Merry Christmas - a little late

Alright, so I guess I have been pretty terrible about updating this little thing - better late than never, right? I'd like to say that I'm going to be better, but I really can't make any promises. I had planned to give an update with some pictures from the fall and Halloween, but the pictures are on my laptop, which died and is at the shop getting the hard drive copied (so I can hopefully savage everything), and well... now you know that part of the story. Anyway, no big deal - you'll just have to wait for those pictures. So instead I thought I would start with Christmas.

Oh wait, before I start with Christmas, I'll at least give everyone a quick update. Thad officially began working as a dentist in the middle part of July. I think it's definitely been an adjustment (you know, having a job, being the boss, and everything else), but he loves with he is doing - which is a relief. I mean, you don't want someone to go through all that school just to find out that they don't like it. It's been really nice having him home in the evenings and spending more time with him. Thad is also serving as the Young Men's President in our ward. So between work and church he is still staying quite busy, but loving it.

We started Ashley in a preschool/learning center this fall. She attends three days a week and just loves it. In the beginning it was hard for her to have me leave her, but now she loves it. She's made so many friends and loves her teachers. I also think it's been really good for her. It's been amazing to see how much she has grown. I don't know that I can really describe how she's grown. I've seen such a change in the way she interacts with other kids, her reasoning, verbal language, that sort of thing. I'm seeing her personality come out more and more. We've always known that she loves attention, but I am all of a sudden seeing this extremely goofy side - she's kind of the class clown. There was one day I went to pick her up early from school and they were eating snacks. I peaked in the door and she was doing goofy things and making goofy faces and all the other kids were laughing - she was happy as a clam just etertaining them. She loves entertaining people and being the center of attention. Today she wouldn't leave church until she gave her favorite young women/babysitters a concert. She sang "Holly, Jolly Christmas" and "Do Your Ear's Hang Low". She's such a little hamm! She's coming up with all sorts of crazy things to say every day and we love it!

Now with Ashley in school three days a week, I'm sure you're all wondering what I've been busy doing. Well, now that Thad is done with school, I have gone back. We really just can't seem to get away from the school life. I am currently taking the prerequisite courses for the nursing program and will apply this April (keep your fingers crossed). School has pretty much taken up any free time that I had. I'm really enjoying being in school and feeling like I'm accomplishing something. Ashley and I still get in plenty of play time and love visiting the zoo, Children's Museum, and hanging out here at home. Anyway, enough about us... so how have you been? :)

We hope that you all had a fabulous Christmas. We decided to stay here for Christmas again this year. We stayed home last year and really enjoyed it. It's been kind of fun starting our own traditions. Christmas was alot of fun this year because Ashley is older and really got into it. Back in October she picked out a bike that she wanted. I told her that she would have to ask Santa for the bike, and boy, she did not forget. Several times a week she kept telling me that she needed to ask Santa for her pink princess bike. I thought it was so cute! At our ward Christmas party, we of course had a visitor and she finally had her chance. She was so excited! Anyway, Santa delivered... The only bad part is the fact that she hasn't had the chance to ride it outside because of the snow.

Well, now is the part that I'm sure you're really interested in... pictures. Enjoy!