Christmas 2009

I was so excited for Christmas this year just because I knew Charles was really going to enjoy it. He doesn't understand what Santa does but he knew who he was and liked to wave at him from far away. He liked the special cartoons (especially Phineas and Ferb), the lights, the music and all the countdowns. I think he'll miss the countdowns the most (i.e. the treats behind the numbers). Maybe we'll have to do a countdown for the new baby. Anyway, here are some highlights from our Christmas week.

Christmas wouldn't be complete with a trip to the temple. The Sacramento temple only had a nativity but it was still nice to go to show Charles why we celebrate Christmas. Maybe one year we'll go see the Oakland temple lights.

Charles got a kitchen from Santa (with help from Grandma and Grandpa Busath). I think we should have revealed it last so that we didn't have to practically force him to open his other presents. All he wanted was to make us dinner.

Notice the lid in his hand. . .

Now its a hamburger bun and piece of lettuce. . .

Presents and traditional steak and eggs at my parent's house. Charles enjoyed his bag of lucky charms. I love the Santa pjs.

More presents and a prime rib dinner at Chad's parents.

We were very blessed and had a great Christmas. We hope everyone has a great New Years!

Christmas Letter 2009

In 2008, President Thomas S. Monson said, "Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family." Our family has been working very hard at finding joy in the journey this year and I think we were successful.

Chad was the most accomplished this year. In May, he graduated from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law only to immediately begin preparing for the California Bar Exam taken in July. Last month we found out that he passed the Bar Exam. The next big hurdle is finding a job. We are hoping for better results early in 2010.

Tracy also had some big news. She still works for Sacramento Ear, Nose and Throat/SENT Hearing Aid Center in Roseville, CA. In July, she found out that she was pregnant with child #2 (now known to be another boy) due March 7th. She is already quite large (this statement came from Tracy not Chad) as she enters into her last trimester and hopes for a quick delivery when the time comes.

Charles has had it pretty good this year. He graduated from two naps to one in June and along with the second nap went the pacifier. He turned 2 years old in Auguest and shortly thereafter left his crib for a toddler bed. Though he likes having more freedom with the toddler bed, it doesn't give him any additional space. We are thinking about putting him in a twin bed, which will hopefully keep him out of our bed (which happens to be his favorite place to sleep). He is learning so much and talks all the time. He knows his colors and shapes, can count to 14 (before skipping to 17) and says his ABC's. He is now starting to recognize letters and numbers. He loves to ride is scooter in the house, play with trains, and watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. We are definitely going to keep him and hope that he adjusts quickly to having a brother.

Merry Christmas and good luck to everyone in 2010!

**BONUS**

Here is our Christmas Tree all decorated. Notice that Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is on the TV. This is not an uncommon experience in our house.

We also cooked our first Turkey one Sunday. It turned out great, though it was a lot of work.

We have also done a lot of baking. Charles likes to help or to see what we are up to when we turn on the mixer.

He was so happy that his mom let him help put stuff in the mixer to make cookies.

He was not too pleased when he had to go to bed before the cookies were done baking.

November Randomness

November was a busy and emotion-filled month. We knew going in that it would either be a great month or a really bad one. It turned out great because we got good news on the 20th; that I passed the bar exam.

The 22nd was our 6th anniversary. It doesn't seem that long ago that we were in our first apartment in Provo. But then again, I feel like we have been together forever. I think we are both pleased with our progression as a family thus far.

Charles has also continued to grow up. Despite his mother's attempts at keeping him a baby, he is becoming more independent. Whether he tells you he does or does not like something, or that he can do it by himself, he constantly reminds us that for most things he is quite capable on his own.

He likes to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and one evening Tracy and I were watching a movie and allowed him to watch his show in our bed. We even gave him some brownies to keep him happy. That wasn't good enough. We checked on him when he was being a little too quiet and found that he has sprayed our bed with the squirt bottle.

He also loves to carry around our mini maglite flashlight. His favorite thing to do is shine it in his eyes or our eyes. Especially because we tell him not to do it.

