Back to the Ol' Salt Mine

Things that made returning to work very difficult:

-The Utes winning on Friday. Obviously, I was very happy, but you can imagine what the Bookstore was like.
-Slipping and falling on the ice in the parking lot the first day back.
-Spending 2 hours crammed in the back of Bryce's Tacoma driving home in the snow on Monday.
-Having Cole ignore me when I came to see him at lunch, and then flashing his biggest smile at his teacher Miss Kathy instead.

Things that made this week a lot easier:
-My boss telling me that the place, "didn't exactly fall apart while I was gone, but it was pretty bad."
-Finding out that Cole made a friend the first day. Apparently, the little boy's name is Tobin and they sat and laughed and talked to each other in their bouncy seats.
-Having Cole lay on a blanket and chat with me all night, presumably telling me about his day.
-Receiving the following note from Cole's teacher: "Cole is a pleasure to have in class. He is a sweet boy who rarely fusses. He smiles so sweetly."

You take what you can get, right? :)

I Am a Utah Man

Thank you, thank you, thank you, University of Utah; for not embarrassing me and for making me proud. GO UTES!

In fact, we were so excited, Bryce and I made a little outing and expressed our satisfaction artistically on the lawn of one of our pro-BYU neighbors. I'll say it again...GO UTES!

So This Is Christmas...and What Have You Done?

Made Sarmas (a Yugoslavian tradition) with my Grandma Allen

Enjoyed the traditional Girl's Night Out - Christmas Edition - with the Salty Ladies. (Don't ask.)

Took cute naked baby pictures of Cole.

Enjoyed the now infamous Barber family Christmas party.

Bursted with pride to see my little guy play the perfect Baby Jesus.

Let Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Randy spoil Cole all they wanted.

Stuffed myself silly. (No picture required!)

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas, and best wishes for a Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas to All!

I just wanted to take a moment to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas. It has been a wonderful year, and we are so blessed to have such wonderful, thoughtful, and caring friends and families in our lives. We truly appreciate everything you have each done throughout the year; especially all the help when Cole was born. The gifts, the meals, the babysitting, and shoulders to cry on; these were so meaningful to us, and we couldn't have done it without you.

As the year winds down, I always feel the need to reflect. Things are definitely a little scarier than when the year began - especially when you consider the state of our economy. With so many struggling around me, it makes me appreciate things in my life I may not have thought of before. I'm truly grateful Bryce and I are both employed, have a roof over our heads, food to eat, and a warm bed to sleep in. I'm thankful, more than words can say, that our little boy is healthy and happy, and pray it will always be so.

Thank you again for each of you and for the treasured memories you gave to our family this year. Merry Christmas and a very happy and healthy New Year to you and yours!!!

KI-2

As a follow-up in the now infamous Kiddopotomous Incidents, I present the following: (Keep in mind, this is exactly how I found him, blankets completely kicked off, Kiddopotomous gone, and sideways in the crib.)

I think that Bryce and I may be in for it when he becomes mobile...

Graham Cracker Fun

Both Bryce and I love making graham cracker houses, and this year, the Thomsens got together and had some fun building them.

Cindy, Leslie and Darin making the first attempt....

...and, unfortunately, failing miserably.

Brock, Leslie, and Hayley

Cole, Cindy, and Mitchell

Bryce and my creation. Sadly, it took the both of us putting our heads together to come up with this simple plan.

Linds and Hayley - matching PJ girls!

The Kiddopotamus Incidents

Bryce and I have been swaddling Cole in a wonderful little blanket called the Kiddopotamus since he was born. It seems to really help him sleep longer at night. Well, we're wondering if it is time to put the Kiddopotamus away. He manages to get various limbs out of the tightly wrapped and velcro-ed blanket every night. The evidence:

How the Kiddopotamus should be worn.

The toga - one arm and one knee out.

The mermaid - both arms out.

And the most impressive feat of all - the straight jacket. Both arms still in, but the legs kicked free.