Merry Christmas!!

Christmas cards used to be one of my favorite things about the holiday season. I loved everything about them from choosing the perfect cards to send out, to addressing them and sending them out. As my schedule (like so many others) got increasingly busier over the last several years--especially during the holiday season, something had to give and I abandoned this practice. This year I was hoping to bring back that tradition. Once again, however, time has gotten away from me and so another year goes by without addressing one card. I do miss sending out Christmas greetings, so I have decided to use my blog as one big Christmas "card" to everyone.

Merry Christmas from all of us to all of you, and best wishes for Happy New Year!!

I've never been one to include a summary of the year's events in my Christmas cards, but since the original purpose of my blog was to keep everyone up to date with our family's happenings I'll run through a quick recap.

Since my last blog (that included anything to actually report on) was about Austin's track season, I'll pick up from there. He graduated from 8th grade in June. Yes...it was a loooong school year!! Snow days held us over until the first week of June, and needless to say, EVERYONE was ready for it to be over!

8th grade graduation.

The following week we had a party for him on the patio.

The summer was full of "firsts" for Austin (and a couple for me!). He attends football and basketball camps every summer, but most of those are day camps and I just transport him back and forth for the duration of the camp. This year he went to his first "away" overnight basketcamp at ISU. He got to stay in the dorms and everything. He thought that was awesome! His team performed really well during the camp, he learned a lot of new drills, and met a lot of new people. He had tons of fun!

Kiki (who is a junior and the brother of one of Austin's good friends) was Austin's roommate at camp.

While the cat's away, mice will play! While Austin was away at camp, Bryan and I plus a big group of us all went up to Chicago for the weekend where I had one of my firsts. My first Cub game at Wrigley Field. I've seen the Cubs play before at other stadiums, but never at Wrigley, and it was everything it's hyped up to be! AND...to make things even better--THE CUBS WON!! The game went into 13 innings! But, was well worth the wait. :)

Another first for Austin was his first trip out of the country. We went on vacation in July to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic (another first for me--Bryan has been before) for a week. I wasn't sure how Austin would do on a "resort" vacation with a lot of laying around the pool and on the beach since he is used to going on more action-packed vacations with us. But... he LOVED it, and can't wait to go back! We took a couple day trips during the week going into "town" (if that's what you want to call it) to do a little shopping, and we went on a boating/snorkeling excursion where we even got to swim with the sharks (we were told they're not the kind of sharks that eat people--hmm) and stringrays (that had their stingers removed of course). Austin met all kinds of other kids from all over the world--Germany, France, Spain. He had a little 13 year old girl from Germany following him around (or was he following her around? lol!) all week, and spent a lot of time hanging out with a boy from France (until Austin realized people in France are a little more "relaxed" than we are in the States and didn't like some of the things the boy was "inviting" him to do--smart kid!). Although his little friend from Germany could understand Austin, she couldn't communicate in English very well so it was quite a learning experience for Austin. He picked up a few German words and also learned how limited we are by only knowing our own language! He was amazed that everyone he met could not only speak their own language, but could also speak ours (if not fluently at least enough to communicate).

Pool volleyball with his new friends.

Austin with his friends from Germany.

With one of the locals.

The rest of the summer was equally busy for Austin between a very intense football camp and his first job! He got a taste of what it's like to actually earn a dollar working for Bryan at BASF pollenating corn. Can't say he loved it as much as he did his other "firsts", but it was a good experience for him.

He's entered the world of high school now and is absolutely loving it! He was a starter for the freshman football team. They ended up with a 500 season--not too bad considering the kind of weather they had to play in this year! It was a WET football season! Austin probably played his best game ever (in the rain!) the last game of the season with several tackles and an interception. Basketball season has started now, and so far his team is 3 and 1. Austin's been leading the team with 3 pt. shots, and has been playing better than I've ever seen him. He starts driver's ed in the 4th quarter and that's all I hear about. (Actually, that's been all I hear about for a while now! Lord help us all when he actually starts driving!! lol!)

OK...so for the amount of time I've spent updating this blog I could've hand delivered Christmas cards to everyone! lol.

