Ack! Another 5 months have gone by since our last update!
Things just are happening so fast around here it's hard to keep up. Hopefully we are keeping in touch well enough that you know most of the "big" stuff, though, and if not, email me and get mad.
Let's see, what's happened since October 11th. We had fun in our new home for Halloween. In November, Michael turned 9 years old and we had his birthday party, pictures are on his page here. We also had visitors for the weekend before Thanksgiving (Tom's parents and several siblings) and friends for Thanksgiving itself. Samuel started to walk on Thanksgiving day. See pictures on his site here. We've had a lost tooth here and there, lots of fun, work, and now it's a new year.
PS. I just added some older newsletters to or newsletter list, as well as our old Halloween page... so we have ALL our Halloweens online now, except for 2003. I will find those pictures and remedy this :)
Samuel turned 1 year old, again, see pics on his site. February was our long trip to Utah and Colorado for family reunion and friends get together. We will be posting pictures today or tomorrow.
And that's about it.
Is that enough? :)
News for us: we're expecting a baby around November 15th of this year. We're all excited.
Tom has been working hard, got his first raise this month, and still works as the account manager of Warner Home Video for Anderson Merchandisers at the home office here in Texas. He enjoys his job, though he doesn't like to travel he still does, going to California, D.C., Bentonville, Dallas, and other places. However, it isn't ever as much as it was before he was promoted.
Tabitha is still mom, still busy, still homeschooling, still in Primary, still online, still wife, still homemaker... and loving it all. But that IS my excuse for not updating the newsletter as often as I used to. Hopefully we'll get better at this. Multitasking forever, hehe.
Michael is 9 years old and interested in everything. He is finishing up 3rd grade, earning his Bear in Cub Scouts, helping around the house, learning to cook a little, clean a lot, and reading everything he can get his hands on. He still loves Harry Potter, Star Wars, legos, Transformers, detective work, Calvin and Hobbes, and now Encyclopedia Brown, Magic Tree House books, reading the scriptures, and his Primary class. He loves writing and reading new codes and playing computer games.
Benjamin is reading like a pro now, and enjoys participating more in his Primary class and our family scripture study. His favorite books are comic books and books about Penguins. He likes reading to his younger brothers and sister. He is a great help at home. He looks forward to turning 8 in October and both being baptized and becoming a Cub Scout. He is working on 1st grade for the most part, but is doing great with some 2nd grade materials we have as well. Some of his math he does with Michael and that is working well, too. He still loves Harry Potter and Star Wars as well. He also loves Transformers.
Emilie is our happy Kindergartener. She will be 6 next month. She loves exploring, playing, playing games, dolls, dress up, Princesses, My Little Pony, Strawberry Shortcake, doing her hair, computer games, music, singing, dancing, ballet, tap, but isn't much for a lot of work, unless it's helping Mom right when she wants to. She is still in ballet and tap at the local college, with the big recital this semester, costume and all. She's thrilled. She loved visiting family though she is glad to be home again.
Nathanael will be 3 at the end of this month. He loves his baby brother Samuel and being a great help. He talks a mile a minute, knows all the ABC's, some letter combinations and sight words, can count items up to 12 or so and can count orally up to 25 and beyond. He knows most shapes including octagon and hexagon, all colors including aquamarine and other tertiary colors, and it's all just fun to him. He begs to "homecool" with his sibs. He loves Blue's Clues and would be happy watching or playing all day. He loves being outside, inside, running, jumping, climbing, and loves his scriptures. He is liking Nursery, we are not sure how he will do starting next January when he will be a Sunbeam.
Samuel is 13 months old and a joy. He is growing in leaps and bounds. His newest skills are clapping his hands and making people laugh. He can feed himself, drink from a sippy cup, though he is not fully weaned yet. He still loves Mom that way. He has 4 1/2 months left til Nursery, and we'll see how that goes as well. He is no longer walking, but running. He loves any kind of book and will take it from you and open it himself. He can say Mama and Ball and Dada and UP, but not much else yet. His favorite thing to do is follow Nathanael around but doesn't like being MADE to stay with him. (which frustrates Nathanael to the extreme!) He doesn't like strangers, being away from Mom, or being in strange places.
We have a new family member, email for more information and pictures, but only if you like reptiles. We have named him "Kenny" and he's been fun to have in our house.
Our 3 fish are flourishing, after they bumped off the other 3 little guys... I guess? The are beautiful, especially the 2 fantails. The ones that have survived are Ballerina, Halloween, and "Fish".
Come and visit any time, call, write, email, we're always around here somewhere.
Love and hugs to family and friends!
Love,
Tabitha, Tom, and family
Michael, Benjamin, Emilie, Nathanael, Samuel, and baby someone
plus Joseph in heaven!
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