Ashley
continues to enjoy cooking. Most recently,
she baked a cheese cake for Valentine's Day. She is
also enjoying updating her
website
much more frequently than before and she has a
MySpace. (She taught me to customize mine!) Looking
forward to working as a lifeguard this summer, she is
seeking to renew her certifications. And, as always,
she is reading a great deal, including recently finishing
The Count of Monte Cristo and Kidnapped.
Joshua
is making huge progress since going on enzymes to
help with any gluten intolerances he might have. He will
ask us for a particular movie if we are headed to the movie
store, for example. His reading has improved at least a
grade level as far as fluency goes since regularly taking
the enzymes. His social and play skills are also making huge
progress--autistic-ly speaking.
Jon
was the first to make friends in our new neighborhood.
He is also the one who has changed the most since we've
arrived in Texas. Jon's voice now sounds like his father's
when heard through the walls and his shoe size is one larger
than his father's, a fact of which he is quite proud. There
are a lot of military families near us and Jonnie enjoys
adding "military" to any game he plays, such as "military tag".
Jon has already been to a birthday party at one of his new
friend's house. I am looking into the local Little League
and hoping we are not too late to enjoy baseball season this year.
Zac
--was he ever really a baby?--has taught himself to read,
write, and tell time. He speaks of things in a manner that
is too grown-up for his age. He is picking up on slang from
Jonnie, such as "dude" and "bro" and "cool". He wants to be
just like Jonnie. He can play very well with Abby, but his
favorite right now is to play with his big brother and he is
lost if Jonnie plays outside with his friends for too many
hours/days in a row. He just really enjoys those "boy" games.
Abby
had to get new glasses since moving to Texas. They look
very similar to her old pair, except they are a size larger.
Abby grows so slowly that they honestly do not fit properly and
continue to slide down her nose despite several adjustments.
However, her old size was getting to small. Abby is a very tiny
girl. She still has a baby voice but her face is no longer that
of a toddler. Hers is the face most changed since moving to Texas.
She also knows most of her alphabet and can write a lot of the
letters. A lot of her new knowledge is self taught; some of it
was taught to her by Zac. Abby loves anything "girly" and pink.
Matthew
is working with the SBA and has been away from the family
quite often. He has worked in LA, SD, CA, OR, and now he is in AR.
He says the devastation where he is at is unbelievable, but he
enjoys being able to help people get back on their feet. The job
pays well, but we miss seeing him. He has still not opened his
Christmas gifts and they sit, waiting for him, in our closet.
On a positive note, he was an assistant lead recently possibly
opening the door to other opportunities within the SBA or, at the
very least, a pay increase. He would like to get on full time with
the Feds sometime soon so he can come home to his family at night.
I
have managed to keep off the 25 lbs. plus I lost on Weight Watchers
and hope to soon loose 25 more. Matthew bought me a wonderful new
digital camera for Christmas and an 80G iPod for our 15th Anniversary
this year. He is spoiling me. We have saved up enough money for me
to get a "new" mini-van as soon as our tax return arrives. So, I am
waiting for the tax return excitedly. This will be the nicest car I
have owned in years. When I buy it, I will be mobile again, as our
current vehicle won't fit all the children and myself. I am looking
forward to church, kids' sports, and Weight Watchers, as well as possibly
joining a local home school group and making friends!
Please check out the
diaries page for links to the kids' diaries
and more in-depth information on each individual child.
