A New Year

Okay, 2011 is already underway, so it is time to recap what happened during 2010. We will start with the kids and what has happened to them since they started a new school year.

Layne, age 9, is in the 3rd grade and has made many new friends and has adjusted to a new school setting. She really does not like homework, but she does like art, music, and playing with her friends. A big celebration for Layne is that she entered an art contest for school and won. The students were asked to submit a black and white picture, all drawn with no assistance that represented the school and had the title ‘Hillside Elementary School-2011’ on it. Layne won the back cover and a 2nd grader won the front cover. Her name is listed on the inside of the front page and she was very proud of her accomplishment. We, of course, are very proud of her work and that she won as well. She also drew a picture on a big piece of packing paper and the images and scenery she drew were so well done, that we framed the artwork and put it up in her room. Layne has also come to enjoy reading books and her favorites are Ramona Quimby, The Little House series with Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Layne also had her first sleepover party for her 9th birthday. It was a wild time, but she really had lots of fun with her friends. Layne is very loving girl, with a strong-willed spirit (that has its challenges), and loves to discover things that are odd and hilarious. She has the best laugh and it is fun to watch her discover jokes and ways to be humorous.

Liam, age 6, is in the 1st grade and has enjoyed the new challenges of learning much more, but of course, like Layne, does not care for the homework. Liam has also adjusted well to a new school and has made many new friends. He had a great birthday celebration, his first ever in the States, at Chuck E Cheeses and loved it. Liam joined Cub Scouts and is a tiger cub and has enjoyed the opportunities to be involved in the community and being part of a boy’s club. He recently participated in the Pinewood Derby tradition, where you shape a piece of wood into a car shape, paint it, add wheels and race it with the other cars made by the scouts and enjoyed the environment of racing his car. He also received a bicycle for Christmas and is now able to ride his bike with no training wheels. He is very excited about this accomplishment. Liam starting losing his baby teeth and loves the frequent visits from the 'tooth fairy'. Liam also loves to read and is determined to figure out new words on his own. Liam has a very tender heart and loves silly tickle games and still loves board games.

Brenne, age 3, is staying at a home daycare while I am at work. She has thoroughly enjoyed the time away and being with a small amount of other kids in a home setting. Brenne really enjoys Disney princesses and loves the small pocket size dolls that she received at Christmas with her princess dollhouse castle. She loves to dress herself, although she doesn’t always match, but it is great to see her independence. She loves to carry around a purse of multiple trinkets and absolutely loves lip gloss and calls it ‘lips’. She is a bundle of sunshine, loves to dance, sing, and be goofy and silly whenever she gets the chance. She really enjoys having sleepover nights in either Layne or Liam’s room, and sometimes with Mom and Dad.

As for Mark and me, we have kept ourselves occupied with work and our short time with the kids. Mark has enjoyed being home with the kids when they get off school and helping them with their homework. I have enjoyed my work at Capital One, but recent events have unfolded and my contract will not continue with them for the long term, as they will not be offering me full-time employment, therefore I am currently searching for a new job. I am still with Capital One until they have found a permanent placement for the role I am currently supporting. It has been a challenge for us to get settled here, as it just a busier place to live, so we haven’t really gotten involved with a church or with the neighborhood the way we would like. We have made a few friendships and have gone out and explored some of the Northern Virginia area and Washington DC. Hopefully, with the new year, we can get out and explore a little more and get more involved, but there are lots of other options we are considering at this time, so we will see what happens.

Thank you to all our family and friends who have kept in touch with us.  We love sharing our stories and hearing about your comings and goings as well.  Happy 2011 to all, may it be an adventurous year!!