Jack Frost nipping at our nodes . . .

Winter is officially here when everyone at the Ellsworth house is good and sick. Joe starts his LAST semester of Law school today and you think we'd be relieved but I think we are still dreading it all too much, talk to us again in April. He shoved off for work at 7:30 this morning and the kids were especially clingy. Thankfully this really is the last time we have to do this. We are good in spite of the coughs and excessive goo and have had a great Christmas break. We even had several family visits. I've listed a few highlights:

-Tess getting a lump of coal in her stocking. While the other kids were very concerned it was one of Tess's favorite toys, basically an indoor rock.

-New Years Eve with the Jacksons eating junk food until people were literally throwing up.

-A visit from Steve-o and his wife Marissa including the butterfly house where Tess squished a butterfly flat (not an accident).

-Cutting down our own tree but doing it fast enough that Betsy could stay in the car.

Betsy is technically perfect. At 8 months old this is her first real illness and she is still a doll. She is so easygoing and cute. She loves to crawl on her hands and feet, and say Mom or more. Everyone in the family loves to hold her and fights over the chance. Her interests include electrical cords, baby blueberries and rice cereal and grabbing moms hair and then pulling hard. She is easy to make laugh and a wonderful blessing to our family.

These pictures pretty much sum Tess up, run and don't look back and never wear pants. At 2+ she is officially the family nut who not only invents great songs but dances to her own tunes. Her love of coach Tammy, her purple leotard and anything gymnastics related is unparalleled, well maybe her love for Joe can compete. They are perfect opposites of each other and get along great. Recently in a fit of anger Tess said this, "Hey! give that back you dingle wingle! I mean, oh, sorry, you are not a dingle wingle hee hee."

Scottie, Only just recently became convinced that her preschool teacher does indeed have her best interests at heart and even goes into class without crying. She loves anything, pink, pony, or strawberry shortcake. And is happy to refill any one's glass at the dinner table to avoid having to sit down and actually eat. She is also very concerned about the police and the role they play in our family's life. for instance, "Mom you have GOT to watch out for yourself. Wear you seat belt and slow down or you are going to get copped into jail!"

Nobody wants a roundhouse kick to the face when Gunner is wearing these babies. He is an orange belt now and thinks anything involving kicking and punching, especially with Joe is terrific. He is in second grade, has a Strong dislike for all girls who are not blood relatives and will be baptised in June. Recently, at the baptism preview, during the Q&A session he asked the Bishop this question, "After I get baptized, from then on can I just call you Dan?"

I am always functioning on less sleep than should be allowed to legally drive a car full of yowling kids around but do my best to stay between the lines!

Joe tries not to let Stress get the better of him. Obviously, here, he has failed. Amidst studying for School, finding a job, passing the bar, work at Boeing and house shopping we hope he finds time for an afternoon nap or game of around the world, the two things he never gets to do. Notable Quotable, "Cool, I didn't know we were rich." After helping Samantha unload what he thought was an inordinate amount of expensive groceries. In my defense, he has been in class while we grew to be a family of six!