Summer of Memories

Posted by Tracy

I'd love to be able to say that I am turning over a new leaf and that this blog will stay updated. However, I've built a reputation as crying wolf in that regard, and I'm not so sure there are enough leaves out there for me to keep this up. Perhaps I'm trying to turn over the whole forest, but nevertheless, I apologize for the long absence. In those fateful words: "We'll try to do better this time."

I just wanted to be able to update everyone on what we have been up to lately. As many of you already know, we were able to go back home to Pittsburgh over the summer while I worked in an internship with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Not only was the internship a wonderful experience, we were also able to stay with Hanna's family; which was a wonderful opportunity for Hanna and Sophie to spend time with "YaYa and PapPap". It was amazing to see all the things that Sophie learned over the summer.

(Sophie showing off at YaYa and PapPap's)

Although the internship did not end up with us receiving an offer to work in Pittsburgh full-time next year, it was a great experience. I'll post an update on that front soon - but it looks like we may end up further east than originally planned (in D.C., NYC, or maybe Conneticut?). Either way, it will be nice to be closer to family: Nana, GrandPierre (?), YaYa, PapPap, and the rest of the gang.

In more recent news, Hanna has been very busy lately taking care of Sophie and somehow managing to make a "Home" out of the ridiculous schedule I maintain. Hanna does an excellent job though and keeps things in order just long enough for Sophie or me to mess it all up again. She really is the glue that holds the whole operation together. Although she hasn't been able to work 'officially' for quite some time now, she has been rather good about taking a few clients and working out of the house. She ends up having a hair appointment pretty frequently that way, and it is always great to see her doing something she is so gifted at.

Beyond 'holding down the fort', Hanna has been infected with some kind of passion and vigor about this final year in Provo being "The Year". She is determined to make good on our many "we should go/do..." discussions and has been arranging my schedule accordingly. Armed with her gym membership, friends, maps, and lists; she is out to make our final year in Utah a truly spectacular one. I've caught myself wondering when I traded in my wife for a motivational speaker; but it is exciting to have her by my side - often leading the way to fun and adventure. It's hard to keep up with her these days, even though she did just turn 26! *hides*

Sophie has been very busy. As seen in the video above, she has learned so very much. Thanks to Hanna, she is learning all her colors, numbers, shapes, and words - surpassing all of our expectations. She came with quite an attitude attached to her when she showed up in our lives and it has been a blessing to watch this ball of passion pave her way in life.


As for me, it is back to work and school as usual. I have a very busy year ahead of me, but I am thrilled and excited with the opportunities that have come up. Even though things didn't work out with PwC in Pittsburgh, a number of even better opportunities (career-wise that is) have come flooding in our way. Hopefully we will know soon where it is exactly that we will be moving to. (I say that laughing while Hanna looks at me with 'that look')

I will still be working at Novell Inc. in the Internal Audit group for the next year, and will be trying to put in around 35 hours a week there. They have given me wome wonderful projects and it has been a great blessing in our lives that the job at Novell worked out. I've taken on a second job this year again (last year I worked as a Research Assistant for some accounting professors), and will be working with a Professor Wilks as a Teaching Assistant for his graduate Accounting Research class. It is truly an honor to work with such a respected scholar in the accounting world and I am excited to be working on the class. Of course there is always school mixed in there, and with another 18 credits this semester, it is hard to ignore. However, the classes I am taking are extremely interesting and I look forward to all the learning which my brain is about to experience.

All in all, Hanna and I (and Sophie) are looking forward to a wonderful year out here in the mountains. We have loved being here and will surely miss it when we're gone.



We hope all is well with you (whoever you are - I'm not sure if anyone reads this after all our 'crying wolf'). We hope to get better at the internet communication and socializing - joining ranks with the 21st century. God bless!

One Month Later

Posted by Tracy and Hanna

Well, it’s been over a month now since Sophie arrived and it’s hard to believe how much has happened. The 16th marked Sophie’s One Month Birthday! There’s a lot to catch everyone up on, so we’ll just dive right in.

Just so everyone knows, Sophie is doing great and growing every day. She got over her Jaundice pretty quickly and is doing wonderful now. At her two week appointment, she had already gone past her birth-weight and was a strong 7 lbs 2 oz. We think she is about 8 1/2 pounds now, but we'll find out for sure at her next appointment. She’s an extremely alert baby and loves to watch whatever you may be doing at the time. She’s especially enjoying her new swing; although perhaps not as much as we are! In other news, we think she is really trying to master her smile. She is smiling a lot more lately and seems to be a little more interactive and responsive.

We recently had some visitors stay with us and we’re already missing the company. Not long after we got home from the hospital, Tracy’s mother came to stay with us and help take care of the baby. After an eventful and unforgettable bus trip across country (something which likely merits a blog entry of its own), Mary Ann got to hold the baby for the first time; it was love at first sight. Sophie was so happy to have Nana here to hang out with. We still can’t imagine what we would have done without having Mary Ann here with us to help.

In the middle of Mary Ann’s visit, we also had a second wave of arrivals. Mary Ann’s sisters (Tracy’s aunts) came to visit—a surprise we couldn’t have even guessed at. Aunt Tina and Aunt Pat came and stayed in Provo for a couple days and again: it was so incredibly nice to have them here. Not only did we have a blast just hanging out in Provo with Sophie, but we made our way up for a day in Park City as well. It was the first time we had been to Park City and the experience was really wonderful. We think our favorite part of the entire day was the drive in or out of Park City. We went both ways; both from Salt Lake and then down through Heber, and the views were absolutely spectacular.

We were so grateful to have family in town to stay with us. It was so wonderful to hang out together and enjoy this wonderful new life that has come to stay. And it appears that the rest of the summer will be filled with visitors as well! May brings Hanna’s sisters, Nicole and Chelsea. June brings Hanna’s Parents. July brings Tracy’s sister Shayla (hopefully), with the end of the month ushering in a swarm of Farr’s staying into August. The beginning of August marks Tracy’s Great-Grandmother Vontella Farr’s 100th Birthday! His family is planning a trip to come out for the celebration.

The past few weeks and the weeks ahead have truly reminded us the joys of Family. We miss so much having family close by. We can’t wait to be able to move back East and be close to our old friends and family. In the mean time, we might be having a new recruit to the West if Tracy’s little sister, Katie, ends up at BYU! We’ll keep our fingers crossed!