Home Three Months

Life is busy. Four kids in four schools. If anything throws us off, we aren't able to get everyone where they are supposed to be. Thankfully, then our friends, neighbors and John & Karla step in to help us get everyone where they need to be. But you really want to know how the kids are doing! It is real back and forth now. I think one of the hardest things for me has been seeing how big of an adjustment this is for Austin and Tatum. While they get the big picture, their life has been turned upside down.



Easter was a lot of fun. Austin was the easter bunny at our neighborhood egg hunt. We hid 150 eggs in our house on Easter morning. It is still driving Joshua crazy that we can't find four of them. We enjoyed celebrating Jesus' resurrection with our church family and then had dinner with John and Karla and neighbors Jim and Gwen.

Austin played at Oskar Blues recently with his jazz band. He is such an awesome drummer, and it was a fun evening. He is finishing up his sophomore year and excited to get his driver's license this summer! Now he needs to find a job to pay for gas ;)

Tatum is in softball. She hopes to play in high school. She was happy to turn in her critical thinking project-a year long report all 8th graders have to complete. Now she just has to give her oral presentation. She is ready to be finished with middle school and go on to high school.



Ashley's teacher says she is at grade level in math and just moved up in her English class and is with students that have been in the US for a year now. The main thing we are working on with Ashley now is her LOUDNESS!!!!!!!! I was showing Ashley how to wash the windows on the car at the gas station, and she wanted to know if it cost money.



Ashley and Nadia's soccer team won their playoff game yesterday, so they will be playing for the championship next Friday!




Joshua's English is exploding. He still occasionally loses his temper in school, but he rebounds faster now. We are working on keeping eye contact with him as he has a hard time looking us and others in the eyes. He is much more affectionate with all of us now. I think Joshua dialed a phone for the first time about a week ago. It took him forever to find all of the right numbers, but he was so happy when dad picked up the phone on the other end. Joshua has been trying to master riding his bike with no hands, but we had to limit his practice area to our street since he ends up looking down at the handlebars and riding in the middle of the road while practicing.

We are still trying to get in as many doctor and dentist appointments as possible in case Jim gets laid off. We have had cavities filled, immunizations, eye appointments (praise-neither of them need glasses), and orthodontist appointments. Another huge praise-Ashley doesn't need braces! Joshua will need them ASAP.

Everyone is counting down the days until school is out, and we are all looking forward to Ashley's-our niece-wedding and Aaron's-our great nephew-graduation in May. It will be our first "vacation" together.

It seems like we have been a family for much more than three months. It isn't always easy, but life is good. We are thankful.