Just Moving Along

It's been a pretty peaceful January as far as Januarys go.  We had some snow, some sunny days, and some torrential downpours, resulting in some pretty spectacular water flows in our new neighborhood.  You know.  Just a typical Oregon winter.  We are back in the rhythm of school and work and sports, and it's almost like our blissful Winter vacation never happened.  John and I had a really great overnight date night in Portland, but mostly, we've been just hanging around the house.  A few birthday parties, a sleepover, some movie nights, and some sporting events in Portland have kept things from getting too monotonous.  The kids have been getting along, and enjoy our neighborhood full of kids more and more each day.  We are thinking about instituting "family time," not because we don't enjoy having kids over, but because we'd like to actually see our children every once in a while. 

I made some New Year's resolutions, and I'm doing my best to keep them.  Sometimes, I'm successful.  Other times, not so much.  And that is just the way it goes.  My main resolution this year is to lay off expectations.  And probably, that one will be even harder to keep than drink more water and get myself moving more.  When I can do it, I find that I can see the happiness in my life in all the little things, so it really is my goal to stop expecting things to go a certain way and just enjoy the ride.  It's a little like telling the wind to stop blowing, but I think a little at a time, I can do it. 

The kids are, as always, doing well.  Middle school continues to be a pretty smooth ride for Josh.  He has a girlfriend, and while it is nothing more than a girl that he enjoys hanging out with (we are no longer allowed to say playing--middle schooler "hang out"), this time feels a little more grown up as I watch it from the outside.  It makes me happy and sad all at the same time.  He likes most of his classes, and got a 4.0 this quarter.  He's currently taking piano lessons, playing school basketball and playing on an indoor soccer team, so he doesn't have a ton of free time.  James is making a lot of progress in reading, and he genuinely likes third grade.  He played basketball this year, and although I'm not sure it's really "his sport," he enjoyed the season.  He is such a calm, Zen child, and I just really, really like him.  Abby is about to lose her two front teeth, and they are wiggly enough to give her a tiny, cute little lisp.  She went to basketball camp this month and is apparently a decent player.  A stranger the other day came up to tell me that she used to coach basketball and had watched her at camp.  She suggested some additional camp time for Miss Abby and "saw promise."  I guess being very tall is good for something!  She is cruising along in kindergarten, meeting her benchmarks and really getting a handle on reading.  Her true love is writing, which is a new thing around our house.  The boys don't love writing AT ALL, so it's fun to get notes all the time.  I find notes on my night stand, and there is currently a sign on her door that reads "I love justin bieber and James kep out."  She insists that it doesn't mean that James has to stay out of her room but is at a loss for what it does mean.

I am not setting any expectations about when I might blog again.  No expectations, remember?  I'll just be happy when a quiet night gives me some time to keep this spot updated.  (Truth: I'm trying for at least an update at the end of each month.  So, a small expectation. What's that saying? Rome wasn't built in day?  I think that's about right.)