Wednesday, January 9, 2013

So the year of 21012 has flown by and we have started out 2013 strong. 

Here is a brief overview of last year (you may recognize it as our Christmas letter:) )

We started this year with Kyla’s robotics team participating in the state competition. No trophies came home with us, but fun was had by all. Chad started a yearlong contract with Bonneville Power Administration in Vancouver. In February, Kyla started horseback riding lessons (a lifelong dream of hers) and Gavin started a round of swim lessons with Grandpa Gary. Gavin celebrated his 5th birthday with a family party with lots of food and even more family. March brought rain and six baby chicks to our house. The chicks are grown now and earning their keepJ We took a short family trip to Great Wolf Lodge and indoor water park in April. Please note the “indoor”-this is Oregon. May was a month for planting the garden, Gavin graduating from preschool, and Kyla having her first experience with our local ER and sutures…that darn swing set. June brought a little sunshine, the end of 3rd grade for Kyla, the beginning of summer break and VBS for both kiddos. And then there was July. We filled it with sunshine, a visit from my Aunt, camping at Silver Creek State Park, swim lessons, bus rides, a robotics competition at the county fair, play dates and friends. By August, we were ready for a little quiet…so we only did more swim lessons, a Lego Camp for Gavin, I volunteered for the school and we crewed for a hot air balloon (Gav enjoyed his first flight one foggy, Saturday morning). Kyla turned 9 and celebrated with her friends with bowling and a sleep over. Just when we thought our life was busy, September came. Gavin started Kindergarten at Wascher Elementary, Kyla started an online public school here at home with me as her teacher (EEEK), Chad took on the position of PTA president at Wascher, and Lego Club started (Double EEK). Oh yeah, add in Awana, piano lessons, Evergreen Science Days, and the continuation of riding lessons. October was the month of travel. Chad went to Ohio to visit his extended family and I flew to Indiana to help celebrate my grandfather’s 80th birthday. Lego robotics club continued as did homeschooling and Kindergarten, lessons and life. The month of November was full of Lego robotics and our normal routine. We celebrated Thanksgiving with our families and then prepared for the robotics competition. Chad’s contract with BPA ended early and he was able to work from home for a bit as he waited for his next assignment…a computer game rehab. December started with a flourish with the Lego robotics competition where two out of our three teams received a trophy. Kyla’s team was awarded the opportunity to go to the state competition again this year in January.  We’ve had time with family and friends, enjoyed Christmas concerts, dreamed about our future, and did eventually find time and energy to decorate our Christmas treeJ
In the midst of all that, we found time to volunteer at our church and at the local elementary school. I preserved a big chunk of our garden and Chad canned meat for the first time. When Chad wasn’t busy with Lego club, he was working on PTA stuff, when he wasn’t working on that…we were sleepingJ Our life has been entertaining, crazy busy, overwhelming, and so very blessed.
We pray that this letter finds you relaxed and thankful, healthy and happy. You are in our thoughts and prayers. We wish you a happy and blessed 2013.

We had a wonderful Robotics competition in December. We are so proud of the kids!



We enjoyed spending lots of time with Chad's family over the holidays:) 


 We had a blessed Christmas filled with Christ, family, friends and comfy pajamas.


We are continuing to be busy with Lego Club (State competition is on the 19th of January), homeschooling, school, and life. We have made a major diet change for Gavin just recently in efforts to improve his skin and his tummy. He is a gluten free kid now and we've noticed great improvements on all fronts.


We made an offer on a house in the country that we've been watching and dreaming about for the last 6 months. It appears like it won't be the one for our family. We are the back up offer at this time and we get to wait and see if the current sale falls through.Not a great situation, but certainly doable:)

Life is certainly clipping right along. Prayers for our family would be greatly appreciated as the normal stresses of life (and not so normal) try to wedge themselves in:)