Thursday, December 31, 2009

BYU Bowling

Gerald's family has a tradition that I love: growing up Gerald and his family always went bowling around New Years. Now it seems that whenever we all get together we go bowling. If we are in Provo, we always go bowling at BYU. I love this! This tradition might have been started somewhat by his Grandma and Grandpa Reynolds, who were always serious bowlers. Grandma Reynolds, who is 87 now, still always bowls with us. She brings her own special ball and can usually keep up with the best of them!

This year was the first time Katelee was big enough to wear actual bowling shoes! She thought that was SO COOL!

Katelee jumping for joy when she knocked over some pins!
Playing air hockey while waiting for her turn to bowl.
Do you think my ball will ever get to the end of the lane?
What a cutie!

Gerald bowled an awesome game this time; one of his best! It must have been all that practice on the Wii. :0)

Katelee and great-grandma reaching for their ball.So much fun!

2009 Calendar Dates

I have always liked to keep my old calendars. They are like a little bit of history, showing what we've done that year. :) However, in an effort to declutter, I thought I would record here the things on our calendar for 2009, for my own personal history purposes. :)

January 2009

5 - Piano Lessons Begin
6 - Book Club @ 8:00
6 - Gerald haircut @ 8:30
14 - Relief Society visits
16 - Babysit Crystal's kids 8:30 - 1:30 / Leave for trip to Mesquite!
23 - Start potty training!!!
24 - Food co-op pickup
25 - Return home from Mesquite trip
26 - Visit teach Jordan 11:15
28 - Visit teach Lisa 11:30
29 - Temple Open House
30 - Temple Open House / 9:45 haircut

February 2009

2-7 - Group Piano Lessons Week
9 - Lunch group at my house!
12 - Stake Relief Society Training 7:00
14 - Valentine's Day!
15 - Family Dinner @ 6:00
17 - Gerald's Birthday!
19 - Geralds' haircut 8:30
21 - Food co-op 11:00 / Mallory's birthday cake
23 - Lunch at Jenny's
24 - Visit Teach Jordan 10:45 / Visit teach Lisa 10:00
26 - Home teachers 9:00 p.m.
27 - Hobbs game night 7:00 / Clomid starts

March 2009

2 - Katelee's 3rd Birthday!
3 - Lunch at Jenny's 12:30
5 - babysit Reagan 9:15 / Call Brittany after 7:00
13 - 10:45 Katelee Well Check
14 - Brittany Temple!!
21 - Brittany and Todd Wedding Day!
25 - Becky coming to practice song
26 - Lindsey coming to learn about cakes 10:30
29 - Home teachers 7 p.m.
30 - Visit Teach Jordan 11:00
31 - Visit Teach Lisa 10:00

April 2009

2 - Dad's Birthday! / Help Lindsey with cakes / 10:20 Dr. Lind
4 - Carpets Cleaned 8 - 9 a.m. $57
5 - Mom & Dad coming
7 - Book Club 8 p.m. HERE
8 - Lindsey baby shower 7:30
9 - Brittany & Todd coming
10 - Logan's Birthday Party 7 p.m.
12 - Easter
13 - 18 - Spring Break!
14 - Lisa's bread making class!
17 - Ride Trax to SLC
18 - Movie night at Tiff's 9:00 p.m.
21 - Hairbow making night / Becky coming for staging 10:00 am
23 - 10:40 Picture appointment
24 - No piano lessons
28 - Visit teach Lisa 10:30
29 - Visit teach Jordan 9:00 a.m. / Home teachers coming 9:00 p.m.
30 - Piano Recital!

