Richard Review: Online Edition!

Well, I got the Christmas cards out on Monday. However, this year I did not include our usual letter. Now, there are a couple of reasons why that didn't happen but I'm not going to get into all that ;) Instead, I decided that I could write the letter on here instead and if you have been so inclined to go to this website after receiving your photo card - welcome! It is good to have you here.


This year has been a wonderful year. I've never been really large and pregnant in the winter so it was a new experience beginning the year in my third trimester. Contrary to what most women will say, I actually enjoyed being that large in the summertime. I think it has something to do with: a) tying your shoes b) finding a warm coat to fit and c) trying to walk on ice. However, it was great to have Elizabeth Grace (from here on out known as Libby) on March 30th. She weighed 7 lbs 8 oz and I think was 21 inches long (boy, how my memory fails me these days!). Libby is so sweet she makes your teeth hurt. We have been blessed by her in so many ways. Luke and Abby enjoy her. Of course, I'm sure that will all change with time - but maybe not. Libby is very tall and thin - I keep feeding her more to help her bulk up a little but it just all seems to go into inches instead of lbs. She is rolling and scooting and doing a little crawling. Her favorite activity to head straight for underneath the tree and chew on the Fisher Price Nativity Set underneath there. I think Baby Jesus is her favorite flavor. :)


Abby is now 3 and is quite the charmer...when she wants to be. She definitely is my stronger-willed child but is becoming more reasonable as she ages ;) She enjoys playing with her toy cooking stuff and babies. When Mike & Luke are playing with knights and dinosaurs, she often plays with by bringing them all things to eat. She also likes anything "princess" and loves to wear dresses. She has a penchant for shoes and will show anybody willing to take the time her shoes. Abby is a very willing helper and I enjoy having that in her! She started AWANA this year is doing very well memorizing her verses. Oh, and the other big accomplishment of the past year - she is potty-trained!


Luke started preschool in the fall. He enjoys attending Holloway House, a private, Christian preschool and does a great job in all aspects of learning. He will be more than ready for Kindergarten in the fall of 2008. Luke's biggest interests are in the aforementioned knights and dinosaurs. He is very artistic and loves to draw. His drawings have really improved over the year and are getting more and more realistic, it is so neat to see him developing! He also took swim lessons over the summer and passed Level 2 even though I feel as though he should retake it (and that's probably what we'll have him do). Luke is an old pro at being a Cubbie at AWANA. Next year he'll be moving into the next level of difficulty - Sparks.


Mike is doing really well at Rockwell Collins. He enjoys his job, the new challenges it often brings and the people he works with (not equating them with challenges here!). The difficulties of last year (back problems & acid reflux) have not plagued him like they did in 2006. We purchased a Wii (Nintendo Gaming system) and he is quite good at it (and his son is quickly taking after him). One of these days, I'll will consistently beat him at Dance Dance Revolution but as it remains, he's still the one with rhythm in the family (after all, he was/is a percussionist!). This fall, also found Mike being able to lead a small group bible study at our home. We've been so blessed by the people in our group and look forward to getting to know them more in the coming year.


I've adjusted (well, as much as you can) to being a mother of three. I was even able to have a little garden this year. One of the funniest things is that Mike's granddad gave me some mystery seeds for my birthday which turned out to be broom corn. I hear rumors that he is thinking up another "mystery" seed for me to try this coming growing season. In the area of gardening, Mike also helped rig a system in our basement so that I can start seeds more easily inside. It was fun to do and I enjoyed giving away little tomato seedlings and starting most of my annuals from seed. My mom saw the set-up and even decided to do some of that herself (which I hear she had great success at). One other highlight of the year was being able to share what God has done in my life at our church's Holiday Specialtea. It was a great experience and I am so thankful for the people who prayed for me - I know their prayers are the reason I didn't pass out in front of the 200 women there! God is so good!


That's a pretty good re-cap of the year. Feel free, if this is your first time here, to go to previous months to read and look at pictures.


God bless you in the coming year.