Seriously, I do appreciate all the Christmas cards I receive every year so thank you for keeping me on your Christmas card list even though I've neglected to reciprocate lately.

I truly hope everyone has a great holiday season!

Facebook

So...I was going to title this post "Blogger Flunkee" because I've allowed an entire summer to go by without once updating my blog. Lots happened over the summer, and none of it was documented on "Keep In Touch," but most of it was posted on Facebook. Clearly, I'm not a dedicated blogger no matter how much I like reading other people's blogs. Facebook has pretty much preempted my blogging. I started facebook about the same time I started my blog, and while I don't include as much written detail behind the pictures--it is just easier. Post a few pics, make a quick comment (maybe?), update status--done. So, for the 3 of you (jk...I know there's 4! lol!!) who check my blog...you're better off just staying "in touch" via facebook. In the event (rather... on the off chance) an exciting event happens that requires more than a one line explanation, I promise my blog will be updated immediately (I mean...eventually). If you aren't already a facebook friend (even though most of you are) and are on facebook, this would be the time to add me or send me a message to add you.

More later. At some point... ?

No more apologies

So, once again... there has been quite a gap in my posts. I'm not even going to apologize for that any more because, apparently, that's just way things are going to be. Sporatic. I do have several things I want to get posted and plan to be making the updates soon. Bare with me. Accept the randomness that is. :)

Record breaking week!

OK... not world records, but personal records at least! In last week's track meet Austin not only improved his times, once again in the 1600 and 800, he did it by more than just a couple seconds this time! He took 12 seconds off his 1600 and 10 seconds off his 800. These times are good enough to send him to the Clinton Challenge--an all-day track competition we hold each year at our school. They only have the top 2 in any event participate in the Challenge, and this will be the first year Austin has ever made the competition--for BOTH of his running events. We are very excited for him! The competition will be held Saturday, May 9. Look for more updates after the competition and keep your fingers crossed for Austin!

Jr. high band takes a trip to Six Flags

Every year the jr. high band takes a trip to Six Flags for a band competition (the competition is actually held at a school in that area, not at Six Flags), and a day of fun in the park. This year, the band won four of the highest honors at the competition. The concert band (which is the one Austin is in) received a Superior Rating, and was selected as the Outstanding Band of the Jr. High/Middle School division. The combined cadet and concert bands also received the Excellence Rating, and both were also given the Espirit De Corps award for their excellence in performance, discipline, behavior, and sportsmanship. It is the first time Clinton Jr. High has ever received that honor!!

Track season begins!

Track season has gotten off to a pretty good start. This year Austin is doing the 800, the 1600, and the long jump (a surprising event for someone who is only 5'4", but what do I know?). So far, he has beaten his best time in both the 800 and 1600--this is his first year for long jump, so every jump is a personal best :) . At the second meet of the season, in Rochester (Monday, April 20), he scored 1 point in the 1600 (which means he placed 5th), and 3 points in the 800 (3rd place) which was his personal best in this event. His next meet was at home, and the one where he got his personal best time in the 1600 and earned 3 more points for his team. So only three meets in, he's already scored more team points than he did the whole season last year. Not a bad way to kick off the season! Warming up

Long jump

Easter at the Martin's

Once again...I am going to attempt to get my blog caught up. (Hopefully, successfully this time!) Easter's been over for a couple weeks now, so I'll be back-tracking again.

We spent Easter at Bryan's mom's. She always makes a fabulous dinner and then Bryan and his sister's husband, Josh, goes outside to hide Easter eggs for the kids to find. As you can imagine out here in the country there are absolutely TONS of places to hide eggs, so this can take quite awhile sometimes...especially when the kids who are looking for them are only 4, 6, and 7. But, of course, Austin is there, too, to kind of guide them as he looks for his own. He may be 14 now, but he knows there is good stuff hidden inside of those eggs so he isn't about to miss out. I think he ended up with about $30 and more chocolate than the child will ever eat (since he doesn't like chocolate! Clearly it was just the money he was after!).

Austin, Kloe, Kolby, Kole, and (my sister-in-law) Brooke sitting in the kitchen floor opening their eggs to see what they got.

Austin looking at what he got from Brenda.

Kloe and Kolby showing off their new sandals I got them for Easter.