What's Happening in Your Neck Of The Woods?

Happy 2009 to one and all! It's been a few years since I managed a holiday newsletter, so how about an update on how all the LadyPatsFans are doing?

DH has completely healed from his liver cancer surgery in December 2007, and is now 1 year cancer free. He sees his oncologist and surgeon here every 3 months, and a transplant doctor in OKC once a year for follow-up. Thus far, all is well. His company had 3 rounds of layoffs in 2008 as a result of the economic downturn, but so far DH's position has been spared. He still seems to enjoy his job, however, so hopefully the company will continue to survive into the new year, and start to thrive when the economy recovers.

I was not quite so fortunate, and was laid off twice in 2008. In September I landed a good position doing web and software development. The people here are very nice, the work is varied and interesting, and I'm really enjoying it. The commute downtown can be a bit hard on us with only one vehicle. However, the library is only 3 blocks away, so I have a good excuse to go out and walk at lunch a few times a week. Over the summer I started the Couch-To-5K running program with the kids. We did not finish, due to various factors derailing my motivation, but I hope to pick it back up myself in the next few weeks. If not soon, then definitely in Spring when it warms up. :)

Stringz is doing extremely well. As a 7th-grader, he is now in Middle School, and has different rooms and different teachers for each class, like a high school. He is taking Algebra for math as well as an honors Science class, and really loves the challenge. Stringz is in his second year playing Viola, and doing very well. He was so excited this fall when he auditioned and made the cut for Honors Orchestra. This is a special event that provided an opportunity for Stringz to rehearse and perform with a different conductor as well as musicians from his and 4 other school districts. He practiced the music on his own for a month prior to the event, then rehearsed with the group all day on Saturday, and performed in a concert that night. Stringz continues to enjoy playing chess, and tries to attend a weekly chess club meeting as often as Mommy and Daddy can get him there. He is currently First Class rank in Boy Scouts, and expects to finish his Star rank early this year. He still loves going on the campouts and attending Troop meetings. I can not believe he will turn 13 at the end of the month, making me the parent of a teenager!

Squeegy is enjoying school much more this year. He is in 6th grade, and is learning the trombone in band class. He is currently using the same trombone that I learned on, which originally belonged to Squeegy's Great Uncle A - aka GUA. While trombone was not originally his first choice, he is learning very quickly, and frequently earns Second or Third Chair after each week's test. He enjoyed his first band concert in December. Squeegy was offered the opportunity to take Chinese as a foreign language this year, and he absolutely jumped at the chance. He seemed to enjoy it and learned it well, and I hope that he will want to take it again in 7th grade. Squeegy has achieved the rank of Tenderfoot in Boy Scouts. He did not play a sport this year, a situation that he has advised me that he would like to correct next year.

Giggles is in 2nd grade this year. She is absolutely reading up a storm. She only wants to read chapter books, and frequently raids Stringz's bookshelf, as well as mine! Her teacher this year seems to be doing a better job of challenging her, and Giggles complains less about being bored than she has in previous years. Giggles is a second year Brownie this year, and was so excited to finally go on her first campout. The temperature outside dropped to 30 degrees or less, but luckily for us our troop was assigned the lodge, which meant heated sleeping areas. Giggles continues to enjoy scrapbooking and crafts, although she much prefers paper scrapbooking over the digital scrapbooking that I do. She has expressed interest in joining gymnastics for some time now, so DH and I are researching programs and hope to finally get her started in February.

Princess is nearly 4 years old - where does the time go?!?! DH and I are looking to get her into a Montessori preschool early this year. She is showing so much potential right now, and her current day care just isn't up to the task. Her speech is getting much clearer and easier to understand. We still have occasional communication issues, but mostly when her mind works more quickly and maturely than we realize. A few months ago, Princess learned that her name starts with S, and now anything with an S on it belongs to her - much to Squeegy's chagrin. Her favorite pasttime lately is coloring, and she has started drawing her own stick people - with arms and legs growing directly out of their head, of course. Princess also started writing her name without help recently, and it is completely recognizable too! She is stubborn and mule-headed (wonder where she got that from, huh?) but very sweet and loving, and even cuddly sometimes. She still plays a bit rough with the cats, forcing them to sit with her when they want to leave, but she is learning restraint and is much improved in this area.

Speaking of our furry family members, the pets have managed to stay mostly healthy this year. In February, we adopted what was posted as a Bernese Mountain Dog mix puppy, but is more likely a Miniature Australian Shepherd (Mini Aussie) mix puppy. So, instead of the laid back, 100lb fluff ball I was expecting, Wolfgang has turned out to be a cute, if spazzy, 35lb bundle of energy. Wolfie basically ignores the cats, which is a very good thing, and he turned 1 in December. Our German Shepherd, Daisy, is 3 years old now, and has started attacking the cats. We've got the situation temporarily managed with baby gates, but much training is in her future. The cats, Jesse, Wyatt, and Calamity, are 1 1/2 years old, and thanks to the falling temperatures they are even more cuddly than usual. Jesse tends to sleep on our bed. Calamity has adopted Giggles's bed as her own, much to Giggles's delight. Wyatt likes to cuddle with me on the couch, especially when I'm using my Patriots blanket (thanks Sis!).

That's what's happening in our neck of the woods. I hope that this holiday season finds you all well. Wishing each and every one of you and all your family health and happiness for 2009 and beyond.

The LadyPatsFans
DH, LPF, Stringz, Squeegy, Giggles, Princess
Daisy, Wolfgang, Jesse James, Wyatt Earp, Calamity Jane