State of the Family Address

Last year on June 26 it was Manny's first birthday.  We documented it well with family pics and lots of things.  This year, we decided to do it again.

So here is the report of the State of the Family.

Jacob ... will be 13 on July 7 (only 11 days after Manny's birthday).  He is 5'9", weighs 138 pounds, wears a size 12 men's shoe.  He'll be headed to the 7th grade in the Fall.  Will likely homeschool him again.  He is still dealing with FSGS (kidney disease, in the Nephrotic Syndrome family).

Kaley is 11 1/2.  She is 4'7", weighs 58 pounds and wears a size 7 1/2 women's shoe.  She is only 16 months younger than Jacob but they are night and day in build!  She will be in 6th grade, but most people guess her as age 8.

Sam will be 10 at the end of August.  He is 4'11" and weighs 90 pounds.  He will be in the 4th grade.  He is one of the most helpful kids you'll ever meet.  People argue regularly with me about him being homegrown and not adopted because he looks just like me.

Luke is 8.  He is 4'5" and weighs 70 pounds.  He is headed to the 3rd grade.  He has a mind for physics and such.  Today, he has spent most of the day trying to figure out the angles of how to make dominos fall in patterns and how to make them jump things and climb up hill, etc.  I've discovered lately that his favorite food (when he's craving especially) is raw cauliflower and balsamic vinegar!

Zoe is 6.  She is 46 inches and 46 pounds.  (Thought that was cool.)  She will be in the first grade.  She is very excited to see her new book launch.  It's been interesting watching her see the process come together, how much work it is.  She is now writing her own books.

Manny is 2.  He is 25 pounds.  And he is about 32 1/2 inches.  It's virtually impossible to measure him accurately since he doesn't stand up and his feet are still a bit "off" so no way to know what part of his feet to use.  He is wearing size 18 month clothes.

His party was small and simple, just family.  We had a cake (thanks Elsa!) and a few decorations (Diego).  We released balloons.  We took pictures.  We watched Bambi.  Pretty much our day.

If you'd like to see more of the pictures from his party, you can click this link.  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150225480206958.321988.697891957&l=7d639fbfbd 




 As I think of this past year, I am in awe of the miracles.  I've got tons more wrinkles and a few more pounds, a lot more wisdom and a heck of a lot more compassion.  I've got muscles where I never did before and I ache where I didn't know one could ache.

You know those vows you take when you get married?  I think we should take some similar ones when we have children.  Because they are pretty similar.  I have agreed to take these children while I'm richer and poorer.  (Still waiting for the richer part, I've practiced the poorer part for a long time now.)  During sickness and in health (theirs and mine, and trust me, we've had it all).  For better and for worse.  (Check).  Until death parts us.

And that's the part that's new.  Last year, we were hoping that we'd not face that yet.  We put it before God Almighty.  And that death cloud no longer lives over our house.

And THAT is the biggest thing that's changed this year compared to last year.

So there's the state of the family for 2011.  We're thankful for life.