It has been an action-packed year for the Stewarts as usual! They sold their house just before Christmas last year and have lived in the condo for one year which has meant major downsizing for them and many many trips to their storage unit which houses the majority of their possessions.
The condo was sold in November! Their new house is in Salt Lake and they have just moved in on December 14th. They will spend their Christmas in their new home in the heart of the city. When I was in 8th grade my family moved to Concord mid-December and it was one of the best Christmases. Boxes still full of things to be unpacked stood in the garage but Christmas was great. Christmas comes in all its splendor, ready or not!
Jen and Lowell's new place is wonderful! It's a lovely craftsman style home, solid, beautiful, and 94 years old. Their closest grocery store for bread and milk is Whole Foods. It beats Allen's from their previous residential area, Jen is quick to report. The best part of the house is all the living space is on one floor, exactly what Miss Hazie needs for her wheelchair.
The neighborhood was a deliberate choice and near a beautiful park and some downtown hot spots like the Family History Library (just kidding, Jen!) We are eager to visit there and check it all out over time. When we were young we lived in the heart of San Francisco and it was an exciting place to be. I hope they have a similar experience and I think they will. We are happy they are staying in Utah since it could have been Scotland or the east coast. We think it will be a good fit for them.
We'll all miss this place...just a little.
They lived here before they bought their house on the mountain
years ago and then again this past year. Lots of fun memories here.
Jen and Lowell's new place is wonderful! It's a lovely craftsman style home, solid, beautiful, and 94 years old. Their closest grocery store for bread and milk is Whole Foods. It beats Allen's from their previous residential area, Jen is quick to report. The best part of the house is all the living space is on one floor, exactly what Miss Hazie needs for her wheelchair.
The neighborhood was a deliberate choice and near a beautiful park and some downtown hot spots like the Family History Library (just kidding, Jen!) We are eager to visit there and check it all out over time. When we were young we lived in the heart of San Francisco and it was an exciting place to be. I hope they have a similar experience and I think they will. We are happy they are staying in Utah since it could have been Scotland or the east coast. We think it will be a good fit for them.
You know how it is when you have bought a new home. You just have to drop by frequently once the other family has moved out and you have possession of the key. That is really a fun time of anticipation, wonderment and planning where everything will fit, etc. So one day they stopped and...
The previous owners had
left them this beautiful Christmas Tree.
Is that not the nicest thing you've heard lately?
I cannot think of anything nicer to leave them
with a move in date of December 14th!
This year the girls have had many new experiences. Chloe was baptized and of course we were there for that very special time with them in June. Jim and I each gave a talk and Jen had a very nice luncheon afterwards. It was such a very special day for all of us. One of the shining moments in every grandparent's life.
Chloe performing her first act of service
as a new member of the church!
Cleaning up after her special luncheon.
All the girls have been attending different schools this year. Two different elementary schools, a junior high and a high school. Last week checking the girls out of their schools before their move took the entire day. Keeps a mom on her toes for sure. With the move they will be cutting the number down to 3 schools. Better.
Piper is in high school now!
She has mixed feelings about moving to a new school.
She has written her first novel this year. She has over 1,000 followers for some things she has been writing online. She is a gifted writer. She has a marvelous vocabulary and a definite way with words. She is also a great artist and I just love these pieces she has been doing lately of various hairstyles. Isn't this one cute?
Piper seems so grown up now. She is a delight to be with and we both love talking with her. She played the flute at school this year but the high school just wore her out with constant meetings, concerts and practices. I know she is glad to be out of there for that reason alone! Like any author and artist she needs her free time and the band wasn't cooperating. Speaking of bands...
just love the band New Direction.
Here is a virtual ornament for you all to share.
I could not find any real ones left on the market!
Julia turned 13 in August and is in Junior High.
