It's Been A Very Long Time!

I know! I know! It's been a very long time!

Now that school has begun, I feel like I have fallen off the face of the earth. So... I've decided to do what so many of you have done recently. An update on the Wood family!

School is going along fairly well. We have now been in school for almost a quarter now. This new year has brought about some amazing challenges but many awesome rewards. I have some great students in my class this year, and they are now beginning to understand the routines and procedures of the classroom and school now. Our principal kept stating that September 23rd was the magic date where something finally clicks in the students' heads to where the routines and procedures have become ingrained into their brains. We anxiously awaited that date! :) (The date has now come and gone. So what's the verdict? We are doing better! Thank goodness!)

Richard's health has been a challenge this summer, but we feel that we are getting to the bottom of it all. (He has another doctor's appointment tomorrow, so we shall see.) So hopefully, his health will be much improved very soon. Other than his health, his practicing of optometry continues to go well. It is so nice to see your spouse enjoying his profession and waking up each morning eager to start the new day!

Alex is doing very well in the fifth grade. He is enjoying his teachers, school work, and friends. I can't believe how quickly children grow up! He is anxiously awaiting the start of Oceanography. Alex is quite the trooper! Why you ask? He is continuing with his piano lessons and has started up with the violin at school. This means that he continues to practice thirty minutes a day of piano and an additional twenty minutes of violin every day except for Sunday. And... he doesn't even complain (too much)! Are we mean parents, or what?

Addison is also doing very well in second grade and loves that her mommy is just next door to her in school. She is quite the social butterfly and has made so many new friends. She has even become very good friends with a blind girl in her class. I love the many learning and teaching opportunities this brings to her. (She has even learned to type in braille!) She is also doing very well with her violin playing. It is so surprising to me how quickly she can learn the instrument and play her songs!

Aidan is growing into a happy and healthy young lad! He is now nine months old (today!) and reaching each and every milestone WAY too quickly. He is already crawling, cruising (walking) along furniture, and climbing up stairs (We've already had a tumble down the stairs last week.). Boy! Are we in trouble! He is a very happy baby! Aidan is always smiling. We are just working on laughing more. We were a little apprehensive about finding a new sitter this school year (We miss you, Amiee!), but he loves his new sitter! So much so that he is saying her name already but not so much with the "MaMa". How dare he?! Does he not know that I am his mother and that I carried him in utero and gave birth to him? :(

We hope that this helps those of you out there feel a bit more connected to our family. Keep checking us out! I'll continue to do my best at keeping things updated.

Back To School

Well... yet another school year has started! Is this good news or not so good news?

Seriously, though... I am WAY excited! Our profession (teaching) is one of very few where we can start over with different kiddos each and every year. It is so exciting to see the new bunch of students at Meet the Teacher Night. They are still so innocent and intimidated! Yet... they come back to school, and they're eager to learn. They may not know a whole lot because they are still young; however, as the school year goes on and as they mature, the little light in their eyes shines brighter and brighter. This is probably the best part about being a teacher!

My students seem excited to be in the classroom. And I have a bunch of cute kids! I am just looking forward to this next week, when we can forego all of the "getting to know you" activities and move onto the actual curriculum aspect of school and return to a more normal routine.

All I know is that I am wiped out these days! I'm not used to working so hard! This summer has actually been nice and relaxing.

I know, I know! Poor, baby! Right?

I also want you all to know that because school has started up again for the new year, I will probably not have as much of an opportunity to update my blog. It's been fun this summer keeping up with you all and catching up with old friends! All I can say is that I'll continue to try!

I'll do my best! Wish me luck!

One Of These Things Is Not Like The Other!

Just like this one lone, white duck... Addison is also unique and wonderful!

She knows how to make others laugh.

She is in tune to those needing "loves".

She is always happy (except early in the morning).

She has an ear for music.

She is a great helper.

She is an awesome big sister.

She is a friend to many.

There are so many things that make Addison unique and wonderful!

But... all she needs to know is that we love her for who she is!

Making A Run For It!

All I have to say is : "Oh, my goodness!" Aidan is so squirmy wormy I get tired just watching him. He is not only jumping up and down and rolling around all over the place, but he has been doing the army crawl for over a week now, and... he is only six months old! Gone are the days of being able to leave him alone having all the confidence in the world that he'll stay put. Here are the days where he falls off the bed (The current count is now up to three. Are we horrible parents or what?), gets into whatever items are left on the floor or near it, and where Mommy and Daddy now need to vacuum the floor more frequently.

Ugh! What are we to do?

And... oh, yes! Those are socks on his poor hands. He is trying very hard to break his habit of scratching his poor little head and ears bloody. Is there a support group for that?

Thanks For The Memories!

The photos are finally here! Can you believe it? I ran out of juice in my digital camera, so heaven forbid... I had to purchase a 35mm disposable camera!

Here are some photos from our recent trip to San Diego. Aidan loved the beach! We went to Pacific Beach in San Diego. And how much cuter can it be than seeing your family walking on the beach with the water tickling their toes? Ahhh... the memories which will always be treasured!

Carpe Diem!

Our family has gone through a lot recently. With Richard having spent some time in the hospital, this has given us opportunity to pause and reflect on those things that are most important to us in life.

The more we (Richard and I) thought about these experiences, we realized what matters most are not material things but those which are spiritual in nature.

Some of these things are the following:

1. Family
2. Friends
3. Life's trials and experiences
4. Memories made with loved ones
5. Our relationship with our Heavenly Father (including personal and family prayer)

We are truly grateful for each and every day! We are thankful for the opportunities we are given to grow and learn, to love and appreciate, what life presents.

We are also very appreciative for the many people who called and expressed concern and kept our family in their prayers. We just wanted you to know that your prayers were heard and answered! Thank you again for everything!

San Diego on the Fourth of July

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

In the midst of Richard's recent health issues, we decided that our family needed a much needed vacation, so... with the doctor's permission, we decided to take a trip to San Diego, California. We woke up on the morning of the Fourth of July and told the children that we were going on vacation.

"Where are we going?" asked the two older children.

"It wouldn't be a surprise if we told you, would it?" Some of you may already know, but Richard and I like to surprise our kiddos with our vacations. So off we went! And... the suspense was killing them!

It was nice to get away from the hot Arizona sun. It was thirty to forty degrees cooler in San Diego. It was nice, but I forget how much I dislike humidity!

We went to Sea World with the kids on the Fourth of July and the next day. We got a smokin' deal! Three adults (Alex is now considered an adult. Bummer!) and one child (Aidan is still young enough to be considered free. SCORE!) for the price of children's admissions, and we paid for two days for the price of one. AWESOME! We enjoyed the rides and animal shows and the awesome fireworks, not only at Sea World, but in the outlying areas as well.

We also were able to go to Pacific Beach. This was Aidan's first experience at the beach. He loved it! (Photos, hopefully, to be posted later.)

After attending a local ward's sacrament meeting on Sunday, we drove up to see the beautiful San Diego Temple.

Then reality hits! We're heading back home to sunny and HOT Arizona. It was a nice vacation where we, as a family, were able to spend some quality time and fun together! Who could ask for anything more?