Christmas Newsletter

I included a Christmas Newsletter when I sent out Christmas cards this year, but I thought I'd share it here, since I typically don't send out very many cards!

Dear Family and Friends,

Happy Holidays from the Dart Household! I hope that this letter finds you and your family doing well. 2007 has been an exciting and eventful year for our family and we feel so fortunate to have received so many blessings. We are forever grateful to family and friends who have supported and sustained us through this past year.

The most exciting thing to happen to us this year was Kyle’s graduation from The Sturm College of Law at the University of Denver. We absolutely LOVED our three years in Colorado, but we are so happy to have moved on to the next phase of our life. We miss all of friends in Denver so much and we want all of you out there to know that we think of you often and we feel so fortunate to have been surrounded by such wonderful people during the past three years.

After Kyle’s graduation in May, we moved back to North Carolina where Kyle accepted an associate position with the law firm of Kirkman, Whitford, Brady, and Berryman. He is so happy with the profession he has chosen and he is surrounded by wonderful people. When he’s not working, Kyle is a wonderful father and takes time out of every day to spend with the boys. He also loves to read anything and everything, but he has particularly enjoyed reading from his library of “the classics” over the past several months. He is serving as the Young Men’s President in our ward here on the island, as well. (Yes, he is very busy!)

Since moving back home, I have been able to really expand my photography business, and I am having such a good time. It is keeping me really busy, but I am enjoying every minute of it. I am also teaching piano lessons at the Crystal Coast School of the Arts one afternoon a week. I am teaching some wonderful kids and I have really loved “getting out” that one afternoon each week! Zac and Will keep me busy and there is never a dull moment in our home! In my spare time, I am serving as the Primary Pianist in our ward and as the Ward Activities Chairman.

Zac is a ball of energy! He is the life of the party and he keeps us all laughing. His love affair with baseball has only grown deeper as he gets older. He is now four years old, so he’ll FINALLY get to play T-ball this coming spring! When he’s not pretending to be Chipper Jones (the Atlanta Braves 3rd Baseman), he is pretending to be Jay Cutler (the Denver Broncos Quarterback.) He also loves to write the names of all of his family members and to read for hours on Grandma Susan’s and Grandma Ann’s laps. He’s a great older brother and he has done a wonderful job of teaching Will everything he knows about baseball (which is A LOT!)

Will is such a sweet and mild little boy. He turned two in November, and he loves baseball just as much as Zac, so they are perfect playmates. He has also developed an interest in Thomas the Tank Engine, and loves playing with toy trains, as well. We have discovered that Will is an animal lover! My parents and brothers have two new boxer puppies and Will loves them. I think Maggie and Skully (the puppies) realize he loves them, so they love him, too. They are so cute to watch!

We are so happy to be approaching the end of such a wonderful year and we are especially thankful during this season for our Savior, Jesus Christ, and all He has done for us. May you all have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2008!

Love,
Kyle, Aly, Zac and Will

Family Picture Time

It's that time of year again! We went to take family pictures last weekend to put on our Christmas card and things went very well! The boys were perfect little models and We even got a decent family shot. Now, if you really want to be impressed, we also got great shots of Emily and Joella's families! It was at least a small miracle! I think I have the cutest kids, but I am their mother. Merry Christmas to Everyone and Wonderful 2008!

Winter Sunsets

I just wanted to share a few sunsets from the beautiful place we call home! Winter sunsets are so beautiful. They make the sky look like it's on fire. I hope you enjoy these. Aly

Remembering the Summer

Well, cool weather is finally upon us. I was looking back through some of the pictures I took this summer and never got around to sharing or editing. I found these from our trip to Utah at the end of the summer, so I thought I'd share.

We had so much fun on our trip. We spent nearly all of our time with Grandpa and Nic. We took daily walks to the cemetery and we visited out on the porch of the cabin for several hours one evening. Kyle's uncle, Paul R., is hilarious. He tells the funniest stories. One of the pics is of him and Nic as we all sat around visiting.

We tried to go to the zoo one day with Nic but the funniest thing happened. We went to eat at Cafe Rio and Nic showed us around the area in Salt Lake where he has lived for the past couple of years, then we headed up to the zoo. It was just a normal Thursday, so we thought. As we drove up to zoo, we noticed there weren't very many cars there, but we parked and started to walk up and we were met by a security guard. Here's the conversation:

Security Guard: Are you guys coming to the zoo?

Nic: We sure are (kinda in the tone of voice that said, "well, we are parked at the zoo and walking up to the zoo, so we are probably going to the zoo."

Security Guard: Well, the zoo's closed today.

Kyle: Are you serious?

Security Guard: Yep, I'm serious.

Nic: Oh, so do you close periodically for cleaning or something?

Security Guard: No, just today.

Kyle: Oh are you closed for a week or something for maintenance?

Security Guard: Nope, just today.

Nic: You mean to tell me that this is the first time I have tried to come to this zoo in over years, and it is closed, just for today?

Security Guard: Yep.

Nic: Well, you know what you call that don't you?

Security Guard: Uh, no.

Nic: That's just flat out, bad luck. (He actually said another word instead of bad, but I'll refrain from writing that in my blog!)

It was quite surreal. But, it was true, the zoo really was closed, so we went down to the planetariun instead. We saw a dinosaur 3-D IMAX show and the boys had a great time, even without the zoo!

