Time sure flies...

...when you have 3 kids! ha ha

I've been away for awhile, as you well know. So, here is a quick update.

Darren's business is going well. He has lots of orders and is very, very busy trying to fill them. It's a bit of a challenge when he has to wait on others for some of the parts, but overall he's been able to keep his customers happy. I don't know if I mentioned it before, but he was featured in a national magazine. They gave him a 3-full page write up! Recently he was offered an opportunity to go somewhere down south to be on a sportsman TV show. They are thinking the taping will be sometime in the spring. That is REALLY exciting! He's been having problems getting one of his machines up and running. I guess the manufacturer figured if someone bought the machine they'd already know how to work all the bells and whistles. Anyway, he finally found the complete tutorial and is just about ready to start production with it. That will save a lot of time and money - being able to make more of our own parts.

The kids...Patrick is in band. He's still playing the trumpet in Symphonic and Jazz band and is learning the alto saxophone in Cadet band. He is singing in the church choir with the Rejoice singers. He also started shooting at the local Jr. Rifle Club -- Precision Target Shooting. He's not sure if he likes it yet. It is a lot of technical stuff and not as easy as you'd think. I am pretty sure he will really enjoy it once he gets used to the different style of shooting. Then it will be more fun and he'll be able to go to tournaments all over the north west. He really is quite good.

Em is also in band. She is learning the French Horn in the 5th grade band. She sings in the school choir. She is doing really well in school. Em has also decided she wants to be a girl. She used to be a real home-body; rarely wanting to go much of anywhere and never wanting to go shopping. Now, she actually ASKS to go shopping and I am the one saying, "Are you ready to go home YET?"

Aaron, well, what can I say. He's almost 8 years old. I can't believe it. He isn't doing anything extra-curricular yet. He enjoys playing with his hot wheels and so far, he still likes to snuggle with me on the couch. Although, he has to make sure to give me a kiss BEFORE the bus comes into sight. He cannot have the bus driver see him give me a hug or kiss!

Me. Well, I did get a job. It's not what I want to do forever, but it is a good learning opportunity. And I am very thankful for it. I still get the flexibility I need for the kids, like being able to call in when they are sick, without having it go against me. I'm not too sure it will get my student loans paid off, I may still have to look for something better when they come due again, but for now, it's pretty good. There are some other pretty stressful things going on, but I try not to worry about it too much. Worrying doesn't solve anything and it just makes you and everyone around you miserable, too, so...I just keep my faith and pray about it and remain confident that things will work out just the way they should, when they should. I'm still going to the gym, not as much as I should, but some is better than none. I have a hard time finding time, and I don't like going alone, but whenever I do go, I feel MUCH better.

I've started some holiday shopping. One set of gifts I have to get into the mail this week. I'm not sure if I'll be doing any more gift-shipping in the future. It depends on how this one goes. For my other out-of-town stuff, my niece and dad are coming for Thanksgiving. I'm not sure if I'll send their gifts home with them, or send them with the kids when they go to their dad's for Christmas break. I won't get to spend any of the Christmas holiday with them this year. They get out of school on a Friday afternoon and have to be on a plane first thing Saturday morning. Then they don't come home until Sunday - with school resuming Monday. I wish I could be like other parents and just refuse to put them on the plane...keep the kids to myself where I know they are safe and happy. But, they are his kids, too, and as much as I hate to see them go, it's only for a few days...So I put on my happy face and tell them we'll have Christmas when they get home. That Santa won't forget them and their gifts will be waiting.

We have a new dog. Darren's dog, Jenny, died last year. He was finally ready to have a new dog, so... She's a black lab mix. They say she's about 7 or 8 months old. Her name was Ellie - but we call her Spaz! She is w.i.l.d.!! Previous owners never taught her any manners. She knows "sit" and that's about it. She tries to jump up on you, which is really bad with kids. She's hurt Aaron a couple of times, bowling him over. She doesn't stay for long and doesn't come to her name. We've had her a couple of weeks and she is getting much better, but definitely will take a LOT more work! She is really smart, though, and really wants to please, so I am hopeful.

So, that's about it, I suppose. We live a pretty dull life. I guess that's better than always being on the run and not having time to catch your breath. I really can't complain. Well...I guess I could, but honestly, what good would it do? :D

Until next time...