It has been well over a year since I last posted and so much has happened. I have started a new blog here but I thought that I should give you a quick update as to what has happened in the last year or so...

Sad News
My father-in-law passed away this last February (2004), it is still a major adjustment not having him around. We all miss him so very much.

Happy News-
We have a new addition to our family. Caitlyn Alyssa was born August 18, 2004. She was 7lbs 15oz and 20in long.

More Happy News-
On July 4, 2003 (our one year wedding anniversary) my brother was married to a woman that he met on his ship. They live in Seattle, WA and at this time Gilly is out of the Navy but they will be in Seattle until his wife Rebekah is also out.

Even MORE Happy News-
I am finally an aunt! On 1/30/04 Gilly and his wife had a baby girl named Bethany Isabel. The week that we found out that Gilly and his wife were expecting their first child my sister also found out that she was also expecting her first child! My nephew Tyler William was born on 3/10/04 and I was so excited to be able to be in the labor room while he was born!

Divorce sucks
No, not me! My mom and stepdad were divorced this summer. He is already living with someone and my mom is getting her life together with a new job and many new friends. I have nothing nice to say about my stepfather who since the divorce has made no attempt to get in touch with my kids who he has been a ::grandfather:: to for 12 years now!

We have moved...again...and again!
We had moved into a rental home in the fall of 2002, in the summer of 2003 we moved into a larger (4 bdrm) rental home and we finished up another move into a much larger home this past summer of 2004.

Did I mention that we are sharing a home with my mom?
No, it's not as bad as it must sound, long story short, with the divorce she would have lost her home because she couldn't afford to pay for it on her own. The house is large so she has majority of the lower level for her living space and there is enough room for each of the kids to have their own room. I have always loved this house and we are all very excited to be back in our little town.

~Kids Update~

Brittany-
Britt is now 13 years old! It is so hard for me to get over how much she has grown up in the past few years. She is in 8th grade and loves middle school. She has a 'boyfriend' named Gentry. They have gone on 'dates' with one or both sets of parents tagging along. Gent is a really nice boy and his family is so very nice, so I am unbelievably relieved how painless this whole 'dating' thing has been! Britt is in basketball and was on the volleyball team last semester. She is still getting honor roll grades and is very much looking forward to going to the high school next year. She is ready.....I am not!

Danielle-
Danielle is 10 years old and is in the 5th grade. She is very happy that we are back in our little town so that she didn't have to switch schools. They have changed the school system here so next year she will be starting the middle school (in the past middle school started in the 7th grade). Danielle is so in love with her baby sister, she is the biggest help, I don't know what I would do without her. She is still in girl scouts and had fun playing volleyball this year.

Anthony-
Anthony is 5 years old and is now in kindergarten! He loves school and I am so excited because he has the same teacher that Britt had in k-garten! Last year he started playing ice hockey and he really seems to like it. His practices and games keep us busy but they are so much fun that so far I have no complaints! He has lots of new friends and a 'girlfriend' named Nicole who lives down the street from us.

Caitlyn-
Caitlyn is such a good baby and we all feel so blessed that she is here. It is so much fun to have a baby in the house again and I can't wait to watch her and her new cousins grow up together.

Big News!
I can't believe that I almost forgot! John is in touch with one of his sons! After years of not being in touch JR showed up at his grandpa's funeral and although we haven't seen as much of him as we would like, it feels so good to know that he is open to spending time with us.

I know that there is lots more but hopefully this will get my posting up to date! It was so much fun to go over this old blog and see how much has changed and how much hasn't changed!

Don't forget to visit me at my new blog! :-)