It seems the time between these annual letters is getting shorter. Though, increasingly you are connecting more often than an annual letter via e-mail. I find this a blessing of our technological age!
Roger and Paul finished 8th and 7th grade respectively through the home study course offered by Calvert. We enjoyed the chance to finally try Home School and meet with other home schoolers for a tri-weekly PE "class." Roger had always planned to head to High School this year and after some debate, we decided to send Paul back to the Jr. High School (though that's the school I object to the most.) So, all the kids are in school all day this year.
Our '89 Suburban was out of service over Thanksgiving, so Rick only had room to take the younger four kids with him for a trip to the Natural History Museum (one of the Smithsonian Museums) in Washington, DC Roger helped me prepare dinner.
We drove to Canada for the annual family reunion in July. The kids and I also made some day trips to the Baltimore Aquarium and the Washington, DC Cathedral during the summer months.
Roger didn't die (or freeze) at the International Boy Scouting Jamboree held in Quebec, Canada, last January. He especially enjoyed spending one night in a quinzie, a hollowed out mound of snow, with others from his troop.
The delivery of the local paper, the Gazette, he turned over to Paul at the start of the school year. Seminary class, our church's course of instruction for high school youth, also started with High School. In our area they meet at 6:15 a.m. before school. This year they're studying the New Testament.
Roger began work on his Eagle Project - finishing off a bluebird garden by putting a deer fence around it (so there are actually berries for the bluebirds to eat) plus lots of weeding and mulching. In his spare time Roger is continuing work on a "great web site" (see the address at the end of the letter). With Rick's digital camera he attempted a "lego man" still shot movie over the summer. So far, he's surviving High School and especially enjoys his black and white photography class. (We're all learning from his tips.)
Paul again attended Boy Scout camp over the summer. He's now a Star Scout and is working hard (with the proper motivation, that is) at his merit badges. He is now delivering the weekly Gazette newspaper, but frequently hires Mark to help as he doesn't like doing it alone. Still a big computer gaming fan, that is his first choice of activities given some "free time."
Paul is "standing" his return to 8th grade. He's probably taller than most of his peers, which helps, but still doesn't care for the language and attitudes he encounters there. Currently he's the Deacons Quorum president for his class of 12 and 13 year old boys at church. His least favorite part of that responsibility are the meetings he has to attend. He does like the adult advisers and activities with the boys, though.
He and Roger both purchased bikes this past year, so have enjoyed the freedom that's granted them in being able to make short trips to area stores.
Mark's a 5th grader this year, the oldest grade in his Elementary School. He and his teacher are a good match, personality-wise, which has helped his attitude about school tremendously. He played soccer in the spring, but spends most of his free time outside on roller blades, a bike and especially a skateboard. He helps Paul deliver the paper on "blades."
With another neighbor boy his age, he searches for neighborhood parks where he can use his skateboard to "grind" (that's rubbing part of the axle on an edge, for those unacquainted.) At Halloween he made it a threesome with his costume of Knuckles (companion to Brian's Sonic and Dennis' Tails) of the Sea Sonic the Hedgehog games.
Mark completed his Bear badge in Cub Scouting, attended Cub Scout Day Camp over the summer and is now in Rick's Webelos Den.
Brian continues to develop his amazing memory skills and if convinced to be on your side, is a fighter - for a particular outing or game. As a 3rd grader he's reading more and also falling into what seems to be a 3rd grade thing at our house: forgetting just how much homework he has.
He enjoys individual attention, but still feels very competitive with his brothers and can loudly let himself be heard, if necessary. He's getting better at compromising, but does (rightly so) still feel picked on at times.
Having turned 8 the week before Cub Scout Day Camp, Brian was thrilled to be able to attend. He's a Wolf Cub Scout now, so gets to pile in the car with his older brothers when they head to the church with Dad on Wednesdays for Scouting activities. Turning eight also meant he was baptized this last year.
Dennis survived Kindergarten and is now working hard in 1st grade. The reading initiative in our area is a boon for him in focusing in small group settings on reading tasks. He tries hard to please, though if sitting still for long periods of time on the floor too often, becomes restless. Dennis still gets to his homework right away and seems to enjoy being read to more and more.
Dennis has developed some little friendships in our neighborhood, so often informs me that he'll be "in the back court" playing. One day when I checked on them, I found he and Brian in a tree with several little girls on the ground below. He certainly enjoys more free rein of the neighborhood than his brothers did at his age, but then he has lots of older brothers to help keep tabs on him as well.
Yes, the Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission is complete and Rick's time on that project came to an end. We enjoyed seeing the Air and Space Museum turned into an evening affair with food tables and a mirror ball for a huge celebration. (Rick wondered, "Do the tourists know we do this!?") After commuting to Greenbelt, MD (45 minutes away) for almost 8 years, a 10 minutes commute is a real treat. Rick thoroughly enjoyed his time on the Hubble! Still with CSC, but on a different contract, now Rick and I sometimes get to have lunch together.
At church Rick continues to be the leader of the 10 year old Webelos Scouts. The group is smaller and calmer now, and Mark is part of that group. Recently the boys enjoyed stitching Webelos wallets out of leather kits.
Be it gaming or upgrading, the computer continues to be an interest of his. After Roger's Spring Scout bike trip, Rick purchased himself a bike. Rick's Saturday hikes are now bike rides. Combining his interest in the C&O Canal, photography and the computer, Rick's decided to bike the entire C&O Canal, take digital pictures and put it up on a web page. Though not yet completed, with links from some other Canal sites, he gets a fair number of visitors.
Rick still enjoys his technical magazines and upgrading his home computers. Now with the addition of a digital camera, he's expanding his knowledge and web prowess.
I'm slowly acclimating to a household without preschoolers. Having all my children in school this year, has been both a blessing and a challenge. I miss the conversations that occurred last year between the school work.. I also feel a responsibility to use my time well.
Last month I was released after 3 ½ years as Relief Society President. It was a wonderful experience and I have appreciated my families' support of my time serving others. As of this writing my only titles are Visiting Teacher, Wife and Mother. It's quite nice!
I'm volunteering in the elementary school this year helping one day in Dennis' "center time" for his reading class and just started helping work with a reading group in Brian's class as well. Currently I'm busy dejunking accumulated papers and organizing to work on photo albums.
So, from our family to yours, here's hoping this finds you well. You can write us still at: 18731 Pikeview Dr., Germantown, MD 20874 . Our previous e-mail addresses will expire in February, so be certain to use the mail links below:
Rick
Juanita
Roger
Paul
Mark
Brian
Dennis
We hope that in this season of love and giving we can rejoice together in celebrating the birth (and life) of our Savior, Jesus Christ!