The Christmas Letter

Dear friends and family,

2013 is coming to a close and what a year it’s been!  The biggest news is the upcoming arrival of a new baby GIRL in January!  In November we moved back across the country to Logan, Utah.  We are thankful to be in a familiar place with old friends, family and great doctors.   You know us, we like to have all the changes at once.  

Heber left the space division at the Naval Research Lab and was quickly scooped up by his old manager back at Space Dynamics Lab. He continued to take guitar lessons and to be Leo’s absolute favorite person.   As a summer project, he built a pair of Adirondack chairs.  He’s been figuring out how to build his own hand tools and has a growing collection. 

Gentri was happy to be home with Leo.  She has been hard at work in the glass studio this year and mastered several new techniques including making fish.  She was able to take some extra classes including a course in the hot shop doing glass blowing.  She served as the secretary for the Virginia Firebirds, a chapter of ISGB and taught classes at the local bead store.  She served on the ward Relief Society Activities Committee and on Mormon Prom (google it, seriously.)  In between everything else, she managed to complete all 120 hours of training to receive her real estate license. 

Leo turned 2 in November.  Over the course of this year, he learned how to walk and talk.  He has become quite the curious guy and is obsessed with anything that moves (trains, cars, planes….).  He has really grown into a little boy this past year.  He loves to be outside and we spent a lot of time at some beautiful parks.  We were very active with our playgroup and friends and had many wonderful times.   

The Green Family Bed and Breakfast was in full swing this year with visitors from all over the continental US.  We enjoyed sharing the sights in DC with all of them.  Unfortunately, we ran out of pillow mints and had to close up shop.

We rented a beach house in Outer Banks, NC with some friends in September.  The highlight for us, besides spending time on the beach, was watching Heber hang glide at 2,000 feet.  You’ve got to do something big to celebrate turning 30!

To say goodbye to the DC area, we did a lot of sightseeing.  We visited all our favorite haunts like Eastern Market, the Botanical Gardens, the Air and Space Museum and Old Town Alexandria.  We visited some new spots like George Mason’s Home (amazing!), Intercourse, PA and Hershey, PA. 

As we closed the Virginia chapter, we realized how blessed we have been with good friends and support in all chapters of our life.  We appreciate you all and wish you the happiest of holiday seasons! 

Love,

Heber, Gentri, Leo and new baby girl

White Christmas

It's been snowing a lot this month.  I think it's safe to say that our Christmas will be a white one this year.  We've spent the past several years with very little snow (I loved it).  Virginia gets a snowstorm or two a year, enough to appease me and fulfill my desire for snow and then it stops.  Yesterday it was actually 72 degrees there. 

The snow banks slowly rise higher and I awake every morning to a layer of freshly fallen snow.  I need to get a winter hobby that I love so that I can actually look forward to this time of year.  Perhaps next year we'll work on that.  This one, I'm going to be a little busy with a newborn. 

Leo can't get enough of the snow.  He'd play out there all day, even in the cold.  He's like his dad.

Christmas and Love

It's the week before Christmas.  I've been preparing and wrapping all of the Christmas surprises.  Gift giving is definitely one of the big ways I show love.  I'm just so excited to see Leo open up his presents, especially since he might actually get into it somewhat this year.  The Christmas cards were finally sorted out and mailed and we have been receiving greetings in the mail.  I tell you, that is one of my favorite parts of the season.  I hung them all up in our living room and Leo has been pointing at his friends for days. 

Heb went out of town for a few days on business.  He was off having meetings at the old office and hanging out with our friends in Virginia.  Leo and I held down the fort.  I try to be as positive as possible about things, keep a good attitude but it's been quite a week. There was the failed toffee experiment.  Our Christmas tree was knocked over (not by Leo) resulting in some of my most favorite ornaments being broken.  It was an accident but I can't help being a little bummed about it.  Leo's been entering a new phase and it hasn't resulted in my most shining mothering moments.  Let's just say, it's been interesting.

