New Beginnings...

So, the past couple of weeks have been kind of crazy, but it's reminded me a little of being pulled behind my dad's boat as a kid on a tube or something. You're speeding along at top speed, and when the boat turns you hit the wakes and do some bouncing, readjust, and then keep on speeding along. It's not really the life has slowed down any for us, but I do feel as though we made it through the bumps associated with coming home from the internship, the family reunion and getting Erick and Justin back into school! We're more or less moved back into our house, and the kids couldn't be any happier about it. I have to admit it's been good to be back. I can also see a little of why my mom always felt the year should begin with school starting in September, because it's such a natural starting point for many thigns when the kids go back. Here are a few of our "new beginnings".

Justin's getting back into his classes and really has some interesting stuff this semester, I think. He also got a great job offer from Nestle-Purina we were surprised to get before August was even out, and it's really taken a little of the pressure off the job hunt. They were so impressed with his presentation and project over the summer they've taken his ideas and already begun consumer testing on them, so we may see results on the store shelves in the spring if things go well! I told you he's amazing. Anyway, we're still busy updating his resume for a few job fairs and conferences coming up he'll be attending, but it's nice to know we have *something*, and that it's a good offer from a great company. Who knows? Maybe we'll end up again in Saint Louis? We'll see. He's also been invited this year to work on a project for BYU assessing donorship to the university and figuring out how to increase those numbers. He's pretty excited about it, and I think from what I've heard it's a compliment he was selected to participate. I'n not surprised - he really does a good job. He had a birthday last week, but our birthday-date has been postponed to this weekend because of busy-ness, so hopefully I'll have more to post next week after we party!

I've started attending a Book of Mormon class on Tuesday nights taught by Joseph F. McConkie and it just kills me to have to wait until Justin's finished his homework those evenings to tell him all about what I learned. It's been fabulous to jumpstart my scripture study again and I've enjoyed the momentum it's given me in other aspects of my life starting out this year. I've also been a little more involved with the BYU MBASA (spouses association) this year and look forward to the associations and friendships there. Our opening social was a nice sit-down dinner with Susan Tanner as the guest speaker - she did a great job and it was a lot of fun to see old friends post-internship and meet new ones as well! I'm SO glad we're second-years, though. I can't believe the difference I feel in stress levels and comfort from one year to the next - so if you're a first-year and reading this, BELIEVE ME, it REALLY DOES GET BETTER! :-) Between that, Justin's school activities and maintaining membership (not to mention friendships) in our wonderful ward, our weeks have been filling up very quickly. It's a struggle maintaining some kind of balance, because there's literally something (or often two or three things) every night of the week, and we just have to choose what's most important. I know, most of you are thinking "welcome to my world", but I'm impressed at how exponentially busy each year becomes over the last, and it sets my head spinning to think of what things could become once all four kids are going, going going!

Erick's started First Grade, which means he goes to school all day four days a week with an early-out on Fridays. It's been kind of an adjustment for a boy who still naps occasionally, with some interesting outbursts and strange results, but I think he's adjusting well. First grade has a lot more homework involved than Kindergarten did, and we're adjusting to that part together with the occasional outburst there coming from mom, and not the boy. ;-) But I'm so proud of him! He's becoming very careful in his coloring and other work, and I think has taken pride in what he's learning this year. I'm conflicted. I admit I love having the entire day to run errands and do other things while he's gone, but I'm mourning the lack of free play time he used to have - it seems like now he comes home from school and it's already almost dinner time. Where do the days go?

Erick and Izzie are also both in Soccer now, and on different teams for the first year! I worried Izzie would struggle with that, and she has a little bit, but not enough for me to be able to keep her off the field. I've tried, because of her arthritis, but she'll hear nothing of it and is a real tiger out there going after the ball. She makes a great forward and is a lot of fun to watch! Erick's a little more passive on the field, but enjoys his turns at playing goalie and so far is pretty fearless when picking up the ball in the middle of frenzied kicking. He grabs it right away and holds it above his head, beaming like he's holding the world cup in his hands. Justin's helping coach his team, and I think it's been a really fun thing for them. I can't wait to get the team picture back with them both in it. I think Justin's been looking forward to this since we got the word almost seven years ago that we were expecting a boy! (and I can't wait to have another one!)

Izzie will be beginning a new round of Remicaid this week, as well, so chalk that up to more beginnings, and here's hoping she gets feeling better soon! She's also back into gymnastics with a new teacher and class this year. We were sad to lose her old teacher to Idaho somewhere, but she's adjusting well and enjoys the new program. Her class takes place in the "big" gym now, as opposed to the smaller equipment, and she seems to think that's pretty great. She still limps, but I seem to be the only one who notices, as her teachers act surprised when I point it out. I hope it's because I'm more sensitive to it, and not because they're completely unobservant, but I guess it's not a bad thing that nobody points it out. She was also originally going to start preschool this year, but with everything else going on in her life right now she's had a hard time wanting to start one more new thing, so we're holding off a few months on that one. Her teacher has been very patient and I'm sure she'll be ready to start soon enough. I don't worry too much about her, I guess, because she's already more ready for kindergarten in many ways than Erick was when he started, and his homework assignments fascinate her, which is good for them both. She's a smartie pants and we have some great conversations resulting from her good, observant questions throughout the day. Nothing gets by that girl.

And finally, Audrey... what's new with Audrey? She's definitely TWO these days, and keeps my blood pumping. I'm amazed at how she can make me laugh and cry with her antics, and then laugh again, all in ten minutes' time. I guess that's part of being pregnant with a two year old princess at home. I absolutely can't keep her out of my purse, and have had to move all my makeup and nail polishes to the top shelves in the bathroom. She dresses herself and loves skirts and anything pink, and loves to wear the plastic dress-up shoes to go "shopping". She talks at a mile a minute and has very defined opinions. She likes to pull the leaves off my plants, indoor and out, and is kind of a bully with her siblings and other smaller children unfortunate enough to cross her path. She wants to wear Izzie's clothes and loves her baby and Dora. I'm really thrilled our new baby will be a boy, partly because I'm ready to have another little rugrat pushing cars around the house, and partly because I'm not sure Audrey's ready to share her princess status just yet. It somehow sounds more peaceful. I guess we'll see. She still has no interest in potty training, and guards her binkie with her life. Oh, the joys of being a third child. :-)

And the little one? Still on schedule and healthy, as far as we know. He kicks a lot these days and has us completely baffled as for names. Boy names are so hard! We're open to suggestions, and very likely won't have anything decided until the first of December sometime.

So there you go! The update on us. You made it!