Update

I haven’t posted anything for a while (gee whiz life gets away from you sometimes!), but Christmas was fantastic.  We drove to Salt Lake City, which is a long drive (longer than it was when it was way back when it was just Scott and I, anyway).  Andrew slept a lot of the drive, but when he was awake he screamed.  And Susanna got sick all over her car seat and quilt.  We pulled over on a frontage road and did a wipe down on the poor girl with some diaper wipes, put her back in her reeking car seat and drove the rest of the way.  But we survived the drive and, in reality, it went really well (no car troubles, no medical emergencies, etc) and it was great to get to see family for the holidays.  Unfortunately, I left our camera here (with my retainer and gloves), but I stole a couple of photographs from my sister-in-law, Miranda.

the little cousins on my side (Milo, Andrew, and Susanna) in Christmas Eve PJs:

the live nativity from my parents’ Christmas Eve party (Susanna is an angel in the foreground with her back to us, Scott is on the left and is dressed as a Ghanaian visitor to the holy stable, and Andrew is the star of the show swaddled and sleeping in Mary’s—aka Kate’s—arms):It was a Bethlehem party: we had to come dressed in period clothing and we ate curry and lamb kabobs.  What a great idea!

I think I have some more pictures coming from Scott’s side of the family.  Hopefully I remember my camera next time.

I feel I can’t let a Christmas post by without saying how grateful I am for my Savior and all He has done for me and my family.  I love this wonderful time of year when we all think about him a little more and reflect on his great example and sacrifice.  In the words of our prophets and apostles, “God be thanked for the matchless gift of his divine son” (the Living Christ).

Somehow I’ve spend most of my time back recovering, but I feel settled again and I’ve put together some goals and a schedule (there’s a picture version as well, for Susanna) and I think we’re ready to roll.  Here’s a few pictures of us (well, the kids) on two separate days, fulfilling my goal to “have an outdoor outing every day.”

and here’s one last picture because I thought Andrew looked so cute today in his church duds:

Happy new year (and decade!) from the Hales.  May it bring you where you want to be.

P.S. Susanna’s in bed (it’s past bedtime) and I just noticed that not only is she singing (as she always does before she falls alseep) but she is also accompanying herself with a tambourine.  What a joker. 

A New Quilt

It has been many months in the making, but I have at last finished Susanna’s quilt.  I confess, I am quite happy with the end result (as long as I don’t look too closely at the binding).  I want to thank my quilting neighbor who now lives in Santa Cruz but whose faith in my abilities turned a frivolous thought into an actual possibility, my mother-in-law who gave me the sewing machine and therefore the ability to undertake this project, my mother who kept telling me that imperfections will give it character without which encouragement I would not yet be (and in all likelihood would never be) finished, my husband who supported me in every aspect of every stage, and who is the greatest support all my endeavors, and Susanna who has won my heart, and for whom I, who had hardly hemmed a pair of pants, would make a quilt as a physical representation of my love.  May she always see it as such.