Bi-Annual Update

Well, I started to think about writing a family update and I realized that although I blog some and email randomly I haven't done a yearly update in two years. Well, I think I wrote one but I don't think I ever got it out! So I'll try to be short, but you know me.......

First, the family news. In December 2008 Jenny and Dave celebrated their 10th anniversary (Jan 2009) by taking a cruise out of Florida and going to Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama. They had a wonderful time on the ship and seeing Mayan Ruins, Tropical Rain Forest, a Banana Plantation, and the Panama Canal! The grandparents Faires made it possible by staying with the kids for the week we were gone-so thanks! In December 2009 we had a water line burst when Jenny was out running errands. Thus the month of December was hectic as we dealt with replacing carpets, drywall, painting, moving everything out of the main floor and the family room in the basement and then trying to get resettled all during the holidays. However, that means that we started 2010 with brand new carpet in the majority of the house. Hooray. We also saw Jenny's youngest brother off on his mission to Spain in March and then took a road trip during the summer to see Dave's youngest brother when he returned from his mission to the Dominican Republic, afterward visiting Jenny's Grandpa and great uncle, and concluding with a visit to the Annandale's (family friends) in Las Vegas before heading home. Now the individual notes.

S3 is now almost 5 years old. He loves preschool and looks forward to going to school with S2 next year. He thinks he speaks Spanish and it's funny to hear him "talk" in Spanish (since it's mostly gibberish). He does know a few words but he's far from fluent! S3 loves to sing and will sing songs he knows and make up silly songs. He had us (and other ward members) in tears, from laughing so hard, this year during the primary program at church because he was belting it out so loudly you could hear him all the way in the back of the chapel- above the voices of all the other children singing. It's fun to listen in when he's playing by himself because he has quite the imagination. S3 also enjoys helping S1 and playing on the computer. He likes to count the plates and bowls while he unloads the dishwasher.

S2 is 7 1/2 years old and loves school. He's also taking piano lessons and has played for the ward at our Christmas party. Math is one of his favorite subjects. He played basketball this fall and really enjoyed it. Mom was his coach and he thought that was cool. S2 was very excited every time he scored a basket, usually once a game although he scored three times in one game. He is excited about being able to be baptized this summer when he turns eight. He loves to play with his aunt and uncle's dogs and dreams of the day when he gets one of his own. S2 also loves to play on the computer, read and play card or board games. He also likes to talk on the phone to family members far away. However, he dislikes his chore of loading the dishwasher.

S1 just turned 10 years old! We can hardly believe it. After trying to work with the school district for FOUR years to get his educational needs met, we pulled S1 out of the district and got him into a private autism school. He is really enjoying it. He knows the alphabet and can count to at least six. That's what we're sure he knows but I know he knows more as demonstrated by the random words he uses and the problems he solves to get what he wants. S1 continues to be happy and healthy although we still have lots of struggles. His chores include throwing his diaper away and putting his dirty clothes in the hamper. You should see him run so he doesn't miss his shows. S1 also loves the dog "cousins" and enjoys taking them on "walks". He is talking more, but mostly when it serves his purposes. S1 loves to sing "I am a child of God" and "Jingle Bells". If you sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and leave off the last word of each refrain, he will say it for you. He also loves horses and the shows Sid the Science Kid and Super Why on PBS.

Jenny has no time now that she drives S1 every day to school. But she does manage to volunteer in S2 and S1's schools every week. She is also still working (for 2 1/2 yrs now) part time (weekend evenings). Jenny works with seniors providing companion/personal care so that they can stay in their homes/retirement home instead of going into enhanced care /nursing home. She loves having time with S3 each day as they run errands or putter around the house. This year Jenny became a published "writer". She contributed a story to Mormon Mishaps and Mischief: Hilarious Stories for Saints that was accepted and published. This summer she loved working in her garden as it is now fenced in so S1 can't get into it. She also spent a lot of time cutting up vegetables for David. Jenny is also in charge of soliciting donations for S2's PTA Auction. So if any of you have anything you want to donate........

David has the biggest news of all this year. Since the last week in April he has lost more than 160 pounds! He started working out and eating right. Dave has probably eaten more vegetables since April than he's eaten in the past ten years. During the summer he worked out for 5 hours a day, now he's down to around 2 hrs a day. He also went on tour with the Mormon Tabernacle choir this summer and enjoyed seeing friends and family around the country. Last spring Dave was named "Educator of the Year" for his High School. He's in his fourth year of teaching for them. In November it became official, Dave is allergic to exercise. Okay, that's a bit of exaggeration. However, while pushing himself to run 8 mi/hr (normally he runs around 5 mi/hr), Dave did have an anaphylactic reaction. In short he had a nice ambulance ride and visit in the hospital. Now he carries an epi-pen with him when he exercises just in case. What happened is a mystery to the allergist but you can Google it and find that although rare, it's not unheard of. Dave's goal is to run a marathon this April.

I guess that sums it all up. We hope that this update finds you doing well and enjoying the blessing of family and friends. We continue to be grateful for the blessings that we have of health, home, family and friends but especially for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the light and hope He brings to us during our times of trial. May His peace be with you.

Love,

Dave, Jenny, S1, S2 and S3

PS I'll post a new family photo when we get one.