Guess How Many Shirts . . .

Here is a picture I took of Eva a few months ago when stripes were her favorite choice of apparel. Can you guess how many shirts she's wearing? If you guessed 5, you're right! She still loves to dress up, though she's more into wearing tights and shirts these days (no pants or skirts, thank you very much. Just a shirt and some tights).

Here's a little update on us for 2010. I started the year off with an academic bang. In one week, I got three articles accepted for publication. This was a huge personal accomplishment for me. During that same week I accepted an invitation to speak at BYU's Women's Conference. Now that the "high" of that week has passed, and that I discovered I'm scheduled to speak to an audience of 1800 women in the Wilkinson Center Ballroom, I'm not exactly sure why I considered it an honor :) All jokes aside, I'm really scared out of my mind!

Chris has had an equally busy and exciting beginning of 2010. He is preparing for two upcoming roles (Marcello and the Count). He has also been working like mad to make Utah Lyric Opera Society shine. Their gala last fall was superb, this week's "Night on Broadway" performance should be a hit (Saturday, March 13th, 7:30 p.m. at the Covey Center in Provo), and one of the 3 Irish Tenors (as seen on PBS) is scheduled to come to Provo for the fall concert. The first ULOS full-length opera production will be Puccini's La Boheme next February. We've been trying to take turns sharing the full-time responsibilities of raising children and working. Some days work better than others.

Elena has had an awful round of colds during 2010. She recently recovered from a frightening bout of pneumonia, only to develop a terrible sinus infection a week after she returned to school. This week she was happy to resume piano practice, attend dance lessons, and enjoy two birthday parties for her friends. She continues to be an exceptional student (she has received a 100% on EVERY spelling test this year!). She is also an avid reader (anything about fairies, or Junie B. Jones). After I read "The Goose Girl," she listened to it on CD. Now we're reading the sequel , "Enna Burning," together. Of course she still loves Disney Channel, Webkinz, and sending people emails from her very own email account.

Eva also had pneumonia, but we recognized it more quickly, and she responded well to medicine. Even though Eva was sick, she continued to resemble the Energizer bunny. I don't know where she stores all of that energy in her little 28 lb. body! We decided to enroll her in a neighborhood preschool 3 afternoons a week to harness her intensity more effectively. It's working. Chris especially loves a peaceful hour or two when Elena's at school, Eva's at school, and Christopher is napping. We all love how much happier Eva is playing with friends and learning new things at school.

No pneumonia for Christopher, but he's had his share of earaches, a yucky cold, and some coughs. No school for Christopher either--unless you count the school of hard knocks Eva enrolls him in regularly. His 24-pound body will soon outgrow hers, and she will be surprised to learn that he can dish what he takes. I suppose natural consequences are a good learning tool . . . Christopher is now 16 months old. Last month he finally decided that walking on his feet was better than walking on his knees. I love watching him toddle around. He is also starting to say a few words: mama (much to Chris's chagrin, this also means dada), chee (for cheese), ju (for juice), lena (for Elena), nana (for banana), and gog (for dog or hot dog depending on how hungry he is).