Missing Mom

This is how I knew Christian missed me while on my trip to the states for a couple of weeks (to help out with the new babies):

1 week before I left: "WHY do you have to go again? I think if Emily can do it on her own, so can Lauren!!

The day after I left: "I miss my family." (posted on Facebook)

1 week into the ordeal: "I need a haircut and for the first time in my life my mom isn't here to do it!" (also posted on Facebook)

1 week before we returned: Christian cuts his own hair (basically shaves his head)!

The evidence . . .



So now I am convinced . . . a boy needs his mom! :)

Christian, I missed you too!

Christmas 2010

Merry Christmas 2010

As I look back on the year, I can't help but think of the many wonderful blessings we have received . . . and at the top of that list is the arrival of three new grands -- Juliette (March 29), Annabelle (November 26) and Cole (December 20). What a fun picture that will make when they finally all meet each other for the first time next month!

Another event that contends for the top spot is the opportunity I had to see all of our adult children in the month of April. First I spent a week with Marie after the birth of Juliette, then a week in Utah with Emily and Lauren for their graduations, and then a day in the DC airport with Matthew since I had a long layover there before my return trek home. I was so happy to be able to spend a little time with each of them.

Other than a fun trip to Italy and Bavaria with the Clark family and an EFY trip to England (the kids), our year has been spent in the usual activities. Tracy has arranged his stake meetings so that he is only in Kaiserslautern a couple of times a week. I have finished two BYU classes (just six more classes to go!) and a couple of large crochet and quilt projects (late wedding gifts for Emily and Lauren).

Christian continues to take online classes from Maeser Academy; he does the remainder of his classes at Heidelberg High School with AP composition as a favorite. He did another internship at the community library which took up his afternoons for 12 weeks, but what he really loves to do in his free time is work on guitar and piano songs. He gave up his room (now he shares with Bryant) so that it could become the band room. He is currently heading up a youth "Unplugged" event for New Year's Eve at the stake center, so we often have groups of kids over for band practice. Another big event for Christian this year: he got his braces off on November 30! What a great smile he has!

Lissie and I just got back from visiting Emily and Lauren and to help out with the newborns, Annabelle and Cole. We were the boys' favorite Christmas presents since our flight was delayed a day and we arrived back home early Christmas morning! Lissie likes her online classes through Maeser Academy and usually spends her afternoons in dance classes -- ballroom and ballet. Her dream is to add jazz back into her repertoire. She got a guitar last year for her birthday and she has done very well this year at learning to play and sing (mostly Taylor Swift) songs. She has a fascination with "favorites" and has all the deacons in our ward trained to say that SHE is their favorite. She has Tracy and me trained too -- she is our favorite youngest daughter!

For several years Bryant has dreamed of getting a job as a paperboy, and his dream came true a couple of months ago when an opening came up here in Malschenberg; he actually made the calls himself and got the job to deliver papers every Wednesday and Saturday. It fit in perfectly with his soccer schedule too, and now he has more spending money than any of us! Actually, he has committed to saving 40% so now he also has more savings than most of us! He takes online classes from Maeser Academy and will likely attend half time at HHS next year. He finished his Eagle Scout requirements last spring, but wants to wait to have his Court of Honor until he and Ezra Clark are living on the same continent -- maybe after another year!

Wishing you all a lovely remainder of the Christmas season (it's just the beginning for us) and a wonderful New Year too.

We love and miss you all,

Tracy and Lisa
Christian, Elisabeth and Bryant

Baby St. Nicholas

(a.k.a. Nicholas Stephen or "Cole")


Baby Cole was born last Monday and as soon as Lauren met him, she was in love! I watched her admire, kiss and cuddle him, and I often heard her whisper "I love you" in his baby ears. She would lovingly gaze at him and say, "He is SO little . . . he is just SO cute . . . I can't believe he was just inside me . . . He is adorable!" She was so into her baby that not even the nurses could distract her for long. Yes, the stork brought Christmas this year, and it was Lauren's best Christmas present ever! Welcome Baby Cole. We all love you!

A Portion of the Best Grands Ever!

I already posted this on Facebook, but I wanted to preserve it here on my blog. Marie did a bang up job with our photo shoots when she and her family came for a visit in November. I love Juliette's face in this picture . . . she seems to be saying, "why are we doing this . . . again??" Love her, love them all. This is only a "portion of the grands" because soon after this picture was taken, two more babies were born. We are so lucky this year!

Three Beautiful Angels

This is Lissie with Hannah and Emma Ireland at the ward Christmas party some years ago . . . maybe 2006?



Does anyone recognize the angel dresses? Lissie is wearing Lauren's, Hannah is wearing Emily's, and Emma is in Lissie's! (Those baptism dresses came in handy!)

So absolutely heavenly!

Sister to Sister to Sister

Lissie is having the time of her life hopping on planes (5 so far this trip) to visit her sisters and their new babies. (I am simultaneously having the same fun trip, of course.) First she got to visit Emily in Utah and cuddle with Annabelle for almost a week.


Then she got to fly on to Texas where she has been absolutely fascinated by Lauren's pregnant state. Here she is feeling baby boy (Nicholas?) stretching and kicking. "So cute!" she says as she positions herself in her favorite spot -- right next to Lauren on the couch.



What a blessing to be able to visit two of her sisters in her favorite month of December! And . . . we can't wait til tomorrow!

Favorite Things

One of Lissie's signature queries these past few months has been all about "favorites," so it was only fitting that she have a "Favorite Things" 16th birthday party. Favorite things would include dancing and Taylor Swift so naturally this celebration turned into a dance party - at the church (A venue I would highly recommend for any kid party). Everything about the evening revolved around her favorites list . . . see if you can guess some of them.

She really wanted a "hot air balloon" cake and this is the best I could come up with . . .



Red daisies and Starbursts . . .



And although this picture was taken a couple of weeks after her birthday, Christmas is definitely on her list!



(We happened upon the REAL Santa at the Albuquerque Airport)

There were many more things on her list like yogurt, ice cream, Sprite, chocolate milk, horses and cowboys, but just these few picture clues will have to suffice for now.


Happy Birthday, Happy Christmas, Happy December Lissie!