2007 - The End

As the year winds down, so does vacation. The kids are eagerly awaiting school to start again. Really! I'm ready for it too, although the three trips to and from school does get a little tiring. I'm glad that Meredith and Jeremy enjoy school so much.

December was busy. Meredith had several class parties at school. Jeremy had just one. They both sang with the children's choir at church. We wrapped up this session of activities at HAC (the Hockessin Athletic Club): cheer dance and gymnastics for Meredith and karate and gymnastics for Jeremy. Jeremy had his first belt promotion test, right after the last class. He is now a yellow belt! He was so excited! For the next session, Meredith will start karate and continue with gymnastics; Jeremy will continue with karate and gymnastics.

We had a lovely Christmas spent with my parents: their house for Christmas Eve, ours for Christmas Day. Unfortunately, Kurt & Jen and Melissa weren't able to come home this year. We spent all day putting together all the new toys. Several racetracks, Thomas sets, and a dollhouse for Meredith.

We also spent a couple of hours outside with new scooters for each of the kids. One good reason for no snow, I guess. Meredith was too fast for me to get a good shot.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Another year has come and gone. The kids just keep growing and changing.

Meredith participated in her first dance recital in June. She had two dances (ballet and tap) and two costumes. She was fabulous! She started first grade this fall, turning 7 in November. She loves her new school and is making lots of friends. She has become a great reader and has begun writing stories of her own. Meredith has also been taking gymnastics and cheer dance classes this fall, and will begin karate classes in January.

Jeremy, age 5 ½, started kindergarten this fall. He attends half-days at the same school as Meredith. He is becoming a great reader already and is learning to write also. He enjoys school, but is disappointed when it cuts into his playing time! Gymnastics and karate classes fill his evenings.

Jason, age 2, is growing so fast. He just loves playing with trucks. He also loves playing with Meredith and Jeremy and tries to imitate everything they say and do.

Brendan continues working for Christiana Care Food Services, moving from site to site as a supervisor. I’ve begun attending Bible Study Fellowship classes and ringing bells in the handbell choir at church.

This past summer we joined a health club, so we were able to spend lots of time at the pool. The kids got to take karate, dance and gymnastics classes, while Brendan and I had a chance to work out.

The highlight of our year was our trip to Minnesota, to visit Brendan’s family. After a two-day drive (about 24 hours total), we arrived at the Byrne elk farm, where we spent a couple of days relaxing and visiting with Brendan’s parents and brother and sister-in-law. Then we drove another six hours north to a small resort where we spent the week with all the Byrnes: Brendan’s parents and two sisters and their families, 7 children in all. A wonderful time of catching up and catching fish. Even Meredith and Jeremy went fishing and each caught one. It really was a nice visit, and we look forward to doing it again in two years.

Welcome!

I've never done a blog before, but here goes!

I mostly want to share pictures of our kids, but maybe I'll add a few thoughts along the way.