Dear Grandparents,

It is the start of a new year and since we do not get to see you all the time we want you to know what is going on with us.

Ethan is enjoying his third grade class and rarely asks to stay home anymore. At recess he enjoys playing basketball and four square with his new buddies. He is often found drawing pictures of dragons or playing with his Lego guys. His favorite show right now is wipe out and he enjoys playing the Wipe Out game on our Wii system. He still does not like chicken but eats most everything else. He enjoys renting movies from red box and reading any book about dragons.

Emma has made some great new friends this year. She enjoys playing basketball with them at recess or just talking too. She has read almost every single Magic Tree House Book (45 in all) and I am trying to convince her to try a new series which is a very hard sale. She has a quick wit and enjoys making up her own jokes and appreciates enthusiastic laughs at the punch line. Emma likes to tease and play tricks. She tries to scare me any chance she gets. Sh has an infectious laugh. Emma has quite a competitive streak and wants to play basketball next season. She enjoys playing outside and riding bikes.

Lily has really grown a lot these past few months. She has learned so much in her few months of kindergarten and is becoming a great reader. In school her teacher tells me that when the kids are doing sharing time, they always pick Lily to say a comment or ask a question. She is very well liked by her peers. She has such a funny sense of humor and is very dramatic (in a good way). She likes to use fun voices and mimics adult stances. I need to get it on video tape. Lily likes to make people smile and is very willing to give service. She loves to play pretend with Jacyi (once they stop fighting over who gets which Barbie) and they can really get into character. Lily loves helping in the kitchen and I am hoping she becomes a chef!

Jayci is enjoying home preschool and is a very good student. She has her alphabet down, knows how to spell and write her name, knows her phone number, birthday, how to spell all her siblings names, and how to check the weather outside ;)! She also loves to count and I think she can get to thirty now but not when you ask her to. Jayci is so hilarious. She cracks me up with her sassyness that I have to nip in the bud now that she is becoming such a big girl. She is also very helpful (again when she wants to be). I have come to the conclusion that this little girl is just like her mama... very strong willed and determined to do it HER way. Jayci is good for Ethan because she will wrestle with him and not cry unless she really is hurt. She eggs him on like no other and really fights hard. She is one tough girl!

Nolan.... AWE.... Nolan. We all just adore him. He is becoming more and more independent but still enjoys a good cuddle. It saddens me to report that he is a total Daddy's boy. Joey just soaks it all up and it is great for them. Nolan loves the bath and shower so I am excited to get him in the lake, pool, and ocean this summer. Nolan is an experienced stair climber now and getting more confident with the decent. He loves toothbrushes and toy cars. His hearty laugh makes us smile and he is still very pleasant and easy going.

We love and miss you all and think of you often. Please come and visit soon!!!!