The Randalls in Review (2010)

Despite a rocky beginning, 2010 has been a great year at the Randall residence.  We felt like it was the end of the world when we were asked to relocate from Fillmore to Cedar City, one week before Christmas in 2009; however, despite missing all the wonderful people we grew to love in Fillmore, we have really been blessed by this move.

We found a beautiful house in a great ward.  The yard is large and there is lots of dirt for Brady and Ellie and Bryan to dig in.  Brady and Ellie used it for building mines and forts and tunnels.  Bryan planted a garden.  We were also able to bring our chickens (but we’re not sure that they are a blessing).

Shortly after moving we learned that the house were we lived in Fillmore had black mold and other hazardous conditions that we were unaware of.  Brady is now completely off his asthma medication and doing great, and Lou Anne is pregnant.  The baby, gender yet unknown, will be arriving in January.  We are super-excited!

Brady and Ellie have been enjoying school at home and around the neighborhood.  We have teamed with five other families for weekly music, art, science, and geography lessons, as well as monthly “Wild Days” in the mountains or other outdoor locations of interest.  At home we sing, study scriptures, do science experiments, read about great people, and learn about reading and math.  Some of the great books we’ve enjoyed reading this year include The Secret Garden, The Wizard of Oz, James and the Giant Peach; The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; Henry Huggins, Henry and Ribsy, and more.  We always welcome suggestions for more reading ideas.

Bryan is busy at work, taking care of the dearly departed.  He has suddenly turned into a book worm as well and has been enjoying the Harry Potter series, the Storm Testament series, and biographies of various Church leaders.  His days off are filled with honey-do’s, gardening and yard work, and running around doing Lou Anne’s crazy ideas for fun.  He enjoyed being an Elders Quorum teacher this year and is now looking forward to the challenges of being the newly called Elders Quorum president.

Lou Anne has been busy with housework, pregnancy, book club, DUP, home schooling, and school group.  She has also enjoyed (most of the time) being Brady’s primary teacher.  She, too, has a new calling in the primary Activity Days.

Brady is almost 6.  He has lost his first tooth.  He loves Legos, riding his bike and Ellie’s scooter, digging in the dirt, and looking at books.  He is learning to read, but would prefer (for now) to be read to.  He was super-excited to see Cedar High School’s production of The Wizard of Oz after reading the book.  He also enjoys taking things apart, which explains the pieces of an old washing machine all over our garage.  He loves building projects with Bryan and is great help with yard work.

Ellie is 4 ½.  She is mostly girl with a bit of dirt thrown in.  She loves to dig outside with Brady and she, too, loves books.  She is crazy about writing, drawing, coloring, and cutting right now.  Her drawings, notes, and cutting projects can be found all over the house, and each is a treasure!  She also loves babies, princess dresses, dancing, and playing pretend.  She cannot wait for a new baby brother or sister.  She’s ready to be a mom!  Ellie is always convincing Brady to get married and play mommy and daddy with her.  Fortunately, he is usually a pretty good sport about her ideas.  When he can’t take her bossing any more he just reminds her, “You are not my mother.”

We have had lots of great camping and hiking this year.  We love being outside.  We love the freedom of Bryan’s days off in the middle of the week and being able to take school with us wherever we go.  We are grateful and excited for a new baby and all the excitement that will bring.  We love living in Enoch.  We are grateful to our Heavenly Father for bringing us here.

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.  May the Lord bless you as abundantly as He has blessed us!

                                              Love,

                                                        Bryan, Lou Anne, Brady, & Ellie Randall