Tracy and I went to an 80s dance and dressed up like break dancers. Charles thought that the headband was for him, and he wore it around the house all day. He thinks he is so cool.

On rare occasion he is happy in the bath. Actually, he doesn't mind the bath until we start trying to wash his body or hair. This was one time he didn't mind the experience. He even let me make a mohawk.

We also went to Apple Hill with my parents. Charles had fun with Grandma and Grandpa and we got some delicious apple donuts, chocolate-caramel covered apples, and chocolate-caramel covered marshmallows.

Bus driver Hooch telling grandpa to sit down in his seat while the bus is moving.

Me and Hooch with our San Francisco Giants gear at Apple Hill.

And of course we did the whole Thanksgiving thing. This year we went to Tracy's sister's house. We were responsible for dessert and so we used some of our Apple Hill apples to make two apple pies. We even used our Apple Hill apple peeler/corer/slicer to prepare the apples. One pie has a crust top while the other is a crumb top.

Here are the pies on Thanksgiving morning.

Bonus Pictures

Tracy finally parted with a pair of shoes she has owned for way too long. I have threatened to throw these shoes out for a couple of years now. She has had them since high school and they decided to fall apart. She debated whether she should attempt a repair but I convinced her to toss them. Once they were in the trash I made sure they stayed there. Don't worry, she has plenty of other shoes, just none quite so ugly.

Finally, here is our most recent picture of Hooch's nemesis. We still haven't nailed down a name, but we are working on it.

I PASSED THE BAR EXAM!!!!!!!!!!

Pumpkin Soup

First you find a pumpkin. . .

Then you pick a design. . .

Then you hire some help. . .


Then you document the moment with Mommy. . .


The finished product:


Dr. Hooch

Listening to Mommy's heartbeat.


Jill and Charles mastering the art of trick or treating.


Bonus:

The boys.
The mom and a boy at 17 weeks. Probably what I should look like now. I'll try to post a more recent one soon. Seven weeks makes a big difference- literally.

Super Post

A couple weekends ago Chad, Charles and I drove down to Los Angeles. We left on Friday and drove back on Sunday. It was a long weekend, but we had fun. I had a 9 hour class on Saturday while Chad and Charles explored Hollywood. On Sunday we went to Disneyland. A major shout-out to Chad for driving the whole time and to Mickey Mouse for capturing the attention of a 2 year old boy. A jeer to California Pizza Kitchen. I've given you a few tries and am never impressed. Now to the pictures.

On the road to LA.

The Hollywood sign outside our window.

Charles' set up in the hotel room. He slept pretty good in his own bed.

Waiting for the Haunted Mansion. They really change the ride up as the Nightmare before Christmas. I loved it, Charles said he'll pass next time.

Mom and Charles.

"Ride the ponies"- take one.

"I ride elephants."

Toon town: where the characters are cool from far away.

"Ride the ponies"- Take two. Usually he is scared of the horses, but that day the ponies were his favorite. He'll tell you we went around and around.

You can't pass up the big Mickey pumpkin.

An In and Out stop on the way home to complete the trip.

I thought about doing Halloween in this post too but this is super enough and I'm feeling done for now. Halloween will have to wait.

Apple Hill

Charles, Tracy, and I went to Apple Hill earlier this month. We try to go a couple of times each year so that we can satisfy our caramel/chocolate covered apple craving. This time we also bought a box of apples to take care of our baking desires. So far we have made caramel apples and an awesome caramel apple cake.

Hooch and I were exploring at Able's Apples and he decided to sit in the dirt.

He also wanted to drive the bus.

When we were paying for our apples at High Hill, Hooch spotted some mini apples by the register. The lady who was working the register gave him one of the apples and he carried it around all day.

While we were at Bill's Apples Hooch had his picture taken by the flowers.

Also at Bill's Apples he enjoyed playing with the little windmills. Tracy and I had fun making sure he didn't break anything.

We are looking forward to making at least one more trip to Apple Hill this year. We also have a lot of apples left. Tracy is thinking about making an apple pie and possibly another caramel apple cake.