May 2009

5 - Teach Kara and Juli bows 10 a.m. / Tara & Dallin's Cinco de Mayo Party 7:00 p.m. - bring cheese! / Book Club
6 - 8:30 p.m. dessert @ Kneader's
7 - Meet w/ Shelly about piano 10:00
11- Jennifer's Birthday!
12 - Fondant class 7:00 at church
21 - Babysit Curtis kids 8 am - 1 pm
27 - check Katelee's arm

June 2009

2 - Hospital check 10 a.m. / Visiting Teaching interviews 6:30 / Book Club 8:30
3 - 8:00 Song practice / 5:30 Katelee's Dr. appointment
5 & 6 - Camping with Shill's
8 - Grandpa Daw's funeral
11 - Babysit Thayne's 8:45 a.m.
13 - Fowers Reunion
14 - Sing Men's quartet in church
15 - Tyler's Birthday
16 - Bonnie 10 a.m.
18 - Babysit Thayne's 10:00 a.m.
21 - Father's Day / Shelly & Juli's birthdays
24 - Lisa's birthday

July 2009

4 - Independence Day!
8 - House Inspection 4 p.m.
14 - Go to Tammy's 10:00
18 - Make earrings 4:30
21 - Closing on the house 10:00 a.m.
22 - Move out of house!!
24 - Pioneer Day

August 2009

8 - Move in day!
15 - Geoff & Bonnie's wedding day!!
23 - Relief Society visiting 3:00 p.m.
27 - Bishopric coming to visit 7:30 p.m.

September 2009

1 - Pick up peaches and pears in the afternoon
3 - meet at 10:30 for insurance
5 - Feed missionaries
8 - Tiff's mom's surgery / Park day
9 - Meet with Elizabeth 10 a.m.
12 - Lightning McQueen cake
14 - Visiting teachers come at noon
15 - Daddy & Katelee's Date
16 - Lunch with Burgoynes 11 a.m.
19 - Cupcake Cake 12:30 / 8:30 Gerald help w/ ward move
20 - Stake Conference / Dinner
23 - 7:00 Meet with Brother Parker
25 - Wendy's in town! / Dr. 1:45
26 - General Relief Society Broadcast / Visiting teaching 10 a.m.
28 - Visiting teaching 11:30
29 - Visit Patty 9 a.m. / Relief Society presidency meeting 10 a.m.
30 - Katelee flu shot

October 2009

1 - Recipe swap 10:00 a.m. @ church
2 - Visit Amber Johnston 6:00
5 - Mom & Dad fly in!
7 - Dad's Testing @ hospital
9 - Craft Night 7:00 p.m.
12 - Katelee flu shot 10:30
15 - Stake Training 7:00 p.m.
18 - talk in church!!
20 - Watch Burgoyne's 2;15
24 - Visit teach Janine 10 a.m.
25 - Church welfare meeting 8 a.m. / Accompany Grovers in church 1 p.m.
26 - Presidency Meeting here at 10 a.m.
31 - Claire's baptism 10 a.m. (play the piano)

November 2009

1 - Visiting Teaching interviews 6 - 8 / Teach Relief Society
3 - Begin Music and Motion class weekly @ 10 am. / Relief Society Meeting here @ 7:00
8 - Take dinner to Norris family / Adoption Fireside 7 p.m.
9 - Watch Feichko's 8:50 - 10:15
10 - Relief Society Meeting here @ 7:00
14 - Make Lucy's elmo cake
15 - welfare meeting 8 a.m.
17 - Relief Society Meeting 7:00 p.m.
18 - Relief Society visits 10:45
18 - Visiting Teachers 10 a.m.
21 - Visit teach Janine 9 a.m.
25 - 29 - No piano - Thanksgiving Break

December 2009

2 - Dr. appintment 9:45
5 - 11:00 Practice musical number / 3:30 - Jacquie's baby shower / 6:00 - Dessert night @ Burgoyne's
6 - Visiting Teaching conferences
9 - 10:15 - Dr. appt.
11 - Tour the mint 11 a.m. / Ward Christmas Party
12 - Christmas Concert
13 - Play piano in Sacrament Meeting
14 - 18 - Recording Piano Lessons
17 - CHRISTMAS PIANO RECITAL / 7:15 a.m. watch Taylor
18 - Leave town!
25 - Christmas!

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Our 2009 Christmas Letter

For our Christmas letter this year we wanted to do something a little different and creative. We decided to make our letter look like a brochure.  In the end, I don't think I liked it.  It seemed like a cute idea in my head, but when it was all finished, it didn't seem very. . . . Christmassy.  Oh, well, better luck next year!  Here is the information that was included in our Christmas letter this year:

Front page:

Merry Christmas

 

Henry B. Eyring said, “We can with confidence set a goal to make this Christmas brighter than the last and each year that follows brighter still. The trials of mortality may increase in intensity, yet for us, darkness need not increase if we focus our eyes more singly on the light that streams down on us as we follow the Master. He will lead us and help us along the path that leads upward to the home for which we yearn.” 

