This year I tried to simplify a little bit (it was still a lot of work, Christmas cards are always a lot of work). I wrote up the letter below, printed it on printer paper, folded it into third, and tucked in a filmstrip of three photos, two of which you can see below.

Last year I wrote you our letter while surrounded by views of snowy Chicago. This year I am writing our Christmas letter from my childhood home in central Washington. No, we haven’t moved back for good (although I know my parents are always keeping their fingers crossed), we are currently enjoying a three week stay with my parents during TH’s holiday break from school. This is the last long holiday break we will probably ever have to spend as a family, and we are enjoying every moment.

Highlights of our year include a whole lot of traveling. In February T1 and I flew to Washington for my great-grandmother’s funeral, and 3 days after returning we boarded another plane for a wedding in Dallas. Another wedding in Dallas one month later, this time without the baby, which gave TH the chance to see what it’s like to spend 48 hours with a baby all on your own. He survived, but let me know he wasn’t interested in becoming a Stay-At-Home-Dad anytime soon.

We took a little travelling break until June, when T1 and I went to Washington for the summer, with TH following a few weeks later. Two months of the baby, and my mom still cried when we left. Our son has two sets of grandparents who love him more than anything. We visited TH’s parent’s in Poland during the month of September, and during that stay TH and I had an incredible time in Italy without the baby (thank you, thank you, thank you J and K). November’s highlight was a visit from my sister, and we finished off the year with one last flight to Washington. Although it’s nice to not have to pay to fly with him, we are happy that in the near future we will be forced to buy a seat for T1. He is a handful-and-a-half.

If it was a competition to see who accomplished the most this year, T1 would easily win. Over the course of the year he started walking, eats solid foods, can pick up small items by pinching them between his fingers, and though he’s a bit delayed, he has finally started talking. “Bye bye”, “Ball”, and “Shoe” are his current favorite verbalizations. Those who care for him consistently describe him as a sweetheart, and we wholeheartedly agree.

I met a few milestones this year as well. I ran my first 5K since high school (and actually enjoyed it), officially made a profit via my photography business, and put up advertising on my blog (www.thatwifeblog.com), which I think officially makes me a “blogger”. My biggest accomplishment will come August 2012, when I plan to graduate from BYU (finally), in the hopes of proving to myself it can be done after marriage, even with a baby in tow.

TH has stayed very busy studying and developing relationships while working toward his MBA at the University of Chicago (he graduates June 2012). Surviving finals with a demanding toddler who craves daddy-time 24/7 is one of the biggest milestones he conquered this year.

We’ve been blessed, and have much to look forward to in the coming year. We hope to be able to share 2012 with each one of you in one way or another. Much love, TH, Jenna, and T1.

I originally intended to get this post up before Christmas, but I also wanted family and friends receiving them in the mail to not think “Oh yeah, I already saw this on her blog.” , so I waited about a week to be safe. Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!

I believe Jesus Christ, the firstborn Son of the Father, lived on the earth, walked with mortals, suffered and died to atone for our sins. I love Him and I love celebrating His birthday. Merry Christmas everyone!

It’s cold outside (for most of us). We’re antsy for Christmas. A post featuring apple picking, pumpkin patch frolicking, and babies in short sleeves seems well-timed, don’t you think? These are from October when we went to an apple orchard/pumpkin patch/petting zoo place popular with the families at church. The couple we went with have a son about our age, and the husband served a mission in Poland, so we always have a lot to talk about.

T1 spent most of his time with one apple clutched under each arm. He would take one bite, throw it down, and pick up a new one.

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I”m really excited about the idea I had to document Christmas Eve/Christmas Day in a Day In The Life series, and I hope others will join me! Think of it as a way to preserve one very special day in a way you haven’t done before. In our family Christmas changes just a little bit each year, as children are born and leave, relationships build and deteriorate. I want T1 to have an example of what it was like in Washington when he was young.

Previously DITL posts can be found for days when T1 was two months, eights months, a random day in May, a Sunday with my parents in Washington. This DITL I’m going to show you is actually two days, as I thought it would be fun to document what General Conference weekend is like. I normally add in times with my photos, but I’m writing this from Washington and don’t have access to my Lightroom catalog to make that happen.

I woke up early (for me) on Saturday in order to visit the farmer’s market before the first session of conference.

I got back just before the session started and was greeted by this face. Dad got him out of bed, gave him a bottle, and changed his diaper.

As soon as I wlked in the door he rummaged through my bags to find something to eat, settling on an Asian pear. He plopped down on the ground to play his favorite iPad game, Itsy Bitsy Spider.

I unloaded my haul while listening to the first session of conference. Our internet isn’t fast enough to stream the video, so we just listen to the audio. I like doing mindless tasks while I’m listening, because sitting on the couch staring off into space inevitably leads to me daydreaming about all the things I’m going to do once the session is over.

T1 got hungry and so I made kale chips and warmed up soup leftovers.

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Brussels sprouts have a bad rap, and I really don’t know why. Don’t let the movies and television shows trick you like they tricked me. Is it because everyone else is making them without butter? Here is what I think. The first time you make them, use a lot of butter. Next time, cut back a little, and next time cut back a little more. There are some things in life that you need to warm up too, and brussels sprouts might be one of them.

Also it was during the writing of this post that I realized it is brussels sprouts, not brussel sprouts like I always thought.

Brussels Sprouts

About 20 small brussels sprouts
2 tablespoons of butter
Splash of vegetable stock
Salt

Wash the sprouts. I dunk them in a bowl of water and kind of swish them around (oh let’s be honest, sometimes I don’t even wash them at all if they look mostly clean). Cut off the ends, and then quarter them (or halve them if they’re really small). I like to loosen the outer leaves because loose outer leaves turn crispy and brown as they soak up the butter and I think that’s the most delicious part of the dish.

On medium heat melt the butter in a skillet (any old pan could work, but I think a cast iron skillet gives the best flavor) and add a splash of stock. Toss in the brussels sprouts and give the pan a good shake to try to get as many sitting flat side down as possible. You also want them to be in a single layer, because that means more of them come in contact with the butter+pan and get all sorts of carmelized and delicious. Spinkle salt over the top, and cover with a lid.

Let the sprouts sit in the pan undisturbed for as long as possible without burning them, about 5 minutes. I like to let them get really brown, although TH doesn’t like this. Give the pan a good shake to shift the sprouts a bit and brown the other sides.

Serve immediately, they’re best when warm.