It has been a while. But that is obvious. The biggest things that have happened in the last couple of months are as follows:
1 - We found out that we're having another boy.
2 - Leeroy, Spock, and Raptor have relocated to an apartment since their house will not be completed before Angel and Spock have their babies.
3 - School has started for Kanga and Tigger.
4 - My last sibling, Babe, went into the Missionary Training Center
5 - Winter is coming
Kanga isn't sure what to think about this third little brother in her life. She was really hoping for a little sister. I think a big part of that is looking for some solidarity and looking for a playmate. However, I don't think she realizes that by the time this child will be old enough "to play" with, Kanga will be a pre-teen and many not be interested in the same things. I'm also pretty sure that she doesn't realize the position she will be in with her brothers. She is the oldest and will be the non-parent authority in the house. She's also a lot like her father and likes to be an expert on things. Based on the the temperaments of her brothers, I think she will be looked up to in many ways. She has the opportunity to become her brothers' best friend or greatest advocate. As much as my younger self would remain silent on the issue, I looked up to my older sister a lot. She was intelligent, friendly, and a lot of fun to spend time with. She still is - Thanks, Muscles! Anyway, Kanga is getting used to the idea and I know that the relationship that she will have with her mother will always be special. Angel and her mother share some special things and Lydia, while attached to her father, is very much a mamma's girl. It will be a fun adventure to watch her and do my best not to screw it up.
The house is a lot quieter without an extra three people around. The kids have done well at making it a mess as if we had three other people in the house with us, but there is a decided difference to the evenings and the space. It is good to have our house back to ourselves. Leeroy, Spock, and Raptor were good guests. They payed rent, they helped with chores, they did their best to respect our space and family boundaries. They were fun to play games with, watch movies with, talk with, and hang out. They were better house guests than Angel and I have been. It wasn't always easy but I don't regret our helping them.
It's interesting how different it is being the host instead of the house guest. We've lived with my in-laws twice during our marriage and my wife has lived with my parents two additional times for a couple of months. That was one of the my reasons for inviting Leeroy and Spock to live with us. Others have been so helpful to us that I felt obligated to also help others. I know that such a reason would not be enough to open their home to family or friends the way we did. My grandmother was always concerned about us - not because of who we had living with us - because of the situation it causes. As the saying goes "Familiarity breeds contempt." I won't say that there weren't some arguments and such. We got them sorted out and we all survived the experience with our (good) relationships intact.
Kanga and Tigger are both in full time school, which Angel has been enjoying. Kanga has enjoyed connecting with old friends that we didn't see much this summer, while Tigger is busy making new friends. They are both in the Chinese immersion program and are still enjoying both school and the language. Tigger still struggles with keeping himself dry and we're looking into some new ways to help him. At back to school night his teacher expressed some concerns about him but we've been working with the new principal on some school resources. Tigger's reading has improved and he's even taking his own verses when we read scriptures after dinner. They are always the shortest verses, but they are still his. As far as I can tell, Zilla is enjoying his time with Angel while the kids are at school. He's good at helping with small chores and plays well. As Leeroy and Spock moved in about a year ago, this is the first year that Angel has been home while the kids have been in school and she's enjoying the quiet at home.
So, maybe it's finally time to give my youngest sister a new nickname. She's the baby of the family so when she was young we all just called her "Babe", but I don't know if any of us have called her that in a while. I haven't at least. She's as tall as my mother (5'9"), is still good at Akido karate, has completed her EMT training and has seen some pretty grisly things as a part of it, and is the same age that my wife was when Angel got married. I just don't see her as a "Babe" anymore. That and even though I don't call Angel that, it sounds weird for a married man to call someone, anyone, other than his wife "Babe." So, I think I'll call her Bones. How's that for another Star Trek reference? She is considering Physician's Assistant schooling after completing her Paramedic training, so she may work in a doctor's office and that's good enough for me. Plus, she'll break your bones if you try anything with her. And then, probably, patch you up. Probably. Anyway... She left for the mission field this last week and we are all very excited for her. This makes two relatives that are out currently and Bones should get back a little after Angel's younger brother, Elder Chuuk. Bones is serving in Farming, New Mexico, which I understand is the pretty part of the state, unlike the other part where we have relatives. She already knows one of the missionaries there as he was a good friend of hers in high school. She might even end up in southeast Utah. She's excited to be able to serve on reservations. We wish her the best and I'll need to step up my letter writing game.
Yesterday was the first day of fall and we've had sever storms for the last 36 hours or so with the next 24 being not much different. My weather app said that my work is due for some snow, but it looks like a more recent update of that says to just expect rain. As I drive through a pretty formidable canyon every day to get to and from work I try to pay attention to the weather. I'm kind of excited because at the end of spring I got a new warm jacket to wear with my ski jacket and I haven't really been able to wear it comfortably. Winter also means Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and then a new baby in February, most likely right before Kanga's birthday. Oh, and tax season. I'm glad we're a family that enjoys snuggling in blankets with hot chocolate and a good movie/game.