We add our testimony that Jesus is the Light of the World; that he can heal any sorrow, lift any burden, and bring light to the deepest darkness. 

We hope your Christmas is one filled with light, love and joy!

Love,

Gerald, Jennifer & Katelee Reynolds  

Inside the brochure:

2009 in Review

2009 has been a year of changes for our family!  In the past year we have:  sold our home, moved to a new state, quit old jobs and started new ones, returned to ‘student life,’ held a combined total of six church callings (only one at a time!), and much more!  Read on to hear more details about each of our individual lives.

 Gerald

Gerald started out the year with a great job at Garbett Homes in SLC, but also with a great desire to pursue his dream of becoming an architect.  We learned in the spring that he was accepted to the Master’s of Architecture program at the University of Colorado!  Gerald began classes as a full-time student in August.  He has worked hard and earned wonderful grades this first semester!  Although his family sorely misses the days when he ‘only worked 60 hour work-weeks,’ Gerald has still found a way to balance his intense school demands with family life.  He is a wonderful husband and support to Jennifer, and is, as usual, the center of Katelee’s happiness!  Gerald loves our new ward (we all do!) and is currently serving in the Sunday School presidency.  Gerald has also enjoyed his many opportunities for woodworking and drawing since he started school.

Jennifer

This has been a very busy year for me.  First and foremost, I love my family and find a lot of joy in being Gerald’s wife and Katelee’s mom.  I don’t always balance all my household duties perfectly, but I do my best and I love serving my family.  Leaving Lehi was very sad for me, as it was for all of us, but I have continued to keep in touch with my Utah friends and have made some amazing new friends here in Colorado.  I love our new ward and am really enjoying my calling as second counselor in the Relief Society. With Gerald going back to school, I have had to become the ‘bread winner’ for the family.  So far we have been blessed to be able to make ends meet while I work from home.  I am still teaching piano lessons, something that I am really passionate about.  I had to start over again when we moved, but I currently have 21 students (still hoping for more!) and am really enjoying each of them.  I also have a small side business making and decorating cakes, which I think is such a fun hobby.  And, as always, I love to read, sew, blog, cook, learn new things and visit with family and friends.

 Katelee

Katelee has also had a year full of changes!  She has grown so tall; most people think she is at least 5 years old.  She has also grown a lot in other ways.  She is such a social, friendly girl, always introducing herself to new children and wanting to play with anyone who’s interested.  She also likes to have grown-up conversations with anyone who will listen!  She has an amazing imagination and loves to pretend with her princess dolls.  Katelee turned three in 2009, and had a superhero party filled with friends, cousins, superhero capes, and cake.  Katelee loves to spin in circles, learn new things, be with friends, read books, run around, play board games, be a princess, go to church, play pretend, swim, eat frosting, talk on the phone, swing, dance, and be tickled.  She has such a huge, loving heart, and can make anyone her ‘best friend’ in seconds.  She misses her friends from Lehi, but has been so good at making new friends here in Denver.  She has had some huge life changes this year, but has proven that she is strong, cheerful and resilient despite those changes.  We love our little Katiebug with all our hearts, and cannot imagine life without the joy she brings us!

On the inside flap cover:

Katelee wants a brother or sister! 

Our little family of three has been desperately hoping to become a family of four.  We’ve decided that it’s high time to make that happen. 

Which is why we are starting the adoption process!

We are so excited about this decision!  Please keep us in your prayers and spread the word to anyone you know.

Our adoption blog:

Praying4Adoption.blogspot.com  

Monday, December 28, 2009

Holiday Travels - Utah!

With Christmas over and Gerald's parents returning home to Utah, it was time for us to hit the road, too! We left Mesquite the Tuesday following Christmas and traveled to Grandma Kaye's house. We spent that evening visiting and spending time with her. We had dinner, played a new Scrabble game called Bananarama, and stayed up way too late watching a movie. It was a wonderful night, and we loved seeing Kaye again!

