Happy New Year!

Well, since it's the end of the year, here's a little recap:
Jeff has been very busy working as a research associate at SUNY Stony Brook. The group's research focuses on the prediction and prevention of family violence. He loves his bosses and is enjoying greater autonomy and responsibility than he had as a graduate student, so all around it's been a good experience. On Sundays, he fills his days with responsibilities on the High Council at church; the rest of the week, he spends his "free" time playing lumberjack in the backyard or working on the house (surprise suprise!). He is also drooling over websites on crabbing and sailing, and he is antsy antsy antsy to get in the water this spring.
Sara is keeping busy as a full-time domestic engineer. Current projects include teaching Hannah and Megan piano, leading Hannah's brownie troop (with two other GREAT leaders), helping with a PTA committee, leading the choir at church and overseeing other music needs in the congregation, running a mid-week activity for the older primary girls at church twice a month (Activity Days), and...oh, yes...taking care of Hannah, Megan, and Allison! The year ended with a brief but very fun neighborhood get-together on Christmas Eve. The get-together mimicked a decades-old tradition in the Broadbents' neighborhood in Rochester. Sara was VERY relieved that people actually came and had a good time! BIG thanks to Santa Claus! Sara is now very ready for a vacation. :)
Hannah is thoroughly enjoying first grade. She adores her teacher and is reading like her father used to (that means late into the night if we forget to turn her light off). She is enjoying learning to play the piano, and she really likes the rhythm games we play where you win candy. Brownies is her favorite activity right now. She is working hard at earning her first badge on her own, and cookie sales have begun so if you want some cookies, e-mail her!
Megan is still thriving as a gymnast. She likes to be called "Gymnastics Meggie" and she is still building pits of pillows and blankets to jump into. Her favorite Christmas present was a hot-pink dress-up cape and she spent about 45 minutes last night leaping around in it, dancing to loud music. She LOVES to play the piano and will perform for anyone. She awes her audience not only by playing songs by heart, but by watching her audience over her shoulder so she can see their reaction while she plays. She is definitely our performer.
Allison finally took off walking a few weeks ago. She has it mastered though, and hasn't fallen and smacked her head on the tile floor once. She loves to laugh at her sisters and has started copying them more and more. Tonight in the bath, she was copying Megan. Megan would lean over, get water in her mouth, and spit it out. Ali had it all down except for the part about actually getting any water in your mouth. She thought it was hysterical, and so did we.
It has been a wonderful year. We are thankful for a house that finally feels like a house and not a construction zone and for Jeff's job that is providing him with valuable experience. We are thankful for activities in the community that bring us into contact with wonderful friends who have enriched our lives. And we are very thankful for families who are so supportive and just downright fun. We are especially thankful for our Savior, whom we remember at this time.
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulders; and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6
Jeff, Sara, Hannah, Megan, and Allison