Mentzer Family Review 2009

I hope I did not miss anyone this year. If I did, I am sorry. Our printer was not cooperating and I had to address the envelopes by hand.

Happy Holidays! 2009

We hope this letter finds you happy and healthy. We have had a good year. Early this year, we took advantage of the snow in Utah. We knew it would be our last winter in the mountains (at least for a few years). We went cross country skiing as much as we could. Everest got his own skis, and did well for being 3. We miss the mountains VERY MUCH!

Nathan accepted a full time position at Purdue University as an assistant professor in the College of Technology. We bought a house close enough to the University so he can commute on his bike everyday (even in the winter- he has studded tires). We are also close enough to shopping and other activities so the boys and Fay can bike (we are not die hard, if it is too cold, or raining, we drive). This summer we bought Everest a tag a long bike. It hooks onto one of our bikes and the trailer for Leaf hooks onto Everest’s bike. Everest loves pulling his brother; he calls it our train or semi.

We are enjoying the benefits of living closer to family (only 10 hours now, instead of 36!). We have had someone visit us every month! We have plenty of room, so please stop on by sometime. We have wonderful neighbors who have shared their love of Purdue with us and the boys. Every time Everest goes to Doug and Lisa’s, he comes home with something Purdue. At the beginning of the basketball season, they gave us 4 tickets in the front row. The boys had a BLAST! We were afraid we would have major meltdown, since the game started right before bedtime, but both boys hung in for the entire game. Purdue Pete came over and said hello to Everest (which made his night). Everest was interested in the cheerleaders and their megaphones, so he and Nathan made his very own megaphone. We went to a game for Everest’s 4^th birthday. He sat in the front row with Doug and Lisa and had a great time.

Everest started preschool at the Montessori school, which is 3 blocks away. He is in a bilingual class 3 afternoons a week. Fay volunteers on Friday afternoon and Leaf stays home with a sitter who is from Chili and speaks Spanish to him. Everest got a trampoline this summer from Papa. He loves to jump, ride bikes, read and play. He has always loved to build things (using anything from toys to my pots and pans), but his latest obsession is Legos.

Leaf turned one in October. He is growing up so quickly. He is a happy baby, who adores his dad and brother. He loves to play in the kitchen, put objects into containers and then put lids on the containers. He is intent on learning to talk and will talk to anyone who will listen. He wants to eat ONLY what we eat and only from a big plate and fork. He has been free standing since he was 8 months and is finally starting to take steps. He tried to walk up the steps backwards today (holding aunt Teresa’s hand). He is a bit of a daredevil as he tries to keep up with his brother.

Nathan has been busy brewing beer. He acquired 2 more fermenters this year so he can make 4 batches at a time. Nathan has not started biodiesel yet, but plans to in the spring. He loves spending time with the boys.

Fay started blogging this year. She is having fun crafting, sewing, knitting and cooking, especially when she can do it with the boys. Stop by and see what we are up to. http://amountainandatree.blogspot.com/

Love, Fay, Nathan, Everest, Leaf, and Kenya (she is 12 this year and still doing well!)