On Friday as I was laying Leo down for his nap, there was a knock at the door.  We had a surprise package.  One of my glass friends had sent some glass ornaments out of the blue.  It was just so lovely. 

We went upstairs and resumed reading stories and there was another knock on the door.  It was a girl from our ward dropping a treat off.  Now, you know that we are new in our ward.  It meant a lot to have someone reach out to me and want to be our friend.  Now, if only Leo wasn't so excited to see new people that he throws toys and screams, ah, the joys of a two year old. 

In a matter of a few moments, my hope in the season and in our place was renewed.  I think that's really what Christmas is about.  We remember our Savior and we reach out and show love to each other. 

Merry Christmas all!  

The Music of the Season...

There are some Christmas songs that I'm just not sure why they're remade over and over.  Some I'm not sure why they're classified as Christmas songs.  Ok, here's what I mean. 

Have you heard one of the thousand variations of "Baby it's Cold Outside?"  This girl is trying to leave a guys house "I really must go," and the guy part is coaxing her into staying by saying things like "your lips are delicious."  She doesn't want to stay (or maybe she does) and he is manipulating her into staying.  The kicker is the line, "what's in my drink?"  Does that sound like a safe, Christmasy worthy situation?  No.  Maybe a date rape one.  Ok, I said it.

What about the "Last Christmas I gave you my heart" song.  I don't even know the actual title.  This is a favorite of the teen bopper set to remake.  My personal favorite being the Hillary Duff version, no judgment please.  It sounds like a bitter break up song.  The girl still isn't over the heartbreak of the year before so she's swearing she's going to give her heart to someone special.  Is there someone special this year?  We don't quite know.  For her sake, I hope there is because she is singing about a breakup that is a year old.  It would be pretty depressing for her if she still wasn't over it.

Don't even get me started on the "Little Drummer Boy."  Absolutely the worst Christmas song ever.  Especially the Neil Diamond version.  Singing "Coming to America" is one thing but the "Little Drummer Boy," bah!

Now, I don't think that songs need to be religious to be classified as Christmas songs. The Christmas Song is one of the best.  I especially love "I'll Be Home For Christmas."  The difference is, both of those songs are Christmasy.  They instill the pleasant feeling of the season. 

Am I totally wrong here?  What Christmas songs or versions do you love?  Do you have some non favorites like me?

Let me throw in here that Heb and I went out to enjoy some Christmas music just this last weekend.  My in-laws offered to watch Leo and even provided tickets to the Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert.  We went with our brother and sister in law.  We enjoyed the music but especially their special guest, John Ryhs-Davies.  He's Gimly in the Lord of the Rings movies.  He did an excellent job. 

With the temple in the background.

Love the lights on Temple Square

The whole group.  Yes, I'm 35 weeks pregnant.

Motherhood...

I am just 6 weeks away from my due date.  Our little girl is almost here and I will get the chance to mother another little one.  

I just talked to a friend yesterday who is about to have her first baby.  We chatted about what it's really like at the beginning and all of the challenges and unexpected parts of motherhood.  How it's a hard transition trying to figure out how to care for a baby but also who you are as a mother.  There is a lot of joy in there too.  Joy that this little person is mine and I get to help him grow but it was hard too.


It's going to be different this time because I've done it all once before.  But I still can't help being a little nervous about the transition to two.  One lesson I don't want to forget from the first is the magic of motherhood. 

With all of the hard things a baby or toddler bring to your life (you know what they are), it's sometimes hard to keep a happy attitude about the whole thing.  It's easy to get bogged down and frustrated that Leo won't eat anything, or that he shouts amen at church like a Baptist, or that he spilled his milk all over the newly cleaned floor.  I guess it's a shift in the mom because a child is never going to be perfect (nor should we expect that).  It's about me finding the humor or joy in the situation.  Or sitting down to make a mess with him.  It's taking that extra moment to look in his eyes and say I love you.

When our new little girl arrives, I want to find the special and the magic in this new miracle that's coming to our lives.  As I sit here, she's happily kicking away and I can't wait to be a mother again.   

