As the year comes to a close....

This year has certainly flown by! From the blizzards that started the year to the 60 degree Christmas we had yesterday, it was definitely quite an interesting year. And I am looking forward to the many memories that 2012 is sure to bring.

Chuck is managing the Taco Bell at the Travel Center he has been working at. He is doing very well and is one of the top ranking restaurant managers in the district for his company. He has been enjoying joining the men from our church Tuesdays for coffee and prayer (when he can) and he has started "guys" night at our house which has been great for Bryan.

Bryan is now in the 3rd grade and has become quite the writer. He has a wonderful imagination and enjoys story telling. I am very proud of him! He is getting straight A's in school and enjoys attending church activities. He is really growing up fast and is a very big help around the house and with his brother. His favorite show (right now) is WWE ... mostly because of the time he gets with his dad while watching it. He loves Star Wars, drawing and playing with legos.

Jesse is in his last year of preschool. I can hardly believe he will be in Kindergarten next August. He is doing really well with his speech, talks up a storm now and loves being with other kids. He loves Mickey Mouse, building with blocks, doing puzzles and play cars. He enjoys singing and making jokes. Loves to count and spell. He has made lots of big steps into being more independent and loves announcing that he is a big boy and not a baby.

I have been enjoying teaching the Mission Friends class at our church and spending time with the ladies in the book club I attend. Other than that the kids keep me pretty busy, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I am very blessed with being able to be home with them. I know it will be difficult for me to have both kids in full day school next year but at the same time look forward to not having to fit errands into a 3 hour time slot.

Christmas time is here again....

The kids are still in school but its starting to wind down for Christmas break. We have all our decorations up and I have some gifts already wrapped. We went Christmas tree shopping the other day and unexpectantly ran into Santa.... and were able to get a picture with him. Jesse wasn't as open this year to sitting with him so Chuck joined the picture. Despite Jesse's reluctance over meeting Santa, he is really excited about Christmas and has started singing a few Christmas carols. Bryan on the other hand is at the point where he is to old for Santa but doesn't want to ruin it for his brother. He is really kind of enjoying being in on the "secret". We are all really excited that Chuck will be on vacation for the week of Christmas. The only thing we are missing is the snow! Its been a warm winter so far and we have only had a dusting of snow that was gone with in hours.



School is going better for both boys. Bryan's midterm grades came back a week ago and I am proud to say that he had straight A's. He was placed in a book club which was for the more advanced readers. He has more work because of it but he is enjoying it. He loves his class but has been having some problems with another little boy... one day will be his friend, and then the next he is making fun of him. Jesse took a while to readjust to school after summer and is now starting to do better. He is talking a lot more and playing with the other kids. And is completely potty trained now!! He will be starting Kindergarten next fall with a one on one assistant which will be good for him.