Christmas Letter

Family and Friends,
It’s a big, big world. I arrived here on Sunday, May 23 of this year. My mommy and daddy love me so much! I can tell because they often express thanks for the gift of having me in their family. I’ve been on lots of adventures since I’ve been born. I was blessed on Father’s Day by my Daddy with both Grandparents present and lots of other family and friends. I have been to Hawaii for the Sparrow Family reunion. Mom and Dad took me camping in July near Mout Timpanogos. I have also been to Colorado! I got to meet my cousin Daria that was born just days after I was born.

So what’s Daddy up to? Daddy works hard and is going to school. He is still employed at Sorenson Communications where he develops training materials, films, and manages the website for the trainers. He has been working there now for 3 years. Recently this summer several of his co-workers we laid off. We pray for them often and hope that they will be able to find a job. Daddy goes to Salt Lake Community College. He’s going back to school to get a degree in computer science. He’s been a straight “A” student so far. He still has opportunities to sign for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at some of their special events. Daddy is also still serving as the Elder’s Quorum President for the Deaf Ward.

Mommy loves being my Mom! She resigned from her job as a Deaf Mentor when I was born and hasn’t regretted the decision. We like to take long walks in the park when the weather is good. Mommy volunteers as an Institute of Religion teacher to the Deaf through the use of videophones to throughout the United States. She teaches the Old Testament once a week. Mommy has also gotten involved in the cloth diaper business. She is a consultant to help other mommies with their cloth diaper needs. It’s a new company and she’s not sure what opportunities it will bring, but it’s become a fun hobby. My little tush is happy with cloth diapers. Mommy is continues to serve in the Relief Society Presidency.

Lots of new things have been happening with me. I can eat veggies and fruit. I love apple sauce! I have a laugh that just makes everyone want to laugh with me. I have a squeal that turns heads when I’m out and about. I love to stand, but I hate to be on my tummy. I have just started to learn how to sit up on my own. I am learning sign language. “Milk” is my first sign. I still can’t sleep through the night, but I am getting close. When I first arrived, Junior was a little jealous. Now we’re pretty good friends. Junior leaves my toys alone and I give him some snacks every now and then.

We are all living in Pat Walker’s home while she is on a mission in the Philippines. We live near Liberty Park in downtown Salt Lake City. We love her neighbors and are honored to be able to take care of her home while she is gone. This arrangement has helped us a great deal with our finances while Daddy is going to school and working full time. We will be here until next year December. If you want to keep up with what’s happening in our world, take time to look at our blog where I’m the star of the show (gechristensen.blogspot.com).

If I haven’t met you yet, I hope to meet you soon. We all send our love and our gratitude for the gift of family and friends. We wish you the spirit of Christmas that will live with you all year round.

Gary, Emmalee, and Jade

No Place Like Home

Jade and Emmalee, Daria and Melissa, Dallin and Kyle

A few months ago my sister, Melissa, told me that her family of 7 would be making a trip to Colorado.  The last time I saw them they had 4 children with Dallin just being born in November of last year.  Since that time they have adopted another baby, Daria.  She was born just 2 days after Jade in May.  It's been so much fun to be able to share what's been happening in our baby worlds.  I never thought my second oldest sister and I would have babies  just days apart.

 

Jade and Emmalee, Daria and Melissa, Dallin and Kyle

We had a great time together.  the Grandma and Grandpa Sparrow had so much fun always having a 3 babies to pass around.  All 11 of us together under one roof.  We came form October 12-19.  Unfortunately Gary was not able to come because of school.  He was nice enough to let me go anyway. Jade, Gary, and I are looking forward to coming back again for Christmas.

The Proud Grandparents

   


Places to Go and People to See                                                                                

Jade was the star of the show everywhere we went.  

Abby, Caleb, Dixie, Jade, Audry

Annalee reading to Jade

                

Jade, Caleb, Nickell, Tyler

Ava feeding Jade                             

(L to R) Camille, Amber, Emmalee, Kate, Stacie

Emmalee, Erin, Jade

(L to R) Emmalee, Jolina, Marilyn, Peggy, Kristin

Natalia, Dee, and Jade

Jade and a bunch of cows

Emmalee, Rich, Sue, Mandy

Watch Me Grow

Jade has been growing lots along with our garden. We had two zucchini that we over looked. Jade was happy to demonstrate just how big they were compared to her size. This summer our garden was amazing. We harvested lots of squash, zucchini, cucumbers tomatillos, tomatoes, and pumpkins.

With all the yellow squash we grew, I was struggling to find some recipes we really liked with the yellow squash. Our top 2 favorite for the yellow squash was the squash bread and the squash boats.

Summer Squash Bread

3 Eggs 3 C. Flour

2 C. Sugar 3 tsp. Baking Powder

1 C. Vegetable Oil 2 tsp. Cinnamon

2 tsp. Vanilla Extract 2 tsp. Nutmeg

2 C. Shredded Summer Squash.

Beat eggs til fluffy. Then add the sugar, oil, and vanilla. Gradually mix in the other powder ingredients. Fold in the squash. Bake @ 325 degrees for about 45 minutes.

