Feb 1 update

Well, as fast as December went by so has January! We started with a quiet New Years after our company left. Our kids started back to school and everything kicked in full tilt. All three started gym class this month as well as Emily started swimming again. Once again my schedule is quite full.
We've had a rather quiet month with the exception of company and the birth of yet another nephew! Ian Patrick Landrigan was born on Jan. 15th to Deana and Jay! Mom and Dad arrived from Dubai just in time (two days earlier) to help out with Levi while Deana was in the hospital. All in good timing and all are doing well. He's a precious little guy.
We enjoyed the time we had with Mom and Dad. Dad wasn't here as long as he took off back to PV earlier than Mom. We did get out skating a few times with him and Evan was more than happy to have Dad on he ice! My Aunt and Uncle from SK visited as well in the time Mom and Dad were here. They were on their way down to CA and made a quick stop here after Ian was born. It was a short but sweet visit.
After Dad left Mom was here for another 5 days. WE took her to the Denver Aquarium as well as to Celestial Seasonings for a tour of the factory. We both enjoyed it...even though I've been before there's always something to learn!
This month we finally got out skiing with the kids...FINALLY! It was a great time and are hoping to get out again this weekend. They had a blast and did great! We also got to the mountains to look at an igloo Ehren's co-workers were building. The kids did some playing in it and built their own "fort" as well. Ehren helped with a layer of building.
Not much else going on at this point. We are ready for parent teacher interviews this week and then in three weeks we're heading to Puerto Vallarta for our annual visit. :-)

January 31

We are so happy to hear today that our Nanny has had a healthy baby boy! He was two months premature but has been trying to enter this world since early November. We can't wait to see them all and tell our kids of this little guy. Our three didn't even know she was pregnant as her complications were so early on that she never told them in fear that the pregnancy didn't go well...boy will they be surprised...and thrilled!! :-)

January 1

Well, the month has flown by! Seems like school just started and now we're half done! December came and went so fast. We spent out time getting ready for Christmas, going to holiday events and then spending time with the van Melle side for Christmas. We got in some skating, took in the gem/mineral and train show in Longmont, went to the Christmas Parade, and then waited for company...

Elaine arrived on Dec. 12th and was here to partake in school activities. She read at Evan's school and during story time in Jaelynn's class one day. The week of Christmas Ehren's three brothers and their families all arrived. We had plenty of food, space, and fun for all! We spent Christmas Eve swimming (we had the pool to ourselves), took a trip to Estes Park, Denver Aquarium, and also out for dinner at a great local Mexican restaurant where the Mariachis played for us. Some of the boys went hiking, there were several trips to the park (weather was more then optimal), trips to Celestial Seasonings as well as a local brewery.

It was great to have everyone here for the holidays and even with 14 in the house...we still had enough space. It was fun to see all the kids together and having fun (the big kids too)! We had our first snowfall of the year between Christmas and New Years...and managed to get everyone out on their flights. Everyone was gone by New Years and we had a quiet New Years eve at home with the kids and the Landrigans...and had a Wii night of food and games. :-) It was great!

Lastly, we would love to welcome our new newphew...Gabriel Jude Ait was born in Dubai to Lana and Samuel on December 20th! He's got the Sterling genes of fair skin and light hair...poor Samuel! He's a little gem and can't wait to meet him other than on the webcam!!