actually happen.

Giant Box

We purchased an item that came with a huge box.  The boys turned it into a bus and had hours of fun riding in the bus.  For some reason, one of the boys stood the box up, and Kaitlyn took the opportunity to have a little fun with the box herself.

Three Piggy Opera

Last night was Aidan's Three Piggy Opera, which the entire first grade performed.  He did a great job!

 Aidan with Mrs. Comstock, his teacher. 

Kaitlyn and Gum

Kaitlyn found my wallet and pulled my pack of gum out of it.  She opened the wrapper, threw it in the garbage, and proceeded to suck on the piece of gum for a while.  (Until I distracted her and threw it away.)  This was the first time she had ever tried gum, and I'm sure it's not the last.