Today we bought a castle!

It may not look like a castle to the casual observer, but "a man's home is his castle," and to us our new/first home is a thing of beauty.  We are just so excited to own a spot of earth and that our particular spot is in the lovely East Mill Creek neighborhood of SLC.

Merry Christmas 2011!

Merry Christmas from Ye Stewart Clan!  We hope your Christmas was as wonderful as ours was.  Our family tradition is to kick off the Christmas Eve festivities by making gingerbread cookies for Santa, and this year Tennyson happily performed most of the labor and produced the best batch to date.

Tait was perfectly happy to gobble up the gingerbread goodness while sitting by the warm fire.

Kids make Christmas merry and bright.  Whether they're listening to the story of the birth of baby Jesus,  tracking Santa online or ripping open their gifts, they radiate excitement and their faces are filled with joy.

Being together as a family, watching your happy kids, and then shooting them with the Nerf guns that Santa brought is just a great way to cap off a big year.  Thanks to everyone for the cards and gifts.  Merry Christmas to all!

Someday, we would like to spend Christmas...

...at the Old Faithful Inn.

Coolest log cabin ever, and who wouldn't want to spy on Santa coming down that chimney?

Happy anniversary to us!

Nine lovely years.

We celebrated in the traditional way:  roses, takeout Indian dinner and a late-night conference call.  We hope to do a little better for our big 10th anniversary next year -- our goal is to celebrate at Hotel Del, where we honeymooned.  Sponsors and volunteer babysitters are welcome.

Thanks for visiting...

...Grandma Julie (pictured at Fort McHenry)...

...and Grandpa Jay (pictured at Valley Forge).

Over the years we've spent in DC, we've been happy to have frequent visits by family and friends, and we've made so many good memories together.  If you've been wanting to visit us but have been holding out for the perfect time, it's not too late (though you're pushing it).  And now we're looking forward to having all of our DC friends make the trip West so that we can see them and show them all of the wonderful things in/around Utah.

Tenny is Five!

Happy birthday Tenny!  We love you sooo much!

(Here's a video of some of the present-opening action, for those who are interested.)

La Famille Stewart

All five of us!