Summer Squash Boats

One Large Squash or 4-6 Regular ¼ tsp. nutmeg

½ C. Bacon or Ham ¼ tsp. cayenne

1 TBSP Olive Oil 1 C. Shredded Cheese

1-2 Onions 1 C. Cream Cheese with Chives

2-3 Cloves of Garlic ½ C. Bread Crumbs or Stuffing Mix

Cut squash in half. Scrape out the seeds. Sauté onions and garlic till tender. Place cooked meat in bowl with the onions and garlic. Add the nutmeg & cayenne. Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature and mix in with the onions, garlic, & meat. Add Shredded Cheese. Add the bread crumbs last. Dish the mixture into the squash boats. Place pour ¼ cup hot water in baking dish. Place the boats in the baking dish and cover with foil. Cook for 25 minutes. Last 5 minutes uncover and sprinkle cheese on top.

Some of you might be wondering what we did with the tomatillos. We made Salsa Verde and lots of it (about 16 jars). I’ll save our recipe for another day. With the tomatoes we made several things. Sun dried tomatoes, salsa, and spaghetti sauce. With the cucumbers we tried pickling. They turned out great! We also had a friend call us up and let us pick her grapes to make grape juice. Earlier in the summer and we made dried apricots, apricot jam, apricot syrup. Our aunt and uncle in Bountiful let us pick their apricots.

Does it sound like we’re bragging ‘cause we are! I have never canned so many things in my life. Once Gary helped me become comfortable with the canning process there was no turning back. I am so grateful for all the new things I have learned this summer about gardening and canning. Takes lots of time, but once you get your system down it goes pretty smoothly. I never thought I could become so domesticated.

Our Growing Girl

Once upon a time I wore this dress.

Jade loves to clap her feed together.

Gotta love her hair. Has a cute tint of red that she got from her mom.

The Last of Summer

So I have finally updated details of our fun filled summer. I am still working on mastering my blogging skills. I have added several post for the month of August. Hopefully that will get you all up to speed on what's been happening with us.

In July we did some camping. We went near Mt. Timp on Pioneer’s Day Weekend. Jade enjoyed watching the fire. She was a real trooper and handled the camping experience just like we had hoped! Junior enjoyed running free. Camping made Junior and I both miss the summers working up at Camp Firewalker.

Prior to Jade’s birth human resource had told me that Jade’s delivery would be covered by the insurance. Somewhere in the month of July I was trying to work out all the details of the insurance since I decided not to return to work. However this time I was getting a different story from H.R. The situation was not looking good, and Gary and I were considering having me go back to work. I was torn into pieces. I just wanted to stay home and be a mom. To make a long story short, the Lord does hear and answer prayers. He provided a way. It's a nice feeling to not worry about getting ready to go back to school/work. I love being at home with Jade.

Times like these we are grateful for Gary’s job. Recently he had to assist his company in layoff 30% of employees. Many were friends of ours and members of our church congregation. Gary wants to continue to develop his skills so he can continue to be a valuable asset to his company so he is going back to school in Computer Science. He started today. He hopes to get all his schooling done in a year or so.

This the first time we we able to take pictures of Jade with her smile at about 2 1/2 months.

Jade is trying to babble more now, but it comes in little spurts. She’s still the cutest thing ever, and has a smile that just makes everyday a gift! Me, I’m just grateful to be her Mother and have a husband who is the man of my dreams!

We are amazed at how fast Jade has grown. We put Jade and Junior side by side so you could see how much she has grown.

Sparrow Family Reunion in Hawaii

Just 6 weeks after Jade was born we took a trip to Hawaii in June for the Sparrow Family reunion. We made it to Hawaii and back with only 2 carryon bags, 2 small backpacks, a baby bag, and a stroller. Somehow we were able to bring back a few Hawaii souvenirs as well. It was a good trip but ended all too soon. Jade had a great time getting passed around among the all the aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents.

The Sparrow Family: Mom & Dad, Jen & Al, Bree, Britt, Mariah, Will & Ashlee, Uncle Tom & Aunt Donna, Aunt Susan, and our family.

Jade with a jade dragon. He scared her!

Jade at the Polynesian Cultural Center with the people of Tonga.

Us at Pearl Harbor.

Sparrow Family Luau

Jade's Baby Blessing on Father's Day

We had Jade’s Baby Blessing on Father’s Day. It was quite a special day for all of us. Gary gave a beautiful blessing. One phrase that we has really stood out to us from the blessing that Gary gave Jade, “We bless you that you may teach us to become better parents and will grow together here on earth and have joy.” Jade has already started teaching us, and we feel so grateful her presence.

Note that the picture above was not taken on June 20th. She was changed out of her dress that day before Gary and I had a chance to take some pictures. So this is Jade at 4 months. The rest of the pictures we taken on Father's Day. Jade doesn't always cry, but when the bink is gone she doesn't want to smile for a picture very often at 2 months.

We were thankful that Grandma & Grandpa Christensen and Sparrow could join us. We had several other special guests. Mariah Sparrow, Lisa Crane, Evan and Sommer Christensen Family, Brandon & Lisa Dopf. We are so thanking for all our friends and family who have celebrated with us the arrival of Jade. To make the day even just a little more unique and special, Gary and I were both able to receive a Father’s blessing from our Fathers on Father’s Day.

Sparrow Grandparents with Jade

Christensen Grandparents with Jade

Emmalee & Jade

Gary, Brandon, Lisa Dopf, and possibly a daughter they're trying to adopt, Emmalee & Jade

Emmalee & Lisa Crane with Jade

Christensen Family (Grandparents, Evan & Somer Family, & us)

Sparrow Family (Grandparents, Mariah, and us)

Our new little family!