The Camera is Back!

Well, it has been quite a while since we last entered a blog. We did get our camera back in early February, but we've been so busy to write anything. Olivia has been enjoying life as usual. She doesn't seem to mind all the cold and snow, but I know she will be excited when she can play in her playhouse in the backyard and go down her slide and swing again. She is still getting a lot of use from her sled she got last year for Christmas from Aunt Jen. She has also enjoyed learning some science lessons about static electricity, as you can see from the pictures of her with balloons stuck to the side of her head. Every time she gets a balloon now, she has to stick them to her head. With so many snow days and midwinter break Olivia and I have had some fun moments to hang out together and we even got Elizabeth and the boys to come over a few times. I just love the picture of Olivia and Titus riding the zebra together. They had so much fun together that day. They love hanging out together, but usually fight like brother and sister. They got along so well that particular day. Baby James is growing like a little Budha baby, as all of my sister's boys do. He started out the smallest of the four, but is quickly catching up. Last I heard he was over 16 pounds already and that was a couple weeks ago. Andy has been real busy with work, trying to finish up jobs on his own, plus work for his boss, and coach swimming. He moved in as the head coach for the Stingrays swimming program this year and he has truly enjoyed it, but it has kept him soooo busy. His swimmers just got back from state last weekend and did excellent! One swimmer got 1st in 2 events and many others took 2nd and 3rds. The last swim meet of the season is in Minnesota and Olivia and I are flying out with Andy for the trip. It's the last weekend in March and Olivia's god father Keith Morrisson's mother Mary moved out there about 1 year ago so we are going to go visit her while out there. When we return swimming will be officially over, and we'll be packing our bags again to leave for our Caribbean Cruise the following weekend! I have been teaching a reading class one hour a night after school Tuesdays - Thursdays, and I really am enjoying it. I also just started taking sign language classes on Thursday evenings and have been trying to hit the Doyle Center regularly. I've added so much to my schedule all at once that it is hard to keep up with the little things in life. I am loving it all, but am looking forward to when everything slows down again and we can relax on our cruise. Some sad news in the family as well. My cousin Brett MacNeill's wife Heidi did pass away. It's so sad to see someone once so full of life gone at 22 years of age leaving behind a loving husband and 3 month old son. Thankfully she was at a nursing home in her hometown, surrounded by family when it happened. My sister, baby James and I headed up with my dad and Patty to Alpena for the funeral on February 21st. The funeral was on the 22nd and I have never seen so many people attend a funeral. It was great to see the support system in place to help Brett and Heidi's family through this rough time. I was amazed at the strength that Brett and Heidi's parents showed through it all. Please keep them all in your prayers through this healing time.