She was invited to audition to play in the wind symphony at her previous new school. She was selected and played the clarinet while attending there. Julia had a fabulous surprise birthday in August we were so happy to be there for that! She had asked for a surprise party three years in a row. (?) When she had one she was actually surprised. She is a bit freaked out about the move but I know she'll do well! Both the big girls enjoy Young Women's program at church and had a great time at Girls' Camp this past summer. Julia has really blossomed this year and is thinking junior high is pretty fun. She loves to do new things and like Piper and Chloe is a great help to Jen and Lowell! Julia is so funny and fun. She and I like to text one another and chat once in awhile.
Jewels with her goofy birthday glasses and Grampa!
She was so eager and so excited and it turned out to be a debacle of infinite proportions. The school she has been attending has shown incompetence at every level. It turned out that her school is the only ADA school in their district for good wheelchair access but it seemed the worst school for helping kids with special need like wheelchairs! Go figure!
Poor Jen has spent the bulk of her time since the day school began, advocating for her tiny girl in a very precarious situation. We are all thankful they have moved, if for no other reason than to walk away from a very short-sighted staff and administration. Because these things were not discussed in front of Hazel for the most part, they are happy to report she loves school. She is simply an angel! I think we were all on our last nerve with this. Mess with us, but never with this little grand girl! Emotions were running in high gear for several weeks.
I have never seen Jen so distraught since Hazie was born and she has been through plenty most of us cannot imagine. When you can rock this mama bear of ours like that, over an innocent and precious six year old with special needs, you should be ashamed. Little children should never have to endure what Hazie or her parents did. God bless you, Jen and Lowell for being there for her every minute. My B/P is rising...so moving on now.
In January Jennifer and Laura both came to California and Jim went to Utah to do Grampa Camp with the girls because Lowell was on a business trip in the UK. Robert took some leave to care for their boys and we love them for it. It was a dream come true for me to have a whole week with Jen and Laura. It was a time I really needed it too, so perfect! We laughed and did girl things all week...it was heaven. Pure heaven and something we have never done before. I'm praying it will happen again one of these days.She was invited to audition to play in the wind symphony at her previous new school. She was selected and played the clarinet while attending there. Julia had a fabulous surprise birthday in August we were so happy to be there for that! She had asked for a surprise party three years in a row. (?) When she had one she was actually surprised. She is a bit freaked out about the move but I know she'll do well! Both the big girls enjoy Young Women's program at church and had a great time at Girls' Camp this past summer. Julia has really blossomed this year and is thinking junior high is pretty fun. She loves to do new things and like Piper and Chloe is a great help to Jen and Lowell! Julia is so funny and fun. She and I like to text one another and chat once in awhile.
Jewels with her goofy birthday glasses and Grampa!
Chloe is in 3rd grade and the last to have attended their
favorite elementary school in the valley.
It has been an outstanding school for them and we hope they find one as good in SLC. Sadly it also marked the end of attending school with their cousins. But everything else about their move seems perfect. Chloe is a talented little girl. And she is funny!
She loves so many things and does them well. She is an athlete and good student and musical too. She loves dogs and is constantly trying to figure out how to get one. She is very outdoorsy and loves to ride her bike. Jen says one of her unique talents is when her mom is running the vacuum cleaner or the mixer Chloe has the distinctive talent of being able to sing a perfect harmonizing note to the sound the appliance makes. Hum, is there a need for this somewhere on earth? Too funny.
She loves so many things and does them well. She is an athlete and good student and musical too. She loves dogs and is constantly trying to figure out how to get one. She is very outdoorsy and loves to ride her bike. Jen says one of her unique talents is when her mom is running the vacuum cleaner or the mixer Chloe has the distinctive talent of being able to sing a perfect harmonizing note to the sound the appliance makes. Hum, is there a need for this somewhere on earth? Too funny.
Hazie started kindergarten this year!
After three years in pre-school
she was a pro at her new beginning.
She was so eager and so excited and it turned out to be a debacle of infinite proportions. The school she has been attending has shown incompetence at every level. It turned out that her school is the only ADA school in their district for good wheelchair access but it seemed the worst school for helping kids with special need like wheelchairs! Go figure!
