Year In Review

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone we did not have the pleasure of being able to see this year! It's been a long, crazy year. Our hopes for 2010 include a stable market that supports the growth of the construction industry (for obvious reasons!) and our family's peacefulness and happiness. We have been blessed this year and are grateful that we have not suffered the hardships that have befallen so many other families this year - however, there have been other ordeals. But, I think it is true that life would otherwise be too dull without a fair sprinkling of adversity. C'est la vie!

Dylan made leaps and bounds in his speech and capacity to handle transitions this year since beginning preschool on his third birthday, September 25th. We are looking forward to the rest of the school year as he learns more things - we are focused on learning shapes, colors, numbers, letters and other skills like potty-training and drawing a straight line. Perhaps we may even find a speech therapist who is available soon!

Rhianna came home this summer from her father's and also started a new school - BIG CHANGES! She's sixteen, in her sophomore year at West Sound Academy. Her goals for 2010 include her poetry teacher helping her focus almost solely on poetry for January Term (a new approach - but, she's excited and so are we) and publishing some of her work. She is up for the challenge, have been deemed as one of the school's most prolific writers.

Sam received his very own tool belt and tools for Christmas from Byran. The big project this spring will be building a dog house for our little Pekingese, Oliver. Does he need a dog house? Well, that's not really the point. The puppy is snoozing next to me on the couch, so perhaps not. But, it sounds like a fun project. The father-son duo have successfully completed numerous projects together this year, and Sam has been a happy and enthusiastic participant.

Byran has been working hard this year - staying handsome and busting his behind to not only work full-time, but also completing side jobs and renovating our new home. He has finished the bathroom (mostly), the kitchen (mostly), our bedroom (mostly) and has replaced all the trim in the major living areas. We still need to replace some doors, knock down walls, put in an island...or a peninsula. Or maybe something else. Or sell and move. A carpenter's house is never done. Really.

Rachel loves, loves, LOVES Green Mountain Elementary. She is doing well - all 3s and pluses on her report card! She loves her friends and is excited about turning 11, the Daddy-Daughter dance (which Byran will take her to again this year!), and is excited to get back to school after the break. She got everything that she wanted for Christmas (going to see the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel) and plenty of snow gear. At first she was excited about it snowing, but once she learned that she might miss school she didn't want it to snow anymore. I can't complain about that. Funny girl!

My big plan for 2010 is to finish my bachelor's degree. At present, the plan is to wrap it up in October. I will be spending my summer focusing on my senior project - bummer for the kids, but if all goes well I will be taking the entire 2011 OFF. I really don't have any other plans for 2010. Just this. Oh, and of course facilitating family life, raising our kids, and all the regular mom stuff.

Here's some fun stuff I had to include:

Dylan - who refuses to take naps anymore - fell asleep on the dog's blanket. I missed out on this one, so Byran took some photos. He slept for a few hours, apparently. Must be comfortable!

Rhianna took a whole bunch of photos of herself in her room. The ear buds are permanently adhered to her head. I forget what she looks like without them.

Byran took this photo of me, Dylan, Rhianna and Rachel. They were all smiling! What a fun group.

Rhianna at one of her first formal dances (later and Uncle Dave and Auntie Saleina's). She's so beautiful!!

Dylan in his beanie and winter coat for the first time. He pretty much hates all new things. New clothes, new routines, new places, new textures, new fabrics. It was cold, so Byran got him to WEAR his coat AND beanie and had to text me the photo. It was pretty cool.