An Exceptional Year

One of my favorite things to do this time of year is reflect back on the previous 12 months and think of what has come about in our lives. There is no doubt that we were truly blessed in 2009. I am sure all you readers are rolling your eyes at my cheesy bragging, but when I use the term "blessed" I am referring to the good and bad. We had some downs this year, but the ups were triumphant and I relish that everything we experienced has shaped us even more into the people we want to be and people the Savior wants us to be.

No doubt our biggest blessing arrived earliest in the year. Nolan Matthew Rasmussen was born on January 11th, 2009 during a 70 degree winter weather spurt. His big blue eyes and giddy laugh and smile have brightened our home immensely and all of us have enjoyed watching his growth throughout the year.

My mom was here for a week after Nolan was born and I truly enjoyed just hanging out with my her, something that is rare and such a treasure. Oh how I hope that I am half the mother that she was to me!

We welcomed some more visitors in February, as Jenn, Rich, Nick and Lori spent Valentines Day weekend in San Francisco with us, meeting Nolan and playing with Reagan. We love having visitors and I am looking forward to my trip in two weeks that will take me out to New Mexico to meet Lori and Nick's newborn son, Noah.

What a beautiful spring it was, watching my two children bond. Reagan learned the art of being a big sister and Nolan watched her with big gazing eyes, memorizing her every move, I am sure.

Sweet Reagan grew up tons this year and outgrew her need for naps. A difficult change for me, I really enjoyed my "me time" in the afternoons, but I am also glad that her bedtime is earlier! Occasionally she will sneak in a nap for us, her best yet has been the Conference weekend snooze on the deck. Now I will admit there is something about a General Authority's voice that can put me to sleep, but this was an all-time winner.

We we're able to travel to Utah to see Lindsay and Jared sealed in the Bountiful Temple and we sure love when the entire family has the chance to get together like this. Such a rare occasion, with many of the Rasmussen's spread throughout a few states now.

While in Utah for the wedding, we also blessed Nolan and he was a good boy! We held a private blessing in the Rasmussen home with both families in attendance and enjoyed some food afterwards.

Reagan continued to grow up, along with no naps, she quickly outgrew her crib. Well, technically she is still in the crib, but we took down the rail and converted it to a big-girl bed. She was ecstatic about it!

My mom and sisters made their annual trip out here to see us in June. We visited the zoo, the temple, Waterworld, parks, Jelly Belly and our favorite outlet stores. We jammed in as much as we could and had a blast doing it.

Reagan turned 3 years old on June 22. We celebrated with a Mickey Mouse themed party at the park and she was the birthday girl through and through, complete with her very own tantrum during presents.










I think the summer of '09 will go down as one of our best yet. The reason being is an interesting one: Matt's company downsized at the end of April and we found ourselves unemployed during a recession. Not the most comfortable position, but you know Matt: he lived it up. We knew that all would work out and it sure did. We enjoyed four wonderful months with him home. We played at the parks, swam at Waterworld, went to the beach, hiked around mountain trails, explored museums, went grocery shopping, and just plain lived it up. At the end of August, Matt received a job offer here in Walnut Creek that has been an amazing transition for our family. To sum it up, funny as it sounds, what should have been our biggest downfall of 2009 turned out to be the greatest blessing.

One of our better investments was to get season passes to Waterworld. They have a great kid area and we also enjoyed the adult rides from time to time.

















She is still scared of the waterslides, but had a great time.

Just a couple of days after Matt received his new job offer, we took our first family vacation south of here to Monterey. I loved this 2 day excursion so much, I look forward to our family vacations in the future because of this one.

My dad turned 60 on Labor Day and that gave us another opportunity to head out to Utah to be with family. Like Lindsay and Jared's wedding in April, we got to have the entire Roundy family together this time. We stayed overnight at Red Moose Lodge in Eden Utah. Just about everything was perfect. Many good memories were made and I will treasure that time always.

