6 for 6

This year, all six of us are going to different schools. If we make it through with getting us all to schools with no tardies this year, it will be a major success. We've had a few close calls already...

James is in his last year of MBA school. He's starting to interview for some positions and getting excited to think of changes coming his way. There is a sense of satisfaction about him that I have not seen in years. He really is going to finish what is basically 3 straight years of 7 week condensed-curriculum classes (think Spring/Summer classes at BYU for 3 years straight...no breaks!) I so admire his endurance! Even with so much on his plate he has been such an amazing support to me as I have started new endeavors, .

I've begun a MSW program at VCU this Fall, and I'm loving the excitement of learning again. I have learned (already!) so much about myself and am so grateful for all that our family has been blessed with. I'm just through midterm papers, and look forward to 6 more intense weeks until I can officially say that I've completed 2 classes. The program is mostly online coursework and will take 4 years of part-time study to finish. I'm already seeing how much this will impact who I am and what my focus will be when the kids are all in school. It is so exciting!

Eliza turned 13 this month. She has been such a huge help. She often gets Rachel off the bus when I'm running to pick up Seth, and babysits for James and I to get some sanity time together. For one of her YW projects she has published a book for a friend who was diagnosed with Leukemia this past summer. She gathered 100 stories from the students and teachers at the middle school and published them through blurb.com. Her friend will go into isolation for 100 days for bone marrow transplants, so the book has stories and journal spaces and riddles for each of the 100 days. I so admire the compassion she has shown!

Seth is having his BEST. Year. Ever. We kept him at the same elementary school to finish off 5th grade, even though our neighborhood was redistricted (for the 2nd time...I'm not bitter) to our 3rd elementary school since living in VA. He has done so well at keeping track of his assignments and deadlines on his own (so far!). He has great friends, decided to try year-round swimming and is getting quite the workout. I so admire his dedication!

Rachel just turned 9 and started 3rd grade at a school all by herself. For a third child, who is used to having older siblings at school with her, she has transitioned very well. There have been days where she reminisces about her last school and wishes she had her old friends to play with at recess. Her outgoing personality has helped her reach out and make new friends. I so admire the courage she has shown in this transition!

Caroline just turned 5 a little over a week ago. My baby is 5?! Where has the time gone? She's in her last year of preschool and just asked me yesterday if she was 5 1/2. Slow down! She is still my big helper and makes me smile every day with her funny/outrageous/passionate outbursts. I would've really been overwhelmed with her as my first, but as my last, I'm in awe this little person who has REAL opinions...on everything. I do admire how she is not afraid to be herself!

So, there's a little bit on where we are. Why we're not blogging. I'll try and take our yearly family picture at Halloween and post it, but make no promises!

hmmm

I've got to decide what to do about this blog. I love it to be able to share pictures, give updates for family far away, but in the same sense I REALLY stink at just that. I don't like to see this as another thing that needs attention.

At the same time, I feel like during the last 6 months I've really become distant from people. I love to see what you all are posting, but feel it's only fair to blog back. I've got to figure out how to take time out for myself and just enjoy blogging and commenting on others' blogs. Instead, I sit here thinking of the million things I should/could be doing. Probably the same reason I haven't read a good book, quilted or done much of anything else in the way of hobbies lately.

I'll think about it and come up with something for the New Year.

halloween 2010

Ingredients for a great Halloween:

1 witch, 1 stop light, 1 mad scientist and 1 princess.
Mix together and add 2 parental units. Enjoy!

up for air

(sigh of relief). I made it. Through 3 sweet girls' birthdays, a baptism, a school basketball season, a swim season, an art class session and a husband's birthday. I think I will rise to the surface to get a big breath of air just in time for the holiday season to be upon us.

progress

Today I finally took some progress pictures of our path. We were given the advice to wait until September to do the landscaping. It's nice to have an excuse NOT to work on this...for another two weeks. It's been a ton of work, and given us the best tans of our lives (which isn't saying much for me). ;)

What's left: landscaping consultation, top soil, plants/trees and mulch. (And more sand in the cracks...there's always more sand to brush.)

swim team

I haven't posted nearly enough pictures of the kids lately. Here are a few taken the last practice of summer swim team. I love summer swim. This was our 5th year on the same team, and it's like a big family reunion now. We get to see friends that we only see in the summer...every day. I love the routine it gives us, and the exercise. All 3 kids did great this year!

one down

Tonight marks the final night of class for James' first year back in school. I am so grateful to have this year under our belts. We made it, and we'll never have to do that again! :) I like to think this way...very final, I know.

It's not that this year has been terrible--I just wouldn't want to do it over again. We've made lots of progress, but we were stretched to the limit in the process. I'm starting to see this pattern in our lives. A few years of respite, followed by some serious shaping. Some slack...then life revved up to the max. I should just get used to it and count on these times and be really grateful for the breaks and down time when they come. Instead I fight it. I'm not one that enjoys roller coasters. I once did. Now I really prefer a steady, solid footing...on the firmament (as Kristen would say). I think the coming year will be a lot more even-keel.

So, looking forward...

I'm excited to see what the coming schoolyear has in store for each of us:

James: international internship, August off of school
Valerie: time twice a week with no children at home
Eliza: first year of middle school
Seth: oldest (in our family) at elementary school
Rachel: baptism in the fall
Caroline: first year of preschool

It'll be a good one. :)