Freezing in the New Year

Happy New Year!
Well I guess the new year is well underway being that January is almost over. We are deeply entrenched in our cold, cold winter now. Today it is a balmy 18 degrees and snow predicted on and off for through Wednesday. It's been almost 12 years now that we've been here, but I just can't seem to get used to it! Can't take all the southern warmth out of me!

The kids are deep in school, loving and hating it as the same time. Zach is doing well. He is involved in something called DestiNation ImagiNation (DI) after school two days a week. I'm not sure I could explain what they do, but let's say that it involves creative problem-solving. This allows kids to use their imaginations to solve a given problem or idea or circumstance. If you don't know Zach very well, this is right up his alley. He does well thinking outside the box and even better when he's challenged to do just that. To find out more about DI, http://www.idodi.org/. He'll start up volleyball again soon. He continues to excel at viola and piano, especially piano. I joke that I'm grooming him to be my personal accompaniest. That will be awesome!

Abby is continue to blossom and grow. She really doesn't have much use for school other than a place to socialize. She does however seem to me to be pretty good in math. We'll see. Her energy wears me out. She does not like to do things by the book - ever. She wants to do things her own way. Ahhh...the balance as a parent to learn the line between crushing your child's spirit and funnelling that rebellious nature into positive things. She's a well-behaved child with an enormous heart, but man, she wears me out!!!! Abby is taking ballet and will participating in her ballet school's ballet on June 19, "La Fille Mal en Gardee". Abby and her class will be yellow chicks. I'm not familiar with this ballet, but Abby is excited. Ballet moves a little slow for her, so most of the time she complains that she doesn't like. She does however do quite well at it. We are making her stick with it for the whole year and will make an evaluation at the end of the year as to whether or not she'll continue. You can visit her school here www. balletnorth.com.

Todd & I are continuing to be busy with work and our ministries at church. God has been very gracious to us this last year. We look forward to a wonderful 2009 filled with many wonderful experiences and fun memories.