Hope Update - 5 1/2 years old

Hope Elizabeth turned 5 this past January. She is gearing up to start Kindergarten in the fall and is very very excited about it. She is our little book worm. She spends at least part of everyday practicing writing and drawing. She is also infatuated with learning Roman's math facts flash cards we've been working on this summer and she is beginning to read. I know she will fly through Kindergarten with no problems. In March we took her to see a pediactric opthamologist after she failed the eye exam for her Kindergarten physical. Turns out she's already near-sighted. She does look adorable in her new glass though! She has been busy this year playing soccer and she began dance classes, ballet and tap. In May she had her 1st recital and so just so beautiful on stage!!! Her big passion right now is music. She LOVES music. High School Musical is her fav movie of all time and she can recite it word for word songs and all. It is too cute. She too has made a lot of friends this past year. Her best friend right now is probably Evangelina. Other friends include Madison, Cole, Quinn, Rebecca, and Ella. She is still the sweetest child ever. Still oh so dramatic at times, the ultimate Drama Queen. And still 120% GIRL. It's all about the pink and the flowers and the purses and the clothes. She is a bit of a shopaholic and we're having to keep that in check these days. Oh, and she refuses to clean, it is beneath her, so she has been paying her brother to do it for her. "I just don't clean, it's gross and it's not me." Her big ambitions in life has upgraded (I think) from her former desire to be a cashier at Food Lion. She nows dreams of owning her own business.... an ice cream truck to drive around the neighborhoods selling ice cream to kids!

Roman Update - 7 1/2 years old

Roman has just completed 1st grade. His teacher was Mrs. Powers. He did fantastic in school, his reading has really taken off. School studies still are coming easily for him. Sometimes a little too easy making him hard to keep motivated. He has gotten so big this year it's not even funny. Amazing what a difference a year makes! His best friend in the whole world is still Josh Sammon, whom we did get to visit with last month (but that's a whole other post of it's own!). He has made lots of other friends this past year as well and is becoming quite social. His friends list today include Elijah, Josiah, David, Truman, Quinn, Cole, Matthew H., Matthew J., Ian, Kyle, Zach, Steven, and Chloe. Notice the girl side of his list this year took a dramatic plumet. Roman spent this past year active in soccer and Cub Scouts as well as church - a great change for our entire family. He is gearing up to play football for Reams this fall and quite excited about that, though torn about missing fall soccer. I haven't paid for either quite yet, so we'll see where that leads us. His biggest interests still revolve around sports, cars, Star Wars, and Pirates. And his future ambitions still are pointing towards a career in the military, though the branch has shifted, right now his heart is set on the Army (but last year was all about the Navy). Roman is stubborn and a tad hard headed. He's an observer and the quietest of the family. He is very kind and loving, especially to his sisters. He is reserved and tends to keep things bottled up inside a little too much at times. He is 110% boy. Last night there was a dead fly on the floor in the den and he was determined to examine it. When I fussed as he picked it up he tells me, "It's okay mom, I'm a boy. This is just what we do!"

Been far too long

The kids are growing like weeds and I'm been too busy and too exhausted trying to keep up with them to keep this place up and running. Sooooooooooo many wonderful times and great memories have been missed and a few already forgotten I'm sure. AS life starts to settle back in I'm going to try to get this place back up and running.

A quick update on the last 6 months....

Barbara's house finally sold in March. We are busily trying to get the final touches completed on the Redbridge house to get her moved in early July. Looking forward to getting my house in order once and for all, as well as a few projects I want completed.

Last October we began going to Trinity Church of the Nazarene and have become very involved with out church. It is a small church and very family oriented which is just perfect for us. James has joined the band for the contemporary service and is loving it. We've made a lot of really great friends through our church. On Easter Sunday this past April, the unimaginable happened, James was baptized! Yup, it really truly did snow that morning! LOL

In May we took a trip to Florida to visit the Sammons and then to South Carolina on the way back up for Joey's graduation.... I'll post a full post on this as it was just too big a moment and needs to be captured all on it's own!

Earlier this month we adopted a puppy. He looks like a purebred beagle, but is suspected to be some sort of hound/beagle/basset mix. His name is Trooper and he is too cute for words, and for his own good for that matter. He is a biter and we're having a few issues with that, but otherwise he really is a perfect dog for our family and fits in so well! He travels well, he's obnoxiously friendly (like his big sisters!), and most of the time quite sweet. The kids have so far been doing a wonderful job with him!

Yes there was, of course a lot more to my time away, but those the main things to note for now. I'm sure I'll think of something else later.