The next day, after a very fun stop in Lehi (more on that later) we spent some time at Gerald's sister's home. Katelee was reunited with her Willden cousins, whom she adores, and we had a great time! Then we traveled to Gerald's parents house to stay for the rest of the week.

Katelee and her cousins

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Dressing Up

As previously mentioned, Katelee's gift from Gerald and I this year was a box of dress-ups. I was a little anxious about her reaction, as she had told me lately that she wanted some specific things for Christmas, and none of them were dress-ups. I was sitting next to her helping her open the heavily-taped box. When she opened the lid and saw what was inside, she gave a little gasp and then turned to me and gave me the most wonderful, spontaneous, sincere hug ever and cried out, "Thank you!" That one little gesture made my entire Christmas day. She has spent a lot of time in dress-ups since! Here are some pictures of her, mostly from Christmas day, modeling some of her new princess clothes:
The day after Christmas, my sister and her family returned to Mesquite. The cousins had fun dressing up together. Aren't they such pretty girls?
When the cousins were no longer around to dress-up with, Aunt Brittany (being the FABULOUS Aunt that she is!) stepped into play with Katelee. They made their own run way and modeled their gorgeous dress-ups for us. Don't you love Katelee's poses? Katelee really seems to love all her dress-ups, but I have to say that the Snow White dress is by far the most popular one; in Katelee's words, "That's 'cuz this one is my favorite."

Friday, December 25, 2009

Christmas Day!

Growing up, we had a tradition that on Christmas morning we all had to wait upstairs until everyone was ready before we could go downstairs to see what Santa brought. In all our growing up years, none of us kids EVER broke that tradition; we were discussing it this year, and we never, ever peeked to see what Santa brought.

In keeping with this tradition (and because we were sleeping in a room downstairs), on Christmas morning I told Katelee to close her eyes and I whisked her upstairs before she could see what Santa brought. When we got upstairs I told her she could open her eyes. What I didn't realize is that she thought I was taking her TO her presents. She was very disappointed to open her eyes to - nothing. Poor girl! Then she had to wait patiently for everyone to brush their teeth and meet upstairs, and then grandma was halfway through the dishes so we had to finish loading the dishwasher, etc. etc. It was torture, but she was very good, and finally we went downstairs to see what Santa brought.

Katelee waiting upstairs to see what Santa brought...

Gerald snuck downstairs before Katelee and got a picture of what Santa had left.
The first thing Katelee saw and went for was the Polly Pocket princesses Santa left. Katelee wanted these a lot, even though she already has about a million of them. Santa left her another Sleeping Beauty (I think she has 2 or 3 now), but she loves them! That's all she wanted to play with for awhile. Eventually she turned her attention to her stocking.When she realized there was some pretty good stuff in there, she wasted no time dumping it out! Jackpot!And she tried out the new SmartCycle Santa brought. She has had a lot of fun playing with this since, even if she wasn't exactly shouting with joy when she first saw it. :)
I think Santa spoiled this girl rotten - she must have been a good girl this year! ;)
After seeing the loot from Santa, we opened our other gifts. We all had a very nice Christmas. In addition to Santa's gifts, Gerald and I gave Katelee her box of dress-ups - but I'll save that story for another post. Then we made Christmas dinner. Later that day my Grandma Thurston and Grandma and Grandpa Klingler arrived for dinner. We had a delicious dinner of my mom's amazing cooking. After dinner, we went across the street to the high school football field to try flying the huge glider airplanes that Grandma and Grandpa Klingler gave all the boys. It was a lot of fun. We spent the rest of the day relaxing and playing games. Overall, it was a wonderful Christmas.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Christmas Eve at the Frisby's

We spent a special day at my sister's home on Christmas Eve, along with the whole family and my Grandma and Grandpa Klingler. We ate lots and lots of delicious food, watched a movie, had a nice little program including the Christmas story from the Bible, and sang some songs. The kids performed 'Jingle Bells' for us with these handbells I brought - very cute!Then the kids were able to open a few Christmas Eve presents! First, they exchanged gifts amongst themselves. Katelee really loved choosing gifts for her cousins this year, and she loved the Rainbow Dash pony they chose for her! Look at those eyes!Then each of the kids opened their gifts from Grandma and Grandpa Thurston.Grandma made each of them one of these adorable duffle bags. She made each of us kids one of these duffle bags when we were young. I still remember mine: blue flowers with lace on the edges. It is fun that Katelee now has her own bag. Each bag was stuffed with other presents: books, a stuffed animal, and more toys. Also, included in the bag was this years' Christmas jammies!Katelee sporting her new Christmas PJ's

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve with our family, and left Enoch in time to get home before bedtime.

