Christmas letter

Ken and Jenni Richardson Family Christmas Letter
Hi family and friends,

We want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! We are doing well here in Utah after moving here several months ago. We miss New Mexico and our many friends there, but we are excited about our new life in Utah. We are so grateful for Ken to have finished his neonatal fellowship this month after four months of "commuting" from Utah back to New Mexico to finish up. He now has the opportunity to work as a neonatologist in the NICU at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center here in Provo. The kids are all voracious readers and are becoming avid BYU fans. They are doing well in school and other activities:

Jared (15-1/2) - 10th grade, driver's permit, french horn player, marching band awards, seminary, priesthood piano player, wears glasses now!, straight A student

Marcus (13) - 8th grade, Life Scout, Deacon's quorum counselor, piano lessons, advanced band trumpet player, staight A student

Betsy (9-1/2) - 4th grade, gifted student, dramatics club, piano lessons, activity days girl, recycle crafts club, ward choir member

Adam (7-1/2) - 2nd grade, gifted student, piano lessons, martial arts (Hapkido) yellow belt, after school citizenship club

Andy (6) - afternoon kindergarten, guitar lessons, BYU sports fan, martial arts yellow belt, after school citizenship club

Ken- finally done with school and training!, Neonatologist (NICU Doctor), BYU football and basketball season ticket holder, band dad, cubmaster, choir member

Jenni-stay at home mom, holds down the fort, CTR 6 primary teacher, choir member, coupon clipper

We love living closer to family and having BYU be our playground. It seems like we are on campus weekly for concerts and other activities. We hope if Utah is a crossroads for you that you will consider stopping by and saying "Hi". We're grateful for our many blessings at this special time of year. We are especially grateful for the Savior and for his birth and life. May his influence warm your souls and give you hope and meaning in facing the challenges of life.

With our love and appreciation for your presence in our lives, Ken, Jenni, Jared, Marcus, Betsy, Adam, and Andy

aspen grove family picture

We had a great Church family reunion in October in Aspen Grove.

my baby is 6!

Andy just had a birthday! He enjoyed breakfast in bed, presents, cupcakes at school, pizza and bowling, and a handbell concert at the library. We love our "cute, enthusiastic, adorable, kind, loving, compassionate"brother and son.

Dress redo

I took all my old junior high, high school and college dresses from my Mom's basement and passed them on to my niece Camille to re-purpose them for Betsy. She loves them and I am glad they can be updated and used. She is so tall and thin now, it is hard to find dresses long enough and that fit right in the stores.

fall update

We are doing well here in Utah. Ken has a finish date of Dec. 10th so we are counting down the time he can join us for good. The kids had fun dressing up for Halloween and were excited to get some full sized candy bars from our neighbors. Andy was a martial arts warrior, Adam was a cowboy, Betsy was Penny from "Hairspray", and Marcus invented himself being carried in a box by a small guy. Jared dressed as Aragorn from Lord of the Rings but he is on a band trip in southern california right now. So far they have won first place in all their marching band competitions. The high school here is great in sports, music and academics. The kids are all adjusting well to their new environment. They miss their close friends in Albuquerque, but have grown closer to each other through this move. They entertain themselves with making up little mystery games with clues all over the house. I'm glad they can all be friends (when they're not fighting). Ken has loved being the avid BYU sports fan here. We have also loved living close to family. We hope stay in touch with all our friends and hope you will stop by if you're ever in Provo.

Happy birthday Ken

I want to wish my honey a happy 40th birthday today. We gave him breakfast in bed, a jar of 40 things we love about him and a book of tribute letters from extended family. We are happy to have him home with us today and will enjoy just being together.

happy b-day here in UT

I haven't been able to update our blog due to the move and computer difficulties. Today is Marcus' 13th birthday. He is a wonderful son and I love him very much. We are getting settled here in our new home in Provo UT. Ken flew back to Albuquerque tonight to finish the last few months of training while I get the kids set up in school. We have had fun with family visits and even a cousin over night. It will take a while to get everything organized but we are doing great and glad to finally be here.

Jared Lettered

Jared was surprised at his band banquet and concert to have earned the merits of lettering at Volcano Vista HS.

house for sale

We just listed our home. It looks completely different inside now. All new upgraded carpet. Tile floors professionally cleaned. All walls painted neutral colors, all sparsely staged. A lot of work! Hopefully it pays off.

Happy Birthday Jared

I want to wish my handsome Jared a Happy Birthday. Marcus made a card for him that says "Jared, you're so talented, smart, witty, and charming...
Sometimes I can't tell us apart! Happy Birthday!

kids' quotes

Here are some quotes from my kids this week.
Jared- "I don't feel sick Mom, I just don't feel well"
When asked what to do when we get lost, Betsy said "Hug a tree"
Adam- "Isn't it just the best that you're my Mom?"
When asked at FHE where we lived before we were born, Andy answered "inside Mommy's stomach"

friends

Betsy plays well with all her friends.

Marcus and his best friend earned 2nd place in the state math competition.

Easter smiles

a visit from the Easter bunny

easter egg hunt

These 2 little guys scored big at the neighborhood easter egg hunt. The candy disappered in 2 days.

Just in time for the next one this Saturday.

Adam's input

Adam: "What's for Sunday dinner Mom?"
Me: "Broccoli, fish and couscous."
Adam: "Mom at my school we have something called 'alternate' (for school lunch if they don't want the main dish, they have an alternate to choose from). 'Cause I really don't like fish"
Me: laughing and wanting to say "this isn't your school"

andy's gym trip

Andy had fun at our MOMs club field trip to G-force gym. He was in heaven in the foam pit.

toothless

Adam was excited to get a half dollar from the tooth fairy last night for his second front tooth.

Happy 9th birthday!

Happy birthday Betsy we love you

father/son trio

Ken arranged the William Tell Overture for french horn and 2 trumpets. He and Jared and Marcus performed it at our stake music concert.

Ode to Biscuit our hamster

By Betsy
Hamsters are cute and funny too,
They practically play all day.
They happen to be a good pet because,
They're always ready to play!

Hamster poem by Betsy

Hamsters

Always

Make

Stupendous

Terrific

Energitic

Rodents

Awesome Andy

Yesterday Andy and I dropped in on Ken at work to have lunch with him in the hospital cafeteria. While we were waiting in his office, Andy spyed an empty urine sample cup across the counter. He said "Mom remember that thing over there when I went to the doctor and had to pee into it and then the toilet? That was awesome!"
Today Betsy had a friend over. After Andy kept bugging them, he came down and said, "Look Mom Betsy paid me a nickel to stay out of her room!" Guess who kept spying to see how much loot he could get out of the situation?

lost front tooth

Adam was so excited that his front tooth came out today. He is happy to show all his friends in first grade.

Holiday Eves

Christmas Eve

New Year's Eve

He cleans up well!

Jared looking very snazzy in his tuxedo for his High School Band Concert.

dinner conversation

Me-What's the best thing that happened to you today?
Adam-I learned that you (a human adult) have 206 bones in your body.
Andy-How many bones does a dragon have?
Me-Good question.