I Know It's Been a Long Time...

I know it's been a really long time, so long, that this is the last photo I've uploaded to my computer (October 2012). Partly because I'm busy and partly because my computer is full and doesn't like anything new added to it. I know I should fix that, but now we are back to the time issue. So, I know I haven't posted since I became YW president. It's a busy calling. But, in case you were wondering, we have managed to survive as a family this year, also. So here is the rundown.

Cara has almost successfully survived her Junior year. I say almost because she has 20 school days left and is currently trying to raise her math grade to a respectable C. If Sam got a C in math, I would kill him, but if Cara pulls out a C in her last math class of her pre-college life, I will be satisfied. She spends all of her time studying for her AP history class, doing her math homework, singing, and playing the piano. She just finished her first year of piano competitions. I think she did well, even though I couldn't attend any of them (no room for parents). She just tried out for Encore at her school. While singing, the choir teacher walked out from behind the curtain and yelled, "Cara Sabin, why didn't you try out for the part of Maria?" Cara replied, "I didn't want to kiss on stage." Her teacher said, "You know I wouldn't have made you do that. I am so mad at you right now. Get out of here. Don't do the sight reading!" Cara claims all of this is great and she made the choir. She is trying out for MDT today. If she makes that, she might have to kiss on stage. Her most exciting thing in life right now, is an upcoming trip to NY. If you haven't heard about it, then you don't know Cara, cuz she has told everyone she knows.

Sam is a kid that is always making us laugh when he is not trying to be funny. He gets straight A's and I never see him doing homework for more than 20 minutes. He has signed up for a lot of classes next year that should be difficult. Maybe he will have less free time to spend on the computer playing minecraft. On most ski days this year, Sam opted to stay home and babysit instead of wake up and put on his ski clothes. However, I just recently found out that Sam hates babysitting, "Being a parent would be difficult. I hate babysitting because I am always so afraid that something will happen." I told him that it wasn't his fault if someone got hurt, but he is still convinced it would be his fault if he wasn't watching them at the moment. I told him that all my kids got hurt when I wasn't watching them. I have also recently discovered one of Sam's greatest fears. He always worries at church that he will knock one of the pictures off that hangs in the halls. Sam is probably best known for playing the Jarrod Radnich version of Pirates of the Caribbean. On most days at around 4:00, you can hear him playing that song from anywhere on our street.

Maddie is my sneakily smart child. She doesn't understand why I say that. If you know Maddie, you will understand. She doesn't act the super smart part, but she gets school. She knows how to get her homework done quickly and move on to fun. Everyday she asking to hang out with friends. Maddie loved skiing this year. She is our most fearless. After a day when Steve berated all of us for not challenging ourselves, Maddie went skiing and drug her cousins down a double black. It was a very icy day. Her first time down and she did it on a day when Steve had to work and couldn't see her. She had a difficult time picking up her cousins' skis and bringing them down, so she has not been back on that face yet. Maddie is my go to girl for entertaining Leah. Cara is always so busy, so Maddie usually is the one who will play with Leah.

George continues to spend all his time at school or the gym. He gets home every night at about 8:00. Then he eats, does homework and goes to bed. If I ask him to take a shower, he freaks out. He usually only showers once a week. Which is really gross because he is at the gym for 18 hours a week. Oh well, I rarely have to smell him. Despite his shower habits, he is extremely picky about what he wears and having his hair perfectly groomed. And he appears to have many friends and admirers at school. His teacher gushes over him and George has a way of always looking cool, no matter what he is wearing or doing. It is quite maddening.

Max is still Max. He loves to let me know when his life is not perfect, which is always. He has been known to yell, "What level did you cook this on?" about his toast in the morning. If it's not cooked to perfection, I get the evil stare and he won't eat it. Not to worry, this only happens for a few minutes and then I get to send him out the door. He always tells me that school is boring and he doesn't learn anything. But then he is always telling me about stuff he has learned at school. This summer, I am signing him up for the swim team. He loves the water and I am hoping he will find his place in life.

Leah is growing rapidly. She now has a big girl bed, that she likes to show to anyone who walks in the door. And she introduces herself as, "Leah, I'm three now."She was so excited to turn three and go to a class as the gym called kidfit. After one session, she prefers daycare. Sometimes you wanna be where everybody knows your name! Leah keeps walking around the planet like everyone wants to know her and be her best friend. She is exuberant in her love. Her friend across the street has gone home twice now crying because Leah has to walk her home and her friend thinks that Leah wants to come in her house to play more (which of course Leah does want to play more). Leah doesn't understand why people wouldn't want to play with her from sunrise to sunset.

This is what has been happening the last eight months. 20 more days of school and then what? Well, youth conference and girls camp.