Poor Jen has spent the bulk of her time since the day school began, advocating for her tiny girl in a very precarious situation. We are all thankful they have moved, if for no other reason than to walk away from a very short-sighted staff and administration. Because these things were not discussed in front of Hazel for the most part, they are happy to report she loves school. She is simply an angel! I think we were all on our last nerve with this. Mess with us, but never with this little grand girl! Emotions were running in high gear for several weeks.
I have never seen Jen so distraught since Hazie was born and she has been through plenty most of us cannot imagine. When you can rock this mama bear of ours like that, over an innocent and precious six year old with special needs, you should be ashamed. Little children should never have to endure what Hazie or her parents did. God bless you, Jen and Lowell for being there for her every minute. My B/P is rising...so moving on now.
Hazie loving life every day!
This is an instant feel good picture.
Hazie and Mc Cade her first little friend
who also has spina bifada.
This photo of Hazie below was taken just this weekend in their new home! She is so happy to have been reunited with the table Grampa made for her that allows her to work and play in her wheelchair. It has been in storage for one year now so it is all brand new again! Moving in has been made easier because of it. Hazel loves to make videos, she sings, chats and now whistles on demand! She is the cherry on top of our cake. Oh and she is learning to read. So amazing this little girl of ours. She has known her alphabet for years as she learned to sign when she was very little so reading just might be a snap because of that.
This is an instant feel good picture.
Hazie and Mc Cade her first little friend
who also has spina bifada.
This photo of Hazie below was taken just this weekend in their new home! She is so happy to have been reunited with the table Grampa made for her that allows her to work and play in her wheelchair. It has been in storage for one year now so it is all brand new again! Moving in has been made easier because of it. Hazel loves to make videos, she sings, chats and now whistles on demand! She is the cherry on top of our cake. Oh and she is learning to read. So amazing this little girl of ours. She has known her alphabet for years as she learned to sign when she was very little so reading just might be a snap because of that.
Two sisters having fun!
Then Jen's family came back for Easter vacation and that was a just great too. We decorated eggs and that is always fun with their artistic family. Aunt Gail came to play. On Easter we took photos, went to church and had a fancy dinner!
It was a Happy Easter Morn
at our house this year!
They also got to see their second cousin, Thomas, age 17. I have never seen so much willingness for a picture or so much blushing in one photo shoot before or since. Adorable, love how Hazie slipped her little arm around his neck.
Jewels, Hazie, Thomas, Chloe and Pip
We did our usual touring around the City and Bay Area. Lowell could only stay the weekend due to work but the girls all stayed until the following Sunday. We missed him but he was needed in Lindon.
Outside the De Young Museum where we took
them to see The Girl With the Pearl Earring.
We also went to the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park.
We all LOVE San Francisco!
Here are four sentences written by Jen on highlights for their girls this years.
at our house this year!
They also got to see their second cousin, Thomas, age 17. I have never seen so much willingness for a picture or so much blushing in one photo shoot before or since. Adorable, love how Hazie slipped her little arm around his neck.
Jewels, Hazie, Thomas, Chloe and Pip
We did our usual touring around the City and Bay Area. Lowell could only stay the weekend due to work but the girls all stayed until the following Sunday. We missed him but he was needed in Lindon.
Outside the De Young Museum where we took
them to see The Girl With the Pearl Earring.
We also went to the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park.
We all LOVE San Francisco!
Here are four sentences written by Jen on highlights for their girls this years.
Julia got a pet hamster this year. She's got 'Boxer' all set up with a pretty cool habitat. She feeds him little 'cupcakes' from the pet store. We noticed that he eats the frosting off and leaves the cake so we knew he was a good fit for our family.
Chloe has decided that now that we have a house again we are getting 3 dogs. She's in for a bit of a surprise on that number but there might be a puppy in her future.
Hazel has learned how to whistle. She also lost a tooth this year so she whistled when she talks through the tooth gap. She sounds like Gopher from Winnie the Pooh and it is completely adorable.
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