Check This Out!

I couldn't wait to share this.

I sent off the application a while back and hadn't heard anything back. So last night when I got home late, this was in the mail.

Just so I don't feel too cool, this means I am now a professionally licensed geek.

Halloween

Well we all had a great time on Halloween. Rob came home early and took the kids out Trick-or-Treating. With the candy the kids got from Trick-or-Treating and from the Trunk-or-Treat a week ago, they may never sleep again.

Tasha was a Pink Power Ranger and Garrett was Spiderman. As you can see, Garrett really loves being Spiderman. We got him the costume a couple of weeks ago, and he has wanted to wear it every day. (We're glad it was still in one piece by the time Halloween finally got here!)

We love to carve pumpkins. Tasha really did a great job. We poked holes in the pumpkins to mark the pattern and then used a little saw to cut out the holes. She followed right along the lines and did a great job on both pumpkins. When the kids got tired of the pumpkins they went for the apples and apple dip!

We have been trying to go to a farm to pick apples and pumpkins for the last couple of weeks, but the Saturdays have been cold and rainy. So today we went to see the Bee Movie. It was a lot funnier for the adults than the kids, but we all had a good time.

The Trunk or Treat party at the church

Here's a few pictures from the Trunk-or-Treat party we have every year at the church. They say its a lot safer than going around the neighborhood, but we just think it is a whole lot of fun.


Garrett and Tasha in the trunk of our "monster van." Everyone decorated their trunk and handed out candy.


Rob doing what he does best, he beat all the little kids in the no-hands donut eating contest.


Here the kids are making a ghost craft, Garrett even colored his with a scary face.

We moved in

Well, we officially never want to move again. I guess we were lulled into thinking that this move would be no big deal because it was only a couple of miles. We were so incredibly unprepaared for the volume of stuff we have. You would never guess how much stuff 4 and 2/3 people need. I guess I shouldn't say need but say have.

Anyway, we made it and are still unpacking. Over the weekend we had to escape the madness and so we took the kids to Mashamoquet State Park. Its about 40 miles north east of Hartford. It was nice. The weather was in the 80's, very unusual for October, and we only got a little sprinkling of rain at night.

We swam in the pond and hiked the kids till their legs fell off. It was a good time, except when Tasha got stung on the cheek by a yellow jacket.

Like I promised

Here is a picture of Steph so you can see how the baby is coming. The doctor told us that it would need about 350 degrees for about 9 months and, I can tell you from personal experience, Steph is quickly approaching 350 degrees.

So here it is. She is about 6 months pregnant and as pretty as the day I married her. That doesn't mean she was 6 months pregnant when we were married or anything like that.

And just for good measure, this is how we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Tasha belongs to us.

Just in case you didn't notice, that is a mouthful of food underneath that smile. And her eyes never light up more that when she is getting into mischief.

I was sick a couple of days this week. Its been a while since I was sick like that. I missed a couple of days of work and everything. No worries though, I am back and good as new.

This next week we are moving into our new place, finally. I have actually been taking some things over during the last couple of weeks, but this will be for real.

Tasha has decided that she loves to eat all her lunch at school, she tells us everyday. However, she won't eat a peanut butter sandwich because there is a special table for the peanut butter kids, so the kids with allergies don't have to worry. That's a big change from when I grew up. It was all peanut butter all the time.

Oh, and if you thought you had your Jewish holidays mixed up because of my last post, I was wrong. Tasha was off due to Rosh Hashana, not Yom Kippur.

Another week gone by

Wow its already another week gone by. We should really slow things down around here.

Tasha was out of school on Thusday and Friday for Yom Kippur. You don't get holidays like that in Utah!

She took the time to hang out with some of her friends from pre-school. It is so fun to see her make good friends. She is very good at it. Everywhere she goes she makes so many friends.

We got most of our non-routine stuff boxed up last week and we will start moving it over tomorrow. It is nice to have a couple of weeks to make this move happen.

Steph is starting to get bigger now.

Garrett has really taken a liking to Joy School. Our kids grow up so fast.

Today I went to lunch with my team. We went to a place in the City called Le Colonial. It sounded french to me, but it was asian. It was really good. I had some chopped filet mingon with vegetables in a peanut sauce. Very tender and tasty. I highly recommed it.

Tasha's big week

Well today marks the end of Tasha's first full week at school. It was an up and down week for her. At first she was very excited for the week to start and then, as the week ran on, the excitement wore off. On Wednesday she didn't want to go at all. She hadn't made any friends yet and the day was so long! But then she met a friend named Jada. Tasha usually makes friends pretty quickly so we are glad to see her move forward. Its too bad that she will have to start again in a few weeks when we move to Greenwich.

Garrett started school this week as well. 6 boys in our ward get together for "Joy School." They go once a week for a couple of hours. The moms rotate who teaches. Garrett was so excited. He made a little booklet about counting to five. He especially liked that he traced his hand. This morning he walked me through the entire booklet. We are glad that he is enjoying it.

Our new apartment should be ready for us next week. We will move most things over in stages and save the big stuff for the 29th when we will get some guys from the ward together.

I started a long project this week. I'm still in New York, but working at the client's office. It adds about 20 minutes to my commute, but I get to walk an extra two miles each day. I'm having a good time and learning a lot.

Steph is busy trying to pack up all our stuff. We are trying to get a jump on it because we tend to get pulled away on so many different things.

