Progress Report

Just wanted to post this report from Scotty's teacher.  He is such a good student already and it makes me so happy!  Hope he never loses that zest for learning.  Reading was never my favorite subject, I'm just not one to pick up a book and read much.  But I have read to Scotty as often as possible, since before he was even born because I wanted to try to ensure he had a little bit more love for books, and for school in general, than I did.  It helps that Jay is pretty brilliant and I think he takes after that part of Jay that picks up things easily.  Scotty now reads to me and gets disappointed if he has to stop after only one chapter before bedtime.  He is one of the top readers in his grade and that makes me happier to hear than if he had been MVP in football.  We parents sometimes strive to make sure our kids have everything we feel we didn't have at their age...whether it be toys, clothes, activities.  Mine has always been to ensure my kids are better students than I ever was.  I hope this is an indication of how Scotty is going to do for the rest of his academic endeavors.  I see the influence he is having over both his brothers, too, they know when its storytime and they sit and look at books while Scotty reads to all of us.  It is one of my favorite times of the day.

teacher comments

As all parents should keep in mind, myself especially, the truest tests will come much later in his schooling...and whether he is first or last in his class, they will all eventually cross the finish line.  This is just first grade, but it sets the tone and for now I am going to fully appreciate it.  This report to me isn't just about his reading and writing, it shows how he has handled this transition into a new school, new class, new teacher better than I could've hoped.  He is a great kid and we are blessed.

Home Depot Kids Workshop

Took the boys to their first ever Home Depot workshop for kids. This month's project was a keepsake box in honor of Valentine's Day. Scotty pretty much did it all on his own, but Zac needed a little guidance and the helpers were all very friendly and most importantly, patient. The boys had a lot of fun and can't wait to go again next month when they get to build a race car! A fun, FREE, way to spend an hour on Saturday morning.

This photo says it all...

Typical Scotty diving in independently, no need for help, concentrates, works hard, tunes everyone out, treating the project like it's his legos.  Then there's Zac, gettin 'help' from the ladies..."project? what project? how you doin'...name's Zac"

Scotty: gotta get the glue just so

Zac: "so whatcha doin' later?"

Zac made his for his "Gram" (Diane)

For Me...what a doll.

Mommy's Project

I stole this idea from my friend, Jenny Thomas, who lives in Juneau.  Bought a blank mounted canvas from Michael's craft store and had the boys place their handprints on it to capture their little hands at this moment in time.  As soon as I brushed the paint onto Trev's hand, he was not having any of it...as you can see.  He did not want to open his hand for me, so it is what it is.  I let him have the paint brush and he went a little nutty, but again, he is 19 months old and this is totally him.  I will look at this picture years from now and remember, as I look at my grown son, how small (and particular) he was that he wouldn't even hold his hand open for me!  Zac was a lot more willing and did a great job and of course Scotty, being the perfectionist, had to do it just so.  It turned out just as I hoped it would and I now have it hanging on my wall.  It is my favorite piece of art.

Paints don't come out very often, so Zac had to take advantage of the opportunity

Trev thought paint was ketchup...

Next Step: JUMPS

Thumbs Up

Jay is challenging the boys little by little and this time, its jumps.  Their enthusiasm of course is encouraged by the motorcross racing they've been watching on the SPEED network.  They even have favorite riders, Ryan Dungey and Ryan Villopoto.  Listening to them play in their rooms with their play dirt bikes, it reminds me of how I played Barbies.  Except, this is Barbies for boys.  Still, I can't help but smile when I see and hear them using their imaginations.  However, when they actually take these actions out onto the dirt, I get alittle concerned.  But I trust that Jay won't push them further than they are ready.  They did pretty good with the jumps and have so much fun...they are out there for hours, til their little bikes run out of gas.  Here are a few pics from the day.  Hard to believe my 4 year old is still waking me up at the early hours of the morning just to cuddle, he seems so grown up in these pictures...

Scotty 

Zac 

Really jackin' up the grass in front of our house - good thing Jay likes yard work :)

Weaving in and out of trees in our yard 

Who knew the front yard would be the perfect dirt track?! 

And then there's Trev...just tryin to keep up with his brothers

We Have Snow!

After a week of hearing the reports from Seattle's record breaking snow storm, we finally got a little bit of the white stuff ourselves. Not that I was wishing for it, but I knew the boys would love it. I don't like driving around here when the roads are clear, much less when there's been any inkling of snow or ice. So we have hunkered down today and will probably venture out tomorrow just enough to get some "tailgating" food for the football games, but that's all we have planned. The less we are out on these roads, the better. However, the boys wasted no time getting out to play....

The backyard hill is perfect for sledding - we knew these moving boxes would come in handy!

A Small Coast Guard World

When we got orders for WDC, I immediately contacted my friend and softball teammate, Mona Waddington, and our other friends Monica and Cesar Acosta - all of which we had met while we lived in Juneau.  I knew they were already in the area and could provide useful information for our move.  Little did I know there were quite a few people stationed here that we knew (or knew of) from our time in Alaska and it has been fun to see these people again.  I used to play bunco with a few of these ladies and we have recently decided to create another bunco group here....last night was our first party and it was a blast.  In addition to the monthly bunco parties, Mona and another friend from AK, Rhonda Moser and I have started a monthly girls day out where we plan a fun day going to a place we haven't been yet to explore it together.  Last week, we had lunch and did some shopping in old town Fredericksburg and toured the Rising Sun Tavern, which was built by George Washington's brother, Charles in 1760 and became a tavern in 1792.  Authentic "tavern wenches" greet you and give you a tour of the house.  It was so interesting and I never would've known about this place had it not been for this fun day with the girls.  Next month, Arlington Cemetary and the Pentagon.  It has definitely made the transition easier having some familiar faces to welcome us in and provide me with some well needed "girl time".  I look forward to getting to know all these ladies even better.

Bunco Group 2012

8 of the 11 pictured were in Juneau together

(why I feel the need to kneel down for all the tall people in the back is a mystery...I don't need to look even shorter!)

Thanksgiving leftover night at Mona's with Bobbi-Jo Sisto, another fellow Juneau pal (her husband Jay and Jay are buddies and old co-workers)

Juneau Ladies

Pre-New Years Cocktail party at Rhonda's house

(Rhonda, me, Tamara, Mona, Cary and Kerry)

Touchstone

While I was in Washington, my sis in law presented both my brother and I with these touchstones.  They are made by a company called Over The Rainbow Memorials out of Montana.  Inside, they hold some of my dad's ashes.  It is a beautiful way to memorialize my dad and I now have it hanging in my vehicle.  We were both surprised and touched, but this is typical of Nikki to do something like this.  She has been a part of our family for 25 years now, our parents were like her own and she has felt the loss just as much as we have.  This touchstone is not only a symbol to remind us of our dad, but also a symbol of how much Nik cares about our family.  It is really special.