Trees

Heber and I don't have too many disagreements (well, any more than usual) but we fundamentally disagree on Christmas Trees.

I fall into the fake camp.  You purchase a tree that can be used year after year.  You know what to expect and only have to light it the one time.  And you know that lights are the biggest, most time consuming (hassle) part of decorating the tree.  You know it will be beautiful and look just the way you want it to.

Now real trees, you're running a risk.  You never know if they'll survive.  They're messy and you have to water them (and you know how good I am at keeping things alive.  Bad, really bad).  Some smell nice but some don't.

So, we've compromised year after year and decorated two trees.  One real and one fake.  Is it a little over the top?  Well, yes but it works. 

We went out to get our tree this year and went to a small local lot.  I like to support small businesses when I can.  Anyway, we looked at tall the trees and most were too big for our small place (and small trunk space).  Most of the regular ones had a big chunk out of the side.  So we ended up with our usual, a 3 foot tall little guy. Ok, so we ended up with 2 little trees.  They were $5, we just couldn't say no.  Especially after Leo took a liking to one and dragged it out to the car himself. 

We decorated them up and they've added a lot of cheer to our little place.  Leo has been saying "mas tree" for days.  He still hasn't figured out that ornaments are not balls but we're working on it.

The new ornament I made for our tree in the glass studio.

Thanksgiving 2013

I've reached the phase in life where holidays change.  I can't remember one year where there wasn't a huge family party.  I'm talking at least 20 people, at least.  We went to the grandparent's house (both sets of my grandparents live on the same street) and enjoyed a beautiful home cooked meal complete with pies galore.  No really, like 20 kinds.

Now, things are changing.  No longer is it one big family party, we are breaking into our immediate family groups because honestly, we're getting huge.  It's just different to not see all of my cousins and aunts and uncles.  I guess it's an inevitable change but it's had me thinking back on the old days quite a bit this holiday.  I couldn't help but think about all of the Thanksgivings of the past.  Because my families are in the same area, we'd have the thanksgiving meal at one grandparent's home and pie at the other, every year.  I can still picture the scene. 

I know that I grew up in a really unique way.  Not everyone I know grows up with their extended family and sees them on a regular basis.  It was a good childhood.  

I have to admit though, this was one of the most pleasant holidays I can remember.  Ever.  And that's saying something with a two year old.  We celebrated Thanksgiving with Heber's family.  For the first holiday in all the eight years we've been married, no one threw up, started bleeding or got hurt.  This is significant folks.  We just have bad luck, it seems.  This year was so nice though.  We partook of a beautiful meal, we talked and laughed together.  The kids played well together and we all enjoyed the holiday.

In the evening, we drove out to be with my family.  Usually we don't try to fit in two families on one holiday but since it's our first since moving to Utah, we decided to make it work.  We had another lovely meal and spent time with my sister's family and an Uncle.  The pies were to die for.  My mom really has a gift. 

Oh, and we didn't take hardly any pictures, shoot.

Part of me missed the big family holiday and part of me just really enjoyed spending time with my immediate family and really being able to talk. 

November...

Where did November go?  For that matter, where did October go?  Shouldn't it be like October 15th?  I opened my planner this morning and the marker as on the week of Oct. 16th.  See, to me, it's still October (and yes, I still use a paper planner.  There's something so nice about writing it down and seeing it on paper.)

We have been in our new/old place for a couple of weeks and we are still working on the boxes.  I've been working on some big projects in the interim and just haven't been able to get the house together too.

Last Thursday, I took the Real Estate exam and passed!  I am just so relieved that I'm done with that.  It's been a long haul watching the videos, studying and trying to keep up with all of the other craziness going on.  So, I guess I'll be getting my license so that I can sell our place when the time comes.  I don't plan on becoming an actual, practicing realtor anytime soon.

One of the best things about moving back is being able to hang out with old friends.  Leo has really liked getting to know new friends.  We made a trip down to the Willow Park Zoo with some new/old buddies to see the Reindeer on display.  Leo had a ball and I loved catching up with some old friends.

