To catch you up on the last...um...six months or so...
We moved! (Insert chorus of angels here.) I won't bore you with all the stressful details of finding and buying our new pad, but I'll just tell you that we are now the very happy owners of a lovely new-to-us place. We got everything (almost) that we wanted in the new home new: 5 bedrooms (essential for a family of 6), a playroom (essential for a mom who doesn't like toys scattered all over the house), a school room (essential for a homeschool family), a HUGE storage room equipped with a sink and bathroom and lots of built-in shelves (this room is next to the school room and doubles as our art/science room since it has easy-to-clean floors!), a music room (for all those cellos and my big piano), a real dining room (although it's still empty because we don't have a dining room table yet). We are in a good school district, should I ever decide to put my kids in public school, and we are close to the interstate (essential after living in Karns for several years and feeling cut-off from the world!) We are just really happy here. The biggest hurdle was that our old house hadn't sold when we put an offer on this one. So, the idea of two mortgages put us in a panic enough that we decided to rent the old place. And so we are now landlords. It actually hasn't been as scary as I thought.
I started homeschooling again this fall--this time registered with the county so it's official. We're over halfway through the year now and still loving it (most days). We are participating in the co-op again this year, and I'm teaching a preschool class there while my big boys go to their own classes. What a joy!
MIKE GRADUATED! Yes, yes. Mike went back to school and finished his BS in Organizational Management in December. No real change in our lives right now, since he's not planning to leave his current job, but it is SO wonderful that he has his degree now so he has so many more options for his future.
I took on leading the middle school youth at our church. I've only just started, so it's too early for me to say how it's going. I think it will be a great experience for me (and hopefully the youth too!)
Jackson and Ei played soccer in the fall, and Jackson is playing basketball now. They will both play baseball in the spring. They are both taking cello lessons and group classes. I need a secretary to keep up with their schedules.
Aaron turns 3 next month. We're potty training with moderate success. He is hilarious.
Nolan turned one in November. He's still referred to as "the baby" around here though. He is still nursing and sleeping in my bed, and I don't plan to make him grow up anytime soon.
I'm having a niece next month. I'm sure you'll hear all about her because I am just so excited I could burst.
Okay, so sorry about the "Christmas card letter" post. I will do better about posting...maybe. For now, I leave you with this picture of my precious family. Happy 2011, all.
