Riley: This year my sweet, beautiful, and poised Riles left 5th grade and began 6th. She moved up to Majors in Little League baseball and again chose to play in a dominantly male league rather than with the girls. She reads a lot and she and I have been able to read some of the same books and talk about them which has been fun. As always she is a big help at home and is a great sister to the other kids. She has learned to do laundry (which she could have done before if I hadn't been so uptight about my laundering ways). She's had a good time bike riding and running around the neighborhood with the other girls on the street. She likes to cook and bake. Finally she turned 12 and will be entering Young Womens. Since her birthday is so close to the end of the year she had to stick it out in Primary with me. She has shown a lot of maturity and sensitivity. She has also taken up playing the clarinet and has had one concert. Ri continues to play the piano and sounds wonderful. Despite her efforts I have still not learned to play the bottom hand:( Right now she is back in Jr. Jazz basketball and has been kicking it out on the court.
Jack: Oh my Jackie Boy. He has come a long way this year. He recently had his first unschool anniversary!!! If he were in The School From Hell he would be in 4th grade. He has begun reading a lot. He enjoyed it before but found large books daunting....as he was finding most things. He just passed off 5th grade math before the Christmas break and should be overtaking Riley in 6th grade in the near future. Jack has finally become the boy that I knew was hiding under all of the sadness and anxiety. Jack earned his Wolf in Cub Scouts and should be earning his Bear in the next few weeks. He also played flag football, consistently attends scouts, gives talks in Primary, leads opening exercises at co-op, had two large Primary Program parts, and talks to people. All of those things are things he never would have done a year ago. This year Jack has started not just homeschool but also co-op (The School of Awesomeness) with some other families in the area. He has become very good friends with the kids....especially the boys and has the run of the neighborhood with them. They ride bikes, have survival days down in the washes with litters of foxes, do farm chores, and play lots and lots of football! His anxiety is managed and he is happy and funny! He has also shown a very compassionate side and is a great brother and also really good with any younger children that come through our home.
Piglet just before Thumbelina
Mads: My little talented beauty. Mads finished kindergarten in a blaze of glory and is well into first grade. She loves the friends she has and is very kind and generous, going out of her way to make others feel welcome. She has a very best friend, Avs, and they believe they are twins from different parents. First grade has been a bit of a challenge....as in so far, it's not a challenge. Madison would prefer to be homeshcooled. I regret not taking Jack out sooner so I am very conflicted about what to do with Mads. She doesn't need homeschool in all of the same ways Jack does, but either way she will be successful. This was Mads first year in Little League baseball and according to her was her last. There was not enough action to keep her entertained. Mads also took part in the local children's theater when they put on the play Thumbelina. Although her part was small...just like her...she did a fantastic job as a lady bug and as a fairy warrior. If she agrees to do any more theater, she wants larger roles:) Mads loves, loves to read and has carried a copy of Harry Potter with her since she was a toddler. She has spread her wings to other novels, loves to write stories (which are always hilarious), and to draw pictures. She usually also carries a sketch pad or notebook everywhere. During the summer she made a large portfolio of drawings which she sold to neighbors for college tuition. She also plays the piano, but as I am too cheap, she has never had an actual lesson.
Max: My charming little beast. His heart is so soft that he can't stand it if I raise my voice.....but he can beat the **** out of anyone that crosses him. Max has a witty laugh and devilish grin. He is very mischievious. Every morning when he wakes up he wants 3 things......chocolate milk, a cuddle, and to challenge me at Mario Cart Wii. He has worked his way through many preschool workbooks at my request and his disdain. He cares not for anything educational, very much unlike his siblings. He loves to cut up anything scissors will go through, look at books, be read to, color, and make pictures that he then tapes together as a gift for me. Max is wild for outdoors and sports. He would like to spend everyday with Coppa doing farm things. Max has successfully avoided preschool because I cannot let my baby go. He is great at doing chores....laundry and dishes, but generally likes to use the excuse that he just can't do anything so that everyone else in the house will come to his rescue and he can sit on the couch with a cup of chocolate milk and watch us take care of everything. Max has been the witness to many football, baseball, and basketball games this year. He can't wait until he is the one playing them. His most notorious accomplishment this year.....find some way to make you say 'what?' so he can say..."'YOU IT!"
Jason: Officer Handsome has accomplished so many things that I will never remember them all. He spent a week in Montreal, Canada at a Drug Recognition Expert conference. He learned a lot about social issues outside of Utah. He continues to work 36 hour days as he travels from SLC to Blanding. He makes court appearances, trains new and seasoned officers, instructs firearms, tends bar, teaches concealed weapons classes, teaches at the University, and plays bishop/nanny at the University where he works part time on their police department. In church he serves as a Gospel Doctrine instructor, which I hear he is good at, but have never born witness to. He was even asked to speak at the Stake Festival of Choirs. As usual......everyone loved him. Among other accomplishments this year, he has finally taken me on a honeymoon, put in sod on nearly an acre, and ripped out the master bathroom shower. One of his favorite guns was treated to a new sweater this Christmas....to the rapture of both he and the gun. He continues to cater to my every whim, making him indespensable.
Me: Despite the mounting evidence that suggests I spend a grave amount of time with my feet up and a crystal dish of bon bons at my side.......I sometimes find it necessary to move about. Having botched my first opportunity at Primary President, it has been presented again. God has showered me with the blessing of a Presidency that I adore. Three other amazing women keep me on track, stop me from being so hard hearted, and have become dear friends. With Master Jack at home all day......every day.....I have again become a teacher. Jack and I also helped form a co-op, the previously mentioned School of Awesomeness. I spend some time each month with the fantabulous kids in our little private shcool being their science teacher. I strive to either scare the pants off of them or make them love me. Also this year, I have spent a lot of time on introspection and began journaling a lot, thinking a lot, praying a lot, learning a lot, making lots of mistakes, being thankful for them and thankful for the chance to fix them. As usual I continue to disregard responsibility for the greater pleasure of reading. I have done some yard saling, furniture re-inventing, crafting, interior decorating, craft fairing. I went on an amazing! out of the country! honeymoon/15th anniversary cruise. Since the day I returned to the States I have wanted to leave again......to the place where there are 5 course meals served hot, snacks inbetween, a pitch black stateroom, a swaying ship, and someone that folds and restores my lingerie every time I leave my room. I also gave up drinking pop. I have not yet passes a day in which I do not crave it.
Everyone: This year we hiked Mt. Timp, spent some time in a condo in Park City, visited a waterpark frequently, went to the BYU museum to see a painting exhibit, watched a universe movie on the dome of the Planetarium, watched many many many sporting events, spent the summer at the pool, spent a lot of time with friends, graduated from Utah Foster Care classes, sent off people we love dearly to live in Florida, got a HUGE dog, read lots of books, saw lots of movies, snuggled, played, gardened, sang, danced, and made lots of goals for 2012.
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