graham cracker houses

Christmas card

Dear friends and family,

We hope our card finds you well and joyful this holiday season!  It’s been a busy and wonderful year for our family.  Here are a few highlights.

Owen (2) –potty training, Ty’s official understudy, epic laughs, crib escapee

Tyler (5)– preschool, Lego-master, bike riding maniac

Lauren (7) – glasses, gymnastics, Junie B. Jones, in love with dance

Abbey (9) –piano, gymnastics, Harry Potter, rocking school

Sarah (11) –art, chemistry, Fablehaven, babysitter in training

Niki (ancient)–Irvine Women’s Interfaith Conference, Young Womens, loving life

Brent (dinosaur)– rodeo in San Antonio, partner, Husband/Father extraordinaire

Lots of love,

Brent, Niki, Sarah, Abbey, Lauren, Tyler, and Owen

Niki's Distraction

Hey All,

Just wanted to share with you one of the reason's why Niki got distracted from posting to her blog this year.

http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/62889/No-longer-strangers-but-friends.html

http://www.ocregister.com/news/women-371924-day-irvine.html

As you may have heard, this conference was a huge part of Niki's life for the four months leading up to it.  She was chair of the planning committee which meant that she was busy and that she did everything!  Well, OK, maybe not everything, but she did put everything she had into it, and to me sometimes it felt like everything.  Though I know that there were a bunch of other wonderful women who also "did everything."  (I would list out their names but, I would not want to forget someone, especially since Niki does not know that I am posting on her blog!  And I know that she was very appreciative of her leaders, the other chairs, and everyone else who took part.)

From all reports it was well worth it.  They had about 500 women, representing 26 different faiths who attended.  All I heard was that everyone loved it and that the women of different faiths are all excited for next year.

(If you look close through the pictures in both articles, you can see the back of Niki's head.  She is sitting on the right side of the picture, right next to our Stake President.)

Sincerely,

Brent

I promised my Sis

I promised my Sis I would start blogging again.  Our deal was one picture a week with no obligatory writing.  Life got busy and blogging fell by the wayside.  So here's picture number one.  My baby that isn't a baby anymore.  Thanks for the encouragement Sis!