We celebrated Leo's birthday this weekend and I can't believe that I will have a 2 year old.  He's growing right up. 

We've been getting outside on walks as much as possible.  We know how long and cold winter will be so we are taking advantage of outside time. 

Thanksgiving is just around the corner.  Where has this fall gone? 

Packing Up

I wrote this ages ago and just never got it posted.  It's a little sad but definitely something I want to remember.  

We've been packing up the house.  Taking all the pictures off the wall, and boxing everything up.  That's the hard thing about moving.  The boxes get packed and everything changes.  All that is left is memories and relationships.  Leaving Virginia is bitter sweet.  We're ready to move on to a new job for Heber, ready to be closer to family, and on to a new adventure. 

The house won't show that Leo lived here, learned to walk here, that we learned to be parents here.  The next tenants won't know that we brought our first baby home from the hospital here.  It won't show the hard times we overcame and the lessons we learned.  It won't show all the laughter and good times.  Or all the people who ate around our table.  It will go back to being empty and then filled with the next person's life.

It's hard to leave behind what we've built here.  The friends we've learned to rely on like family and the communities we joined.  I know we're moving on to a new adventure but I have to take a moment to realize all the good that happened here, all the lessons we learned and the people we became. 

The Moms.

Since being in Utah, I have been doing a lot of thinking about Virginia.  I think I'm trying to process all of the changes that have happened and that are coming right up in my life. 

When we moved to VA, it was really a challenge for me.  When the opportunity came to move to VA, we had about 24 hours to decide what we wanted to do.  Immediately we felt like it was the right thing for us.  That doesn't mean that it was an easy experience.  I had been so busy with school and work that when we moved, I felt a bit lost.  I was about 6 months pregnant and was not only making the transition to being home (which we felt was the right thing for us) and to motherhood.  Becoming a mother is one of those really challenging things.  Not only was I learning how to care for a baby but I was also trying to frame out who I wanted to be in this new role.  I wanted to be an intentional and good mom.  I also didn't want to lose myself.  I still wanted to have interests and aspirations outside of my role as a mother. 

There were several pivotal things that happened.  Finding the glass community was first.  The miracle was that they were 5 minutes from our house, which is truly amazing because they are the only facility for about 50 miles.  A real tender mercy in our life.  The second was finding the moms.  I know I've talked about them before on the blog but they have had such a huge impact on my life that I want to talk about them again.  

I found the moms through a New Mom Group at the hospital.  I started attending and learned about being a mom.  Slowly we formed this core group of people who have stuck together.  These moms are intentional mothers who think deeply about how they are helping their little ones to grow.  I can't tell you how much I've missed getting together and I know that Leo has too.  He loved to play and interact with his little buddies.  These moms really took care of us and helped us out when we needed them.  They are some of the most generous, kind people that I know.

Here we all are with our boys.  Only missing Daisy and Lila. 

Leo and most of his buddies at a brunch.  Amy threw us a brunch for all the kids, moms and spouses.  They really were happy to be there.  This is what happens when you try to get 5 almost 2 year olds to take a picture together.  Notice that Leo never smiles in pictures anymore?  Guess it's not just him.

Amy (left) was the one who threw the brunch.  She has been such a good friend.  Tabatha (on the right) was one of my first mom friends. 

 

 

 

 

 

We went out for one last girls night out before the move.  Of course, we had to go into the city together and go to Georgetown.  

I think that they are the loss I am feeling most keenly.  As with any major change in life, there are good things and bad things.  It's good to be here in Logan and closer to family but it's hard too.  I know that I will forever be a better mother because of them. 

The Move

2,090 miles.
2 delayed flights
5 different houses and beds in 8 days
1 house completely packed and cleaned out in Virginia
6 day wait for a truck to arrive with all of our belongings
1 condo filled to the brim with boxes (boxes that we're so thankful to see because it meant that we got to be in our own space).
1 sinus infection.  1 bout with the stomach flu.  1 cold and fever (poor Leo)
1 passed Real Estate Exam

We are tired.  It's been a long couple of weeks.  

Leo wanted to make sure that his toys made it safe.

