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This blog will no longer be updated and all posts will be removed soon.  Please update your blog lists to include http://thepiratessetsail.blogspot.com/ (The Pirates Set Sail) as our new blog address.  Thanks!

Christmas Festivities

Christmas has been a crazy season for us full of traveling, family, packing/sorting and holiday activities.  Eliza added to the craziness with being sick on Christmas Day as well as one other day earlier in the week.  Despite that, we had a great holiday season and enjoyed our time with family and friends.  We've played many hours of Rock Band, Mario Cart and board games.  It has been awesome having family at our house and traveling to see Brian's family.  We were able to see everyone in both families with the exception of one sibling and her family. 

On our last night with our Elf, Trixie, she set up a tea party (with Ruby Red Squirt) for herself, Mickey Mouse and Chewie.

Grandpa and Simon checking out his new wiggle car.

One of the few moments where Eliza wasn't crashed on the floor.

Eliza asked for a toy puppy and a pink bag (princess bag with hair accessory toys).  She got those plus a jewelry box and some other toys, a wiggle car, games and movies.

Simon with my sister, Annette, checking out his new truck hauler.  He also got a puzzle, a tool work bench and some games.

My dad, Tre, brother-in-law Troy and nephew Canyon.

This is more indicative of how Eliza was really feeling.  She started throwing up soon after this and spent the rest of the morning sleeping in the master bedroom closet close to the toilet.  She was feeling better by lunch time.

Nutcracker

Eliza and I went to see The Nutcracker at Capitol Theater in Salt Lake City.  We met up with our friends Kelly, Faith and Emma and had a great time at the ballet and out for something to eat afterwards.  The girls all seemed to like the ballet and did fairly well sitting through the production.  Eliza said that her favorite part was the Dance of the Flowers because the costumes were the prettiest.  I liked the dances by the Sugarplum Fairy and the Snow Queen the best because they were the best in technical dancing.  It was a great show!     

Picture in the hotel lobby before leaving.

Capitol Theater lobby.

Eliza, Faith and Emma

I have no idea why Eliza suddenly looks grumpy in this picture.

Kelly and her girls.

Christmas Newsletter

We had another adventurous year in 2011 and our lives don't look like they'll be slowing down anytime soon.  Here are our top highlights from the year:

Ignore the picture quality.  This is just a proof of a picture that we're ordering.  :)

1. Brian finished his 15 months in Iraq and came home in October.  We're so glad that this "adventure" is in the past and we're looking forward to the coming year.  
2. I spent the year at home with our kids in my hometown of Cedar City.  My parents have loved having Eliza and Simon around and are not looking forward to us moving.  In addition to spending time with my parents, I also flew with the kids to Idaho to see our good friends the Heiners.  
3. Eliza danced in two more recitals, turned four years old, had a princess birthday party and started preschool.  She also had her tonsils out in September following multiple bouts of strep throat.   She still loves all things princess-y and likes the colors pink, purple and white.  She also loves to play with her cousins and participate in reading time.  She likes chicken, noodles, broccoli and sweets but does not like sweet potatoes, squash or tomatoes. 
4. Simon learned to crawl, walk, climb, eat solid foods and many other things this past year.  He had a construction-themed birthday party when he turned one in September.  He has four teeth (which he has used to chew the sides of his crib), crooked pinky fingers and is the master of making "stink eyes".  He gives full, open-mouthed kisses with his tongue hanging out and loves to be outside.  He does not like getting his coat put on or getting his teeth brushed, but he can usually be coerced into compliance.  He likes to eat just about anything, but won't touch squash or potatoes.  He really likes olives.       
5. We traveled to Hawaii, Jamaica, Yellowstone National Park, Disneyland, DC/VA/MD, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City as a family.  I don't think we'll ever tackle this busy of a travel schedule again, but we had a lot of fun.
6. We've spent the holiday season sorting our house and getting ready to move.  Everything seems to have finally fallen into place and our movers will be here next week.  It will be a couple of weeks past that before we'll actually fly to our new home, but it's coming up quickly.  Things I am most looking forward to: Brian being on a regular work routine, year round summer, better school choices for Eliza and backyard movie nights.   

That's all for now!  We don't really have any other updates.  We'll probably be closing out this blog and starting a new one in the next few weeks. 

Eliza's Winter Dance Recital

Eliza performed in her third dance recital tonight.  She danced to songs called "I'm Cute" and "The Grinch".  She was very excited to dance on the stage again and couldn't wait to do another recital.  She has been talking about her two recitals from last year non-stop and always points to the schools where the performances were held to remind me that she danced on the stage there.  She loves her new costume this year because it has gloves and a neck ribbon.  This performance was Eliza's final one in the United States for at least a few years.  We hope to continue dance lessons once we move, but we're not sure how all of our plans are going to work out until we actually move (which is coming up in just a few more weeks).  I have found her a new studio to attend, but she may be the only English speaker there so we'll see how that works out.  For now, we're very proud of her effort in her dance classes and in her performing abilities.  She kind of did her own thing during the rehearsals so we weren't sure what to expect for the actual recital, but she did awesome!  Her whole class looked super cute and did a great job.  They got a huge applause from the audience.  Eliza did really well with remembering the steps, and having fun.  Way to go, Eliza!!  She still has a way to go in her attention span during class and in actually remembering the dance choreography on her own, but she loves going to dance class and moving to the music.  She told me earlier that she wants to keep dancing until she is big.  As long as she continues to enjoy dancing, she can continue taking lessons. 

Q&A with Eliza:

Mommy: What are you going to do tonight?
Eliza: A dance.  Dance on stage. 
M: How do you feel about that?
E: Good.  I feel like I'm dancing.  You feel like you're loved and you think that you're dancing.  You can dance because you feel like that.  
M: Are you excited?
E: Uh huh!  How many excited?  I'm super long excited!  That's because I'm super excited.
M: Can you tell me about your costume?
E: It's called about red and black.  And my bow and my tie, and my dance shoes and my tights.  I have gloves and my hair thing. 
M: What are your dances called?
E: I'm Cute, Grinch and Princess Dance.
M: Who are your friends in your class?
E: Kenzie, Sailor and Moxie.
M: What is your teacher's name?
E: I don't know who the other one is.  I only know Heather.  Who else do I know?
M: Is the other named Crystal?
E: Yeah, oops.  I know Crystal.  Yeah it's Heather and Crystal.

 

Eliza with friends Lainey (L) and Sheridyn (R).  They were in the same class last year.

Eliza with another friend, Avala, who was also in her class last year.

Growly face during her "Grinch" dance.