Hey family,
I think Mom's idea is great, so I will start. I have my other blog, but it's not really for family stuff--it's just for thinking things out--so this one can be for family news.
So here's the basic outlines of our lives:
CLIFF has sold his practice (in March). He's been teaching full-time in the medical academy at the Fremont ROP for the last few years. He's doing well there but is ready to move out of the classroom. There is also the little detail that after living off of both sources of income for so many years we need to replace the practice income. So, he's working on that. He's very happy to be out of practice. He really didn't like running his own business. He's a ward missionary right now which I don't know if he likes or dislikes. But anyway, he gives it his full effort just like he always does.
AUDREY is doing the same things as always. I am currently the singing time leader in primary, which is a much more challenging calling than I ever knew. I am settling in, though, and am enjoying it. It is a privilege to be known by the primary children and I love that part of it especially. I am also finally going to get the grand piano that I have wanted for so long. If you've talked to me at all lately (since December), I must have mentioned this to you. I prayed for this piano and the means with which to buy it and both have found me. It will be in my house in the next few weeks, I hope. Tomorrow I will find a piano mover and schedule the move. I CAN'T WAIT.
RAYNE is loving BYUI. She loves class and is getting very good grades. She was very blessed with roommates that she really liked in January. They were all on different tracks, though, so 2 went home and one stayed when one of the tracks ended in April. They all plan to live together next year for the months they will be at school at the same time. Rayne does not like me to talk about her EVER, to which I mentally say "get over it!" but to which I verbally acquiesce. I would like to publicly state, though, that I wish I wasn't always being told what I am and am not allowed to say. Sigh! I am allowed to say that Rayne is dating. That is all. Anyway, she's happy and she's coming home in July to stay and work until school begins in January.
CHASE will be 17 in a few weeks--on July 11. He is looking for a job because he's tired of never having the money to do what he wants. Oh! And he wants to save for a mission and college too, of course. He'll be starting his senior year next year and he thinks school is just a speed bump on the road of his life. He does well on all his assignments and I am sure he could do well on anything he tried. He has a great group of friends, male and female, with whom he regularly does stuff. This ward is great with youth and I am very grateful for that. Chase has a very good sense of humor which makes living with him easy. He also never shuts up and has an answer for everything, which makes me a little crazy. Where does he get that from, I wonder? He is into video games, of course, and airsoft. We have a great yard for airsoft battles.
ALLEGRA turns 13 this week. So I now have 3 teenagers. Amazing. And they are all pretty nice, too, how lucky is that? Anyway, she is busy making friends with the girls in our ward. It's a challenge cuz they are all very different from her. So it's fun, but it's work too, if you get my meaning. She will be in 8th grade next year and she has a very strong interest in all things about the human body. She loves science. She is still reading like crazy. She is starting to get interested in clothing too, which I think is a good thing. She has her own little sense of style, which is quite unique. She is a very loving girl still and she likes to talk. I really like her. She is in her Beehive class presidency and she takes her responsibilities very seriously. Everyone loves Allegra.
ISAIAH is 10. He loves to eat. He also loves to ride his bike, he loves to swim, he loves to run around and he loves to read. And of course he loves video games. And airsoft. And his mom. He is always taking care of me and looking out for me. He is good at math, even though he complains when he has to do it. I'm a mean mother and I'm making both Allegra and Isaiah do math this summer. He is very good at being friends and he can make friends with anyone. He and I have occasional power struggles, but we work it out. He's a Webelo in scouts, which he also really likes. Cub scout day camp just finished and on the last day all the scouts did a little triathalon (which they do every year). He improved his time by over a minute this year and he was proud.
So that's the family update. We are all healthy. We love Sunol and we love our new ward. Cliff spends a lot of time in the yard with dad working on projects. Chase comes out when pressed. He doesn't really enjoy it but he wants to help out, so... The little kids work out there when they are given jobs. It's fun to be there.
After this updates will be less Christmas-letterish. I hope all of you will add your blogs too. I'd love to be in better touch.
