I certainly haven't been very diligent about keeping up my 'Year in the Life of a Large Family,' have I? I've been way too busy and having too much fun with genealogy to sit down and post about it all.
Quick upate on everyone:
Jared, Miranda and Makenna: Miranda graduates from Nursing school in a few weeks. She has a job interview at a local hospital in a few days. Makenna is getting so big. She's 4 1/2.
Jake, Arianne, Scotty and Stevie: Scotty fell off his bike and down our patio cement stairs and broke his arm. He had to have surgery so the doctor could place pins in his elbow. Stephen is just about walking, he's in that topsy-turvy stage where he falls a lot.
Jesse, Sage and Jaidyn went back home after staying with us for a few months. They've settled in to their new home and Jaidyn celebrates her one year birthday this week.
Sarah, Nathan, Isaiah and Lizzie: They're back in the USA from S. Korea. They're staying with us and will move to Utah this coming month. Sarah is expecting. (Yay!) Isaiah can "mad dog" with the best of them. Once he warms up to you he's a ton of fun. Elizabeth (Lizzie) is the cutest thing around. She has the pouty lip perfected when she doesn't get her way. She also is tough as nails just like her mom.
Joe: Joe is engaged and will marry Francesca (Frankie) in May. They've had eyes for one another since 2006 or so. He's working full time, coaching soccer part time, and playing soccer a few times a week.
James: James is a senior with Heritage Christian School. He helps me with driving the younger kids around. He was recently in a fender bender on our road, but everyone was okay.
John: John earned his driver's permit a few months ago. He likes driving dad's sporty car vs. my eight seater mini-van....can't imagine why. John has several jobs that he does to earn money for himself. He's a hard worker and others recognize that.
Joel: Joel is our quiet boy who flies under the radar. He's an avid football fan and loves the Colts. He's doing really well in school by studying a lot. He's going to play on the school soccer team this season.
Addis: Addis and I have had a rough couple of months. I think we're on the other side of it though. She recently pulled out of the school she was going to with John and Joel because of her math scores and is now homeschooling. We found that her understanding of previous math concepts wasn't very strong. She took a Teaching Textbooks math placement test and she's going backwards two years. She loves it as she can go at her pace whether that's two lessons or ten in a row. She also joined our homeschool Heritage Christian School just in time to join the three day basketball camp held at Alliant University. We're hoping she is picked up for one of the basketball teams and should find out this week.
Abi: Abi just finished a stellar volleyball season with Heritage Christian School. It was her first time playing and she was placed on the Junior Varsity B team. Some of her friends were on the team, and she made new friends, and let's face it....friends are what Abi is all about. She had two amazing coaches and she loved playing. She is also hoping to play basketball this coming season.
Amy: (Meskerem) This girl has come a long way. She is one of the most affectionate fun-loving girls around. She's homeschooling and also went to basketball camp. We were allowed to have her use a glove on her right hand because of her burn and scar tissue. We found a football glove, but she didn't use it until the third day of camp. I just wanted her to have something in case the irritation to the hand was too much.
Anna: Anna is a sweetie pie. She also wants to help me in any way she can. She too went to basketball camp, but the physical activity wears her out. She's just not as much as an active girl as the other girls. She'd much rather draw, paint, read a book, or cook. She takes a doll class with the other two girls and they make things for their dolls.
Adah: Adah is our resident informant. If you want to know something that's going on in the family you ask Adah. She too played basketball and took it very seriously as she does with most things. She's a little mommy with her nieces and nephews and loves the idea that they're younger than she is.
Me: I've been busy keeping up with all of the above people. I learned how to line judge for volleyball. I'm working in the nursery at church. I teach at three different Class Days, and help in the Preschool class. I celebrated my birthday at Etna's Pizza and afterwards at La Jolla Shores swimming in the warm water.
I did have a health scare after slamming on my brakes the next day. It caused some internal bleeding which resulted in test after test after test. Pretty sure I'm okay since I'm up at at 'em, and pruning our oak trees for hours on end.
Steve: He's working hard as usual! You can find him at work, an elder meeting, Bible study, or with us. We've gone to a lot of concerts this year. This week we get to see Fleetwood Mac AGAIN!!!!
