A year in review

Marin was in third grade this year and in a new school.  It was her first year at Lincoln and I think she was a little nervous.  Her teacher told me that she is really quiet in class and very polite and kind.  Marins loves being creative.  Right now she is making bookmarks in the shapes of animals.  She made a piggy bank out of a liter bottle a few weeks ago.  If she has a few minutes of spare time, she is either reading or drawing.  I was so excited when she agreed to take violin lessons. She has even given a verbal mmmmmmkay to taking singing lessons. I am really excited for that!  She can sing well, but hates when people are looking at her.  This summer she is going to Alpine, Wyoming for a girls camp and taking a horseback riding course.  She was a trouper and tried out softball this year.  I think she played for social reasons only.    Aaron coached the team and it was quite the experience.  We are amazed constantly by her creativity and she is so excited that we have been approved to be a foster family and has high hopes that she there will be another little girl in the house.  She was asked to be the hare in the Aesop's Fables and loved hop, hop, hoping around for her part.

    

Ashton was in first grade this year, in the same class as Mesa.  He enjoyed school more than last year.  I came to volunteer once a week in his classroom.  Aaron and I took turns running pacers with him, he was proud of himself for reaching his goal of 50 miles.  He has loved making new friends.  He is reading very well and he is my biggest helper around the house.  We have read all the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, although I do not like how lazy the kid in the book is.    I have realized that Ashton gets embarassed by things I was not aware of, like when I talk about him in front of other people.  He has actually taken me aside and told me not to do that! Ashton did really well in baseball this year and it was exciting to watch him play.  He had 4 premolars pulled last week and after coming home with 4 teeth for the tooth fairy, he realized one of his baby teeth was loose and pulled it out.  I don't know any kid who has lost 5 teeth in one day.  He went through a whole bottle of Tylenol with codeine because of the pain.  He still likes to be tucked in at night and uses a head lamp to read books in bed so he doesn't wake "the monster."  He is growing up way too fast.  Ashton has asked for a pocket knife because now he is big enough to have one and he also wants a suit for church!