Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Karl and Becca family letter

September 11, 2007

It’s been a busy two months. I keep meaning to write more often, it’s just not happening. The kids started school and are now or have been off track already. Michael and Joanna started school mid August. They’re doing fairly well. Marching Band is keeping Michael busy. He’s enjoying it though. They had their first public performance Friday night at the football game. Joanna’s volleyball season ends this week. She moved up from last year’s C team to this year’s B team and has continued to improve. She was named “star of the game” for one of last week’s games. (She deserved it too.) She also scored the winning point in her game yesterday. Yay, Joanna!!! She was a WEB (where everyone belongs) leader and helped the 7th graders transition to middle school. Matthew has been off track the last three weeks. He’s glad to be back in school (I try to keep it boring at home so they’re excited for school.). He goes on PLUM (Pine Lane up in the Mountains) tomorrow. It’s called Outdoor Ed at other schools. He’ll be in Estes Park for three days. He’s earned his Tenderfoot and went to a Merit Badge college on Saturday. He enjoyed playing baseball this summer and is now playing flag football. Alyssa is enjoying 5th grade. She did an explorer project on Balboa, did a great job with her presentation. She dressed up as Balboa and told his life story. Her teacher was very impressed. She’s started Orchestra, playing the violin and is in choir again this year. She’s enjoying the cooler weather, out riding her bike a lot. She’s been reading the “Royal Diaries” series and Nancy Drew. She had a fun birthday and received the HSM2 CD that she wanted. Brett was baptized on Aug. 4th and we enjoyed the company that came for that. Thanks again to Dad and Janae for the talks and Nathan, Heather, Cheryl and Janae for the musical number. He’s also playing flag football, in choir and continues to be interested in all things Sports. He went rock climbing (at a rock climbing gym) for a birthday party and had lots of fun with that. Jacob is doing really well in school, amazing his teacher with his reading skills. He amazes me too. Either he really guesses well from context, or he can read some big words. He has made some fun friends and keeps begging me to ask their parents for their phone numbers. Jesse and Braden are in a playgroup (which has met once), and enjoy playing with their friends. They continue to keep me busy with their antics. I’m enjoying Activity Days. I taught the girls to can peaches (with peaches from Michael’s marching band fundraiser). I also canned a bunch of my own, made jam, made a couple of peach cobblers and we ate a lot of peaches those last few weeks of August. I also taught an Enrichment class in August (my first in 15 years). Thanks to Mom and Cheryl for attending (especially while Cheryl was in labor). That’s a dedicated sister. The class was on organizing your daily schedule. Those weeks that I was preparing was when my days got really busy and it was all I could do to get everything done. So, I needed the class more than anyone else. Karl’s keeping busy with work and Young Men’s. Well, the twins and their friends are laughing a lot and that can only mean they’re getting into trouble. I’d better go check it out.

Love you,

The Barnums

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