Happy New Year!

So, it seems as though EVERYONE has a blog and, to be honest, I didn't really want to blog, but I see some definite benefits here as far as posting pictures of the girls and goats to satisfy any and all of your urges to see them!

December was not the time for me to try and compose an "everything-we've-done-this-year" letter to include with our cards and last year (Christmas of 2006, that is) I didn't do one either. I just assumed that when you got our Christmas card with two children, rather than just one, you would assume that we had another child and that the little pink jacket would identify said child (Sarah, by name) as a girl!

I've decided to include some "everything-we-did-in-2007" reading here, in honor of introducing our blog. So, please read at your leisure, enjoy some new pictures, and know that we'd love to hear from you!

Here is what the holiday card would have said (and "Yay me!" for not wasting so much paper!):

Christmas Day 2007

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! And what a busy year it has been!

In late 2006 Shad left his job as Quality Manager with ESAM to become a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones Investments. He started studying for his licensing tests in late October, passed his tests with flying colors in mid-December and spent the first week of 2007 at training in Phoenix, Arizona. He's been back to Arizona for trainings at least twice since then (I may be losing count, though!) and we were able to attend the Summer Regional meeting as a family in San Francisco in late June! Shad moved into his own office in October (three months ahead of schedule!) and is really enjoying his new role. Highlights for him include a positive work environment and helping his customers recognize and realize their goals through sound financial planning.

Shad's first official day of "door-knocking." Anyone want to buy a snowman?? :)

Jessica returned to work, in a very part-time capacity, as a Grant Writer for Dogs for the Deaf. If you're not familiar with them, visit their website: http://www.dogsforthedeaf.org/ DFD was Jess's first job when we relocated from K Falls and she is excited to be back "in the pack" and working for an organization whose mission she supports. It has definitely been a learning process, though, not just learning about grant writing, but also balancing home and work. All-in-all, it has been a positive change, Jessica loves seeing other adults on a regularly scheduled basis, and appreciates the mental aerobics. Two of the four grants that she has applied for have been funded- wahoo! And the girls are almost used to the idea of mom going back to work (it's only been a year, after all!).

Girls cutting trees! Grrrr! December 2007

Hannah is in her second year of preschool at Gilbert Creek and turned four in March. She started the year with a little dancing (ballet and tap) and ended it in gymnastics which she plans to continue into the new year. Hannah is an amazing person- very sensitive, intelligent, and mild-mannered (at the best of times) and also very dramatic! If she could narrow it down she would list her hobbies as playing with dolls, playing with dolls, and, um, playing with dolls. Oh, throw a little tv watching in there for good measure (much to mom's chagrin!). And I suppose I've left out all the fun summer activities like swinging in the backyard, riding bikes and scooters, but summer is so far from my mind right now!

Hannah's first day of school. September 2007 (And our fruitful grape vines!)

Sarah celebrated her 1st birthday in January (she'll be two in two weeks!) and we've just spent the time since her birth wondering what happend to the time?? Sarah is a busy girl- of course, she has Hannah to keep up with and that is a full-time job in itself! She started walking last January and now is running, dancing, twirling, swinging, hopping, jumping, dumping, pouring, just about anything that ends with -ing is fair game for the girl. Her favorite activities right now would include painting (full-body painting, that is), getting in her sister's space, and changing her clothes (several times per day) which she manages to do on her own. "Sarah-do!" is heard about eight times per day on average in this house.

Sarah's 1st Birthday Cake, January 2007.

Highlights and additions:

-Jessica, Hannah, and Sarah spent a week at the coast with Jessica's mom, sister, and brother-in-law

-we welcomed a new kitten (Star) and five goats (one mama and four babies: Heidi, Billy, Buddy, Bonney, and Babs or Baaaabs) in early summer and the girls are official farm girls- they both have their own rubber boots (as do mom and dad) and love to spend time in the field with the goaties

-Jessica, Hannah, Sarah, and Jessica's Grandma took a car trip to visit Jess's Dad in early November. While they were there they got to see Disney Princesses on Ice- it was a huge hit with the girls

-Jessica's Grandma relocated to her aunt's house about 25 miles away in the late-summer and Jessica and the girls have enjoyed getting to visit her every other week or so

-Elwood will be 15 years old this year and Opal is seven now!

We are so blessed to be starting this new year with our lives so full and surrounded by our family and friends and we hope that 2008 is bright for you as well.

Happy Holidays,

Shad, Jessica, Hannah, Sarah and animals

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