Best Wishes to You in the New Year!

So far I flopped on my intent to send letters (or even a mass email) to friends and family.
But that doesn't mean that I have forgotten the valuable relationships of my past and present. Especially at this time of year when I reflect on the most meaningful things in life-- the love from great associations is my heart.
Gandhi said, "Where there is love there is life."
The people I am blessed to know bring me great happiness and joy.
It is my hope that in the coming year, we can fill our lives with greater love. --the eternal love of Christ. May we live life to the fullest through Him.

I love to see the Temple!

I had really looked forward to a visit to the temple around Christmas and we finally fit it in this week. Wow! --I think I enjoy it more every time I go. What a peaceful, extraordinary, and perfect place. Even if distance makes the heart grow fonder, I don't think I can handle the separation.
On the drive to the temple, Jared and I were talking about places we want to live after law school. When we left later that day, I told him that I decided our home had to be close to the temple.

Michael was really sweet to explain to Jordan that this is Jesus' house. He wanted me to take his picture. But I still had a hard time convincing him not to climb on the walls in the garden and run around the grounds. grrr


This is my view of Tessa in the car on the way to the temple.
The big reason our four-hour trips are so nerve racking is the goal to get there without a crying spell.

icing on our Christmas cake

We made the plunge and bought Sea World passes. (Yes, we're spoiled) For the price of one Florida resident ticket we can go all year. And we go to the temple in Orlando anyway....
Excuses aside--it was a blast. What a thrilling place. The performers and trainers are incredibly talented and the animals are beautiful.

There was plenty of holiday cheer to go around also! This was a huge Christmas tree with huge Aqua ornament balls.
:) Yes we were in coats. 50 degree weather is rough!


--fun Christmas on ice show


Shamu!




This was in the tunnel under the shark tank.
The boy's amazement made the trip worthwhile.

--underfoot aquarium

another "Tessa Today" post

I can't get enough of this girl! We love her smiles.
I had to share these pictures to show off her chubby arms and toes....
She is the greatest blessing to our family of the (past) year.

Christmas 2009

This Christmas was our first without family. We enjoyed recreating our favorite old traditions from home and also trying out a few original ones. All in all, it was a great experience, --some fun times and some special moments to remember too. There are too many to list but I wanted to mention a few things I loved about this Christmas.

• Christmas movies like "White Christmas", "Holiday Inn" and "Little Women"
  

• Tastes of the holidays: chocolate oranges, candy canes, clementines, wrapped chestnuts, This list could go on forever. (but I missed Grandma's peanut brittle!)
  

• the magic of Santa in the eyes of two boys
  

• lessons, testimonies and devotionals centered on Christ --his love, sacrifice and example

• Christmas dinner hosted by a supermom with three kids younger than mine....

Tessa was the baby Jesus for our Christmas Eve program!


p.s. This Christmas wasn't really "without" family. Thank you for the cards, phone calls, and gifts that helped us to feel your love. Christmas is a wonderful time of drawing close again with those you love. We are grateful for you and we love you!!

"snow angels" at the park

We went to the park a few days before Christmas and Michael decided to try a new version of snow angels. We are still hoping to make a sand(snow)-man at the beach. We went on Monday but it was too windy and "cold"!

Anyone for camping?

We got a great tent for Christmas! (Thanks!) Now we don't really have an excuse to not go camping....
We've heard Key Largo is nice and Koreshan State Park in Estero. Anyone?