Sunday, March 15, 2009

Family Update

I realize that I haven't been exactly fair. Mostly I share stories/pictures/videos of Jimmy and Kristi (mostly because they're way more exciting than I am) but now I'd like to rectify the situation by sharing a little bit about everyone.

Dad- He's been busy doing ward conferences. He really loves his lesson- it's about light (that's really all I can tell you because I haven't heard it yet.) but he loves light, lighthouses, etc, and he really loves this lesson.
Also exciting for Dad, he recently came into contact with one of his mission companions that he served with. It was kind of funny how it happen. Robert is serving with Dad's comp's daughter and happened to help Dad make the connection the week before one of his friends from the Mission came down to visit.
Mission Reunion


Mom- She's been working hard to keep our crazy lives together. She is no longer teaching Gospel Doctrine (which I think she's actually missed a little) and is now playing the piano in Primary.

Julie- She's actually got enough credits to graduate now but isn't sure if she's going to continue in school to go into teaching or what. By the way, she's a math major. She is out with friends, and a boyfriend, most nights of the week.
She and Nathan took the kids to a park recently, here are some pictures:
Trip to the Park


Robert- Still on the Mission. He's Assistant to the President and incredibly busy. He loves Romania and the people there. I'm not sure if it has sunk in yet that he has to come home in a few months. As far as we know, he's planning to stay here and go to school once he gets back.

Linda- I don't have much of a life- school, work, institute, lots of driving. I used to know the words to none of the songs on the radio, but now that I'm in the car so much driving to and from the office, home, and school, I know more of the songs than even Amy. She was shocked to hear me sing along with almost all of the songs we heard one day on our way into work. I'm still teaching Gospel Essentials, but I don't know why. I don't think I'm very good at it, but our bishop keeps assuring me that's where I'm supposed to be (probably just to keep me there). I've been taking a racquetball class this semester which has been great. I'm hoping to get good enough so that I can beat Robert when he comes home.

Amy- She's a social butterfly. This year she was sophomore class v.p. and now she's running for next year's junior class v.p. She's almost sixteen, which I'd imagine she's pretty excited for but she knows better than to let on that she is really looking forward to being able to date because she knows we'll all tease her to no end about it.

Richard- He's loving school. He has a couple of girls that have really befriended him. Mom loves the aids he has at school this year. They really take special care of him.

Kristianne- She loves first grade. She has a whole group of friends and she is totally the ring leader. She has finally learned to love reading and she also enjoys math. This last week she taught herself to ride a bike. I'll have to get some pictures to share.
Her class went on a field trip on Friday to ride on a train. Unfortunately they wouldn't let Jimmy go, but Mom did get to go as a chaperone and took some pictures.
Kristi's Field Trip


Jimmy- He loves his tap dance class, but still can't stand it if Mom isn't there with him. He lost interest in being potty trained, but we're hoping for a renewal of interest soon. I mean, he is four years old. He likes to do everything the big kids do, especially using knives. We have a small yellow knife that he thinks is his. I'm worried that he'll cut himself since it is pretty sharp, but I guess Mom is okay with it.

Mom borrowed a special lift from Richard's school so we could see if it would be any good for us so Mom and Dad don't have to break their backs every time we move Richard. The lift wasn't great, but it was a lot of fun. Here's a really great picture of Grandma taking a turn in it. What a lady!


Julie and I have had the opportunity to go to the temple to do baptisms nearly every Friday this semester. This Friday we finally had the bright idea to bring Grandma home with us so we could have dinner together. She mentioned that she wanted to see the tulips in the Conservatory display sometime, so we decided to take her while we had her with us. Funny story- Kristi saw the Eiffle tower and I asked her if she knew what it was. She said that it was the Eiffle tower and it was in Paris. Shocked, I asked her how she knew that. She said that she saw it in Anastasia!
Convervatory with Grandma