2013!

Hello Everyone!

Is anyone else having a hard time believing it's nearly February of 2013? Yikes! We are so excited to have the new website up and running and would have written much earlier if we hadn't been up in Canada last week. Life is certainly very busy, but we are doing well!

We have been enjoying our winter so far, with a few trips up the road for some sledding, a day trip to a Bovarian village (Leavenworth) for New Years and our week up North. We are excited to get the boys on skis at least once this season! Overall, life is pretty basic these days, as Todd is spending every waking moment either working or studying for boards (March 2) and I am wading my way through my Canadian immigration paperwork. We spent four+ hours today at a doctor's office in downtown Seattle getting the little boys' and my physicals out of the way. The boys did amazingly well (despite Hudson yelling "I. Don't. Want. A. Ketchup!".... ketchup=checkup. Ha ha!) We have a ways to go with the paperwork, but we're making it through slowly but surely. Now i have to figure out a system for cataloging/monetizing everything we own as we pack.

Our trip to Canada went well (despite a snow storm during our drive home). Todd's sisters, Cathy and Angie, both recently had their first babies, and it was so fun cuddling newborns and catching up with everyone. Jackie kept us running (as she always does), and we went swimming, curling, five pin bowling, hit up a junior hockey league game, played in the snow in Waterton, and attended a Christmas tree burning bonfire with friends. Todd and I spent a couple of days up in Edmonton with the practice Todd will be working with initially. We will be living in Edmonton for the first year, at least, and assess our next move as time progresses. We have about four different options down in Southern Alberta, near Todd's family, and the practice in Edmonton is hoping they can convince us to stay. So, I guess time will tell. Right now I'm nervously trying to research schools and neighborhoods so we can prepare Ryder as much as possible for the upcoming changes. The poor little guy doesn't do change well. :/

I am also anxiously reviewing our Pacific Northwest bucket list, as our days here in Issaquah are numbered. Ryder has a mid-winter break in a few weeks, and while Todd studies, I plan to take a few day trips with the boys around the Sound to explore a bit. I'm crossing my fingers for dry skies.

The little boys are happy and well! Hudson is talking up a storm and is such a little man. He imitates his brothers constantly, which usually ends up with me being very amazed at the big boy phrases and play noises coming out of his mouth! He is currently obsessed with superheroes, and as the other two boys skipped this phase, I find it fun and refreshing to play something new with him. :) Cannon just finished soccer and started up t-ball in his sports class, and it's definitely the highlight of his week. He was so giddy this week when he got to take in Indy (the gecko) for sharing time at school!! Ryder is busy, busy with his many passions and endless energy. School is going great, and he's enjoying a basketball league at the moment. He has recently taken it upon himself to read a verse or two from the Book of Mormon to the family every night and explain the verse to Cannon. It's so fun to see his enthusiasm and pride in his ability to read and bear testimony! I'm loving the stage of our family and frequently find myself wanting to freeze time!! (and there are moments where I want to freeze time just so I can have a little breather from the chaos!!!)

We love you all and miss you terribly!! Is there anything we can do to get anyone to visit us before June??? We'd love to have visitors! We plan to attend the Horne family reunion in July, as long as all goes well with the move. We hope to see all of you there!!!

Love you lots!
Jenny and family