Every year we say we're going to start gifts for next year but it never quite works out that way. I think the pressure of a deadline is needed for our minds to start churning out the gift ideas. Seems like after the crunch is over we need a little recovery time. And then we seem to forget the "difficulty" we had only a week before. (A similar thing happens when you have a child. After a while you start to forget the birthing trauma and morning sickness.)
Drew is in 8 now and in 3rd grade. He is such a good reader and helper here. It's fun to sit and listen as he reads to the other kids. They love listening too. He had his first team sports experience this year by participating in the "Dribblin' Dragons" elementary basketball program. I was impressed with how accurate he is with the basketball. He made quite a few baskets while many of the other kids his age struggled to get anywhere near the basket. Since Boys Swimming and Basketball are both winter sports I'm worried that I'll have to sit through basketball games instead of sweating it out at swim meets when he's in High School.
Theo is our little helper. When we ask him to do something his answer is nearly always, "Ok, Mom" or "Ok, Dad". He's 6 and in first grade now. It's fun to see him start reading too. He's sounding out words and trying to impress his sisters with what he can read. When there's a book Theo can sound out pretty good, he's so proud to read to the girls when Drew is busy with something else. Theo can be a pretty good day care provider as well, taking Therese by the hand and showing her where she should play. He is a "pleaser", always trying to please his sisters or parents.
Anissa had many breakthroughs this year. She's still deathly afraid of dogs (and pretty much anything), but this summer she started getting a bit more brave with Grandma Mary's dog, Taffy. She also participates in Karen's sunday school program. Which requires her to be "un-shy" enough to trust a teacher and the other kids. She is having fun and I'm sure she'll be ready for kindergarten in the fall. This May she'll be 5 years old. She's also able to swim "by herself" with a little help from a floaty vest. Now she loves coming to the school pool with me and the boys. And I love it too because I don't have to constantly hold her.
Therese is our cutest little girl. (Anissa's our cutest big girl) When I call her my little "baby", she says, "Daaad, I'm a big go-al". (The only reason I keep calling her my baby is so I can hear hear say those words.) We're not sure if it's just the terrible twos or if she really is going to be our most challenging child. She does what she wants with total disregard for her parents scolding. She has no fear. If any one of our kids is going to be jumping out of helicopters with skis on their feet, it'll be Therese.
Those kids are growing up so fast that Karen decided to cut back her hours at St. Philip's church so that she could enjoy the girls while they're still home. She's now in charge of the things she really loves, Sunday school and First Communion. She is an amazing woman and I'm so blessed to have married her. I am so fortunate to have such a talented wife and mother to my children. Tonight she made a fabulous meal of leftover turkey. I'm always impressed with her meals. If any of you wants to enjoy one of the best meals you can buy, invite yourself over for dinner sometime. You'll experience just one of the many reasons I love her.
I'm still teaching at LHS. That's pretty uneventful (and lets keep it that way). I finished the Stations of the Cross for our church last February and soon after was invited to exhibit a piece at the Rourke Art Gallery's annual "Midwestern" exhibition. The theme this year was Alexander the Great so I sculpted an over-lifesize bust of a Roman warrior. The bust was subsequently purchased by Fargo North High school (they're the Spartains) and is exhibited in their new art gallery. (Many thanks go out to Brad Bachmeier for his roll in the purchase!) As long as I'm bragging, I can't forget to mention that I was called back to help with the redesign of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts' educational website, ArtsConnectEd. What an honor to be a part of the creation and implementation of such a valuable teacher resource!
God has been so good to our family. We sincerely pray that he bless you and your family with an equal measure of his goodness.