Updates.

Instead of trying to go back and complete multiple posts of everything going on in our life, I thought I would do an update of what each of us are up to these days.

Dawson - This kid is busy.  Since January, he has been doing indoor soccer as well as basketball.  That means 3 days of practices and one day of 2 games.  It's been so fun watching him play basketball for his first time.  Our first game we got killed and it was a little comical on how little they really knew about the game.  However, now his team is doing great and have even pulled out some wins.  Dawson is a little guy but he is fast (and everyone always says this to us) and so determined.  I love that about him!  He really loves sports and competing and I'm so proud of how hard he works.  For indoor soccer he's on a different team and has done pretty well.  This team is already established so he doesn't get as much playing time but he's still having fun.  We thoroughly enjoy going to his games and watching him play.  He is also doing great with school.  He hates handwriting and I honestly thinking learning cursive has been torture for us noth.  He really likes homeschooling but is now telling me more often that he really misses his friends and wants to go back.  We'll see....He takes piano lessons too and his teacher (who we adore) says he's picked it up quite easily.  He is counting down the days until he can take guitar lessons.  He really is growing up before our eyes.  I sometimes just stare at him and wish I could get in his little head.  He has his own way of doing things and is developing his own style.  He likes name brand clothes (like Hurley, Quicksilver, Volcom, Shaun White) and doesn't like "little kid" clothes as he calls them.  Of course, he is on the smaller side so it's hard to find these things for him.  But, I search high and low to make my boy happy!  His latest request is black skinny jeans and checked vans.  Really?  isn't he still a little boy at nine years old??  Lastly, he's been practicing and getting ready for baseball tryouts this weekend.  He moves up to the Minors this year and we just found out that his team will be the Indians and his Dad gets to coach.  Between outdoor soccer and baseball, we'll be plenty busy this spring.  I love this boy!

Abby - She is such a joy and is growing up so much lately!  She has lost several teeth so she has all these holes and other teeth growing in.  Pretty adorable if you ask me!  She keeps busy with ballet and piano lessons.  She loves going to dance and can't wait for her next recital.  This girl is a performer for sure!  She lights up when she performs.  It's so cute!  She is doing really well in piano too and is trying to pick out her piece for her spring recital.  We can't wait for that.  She loves school and is doing really well.  Math has become a little harder for her lately but she works and works until she figures it out.  She has also really improved in spelling (100% on her last 3 tests) and loves learning to write cursive.  She's been playing outside a lot lately with this warmer weather we've had and loves it!  She also has been reading books like crazy.  She's read both of the American girl series we got her and is ready for a new set.  Art is definitely still her favorite and you can find Abby working on a craft project of some kind, writing in her notebook or diary or creating lego creations daily.  She is also for the most part really sweet to her sister and tries to take care of her.  She is a big help to me and loves when we cook or bake something.  She's even been begging me to do dishes.  Now why doesn't she do that when it comes to cleaning her room???  :)  After going back and forth for awhile, Abby has decided to not do soccer in the spring but do gymnastics instead.  She has so many things she wants to do but we just can't do it all.  She also has a huge love for horses and wants to take riding lessons.  She has big dreams this girl!!  Love her to pieces.

Sophie - She's a wild woman!  She makes me laugh so many times during the day.  The biggest excitement for Sophie recently was registering her for pre-k for the fall.  She can't wait to go to her own school!  I couldn't believe how early we had to register for something starting in September!  But, she will be going to Riverside's pre-k which is now 5 days a week for 3 hours a day.  I can't even think about how much I will miss her but she can't wait and asks me all the time when it starts.  These may be a long six months!  As for the days, she has dance once a week and then she stays busy playing barbies & polly pockets and doing "school" with the kids.  She is just starting to show interest in coloring and loves watching TV (I have to limit her), especially any barbie or princess movie.  She also loves driving her mom crazy by changing her outfit multiple times a day and asking for something to eat every 15 minutes!  She loves to snack and I have to get creative and distract her so she doesn't eat all morning.  She loves playing outside lately too which really excites me for spring.  She is pretty dramatic and repeats almost everything she hears.  She repeats "I'm serious" (her r's sound like a w) and "that's weird" many times a day.  It's pretty cute.  She is a trooper as we drag her around to all the kids' stuff and can't wait until it's her turn.  We love our baby girl!

Dana - My hard-working man.  He is liking his job and is really busy with lots of projects.  I think we're finally pretty adjusted to his new job and schedule now.  He gets to come home for lunch every day and the kids love getting to see him.  After work, he spends a few evenings taking Dawson to practices and helps coaching.  I love how involved he is and gets to spend that time with Daws.  He loves playing in his fantasy football leagues which wrapped up recently.  He actually won one of them and we took his earnings and went to the beach!  Thanks, babe!  He has also been subbing for an indoor soccer team here and there (he loves playing!).  And now is baseball season, so he's been going to lots of meetings and getting ready for tryouts and draft night.  Dane has also gotten very involved in our new church and is in the elder in training program.  He has two very early morning meetings during the week and then we have community groups one evening.  So, between the kids, work, church and all other life events he stays so busy.  He always has time for his family, though, and spends every minute he can playing with the kids at the park, building lego sets and many other things like that.  I appreciate so much all the sacrifices he makes and how much he loves his family.  He shows us every day!  I love my sweet hubby.

Jen - The funny thing is I don't even know what to write about myself!  I guess I stay busy doing all the things listed above!  :)  I am loving our season of life right now.  The kids are such a joy.  It's a lot of work and when my head hits the pillow, I am out!  I love it though and really wouldn't change it.  It's such a blessing to see my kids growing up and watching them try new things in life.  I love being their mom and I love being a wife to Dana.  My cup runneth over with love and blessings.  Running a household is more than a full-time job but when I can I sneak away for a bit I still love to shop, read and scrapbook.  I am blessed to be able to get away once in a while and refresh.  I am getting ready for a fun bunco girls shopping trip which I am very excited for.  I feel so much more settled in our new church and was part of a great bible study that ended last month.  We love our community group we're involved in and I have learned so much with our Pastor's preaching.  He's so good!  Also, Homeschooling has been great overall.  It's definitely a HUGE challenge and we have some bad days but for the most part it has gone better than expected and I feel blessed to have been able to see my kids learning in a way I hadn't in the past.  I am not sure what we're doing next year and for now I just take it one day at a time.  But, I know wherever God leads us will be awesome!  Life is good.

Comments

[christi]

Nice update!! Busy family for sure! Can't wait for that bunco trip!

[Hannah]

I'm so glad you blogged! I love hearing about your family!

[cathy floyd]

What a full & blessed life you have sweetie!! Everything & everyone moves thru this life so fast...so its nice to read your updates and be reminded how God has blessed you & your beautiful little family!! And me too!
xoxo

[Sam]

Don't even know where to begin to comment! :) Love hearing what's going on with each of you... Life is so busy. It's awesome seeing where God has brought you in your lives and how he's using you. Have fun shopping this weekend! :)

[Chrisanna]

Wow, this was an awesome update of your family. I don't even know where to begin commenting. I'm so glad you shared all these details about each one of you. You are going to be so happy you have this all recorded. I love your family so much, each one of you in your own unique ways. God is SO good! Love you sis!