We celebrated the holidays in style this year, with Reagan at the helm. She was ecstatic to dress up for Halloween, decorate a tree for Christmas and anxiously await for Santa, all while being a "good girl." Little brother even sensed some of the excitement as he watched big sis.

Happy New Year!

Christmas in California

Well, this marks our first Christmas out here in the Bay Area as a family and it was a real treat. Why my pics posted to the side, I don't know, just bear with me for this. While we missed family a ton, I do admit that I would stay here again in a heartbeat and enjoy it just the same. It was pretty awesome to have Reagan wake up to presents under the tree and also not having to travel on Christmas Day. We just lounged around, played with toys, it was a ton of fun.

For Christmas Eve, Matt arrived home earlier than usual, around noon and we headed over to the Michaels for a little Christmas shindig filled with apps and Settlers. Marisa had set aside stuff for the kids to make some gingerbread homes and Marisa, I am obeying your wishes and not posting the pic of your hand in the candy cup!! ;)

It was late and the kidlets were tired afterwards, so we headed home and just unwrapped jammies and one gift for Reagan. She opened her Rosetta doll from Disney fairies and had a hard time calming down for sleep, she was so excited. She finally did, though and Santa got to work. Or rather, Mrs. Claus worked and Santa watched ESPN. I have recounted our "Daisy" story to some of you, so here she is in the front row, in all her purple bow glory.

The kids slept great except guess who didn't? Yeah, me. I was up most of the night, picturing the Christmas morning excitement. I finally heard some peeps from Nolan around 6am and said "its time." Reagan went through her stocking first, she was pretty jazzed.

Nolan was stoked about the new binkies.

Matt and I were spoiled as well, me opening my new running shoes from his parents and the new book my parents got him, the American History Almanac.

Let's not forget the beautiful dresses. Selly, your mom has impeccable taste, too kind!! I can't wait for her to wear them :)

We spent most of the day playing with toys, like building huge towers and trying to not make them fall.

It was really nice to just play on Christmas, then in the evening we headed over to the Hart's home for a Christmas feast. Thanks Liz and Kupaa for inviting us again and letting us crash the Muhlestein get together. We always feel at home there, such a blessing when you are away from family.

7 Years

Yesterday Matt and I celebrated 7 years of wedded bliss! We got to use that gift card that we have been saving up, thanks a million to Nanci and Ryan for watching the kidlets.

We ate at Flemings in Walnut Creek and it was pretty delish. I was imagining my filet all day and saving my calories. I was also looking forward to dessert and of course, had to order the creme brule, they make it the best. Well, the server comes out after a few minutes and the torch isn't working!! AAAHHH! I told Matt forget about dessert if we can't have that, but he ordered the cheesecake instead. So he brings out this HUGE piece of cheesecake, it has a blueberry sauce on top and white chocolate shavings. It was actually amazing, probably the best cheesecake I have ever had. Well, then the server comes back and slides a creme brule onto the table and tells is the torch is working again and this one is on the house. YUM! So we scarfed that one down, you woulda had no idea we had just finished 12 oz of steak and a huge piece of cheesecake. Even Matt admitted that the creme brule was to die for and the best part of the meal. If you go to Flemings, get it, it won't disappoint.

Well, seven years have come and gone and Matt is truly a saint for putting up with me. I lucked out big time with him.

Making Cookies

What is a Christmas without making some cookies? We made these a while back and I was a good mom and let Reagan do just about everything on her own...which is why most of the neighbors and friends didn't get any ;)

She rolled out the cookie dough and loved using the cutters. She is very into cookie cutters, she always asks us to cut her sandwiches and toast into shapes.

The flour was a hit. She kept asking for more and more and like a good mom, I obliged. It was a mess, but she had a great old time. I didn't even complain about her new sweater!!

Nolan watched, laughed and ate Kix.

When dad got home, it was decorating time. Matt was very creative with his colors, and Reagan took the sprinkles to a whole new level. I am still finding them mushed into the carpet beneath the table. At least it was festive this month.