Brown Eyes

Dad took this photo of Christian several years ago, but it remains one of our all-time favorites. We were standing by a lake, and you can see it reflected in Christian's eyes. The most amazing part is the only work Dad did on this photo was to turn it black and white. 

Santa Letter

Christan's Santa letter from Christmas 2013, written with help from Mary. 

Peppers

Christian is picky as can be, and always has been, with a few exceptions. One is Thai food (he loves the restaurant Sawadee in Salt Lake), another is pho (he adores Asian Palace, especially on nights when they give out complimentary tapioca pudding) and another is peppers. The kid who at age five still refuses to eat strawberries and peaches has been known to ask for a pepper for breakfast. He doesn't want them sliced up either (notice the picture), he'll eat them like an apple if you let him. Before Mom discovered the baby peppers you can buy in bags at Costco, it wasn't unusual to open the fridge to find a nibbled pepper wrapped in plastic wrap for the next time Christian was in the mood. 

C.J.

Flashback #2

Christian went through a phase where he was constantly clomping around the house in other people's shoes. This is him in Jordan's soccer cleats. 

Sometimes we took advantage of Christian's willingness to dress up. 

Mary and Christian know they can't eat on the armchair (the perfect place to sit while watching movies), so if they have a snack they stake out just in front of it.

a ride in Grandpa Nieman's SAAB.

2nd Birthday Party. 

Christmas 2013

 Mary and Christian insisted everyone wear the old elf hats!

 Sarah made C.J. dueling swords out of wrapping paper rolls and duct tape. 

 Everyone decided to sleep out in the "movie room" downstairs Christmas Eve. 

Mary and Christian were excited to receive letters from Santa a few weeks before Christmas. The best part? They were still cold from the trip from the North Pole. 

Christmas was wonderful (and white) year 2013! December was a magic month of light shows, gift giving, and way too many treats. It was also the first time Christian really caught on to the whole concept. 

Sledding Fun

Everyone loves sledding at the cabin! Our favorite spot is corral road (appropriately named because of the horse corrals on one side), and boy do the sledders have it cushy. Simply sled to the bottom and wait for a snowmobile to arrive, and pile into the toboggan. It's back to the top of the hill from there!

Stripes

1st REAL Salt Lake Game

 Christian, and other team mates, line up before the game. 

 Christian got to walk onto the field with forward Joao Plata. 

 Getting ready to say the pledge. 

Christian recently got to go to his first REAL soccer game, and boy was it a good one. Christian, and other members of his little league team (the "green gronkels") got to walk out onto the field with the REAL players. Though a little timid while out on the field, Christian had a blast watching the game. 

Train Park

There is a fun little train park in Farmington that only opens once monthly during the summer. Mom made the mistake of mentioning it to Christian, and he was instantly obsessed with going. He asked her about it every day for months, so when it finally opened they were ready. Mom, Mary, and Christian had a blast on the swings, seeing big engines, and riding pedal cars and even a tiny train.