Looking back

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
















It has been a most eventful year. Of course, the most significant episode was the addition of a fourth member of our little tribe.
















Jasper Andrew arrived at 11:30 p.m. on June 23. At 6 months, he is a very social little guy, returning smiles and cooing and laughing to show his adoration of anyone who talks, sings, or tickles. Recently he has learned to eat his toes, as well as anything else that comes within reach, including noses and chins (ours, of course) and toys, food and fingers (his and ours).




































Edison is a wonderful big brother, entertaining little Jazz and showing his love through kisses and play-by-play announcements of Jasper's needs. Eddie loves chocolate (see photo above), Frosty the Snowman, his grandparents, and "helping" in the kitchen. Recent accomplishments include an ever-stronger grasp of vocabulary and grammar ("What's this? It's Frosty the Snowman! Oh, I love this! It's one of my favorites! Can I watch it please, Mommy?") and progress on the potty!





















warming up with hot chocolate after playing in the snow

Garrett is enjoying his work as a daddy and a budding architect. Recently his firm won a national award for the design of a school (the third year in a row!) that he worked on. He has also invested a lot of time enhancing his backyard studio (née shed, a.k.a. the Man Lair) and planning great things for our little house.





















Sarah is back at work full-time as a bilingual tutor, assisting elementary students whose parents don't speak English well. It's a good job, especially for a mom who wants a glimpse of the stages and challenges that lie ahead for her boys.
















This Christmas we stayed at Gram & Grandad's (Les & Judy Burtner's) house, on a mountainside on the outskirts of Anchorage. They are out of town (swimming off a Florida beach, last we heard... ), but we had a great time with Uncle Jesse and Aunt Christina, who were visiting from Seattle. We had a very cozy celebration, doing puzzles, playing dominoes, romping in the snow, playing with the boys' new toys, and testing out new holiday cocktails with cocoa or egg nog and a well-stocked liquor cabinet.































Hope your holidays have been just as warm & fuzzy. Best wishes for 2008!

Love,

Sarah, Garrett, Edison, & Jasper