Merry Christmas

(and other holiday greetings) 2005

In-progress. Check back! It will be done soon!

I'm venturing out and doing our Christmas letter on-line this year. Oh, I'll have to send a few hardcopies out to some family and friends who don't get to a computer very often (who must still live in the stone age). But, this will be quicker and easier for me, and with my life right now, if I don't do this, I won't get anything out, and that would be truly sad. I enjoy writing and sharing our year's news, and I really like getting other people's. So, send me yours!

Click here for family pictures.

Dave

Of course, the biggest news for Dave is that HE'S HOME! And his family is so glad to have him back. While it's been an adjustment, of course, life is getting back to "normal" (if there even is such a thing in this family). Dave is back at Microsoft and struggling to survive there. It's amazing what a year and a half of doing something meaningful can do to change someone's threashold of meaningless office work. It's hard for him to be back at a desk.

Dave has been a wonderful support for Audra as she's been in school. He didn't ask for the extra stress by any means (something she started when he was gone!), but he's stepped right up and into the role of homemaker many days. Well, OK, so he's always been a better traditional "homemaker" than Audra, but who cares, anyway! He runs the kids around, makes dinner, does dishes and laundry, and for those of you who have been privy to his cooking and other skills, you know it's well received! Yum!

Dave is now commanding in the Army National Guard--a military intelligency company. He seems to really love that. (Audra thinks being the "boss" of 70 people is a little much for his big head.) We know he's a good manager and steward over his soldiers.

Audra

The biggest news this year is that Audra has just a few months left until she is done with her Master's program. She's frantically working on her thesis now (did a research study on the reading development of kids with autism), and she does student teaching next quarter at a local toddler autism program. Of course, her education won't be over then, but a chunk of it will be behind her. And she is trunky! It's been a long, hard road, but one also filled with blessings and choice experiences. She is so glad she has found her "calling" in life. She feels fulfilled and sustained. She feels like she will be able to make a real difference in many children's lives. She knows that they will have tremendous impact on her own. They already have.

Her book came out in the U.S. in November, and people have been asking for her autograph! Well, OK, mostly family and friends, but, hey! It still counts, doesn't it?!? She has seen some people talking about it on-line on message boards and stuff, and it's all good so far!

Audra loves the holidays and is so grateful to have her family all back together this year. It's been a long time coming!

Isaak

Click here for Isaak pictures.

Isaak has had a big year. While many years ago, we couldn't imagine him prepared for baptism at age 8, it was evident that he was ready and understood the commitment he was making. In fact, the Bishop commented after their baptismal interview that Isaak knew more than just about any other kid he had ever interviewed. The greatest part, though, was that we were able to wait until Dad was home, and he was able to perform the baptism. It was a happy day for all.

Isaak is doing well in school. He's in a regular 3rd grade classroom this year (we opted out of the gifted program this year so he could be with more "typical" kids for his social development), and he still needs a little support (mostly at recess and transitions). He talks about his autism openly, and the kids seem to think it's all really cool. Of course, they just see the autism as "he's the really smart one" still, but we'll enjoy that perspective for as long as it lasts! We know that the perspective may change in just a few short years.

Isaak goes up to the middle school, to a 7th grade class, for math each day. He loves math and everything about it, as evident in his A+! I was worried at the begining when there was so much language involved in this new math system they use, but he has really picked up on it and has learned how to explain his thought processes. Of course, he's OVER-learned it, and we're now having to teach him now to keep his explanations short and sweet!

He says he's going to be both a mathematician (likely) and a baseball player (highly unlikely) when he grows up.

Maggie

Click here for Maggie pictures.

Maggie is a bubbling 7-year-old ball of spunk. She is about the funniest kid you could know. She just makes mom laugh all the time. She is kind and considerate and animated and cooperative and lively. There are so many adjectives for her! Luckily, she's had a good day, so they're all good that come to mind!

Maggie likes to read (goes through chapter books in a sitting or two), play with Littlest Pet Shop toys, play Pokemon alone or with her brother, swim and dive, listen to music, and primp. Yes, it has begun. She is definitely changing from a little kid into a young lady.

Maggie does really well in school. She is happy and well-adjusted and enjoys going. She gets a little emotionally attached to some people (a boy recently!), but that could be because we keep moving her around! We need to stop doing that! She's at the top of her class academically and keeps the young teacher on her toes.

Maggie says she's going to be an artist (likely) and a famous singer (probably not, but go for it, girl!) when she grows up.