Trying to stay entertained at the airport. 

I want to publically thank those who helped us so much with our move.  To the Halstead's for bringing us lunch and good company, you have no idea how much we needed that.  To the Olsen's for bringing us dinner.  A special thank you goes to Nicole and Lawrence for helping with the cleaning.  We were down to the wire on absolutely everything and we wouldn't have made it.  To Gavin for helping to move furniture and for eating our ice cream that would have gone to waste.  The Williams' for inviting us to dinner and making Halloween a celebration.  To Amy and Zach (our dear friends) who drove us over to drop our cars off, over an hour away.  They even remembered to give us Leo's birthday present 2 weeks early.  Leo has not stopped talking about Zach.  To the Blake's for allowing us to stay with them for a couple of crazy days and for driving us to the airport. 

We want to thank all of those who supported us on the Utah end.  Mom and Dad Lawrence for a bed and beautiful Sunday dinner, Mom and Dad Green for picking us up at the airport and putting together such a fun activity with family.  For the Litza's Pizza (Heber's absolute favorite) and for allowing us to use their car.  It would have been tight without it.   The Palmer's for letting us stay with them and running us all around.  They were a huge help with the moving of boxes.  And the Kelsey's for having us for dinner when we had absolutely nothing but cereal in the house (seriously.  Oh, and we are still looking for bowls).


There's nothing like a move to help you realize how wonderful your life is and how many wonderful people you have in your life.  Thank you all!

Pumpkin Patch

In all of the move madness, we still found a minute to hang out with Leo's best buddy at the pumpkin patch. 

The Start of the Lasts

We are starting into the lasts.  The last time to see friends, the last activities together, the lasts before everything changes at the end of the month.  Lasts are hard.  It feels much harder this time though.  I think it's because I have worked so hard here to build networks and friendships.  I've had to rely on these friends in different ways than I had to before. 

At glass last week, the gang organized a farewell celebration.  I was so touched by their kindness, especially because I feel like they've given me way more than I could ever repay.  I have learned so many things from them.

Last Wednesday, I gave a talk at our Enrichment Meeting about friendship and how to make friends.  Who would have every thought that I would be qualified to give a talk like that, but there are definitely things I've learned in the past few years. I think that was one of the reasons we moved out here, so that I could learn those lessons.  Heavenly Father sure has a plan for our lives and helps us to become better.

It was an interesting night because we did a speed friendshipping activity.  We did this same activity two years ago and I remember knowing maybe 4 people.  At the activity last week, I knew every person I talked to by name and a few things about them.  What a difference from a couple of years ago. 

We went into Eastern Market on Saturday and I felt nostalgic the whole time.  That was probably the last time we'll be there in a long time, if ever.  It's been one of those places that I loved, a place that was always uplifting.

We enjoyed some Italian hot chocolate at Pitangelo's (yum!) and it reminded me of going there right after Leo was born.  Like I said, I was just pretty nostalgic and sentimental about the whole thing.  That's really what I've been feeling lately though.

I keep thinking in terms of lasts and it makes me sad.  I finally feel settled and good and it's time to move on.  It's time to say goodbye to some really good things, some good friends.  I know it sounds cheesy, but I hope that I don't forget what I learned here and the relationships we made here.  We're moving on but I feel like a different, a better person.  I don't want to forget that. 

Our Washington Fall

We have unintentionally been participating in a Washington Fall, George Washington, that is.  As I was looking through our pictures from our last few weeks, I was surprised to discover that almost all of them had to do with George Washington sites.  Considering we celebrated the Lincoln summer just last summer, this shouldn't surprise me.

We went down to a period fair at Mount Vernon.  They shot cannons and had all the period wares.

 

Checking things out

 Then there was Washington's Grist Mill.  One of those sites that not as many people visit but that I think is really neat.  They actually have an operational grist mill that you can watch flour being ground. 

 And of course, one last visit to Mount Vernon.  I'm sure that if it hadn't been 90 degrees Leo would have been a bit happier to be there.  Still one of my favorite spots in the area.