Randomness

These are some random pictures I found waiting to be put on the blog. Never mind that they were ready to be put up a few months ago, but that's okay.


Mg has been going to a preschool once a week offered here at the city rec center and she LOVES it! They do crafts, cooking and gymnastics and I'm really happy with it!
One week we were supposed to go on a fieldtrip to the farm that got rained out so instead the parents had to stick around for some lame gym time with the kids. It wasn't fun but Mg has made a good friend at her preschool and so we started to hang out in the gym together and our families have become good friends (yea!!). We like preschool! :)
E lost her two front teeth...I love this smile!!! Although we teased her endlessly she was able to get her two front teeth in before Christmas ensuring that she would get something else besides her two front teeth :)

A is loving being the youngest in the family! She loves being played with by everyone! She has such great sisters!!! Here she's getting a ride on a blanket :)

Which looked like so much fun they talked their "horse" into giving each of them rides :) (he's such a great Daddy!!! and a good sport, too!)

And since A had had her turn getting a ride she decided to continue the fun and give her kitty a ride! There were lots of happy children and stuffed animals that night (and a tired Daddy!)

And how am I doing? Just great, can't you see?This is what happens when the 9 year old gets ahold of a camera...enjoy!

Sledding!

The best of part of living in the snow! The kids love having a snow hill in Grandma's backyard!!

The first time down...fresh snow :)Why bother waiting for your turn just slide down the side!

M and E helping A down the hill

Look at that style!Building our first snowman (terrible snowman building snow but oh well!!)

Oh yea...yum!

Our snowman, excuse me, snowlady (check out the red necklace!)

And the best part...hot chocolate afterwards!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

Note: Not sure I love this background but it's time to go...we'll look into fixing this later!!!

I PROMISE now that the chaos of the last few months is over I will update my blog on a regular basis again!! :) For now...here's a Christmas letter for all of you...with more pictures to come later (after Christmas!!)

Merry Christmas!! (I’m actually getting these out before Christmas…miracles do happen J )

As expected this has been a big year of change for our family. Jon graduated in December of 2008 from UC Davis with a PhD in Cell and Developmental Biology and continued to work in his lab until June. During that time he was able to get his work published and was even a “feature article” in the journal J We were very happy and proud! We then moved to Pleasant Grove, Utah to live with Jon’s parents while we waited for his job to get worked out. Jon had been talking to Dr. Westenfelder at the University of Utah and although it took a little time to work out the research funding he was able to begin working in July in Dr. Westenfelder’s lab, Allocure. They just completed phase 1 of a clinical trial where they inject stem cells into a patient just after heart surgery to prevent kidney damage. Phase 1 had 16 patients and the patients did better than normal! Jon is so happy to be in this lab and doing the research he has dreamed about doing. Jon also enjoys his family history hobby (he has been making a family history website to share all the stories and photos he has found), and having fun with the family (tickle tag, guitar hero on the wii, and reading stories to cute little girls).

The kids knew that after Daddy had graduated we would be moving but they were thrilled to learn that we would be moving a few days after school got out to be close to their grandparents and cousins! We had a fantastic summer camping, having princess parties, going on outings and just being together!

Mary (9) started third grade this year and is enjoying her new school and loves her teacher, Mr. Alm. She loves science and continues to read everything in sight! Some of her favorites are the Puppy Place series, the Rainbow Magic series and she is enjoying some of my favorite books such as Anne of Green Gables. She has enjoyed the book club at school and enjoyed singing in a children’s choir that sang at a Christmas concert.

Emily (7) started second grade and was happy to make some new friends and really enjoys her teacher, Mrs. Hays. She has become a fantastic reader and is enjoying math. Emily really enjoys the Rainbow Magic series and the Big Apple Barn series. She loves to play to play Super Mario Brothers on the computer (and is hoping that Daddy will get the new Mario Brothers game for Christmas!!) Emily also likes the school book club and enjoyed singing in the children’s choir for Christmas.

Meagan is growing up so fast! She just turned 5 a few weeks ago and is looking forward to kindergarten in the fall. She really enjoys a going to a preschool once a week here that has gymnastics and cooking and crafts and another preschool once a week with her mommy and her cousin. She is starting to read and play with Amy a lot! She is still my cuddly little girl and I love having her around! She loves animals, especially cats and dogs and loves to be mommy’s big helper.

Amy is our high energy 2 year old J She is sooo much fun although you can’t take your eye off of her for a minute or she’ll be up climbing on something or running off for more fun! Her sisters have trained her to be the family dog and she loves it…she imitates EVERYTHING her big sisters do and she is so much fun to watch! She loves to be with other people! Amy loves animals and loves to dance and dress up and do anything her sisters are doing.

I’ve enjoyed working with my mom the last several months putting all of our family history stories and pictures into books. I have enjoyed it although some days it seems to go so slowly!! We have met so many “new” extended family members and it has been like Christmas every time we get mail or open an email with a new family history picture or story! I continue to enjoy my crafts although there never seems to be enough time! Jon and I teach music to the 3-12 year old children at church and we absolutely love it! We all continue to miss our friends and family in California but have enjoyed getting Christmas cards from many of you! We hope you have a wonderful year! Love, the Ahlstrom’s

Jon’s family history websites: http://ahlstrom.weebly.com http://petersonhistory.weebly.com

Cascade Springs

A few weekends ago we took my parents up to Cascade Springs...a beautiful place full of waterfalls back in the Alpine Loop. Jon first took me there when I was several months pregnant with M and I love it!!! There are great paths that wind around and you wander around and enjoy the sights and sounds.

As hoped for, the girls LOVED it!!!! They loved throwing leaves into the water to watch them race down the waterfalls and to see the leaves and touch the water. It was a FANTASTIC morning!!!! Mg was the first to try and touch the water :)

But of course they all got involved!! They could put their leaf on this side of the little boardwalk and then race to the other side to see it come out (the wonderful simple joys in life!!)

And of course Little A had to do all that she saw her sisters doing...except she wasn't quite big enough to reach the water!!! Good ol' Daddy helped her (it was either that or she was going in!!!)

Grandma had lots of fun taking some GREAT pictures!!!

One of my favoritest things ever :)

The leaves were beautiful!!

Grandpa took video footage to make a great video with lots of my favorite things...WATERFALLS!!!

The leaves were beautiful...it was fun driving through the canyon with all the colors...it sounded like the 4th of July with the "oohs" and "ahhs"

"What are you doing Grandpa?"

"Grandma, take our picture!!!"

Yes, her wonderful Aunt trimmer her hair up later that day :) (why oh why do I ruin perfect picture opportunities by not getting their hair done!!)

This girl is too cute!!

Hooray for great weekends!!!! Thanks mom and dad!!

It's about time!!!!

Well, um ,yea, I guess I'm a little behind!! :) Suffice it to say we had a GREAT summer!!!! Daddy is still loving his job (he's still not "officially hired" but that's just a minor detail, right?) the girls love their new school and everyone loves being closer to family. Here are some pictures from last Saturday as we enjoyed one of the last warm weekends...