Holidays 2010

What have we been up to recently? Well, December went by WAY too fast to keep up with it at the time, so I'll recap now! On the 7th, we found out that we'll be welcoming a baby girl into our family come April, and followed that marvelous experience up with a trip to the emergency vet as Dickens had gotten into the garbage while we were at the appointment and helped himself to some chicken bones. Two x-rays later, he was cleared, and no invasive surgeries were performed, which was a relief.

We decided, probably that same week that for our family Christmas gift exchange we wanted to piece together quilts for the Sorenson Gaggle as well as Sam and Kat (you know, the problem with having more than one boy in a family is that you can't identify everyone by last name). So in most all of our "downtime" for the month was spent with a rotary cutter, iron, pins and a sewing machine. I feel that it was a great experience to put these two quilts together! I know that at my parent's house there was a bit of ooo-ing and ah-ing and "I think they mis-labeled that package and it is supposed to be coming to me!"-ing over the quilt. We hope everyone enjoys them and gets some good use out of them (whether that use is picnicking in the South at Christmastime, or cuddling and keeping warm, we're hoping that they do prove useful!)
















We also had some fun with Christmas treats, that we made, but never distributed. Which means John and I ate some three batches of homemade fudge, two of meringue cookies, and two of toffee. Okay, to be completely fair, we did share some of it, just not on plates with carols like we had initially intended, but at group events, a short visiting teaching visit, and so on. But you'd think that as much as we did eat, I'd be showing off a pregnant belly a little more than I am! We also did take plates of cookies around to our neighbors on our floor of the apartment building, and finally introduced ourselves properly. I'm glad to say that this has made talking to a few of them much more frequent as we pass through the corridors and doorways.

Christmas day was a very laid-back affair here. We opened the few gifts we had under the 3' tree, then skyped with family and got a call from my brother who is serving a mission in Tennessee. That evening we socialized with some of the other families in the ward who stuck around for during the break. I think John's favorite part of Christmas Day may have been the roast beef sandwiches that he kept munching on throughout the day! I had planned a fancy Christmas dinner, but after loading the roast into the crockpot, we decided that the rest of the dinner could wait. Beef sandwiches became the perfect answer, and may become a family tradition.

New Years eve we had an exciting time sleeping! My personal view of that holiday is as follows: ringing in the new year marks turning over a new leaf, and why, WHY would anyone in their right minds want to do that by starting off the new year with either a hangover (for those who imbibe) and sleep deprived (for those who must watch the clock change)? But that's just me. I know that I have enjoyed celebrating New Years in the past, but that usually involves a group of people and food and games. When it is just the two of you, slumbering is as nice a way as any to spend New Years Eve together. The real highlight of New Years Eve was the acquisition of a microwave and a set of three wooden kitchen chairs from by the dumpster in our apartment complex. We now have an operational microwave, AND we didn't have to pay a dime for it! Can you beat that?

John resumed school and work this week, and I've been keeping busy around the home. Dickens keeps me exercised, and all in all, we are one happy bunch!

We are excited about the upcoming changes and challenges life has to offer us, and hope beyond all hope that we will be prepared to take the bull by the horns, as it were. 2011, parenthood, school and work, here come the Brodericks!