Milestones

Two years ago this month, we began our adventure as New Englanders. We now watch patriots march in parades instead of cowboys and pioneers, catch turtles and frogs in our backyard instead of lizards, and go to the beach on half-day Wednesdays instead of mountain hikes. We zealously cheer for the Red Sox, Patriots and Celtics (not a hard thing to do), know how to crack a lobster and find ourselves heading to any nearby pond for a summer swim. Here is a glimpse of who we've become.  

Ezra

 mlb pitcher..tech guru..rock star..librarian..biology

professor..sanitary engineer..professional organizer..minister  

This guy was just a little speck and a big secret when he arrived in Boston. Today he has six huge fans who couldn't be more in love with him.  Ezra walks from one side of the room to the other but still favors crawling. And he just so happens to be the fastest crawler around. His "tricks" include showing us where his nose and tongue are, giving slurpie kisses,  playing peek-a-boo and "so big," mimicking a fish and pretending to pitch a ball when asked to "show me your pitch." Steve taught him to dance around when you say "Go Ezra, go Ezra, go!" and he hums the tunes to songs he hears around the house. He organizes his food into piles and when we pray, he puts down his cup and folds his arms, by placing one hand over the other. Ezra's favorite words are "Mama" (he makes me proud), "Dada," "no," "ball," "go," and "cheese." He loves the computer, and randomly explores web pages with the mouse, splashes in water, especially if he can get his hands in the toilet, reads books but not until he has unloaded the entire book shelf and, of course, plays catch.          

Sophia

court reporter..public relations director..feminist advocate.. linguist..psychologist..visual arts specialist...wardrobe designer 

Sophia was Ezra's age when we left Utah. There is nothing babyish about her now. She attends Sunny Hill Preschool with pride, arriving with her back pack strapped on and leaving with handfuls of drippy art projects. She refers to her two teachers as the "Sunny Hill Girls" and she takes it upon herself to console her fellow classmates who occasionally howl when their mothers leave. In turn she has become quite the socialite. Mothers pull me aside to tell me that their three year olds must have a play date with Sophia. Sophia rotates outfits throughout the day. Most often she lounges around in a full pink bunny costume, a ragged tutu, any one of the Disney princess gowns or her "foot jammies." Sophia strives to be efficient and is currently creating an abbreviated language. When she exclaims, "I'll have some sprinks," what she really means is, "Could I please have some chocolate sprinkles with my ice cream?" and when she says, "Where's the pod?" you guessed it, she is looking for the ladies room.  Sophia loves church. However, she has let it be known that her male teacher is simply not the right gender and instead crawls onto different Primary presidency members' laps. She also insists that Jonathan and Ezra stink but thinks twice about lumping Steve into the general male population. After all, he is her advocate while navigating life as a three year old. 

Annelise

fashion designer..buyer for personal touch printing..children's author..historian..personal shopper..negotiator..pro-cyclist

Annelise, who had barely turned four when we arrived on the east coast, is now heading into first grade. This is the big year when you take the bus to school both ways, eat in the cafeteria, participate in school meeting and begin having homework. She couldn't be more excited and ready to enter the big kids world! Annelise is the diva in the family. She was the first in the household to have her friends' phone numbers memorized, she sings all through the house, producing new songs as she goes, and creates flamboyant outfits, often times going for a layered look, with a little skirt over jeans. She comes down the stairs, strikes a pose, and out the door she goes! To our consolation, Annelise balances herself out with a serious side as well. Her teacher calls her the author because she brings books to read to the class that she has written and illustrated. She asks for homework, empathizes with others and is the first to draw a quick picture for anyone in need. Annelise enjoys organizing. She has even persuaded her friends to organize the playroom, by convincing that it is actually fun. Annelise has the Ebert shopping gene. Each store we pass, she must visit. Curiously, she spends all her money on paper, little notebooks and pens. She has a journal that she diligently writes in each night before bed. Her highlights this year have been her weekly kindergarten workshop where she learns about a different theme and then creates an abundant items to go with the theme. Often she sets up shop when she gets home and sells her items to her lucky family members and house guests.  She loved dance, performing tap, ballet and jazz and she rounded out the year with learning how to ride a two wheeler. In classic Annie style, she jumped on her bike and ten minutes later was riding alone all around the neighborhood.     

Jonathan

Idaho farmer..topps card distributor..scholastic book editor..creative writing teacher..red sox infielder..sensory technician 

Jonathan has landed in the curious world of second grade boys. Currently he is striving to break the record for eating the most baked potatoes in a row for lunch. He slaps on Steve's cologne before school, doesn't leave home without his baseball cards and the Guinness Book of World Records and yesterday he announced that he had traded his lion role in the second grade play of the Wizard of Oz to join the Munchkins in their brightly colored outfits and cheery dispositions. Despite his peculiar ways, Jono is rock solid. On the baseball field this spring he has had too many double plays to count, scored four goals in his first lacrosse game, read the entire Harry Potter series in three weeks, writes delightful poetry, and, when his friend pulled a bottle of wine out and offered Jonathan a swig, a  "come on, just one sip" moment from the classic 80's seminary movie, Jonathan proclaimed his religion and moved on in stride. Way to go Jono! 

Emilie

governess..curator..artist in residence..barnes and noble associate..building supervisor..executive secretary..senator..entrepreneur 

Prior to a family outing, Emilie protested, "Why do we have to go on a hike? Why can't we go to a museum instead?" She rocked my world -- okay, it wasn't an earthquake, but a minor tremor. What has happened to our Utah roots? By the end of the hike, Emilie was reminded how fun it really is to climb over boulders, hop through streams and explore caves. Nevertheless, Emilie has evolved from little to girl to cultured young lady. Thursdays she spends the afternoon painting with a local artist, she visits historical sites with her girl scout troop and has become a literary scholar, reading as much as she can until she is caught with the traveling book light under her covers. Emilie is my personal assistant. She leaves me notes to make family dentist appointments and well doctor visits, leaves our mother-daughter book club book on my pillow so I won't forget to read it and after becoming impatient, created her own birthday invitation on the computer, addressed them all and mailed them. She was elected to be her class representative and has lunch with the principal each month to discuss student concerns and how to spend money for school projects. Her idea was to repaint the white lines on the playground and soccer field. Emilie and her friend Sara have started a "business," which is a story hour for the neighborhood children. She continues to play soccer and just tried out for BAYS, the town traveling team. Through all of her activities and responsibilities, she continues to be peaceful and charming.