Our new place

Last week we signed the deal on our new place. Ken and Eryn Klingler are moving to Dallas, we are sad to see them go. But they have a great apartment in Greenwich that they gave us the heads up on. It is the second story of a family home. Its in a nice, quiet, Italian neighborhood and its just down the street from the elementary school. The school is still under construction but it will be finished in January.

Tasha also starts kindertgarten this week. She goes for a couple of hours on Thursday, just for an orientation, and then a full day on Friday. After that marathon she will be all worn out and will have her first holiday break for Labor Day. Rob is taking Friday and Monday off, we will see if we have any fun, or just start packing for the move.

Tasha's Birthday 2007

Tasha had her birthday party a couple of weeks ago. We were waiting for her friend Victoria to get back from Japan so everyone could come. It was really fun. The kids did all kinds of fun things. Just look.

First we made flower leis for everyone to wear.

Then we had a potato sack race, fun to do and fun to watch.

Then we did the limbo, some of the kids got really low. Lexi was great at this.

Our lovely limbo girls.

Then we had a relay race where the kids dressed up in Hawaiian tourist clothes and ran an obstacle course.

They raced on two teams.

Then it was time for lots of cupcakes and icecream. Look at Garrett go.

Later at home Tasha opened her presents. I think Garrett was even more excited than Tasha.

Tasha got some headbands from Lexi and the kids knew exactly what to do with them.

A quick pic

Here is a picture of Garrett at the pool. He wasn't crazy about the goggles.

It's a Boy!!!!!

We are so excited to announce our new baby boy. While he won't arrive in the mail for another few months (estimated arrival: January 10th, subject to change) we are really excited for him. Tasha was really set on a baby sister so when we told her it will be a boy she was really upset. She said, "No mom, I said a baby SISTER." Its a good lesson in "we don't always get what we want." I told her we'll have to see what happens next time, and Steph said "Next time?" Its way too early to talk about next time, we haven't even had this time yet.

I'm in Washington DC this weekend at a training. Its with the American Society of Appraisers so pretty soon I can tell you all about how to value a business, if you ever need to know.

My First Day

Today is my first day at my new job in New York City. I'm writing from the train ride home. It was an exciting day full of meeting new people. I am now in the Transaction Services Practice at PwC. I will get to work on a lot of cool stuff and have time with some really smart people.

Today they took me to lunch at O'Charley's right across the street from the office. It was a good pub. I had the BBQ salmon sandwich, highly recommeded.

The office is on Park Ave and 42 street, just up the block from Grand Central Terminal. We sure have had a lot of changes lately. A couple of weeks ago I was called as the Elders Quorum President. There is a lot of work to do and I am feeling the pressure of it all. Luckily I have a good group of councilors who help me a lot.

I can blog on my Blackberry

This is so cool. I just found out that I can blog on my Blackberry. Now I can tell you what its like to ride the train or give you a running commentary on our lives. You will know that I am using the Blackberry because the spelling will be all crazy. We had fun at the New York Hall of Science yesterday. They had some really fun stuff and the kids had fun playing. They got to drive a dragster, play with light and sound, see some microbes, and they loved the Gatorade at lunch.

Summer Fun at the Zoo

Here are some pictures of the kids at the Bronx Zoo. We went with Monica, Dominick, and Kambree. Tasha and Garrett get along great with Dominick and Kambree. Monica even puts up with Steph.

Things are changing

Some new developments this week. Today Rob was set apart as the new Elders Quorum President. He has been the First Councilor in the EQ for a year and a half now, but he is still pretty nervous about the change. Seems like we are always changing around here.

Keeping with the change theme Rob starts his new position in New York City in only another two weeks! Today we realized it is time to order the train ticket for next month.

So, we will keep on changing around here. Rob got to talk with Dan on the video chat tonight and that was really fun. Dan is still talking in his sing-songy brazilian accent, but it is good to have him home. We really hope he finds himself a date soon so he can get back to normal.

This is Tasha and Garrett getting out of the tub on our trip to Washington D.C. this spring. What a couple of cheeseballs!

Some sad news

On Tuesday, July 3, Grandpa Fredericks passed away. He has been battling congestive heart failure for a long time and we are sad to see him go, but glad that he is no longer in pain.

We were very lucky to have seen him just a couple of weeks ago during our trip to Utah. We will miss his stories and humor. He always has an opinion on everything.

Our thoughts are with Grandma as she adjusts to this time alone. We will keep her in our thoughts and in our prayers. Steph left on Friday to be with her family during the funeral. We were very fortunate to have the timing work out that she could be gone for the weekend.

This makes two grandparents lost in three months. In March Grandma Anderson passed away suddenly.

We are very greatful that the Gospel provides us with answers to some of the difficult questions that arise at times like these. We are thankful for the Savior who made it possible that we can be reunited with our families. Each lost family member strengthens our resolve to keep the commandments so we can be a forever family.

We love you Grandpa and hope that you have found those who were waiting for you.

Some big news!

Many of you have heard by now, WE'RE HAVING A BABY! We are so excited for this new addition. It can be a little intimidating having three kids, we will be totally out numbered now. Although, Tasha has promised us that she will be the world's greatest big sister and feed the baby, and change its diaper, and put it to sleep. She has had a lot of practice with Big Baby for the last few years.

The baby will arrive, Steph hopes through the mail, on January 10. This will be a great addition to our family.

Steph saw the doctor last week and got a sonogram. They have ordered up a whole battery of tests for us, even I have to get poked a little. And I thought my job there was all done :).

We are now in the gently expanding stage of this baby, there aren't any clothes that fit Steph very well, either too tight or really big. This may be a 5 wardrobe pregnancy for us so I better work a little harder.