Here are a few pics from that trip.

Zac and Will

My two little guys have done and said some of the cutest things lately. I'm blogging about it for two reasons. One is to share with you how wonderful my children are and two, so I won't forget over time all of these cute things.

It all starts when Will wakes up at about 7:45 every morning and the first thing he says is, "Hey, Mom. Game?" When he says "game" he is referring to the XBox college baseball game. He just wants me to put it on automatic play and he watches it and pretends to be the players; fielding ground balls, pitching, batting, running the bases, sliding, etc. Whenever a player gets a hit, he yells, "He hit that ball!" Then he runs around in a circle a few times, slides, and yells, "Safe!" This entire scene is re-enacted several times a day. It's hilarious.

Then Zac gets up and at about 8:30 or 9:00. When I say, "Good morning, Zac," his immediate reply is, "Mom, I'm NOT Zac, I'm Jay Cutler!" He wastes no time before he gets into full Jay Cutler attire (see a previous post for pictures), and starts running plays with his entire imaginary team. He gets into position, looks to the right and yells, "Blue 22," looks to the left, "Blue 22, hike, hike!" Then he takes off, dodging tackles, avoiding collisions, and finally falls down, as if he's finally been run down by his opponent. It's a site to see.

Last night, I went to work out and while I was gone, Will pulled our Christmas tree over on top of him. Kyle said he heard something and ran into the living room to find Will peaking out from under the tree! And yes, I have already put my Christmas tree up. I haven't been able to put one up for the last five years for different reasons, so Kyle and I decided on Saturday morning we wanted to go ahead and get the Christmas season started. We both love the Holidays and we love Christmas music. We have a rule that after Halloween, Christmas is free game. I love the fall and Thanksgiving. My birthday is in November and often falls on Thanksgiving Day. It is my favorite time of year! Anyway- I redecorated the tree this morning and Will have been warned!

Zac is full of funny statements these days. He is constantly saying, "For the love of Pete!" I have no idea where he got that from, but he cracks me up when he says it. He planned his own surprise birthday party a couple of weeks ago! It was quite the spectacle. He's a funny boy.

I'll stop gushing. I'm just a proud mama. I hope these stories make you smile. My boys keep a smile on my face all the time.

Aly

Tagged (This one's for you, Kel!)

Kellie tagged me. So here goes....

1.Best thing you cooked last week- I made a pretty yummy salad on Sunday night for cousin's night. It was spinach, avacado, strawberries, almond slivers, and a raspberry vinagrette. I think it was a hit!

2.If money, time and babysitting were no object, where would you go and with who? Wow, now that's a loaded question. No offense to anyone else I love, but I think I'd go with Kyle to Europe. We've talked about it a million times and someday, it WILL happen! We've got a thing about the Swiss Alps (right, Ky!).

3.When was the last time you cried? The last time I cried was last week sometime. I got my feeling hurt, but now I'm over it!

4.5 things you were doing this month 10 years ago. Wow, now let me think. I was a freshman at ECU. I was a Teaching Fellow, so I'm sure I probably went to a TF meeting in Mendenhall. I can guarantee I went to the Rec Center with Rodney to play basketball and workout. I'm sure I probably had a flag football game (we kicked butt, by the way!) I was babysitting for Spence and Brenna a few days a week and on the weekends I was waitressing at the Sanitary. Is that five?

5.5 things on your to do list today: Today, I have to go and get a banner to make a sign for "It's In-tents." I have to edit several photo shoots. I have to watch Josie's kids while she teaches piano. We are going to Trick or Treat Under the Sea tonight at the Aquarium, and I have to fold about 5 loads of clothes!

6.5 favorite snacks: I actually am not a snacker, but I do love Diet Coke, salty things, cheese, Funyuns, and an occasional piece of chocolate.

7.5 bad habits: Drinking way too many soft drinks! Clicking my tongue on the back of my teeth when I'm thinking. Not exercising enough! Wasting time on the internet when I need to be editing! Being negative!

8.5 favorite foods: Pasta with chicken white sauce from the Brick Oven. An enchilada style chicken burrito from Cafe Rio. A good steak from a nice restaurant. The Jose Special from Mi Rancherito, and my all-time favorite, stewed hard crabs!!!!

9.5 places I've been: Niagara Falls, Orlando, New York City, Nauvoo, Vail.

10.10. 5 favorite memories: My wedding day. The birth of my children. Running the St. George Marathon (26.2 miles!). My newlywed years in Utah. We worked about 5 jobs a piece and lived in Kyle's grandparents house, but we had the most fun. Living in Denver and all of our wonderful friends there.

Kel, that was therapeutic!

Has It Really Been Ten Years?

Kyle and Aly My friends since kindergarten, Kendra, Courtney, and Beth
My bestest bud from high school, Allison and her husband, Korey
The class of '97 (minus about 100)

Well, I am getting old. This past weekend was my ten year class reunion. We had a wonderful time. Kyle got to meet a lot of my high school friends he's never seen before and I got to catch up on ten years of life experiences. On Friday night there was a meet and greet at a restaurant on the waterfront, then on Saturday the reunion was at the Morehead City Country Club. It was very nice. It was catered by a local restaurant and there was live music. It's amazing how little everyone has changed over ten years. Here are a few pics of some of my friends.