After arriving back in Mesquite at my parent's house, Katelee chose some cookies and some carrots to leave out for Santa and his reindeer. Gerald also opened his Christmas jammies that I made for him. We read a few more Christmas books, and went to bed early. What a fun day!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Christmas Baking

It was fun to do the traditional Christmas baking this year at my mom's house. My mom is an amazing baker, and she made many of her usual foods: caramel popcorn, peanut butter cookies with a chocolate kiss in the middle, gooey Chex mix, and her famous sugar cookies. Katelee and I had a really fun time helping grandma make the sugar cookies.



I can't get enough of Katelee's cute hands!
Also, my sisters asked me to teach them how to make fondant while we were together. We had a lot of fun making fondant Christmas cupcakes together. I wish I had a picture of all the cupcakes, but I didn't get a picture until many of the cupcakes were already eaten! Here are a few of the ones we made - I think they turned out really cute.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

A Visit from Grandma & Grandpa Reynolds

Grandma and Grandpa Reynolds traveled from Utah to Arizona this year to spend Christmas with the Curtis family and their brand-new baby. They decided to stop and spend the night in Mesquite on their way down. We were able to have a really nice visit with them that evening and exchange some gifts. We gave them our gift, which Gerald made this year. I wish I had taken a picture of it! It was a beautiful wooden plaque with a family tree engraven in it. They also gave Katelee a Tinker Bell doll and two stuffed frogs that Katelee thinks are the Princess and the Frog. She loved everything, and I loved these pictures of her opening her gifts and giving hugs.



Monday, December 21, 2009

Thurston Family Christmas Party

The Sunday before Christmas, my extended family in the area gathered at my Uncle Duane's and Aunt Kim's house for a family Christmas party. We had a great time! We ate some delicious tacos while visiting with everyone. Then we had a gift exchange game. I won a whoopie cushion, Gerald got a framed picture of my dad (ha ha ha!), and Katelee won a golf calendar. Katelee was thrilled with all our gifts. She thought the whoopie cushion was hilarious, she loved the picture of grandpa, but most of all she was sooooo excited about her golf calendar! When Aunt Brittany and Uncle Todd tried to trade their candy for her calendar, she said, "No way!" The calendar is already hanging in her bedroom, and she loves it! :) After the gift exchange, my Grandma Thurston gave a nice devotional about the Savior, and there were more games and dancing. Then Santa showed up for a visit! Katelee was still too nervous to sit on his lap, but she would sit on my lap next to Santa.

Katelee loves petting the dog!

Isn't this picture of Gerald and my cousin's baby adorable?

Thanks for the great party, Thurston family!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Christmas Travels - Mesquite!

The morning after the piano recital, we left bright and early for Mesquite and my parents' house. We arrived Friday night, and the rest of my siblings came the next day. It was so wonderful to have everyone together! Here's a picture of the whole clan!

That Saturday afternoon, we took the kids to see "The Princess and the Frog," the new Disney movie. Katelee loved it and has talked a lot about Princess Tiana since seeing it! :)
We did a lot of other fun things: Christmas baking, last minute shopping, gift-wrapping, playing the Wii, going to lunch with my Grandma Klingler in St. George, and more!
A special thanks to Aunt Melissa who cut everybody's hair! She cut 4 or so inches off mine (it really needed it!), as well as 4 or so inches off Gerald's. Okay, maybe his hair wasn't THAT long, but it was getting really long! ;) She also gave Katelee a cut/trim: here are a few cute pictures of the haircut.
Katelee especially loved having her cousins around! She loves them so much!