Is it 'CATCH-up', 'catsup' or 'ketsup'?

So, I have a friend who has had a lot of time on her hands recently.  And because she isn't accustomed to this kind of freedom, she's climbing the walls.  She asked what I did all day long (as if I have somehow have this kind of free time as well...) and I texted her back a laundry list of things that fill my days.  One of my activities piqued her interest and she started a blog.  Well, she signed up for one.  As to what to post, how to make it pretty, etc. she's still a bit under water on those points.  But she'll get there.  


Why do I share this story with you?  Well, somewhere in our conversation she jabbed, "Okay Miss Blogger, it's time to get updated!"  Subtle, huh?  Sadly, I can't disagree with her because my last post was to recount Amelia's 4th birthday and here we sit, now just six days away from her 5th birthday!  Why is it that every year I have to post some massive entry that encompasses at least six months or more?  [sigh...]  Here's what we've missed in a nutshell:


JULY
Headed down to Cedar City for the Utah Shakespeare Festival with John & Jill and John, Katherine & Family.  Hiked Cedar breaks and Zion National Park.  Amelia wore her Junior Park Ranger badge just about the entire trip.

AUGUST
My sweet grandmother, Rheta Anderson Blackham, passed away at age 92.  She was amazing and I will be forever grateful for the notes, emails, texts, etc. that flooded in as she was slipping away from us.  We read and re-read them to her and they made us all smile.  Someday, I want to grow up to be just like her.

Amelia started at a new preschool, the Child and Family Development Center at the University of Utah.  She loved Ms. Mary, Ms. Tammy, and all of the other fantastic teachers and fellow classmates that made this school year fantastic!  She was especially proud that she designed her school bag.

SEPTEMBER
We just couldn't stay away!  Disney was calling and Amelia was thrilled that Gracey and Beckham joined us to play.  Love those girls together.

Once a year, Disneyland plays host to the mother of all competitions (if you love Disney).  Cast members are invited to pull together a team of four people to compete in Minnie's Moonlit Madness!  Tethered together with a length of rope and wearing headlamps that make you look super-cool, your team runs around Disneyland after the Park is closed to the public trying to solve scavenger hunt-like clues and activities.  Crazy fun.  That's all I have to say!

David and Brennan took Amelia, Amanda, and Olivia hiking up Millcreek Canyon.  Not sure who was more exhausted at the end of that adventure.  We also took advantage of the beautiful mountains that surround us by cooking tin foil dinners with the Mosses.  Look at us... enjoying nature.

OCTOBER
Amelia, as an ice cream cone, (not a cupcake, people!) loves Halloween at dad's office.  You meet celebrities there!

NOVEMBER
East High played host to Turkey Bowl XXVI.  Each year the muscles post-game get a little angrier and yet the tradition lives on!

DECEMBER
Amelia performed in Miss Julie's School of Dance Winter Recital.  Thank you, Nana and Grandpa for the beautiful flowers that make her feel like a prima donna.

What do you mean?  Doesn't every kid have to pose for the camera before tearing into their Christmas morning gifts?  Of note: this year, I bought an artificial tree.  And, this is so difficult to say because I really did miss the heavenly pine scent but, I LOVE IT!

Santa really does exist!  And he sampled the cookies and milk that Amelia left out for him.  Thanks to Elf Lorla for helping us pull this bit of holiday magic together.

JANUARY 2012
David's father, John, organized a trip for a few Harvard undergrads to the Hopi Reservation.  David was lucky enough to tag along.  He has great memories of accompanying his dad to Arizona as a kid when John would have legal work to do on the reservation.  Also on the packed itinerary - the Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon.

Back to Anahiem to participate in the Inaugural Tinkerbell Half Marathon, 5k, and Kid Races!  My mom, aunt Jen, cousins Rachel, Rebekah, Emma, and Alex met us there for all the fun.  Felicity, Gracey, and Beckham met us, too!

I don't suggest running a half marathon when you are six months pregnant.  It really kills your minutes-per-mile time.  But, if you do your math creatively, then you can count it as a full marathon - after all, you ARE running for two.  (Thanks for that pep talk, David.)

We happened to be in the Parks on Amanda's actual birthday, so the girlies got treated to the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique.  Can you say "GLAMOROUS"?  Caroline had pulled that wild pink hair out within the hour.  :)

Whew.  I'm exhausted.  That at least brings us up to the beginning of the new year.  Stay tuned for more 2012.  April alone deserves its own post.  (Love you, Jack.)