Happy Holidays...

We had a great Christmas and are positively giddy about next semester. We were able to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas at home, just the three of us and though it was a teensy bit lonely, we didn't lack for things to do or enjoy one another's company less. It was really a great time and so relaxing after the busiest semester of our collective lives. We delivered Christmas treats to all of our neighbors and I discovered that my son is going to be quite the cook. He loves to help, knows how to read recipes and how to get the measurements just right. He rolled all the dough for the rolls himself and was persistent and consistent. At five, he's already making my job easier and I'm so glad for that because cooking with children can be quite the chore. We then went to see the Landon and Hays' families after Christmas. We had an enjoyable time visiting with each and were unable to spend as much with either as we'd or they would have liked, but we needed to get back to prepare for the beginning of a new semester of work and school. I won't have night classes next semester and we're ecstatic. It's also my second to the last semester of course work (with only one course to take this summer ---statistics---to finish it all out). I'm taking a grantwriting course and an independent study on theory and both will be super useful for future work opportunities. It's mind boggling to think that I'm almost done and have just a dissertation to write. It also seems silly to say "just" with a dissertation, but I can honestly say that after the rigors of my schedule the last three years (full time work, full time school, and part time University professor while still being a wife and mom) it will be nice to write that paper. I won't have to take any more classes, I'll go part time at the school district and will be able to be more flexible with my University teaching schedule. What a relief! I never thought we'd get hear after that second long semester. But, here we are. Ben will stay in school too and finish his bachelor's so we'll leave Logan in a couple of years with most of our loose ends tied up. Oliver, well he's a natural at school so we won't worry for the time being. He just adores it and is looking forward to going all day next year when he is in first grade.

As for resolutions, we're going to take advantage of some of this extra time and be better about updating friends and family on our whereabouts, while also staying better connected to them. We've really been out of the loop. Happy new year everyone!