Wow a year since my last post. I really need to work at this and actually be diligent in my postings. Life has a way of barreling past though and I don't have time to write down my reflections. This has been a trying year. My husband deployed  in August. We try to skype daily but he is 14 hours ahead of us. My oldest child is about an inch taller than me now and his voice has changed from a childs' into a young mans. My big girls are growing up into young ladies. Even my little ones are getting big. My youngest will be 4 in a few short weeks. It does not seem like 4 years ago that I had him. I look at him and he still seems so tiny but I remember when his older brother was 4 I thought him so grown up. Funny how our perspective changes based on the birth order.

My oldest son is still struggling socially but doing leaps and bounds better than he ever has. His sister summed it up last night when she said  Daniel is still itty bitty inside even if he is big outside. Yes he is. Only 6ft tall teenager on the block that is out there playing with the 5-8 year olds that seem to populate our neighborhood. Yesterday he discovered an electric scooter and it was like watching a kid on a roller coaster. He initiates conversations with me now. Sometimes amusing, almost always thought provoking. He is an honor roll student and I am SO proud of him for that.

Ashlynne is home-schooled this year. That has been DIFFERENT. Never did I think I would home-school. It was needed though. She is thriving. I tell her she is always on the honor roll and has perfect attendance finally.  She lost so much weight last school year and missed so many days due to her stomach issues. She is being seen at UAB-Childrens hospital now. Finally a few answers. We know she has lactose and fructose sensitivities. Next up is testing for Mesenteric Artery syndrome. I almost hope it is the answer because at this point we have done every other test I know of.

Laureleiy is so grown up now. I have a hard time remembering she is only barely 11. She acts more like a very serious 20 year old. School is EVERYTHING To her. I am so proud of her desire to be that straight A student. She has maintained a 100% average throughout the entire year in every subject even citizenship. I can see her being a valedictorian someday. Her projects are painstaking in their precision and perfection. Her goal is to be a Navy fighter pilot or an astronaut. I see her succeeding at both of those. She completed an elective course earlier this year at the Naval Aviation museum, that pertained to the theory and evolution of flight. Of course she topped out and scored the highest grade in her school. She reminds me so much of her dad and I.

David- Oh what a stinker! That kid is on fire! He will be a household name someday. He lives for entertaining and his one-liners are killer. He puts on his own one man show that includes jokes singing and dancing. He is performer at heart and I love watching his antics. Schoolwork could use some help. I tell him spend more time working at school and less time playing and then you can play all you want too at home. Maybe one day this will sink in.He is on the a honor roll BARELY.

Katheyrn- Still my ethereal child. She is my daydreamer. Sweet loving and so creative. Watch for her designs someday. She loves dress up and decorating. School is sort of an eh point for her. She only does her work because she has no other choice. She is an A student though and there is little effort to be that. It all comes easily and she is content to do what must be done so she can dream.

Arriana- My sweet little neurotic child. This kid is so not an A student. She doesn't care about anything but rocks and ducks. If the subject matter doesn't contain one of those two subjects she is not going to do it. I'm fairly sure her classmates parents scratch their heads at homework assignments because it is almost always duck or rock related on the math sheets... She has struggled with her anxiety this year. Hair pulling has increased to an epic level and she half balded herself right before Christmas. I packed the kids up and drove to my mom and dads house for over a month. Her hair is growing back. Except now that she is back in school it has started again. :( Today I have a meeting with her teacher again. Therapy does not seem to help the anxiety.

Matthew oh the joys of little boys! His favorite color is pink. He likes wearing tutus because they fling mud so well. He can ride a bike with no training wheels, and boy does he ever ride it. He will fly down the street on it. It amuses him to see us running after him and it only makes him peddle faster. Oy! I have implemented yelling RED LIGHT!!! Which brings him to a temporary stop. He talks nonstop and is constantly building things digging in things and questioning things. His mind is so bright. He is so ready to be in school. He can already read and spell his name.