Catching Up.

Truth be told, I am not a very good blogger. I'll be good for a little while and then I get caught up in life and my posts get less and less frequent. I am a dedicated journal writer and tend to focus my time there rather than my blog. Selfish, I know. Due to the fact that I don't feel it is quite fair to always take and never give in a relationship (which I feel is often the case in my blogging life... I read my friends' posts, the more often the better, but I rarely give, but for some reason I don't think my few and far between posts are causing anyone a sense of emptiness and wanting). So, in an attempt to give a little, here is what has been happening in the lives of the Downtown SLC Christensen's.

• After Jack's first semester in hell in the University of Utah's Master's of Education Program he decided it wasn't for him. The classes were ridiculously crowded (the graduate classes were almost always just undergraduate classes that had about 60 students in them and the only difference in expectations for the graduate students was that they were required to write an extra paper. Seriously). So, after finishing his first term and feeling as though he had learned nothing, he transferred to Westminster College. He was admitted within 5 days of submitting his application and transcript, which according to his advisor never happens. He starts in May. Average class size is 15 students (much better).

Jack in front of his new alma mater

• Since Jackattack isn't in school this semester, he decided to get a second job. He is teaching ESL classes at night 3 days a week. His students are adults from everywhere you can think of and best of all, he loves it. He has been working at Stonehill National for nearly three years as a means to an end and there aren't good reports as to what goes on at work. But when he gets home from his English classes, he is always beaming. It makes me really excited for him to one day teach full-time.
• We've really enjoyed taking Esther out into the snow this year. She loves it. And the occasional face-plant into the snow makes me smile for the rest of the day.
  Just relaxing in the snow.
  
  
• Baby girl is no longer such a baby. She started walking a few days before she turned 11 months and is quite the expert now. Her hair is long enough for pigtails (which are adorable!). And she turned 1 years old last week! I was quite emotional the evening before her birthday. The moment I thought about going to the hospital last year to be induced a flood of memories flashed through my mind and seeped out of my eyes in the form of tears. This has been such a wonderful year and Jack and I both feel as though our joy is full.

Esther loo on the day she was born. She is so little. The first year of life brings about a lot of change.

Esther with her friend Charlotte at her first birthday party.

Estherloo made a bit of a mess.

In the first video, I can't help but think that Esther looks like Randall from A Christmas Story.

And in the second video, please notice how she is trying to tap her toes. So cute!