Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays! We hope that this letter finds all of you safe, warm, cuddled up with loved ones, and sipping your beverage of choice. As for our family, 2007 has been a year full of changes and great blessings.

Little did we know, at this time last year, that we’d be living in St. Louis, MO this year, so Dan could go to graduate school in Medieval European History at Saint Louis University – his top choice. Before the move, Danny spent his time playing with Bree during the week and working weekends at Icon Health and Fitness. He lost 60 pounds, passed his Falconry Apprentice test, went camping, and hit a couple desert canyons while still in Utah. In St. Louis he volunteers at the World Bird Sanctuary where he is able to work with all kinds of raptors (to date, he has worked with 2 species of falcon; 3 species of hawk; 5 species of owl; and the odd Turkey Vulture). Among the things he misses are: family time; hot springs; canyons; relaxing.

Watching Dan reach for and meet his goals has been a highlight of the year for Jan and Bree! In preparation for the move, January quit her job in June. After ten years, it’s still weird not to plan her life around Residence Life timelines. Being able to stay home with Bree, however, is a long-awaited dream come true. Bree also loves the change! Jan & Bree took their first ever road-trip together in October to visit friends in Iowa, and it was a great growing experience, and a very fun trip. January is spending her time getting to know St. Louis (slowly) and preparing for the arrival of our newest family member in February. Dan has been amazed to watch Jan thrive in her new job. Among the things she misses are: Danny-time; Pro-Staff lunches; hanging out with friends; Cache Valley.

Bree has also had a big year. It didn’t take her long to adjust to St. Louis and make new friends whom she loves dearly (although she still misses her family and friends and talks of them on a regular basis)! Some of her accomplishments for this year include: Sitting still for her first two haircuts (a total of at least ten inches); temporarily liberating “Friend Froggy” from his aquarium so he could be “free”; starting and finishing potty training in two days; learning to climb trees with her dad; hiking Fiery Furnace and Little Wild Horse Canyon; and finding her own castle in Goblin Valley! She can spot a Red-Tail in the air and thinks “Kurkey Vultures” are “really cool.” Bree loves all things pink or Princess and can play dress up for hours. She also loves to color and draw and she simply cannot get enough stickers to satiate her desires. She is happiest outside and would live at the park, if we let her.

St. Louis is an adjustment from other areas we have lived (the Midwest is sadly devoid of mountains, deserts, and oceans), but we’ve had many experiences to assure us that we are where we should be. We are excited to share this adventure and would love visitors anytime!

We love you all!

A Good Day

Today was a good day. Not only did Beemer FINALLY get to play with Pocketmouse and NAM, there was just enough light for Wildbound to get some adorable pictures of Beemer too! Add to that some much needed rejuvenation time and a fantastic WB dinner and, as I said, it was a good day!

Side Note: For those of you who haven't seen us yet (or figured it out from this post),

Beemer and I are in Utah!

We are dividing our time between Ogden and Logan, but hope to see everyone at least once. Ahenobarbus will be here on Dec. 18th (as his blog mentioned), but Beemer and I surprised my mom and came to Utah on Nov. 13th (thus the reason for not posting this information BEFORE the trip and also the reason for the long break between posts). We are alive and well, and enjoying our visit, although we both miss Ahenobarbus and we're counting down the days until he can be here too!

Happy, Happy Birthday!

Today, Beemer is 3 years old!

She is ever our princess - even more so know that she tells us she is Princess Beemer (or alternately Princess Aurora) at least once a day, and she loves all things royal. (The picture above is from the day we made crowns for her and her bear). She is, of course, as brilliant as she is adorable. She can tell you that her birthday is Noberry 9th (thanks to Strawberry Shortcake); that her full name is Beemer Webb (even the kids at church call her Beemer); and a multitude of animal and bird facts (her favorite birds are hawks, baby geese are goslings, and whenever anyone draws a circle it must be the beginning of a ladybug). Due to scheduling, her party will be next week, so we celebrated today with a trip to McDonalds, (complete with a nice long visit to the Playland), and some pink ice cream!

Happy Birthday Princess Beemer!!

Trick-or-Treating

For Halloween this year, Beemer and I went to visit our friends, the Zebarths, in Dubuque, Iowa. The trip was a ton of fun - a good way to spend the holiday. Below are some pictures of the kids on Halloween.

Sophia as a "Butterfly Princess," Sargent Sam, and Beemer as a "Scary [or Mad - she couldn't decide] Witch"

Just the girls (Sam went Trick-or-Treating with friends in the "big city.")

Beemer and Sophia waiting patiently for their candy.

Beemer's costume

The scary (or mad) witch face. This one cracks me up everytime she does it!

Thanks for a great Halloween Em, Matt, Sam and Sophia!

The Waiting Game

Luci and Phil have a new pastime. They have found that in the morning, the sun is at just the right angle to play a new game. They sit for hours on the back of the couch watching the window and waiting. When an unsuspecting bird flies by, casting it's shadow, they pounce -

at the window and fall back onto the couch or behind it. They have had some interesting landings, one or two of which I thought would teach them a lesson. But each morning, there they are, back on the couch, waiting.