All in all, life is very good. It's not perfect and it's not easy. BUT it is good.
1 - We found out that we're having another boy.
2 - Leeroy, Spock, and Raptor have relocated to an apartment since their house will not be completed before Angel and Spock have their babies.
3 - School has started for Kanga and Tigger.
4 - My last sibling, Babe, went into the Missionary Training Center
5 - Winter is coming
Kanga isn't sure what to think about this third little brother in her life. She was really hoping for a little sister. I think a big part of that is looking for some solidarity and looking for a playmate. However, I don't think she realizes that by the time this child will be old enough "to play" with, Kanga will be a pre-teen and many not be interested in the same things. I'm also pretty sure that she doesn't realize the position she will be in with her brothers. She is the oldest and will be the non-parent authority in the house. She's also a lot like her father and likes to be an expert on things. Based on the the temperaments of her brothers, I think she will be looked up to in many ways. She has the opportunity to become her brothers' best friend or greatest advocate. As much as my younger self would remain silent on the issue, I looked up to my older sister a lot. She was intelligent, friendly, and a lot of fun to spend time with. She still is - Thanks, Muscles! Anyway, Kanga is getting used to the idea and I know that the relationship that she will have with her mother will always be special. Angel and her mother share some special things and Lydia, while attached to her father, is very much a mamma's girl. It will be a fun adventure to watch her and do my best not to screw it up.
The house is a lot quieter without an extra three people around. The kids have done well at making it a mess as if we had three other people in the house with us, but there is a decided difference to the evenings and the space. It is good to have our house back to ourselves. Leeroy, Spock, and Raptor were good guests. They payed rent, they helped with chores, they did their best to respect our space and family boundaries. They were fun to play games with, watch movies with, talk with, and hang out. They were better house guests than Angel and I have been. It wasn't always easy but I don't regret our helping them.
It's interesting how different it is being the host instead of the house guest. We've lived with my in-laws twice during our marriage and my wife has lived with my parents two additional times for a couple of months. That was one of the my reasons for inviting Leeroy and Spock to live with us. Others have been so helpful to us that I felt obligated to also help others. I know that such a reason would not be enough to open their home to family or friends the way we did. My grandmother was always concerned about us - not because of who we had living with us - because of the situation it causes. As the saying goes "Familiarity breeds contempt." I won't say that there weren't some arguments and such. We got them sorted out and we all survived the experience with our (good) relationships intact.
Kanga and Tigger are both in full time school, which Angel has been enjoying. Kanga has enjoyed connecting with old friends that we didn't see much this summer, while Tigger is busy making new friends. They are both in the Chinese immersion program and are still enjoying both school and the language. Tigger still struggles with keeping himself dry and we're looking into some new ways to help him. At back to school night his teacher expressed some concerns about him but we've been working with the new principal on some school resources. Tigger's reading has improved and he's even taking his own verses when we read scriptures after dinner. They are always the shortest verses, but they are still his. As far as I can tell, Zilla is enjoying his time with Angel while the kids are at school. He's good at helping with small chores and plays well. As Leeroy and Spock moved in about a year ago, this is the first year that Angel has been home while the kids have been in school and she's enjoying the quiet at home.
So, maybe it's finally time to give my youngest sister a new nickname. She's the baby of the family so when she was young we all just called her "Babe", but I don't know if any of us have called her that in a while. I haven't at least. She's as tall as my mother (5'9"), is still good at Akido karate, has completed her EMT training and has seen some pretty grisly things as a part of it, and is the same age that my wife was when Angel got married. I just don't see her as a "Babe" anymore. That and even though I don't call Angel that, it sounds weird for a married man to call someone, anyone, other than his wife "Babe." So, I think I'll call her Bones. How's that for another Star Trek reference? She is considering Physician's Assistant schooling after completing her Paramedic training, so she may work in a doctor's office and that's good enough for me. Plus, she'll break your bones if you try anything with her. And then, probably, patch you up. Probably. Anyway... She left for the mission field this last week and we are all very excited for her. This makes two relatives that are out currently and Bones should get back a little after Angel's younger brother, Elder Chuuk. Bones is serving in Farming, New Mexico, which I understand is the pretty part of the state, unlike the other part where we have relatives. She already knows one of the missionaries there as he was a good friend of hers in high school. She might even end up in southeast Utah. She's excited to be able to serve on reservations. We wish her the best and I'll need to step up my letter writing game.
Yesterday was the first day of fall and we've had sever storms for the last 36 hours or so with the next 24 being not much different. My weather app said that my work is due for some snow, but it looks like a more recent update of that says to just expect rain. As I drive through a pretty formidable canyon every day to get to and from work I try to pay attention to the weather. I'm kind of excited because at the end of spring I got a new warm jacket to wear with my ski jacket and I haven't really been able to wear it comfortably. Winter also means Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and then a new baby in February, most likely right before Kanga's birthday. Oh, and tax season. I'm glad we're a family that enjoys snuggling in blankets with hot chocolate and a good movie/game.
All in all, life is very good. It's not perfect and it's not easy. BUT it is good.
