Success!!

With the New Year most everyone is setting new goals and making new plans.  I, however, would LOVE to focus on the goals we “set” last year and how we did!  So, in no particular order, are our successes of last year!

Corben

  Corben completed a successful 28 day stretch as a Medieval Knight.  He completely refrained from TV & Computer and most other forms of technology and aided in the preparation of almost 100% of his meals.  During this time he spent  most of his time reading and playing with friends outside.  Great job, Corben!  Corben has also come a long way in controlling his anger.  He’s also worked really hard, and been successful, at overcoming an overwhelming fear of dogs.  He has made friends with the dogs on our street and no longer feels the need to be homeschooled to avoid ever going outside again!  Corben also placed 3rd in the Pinewood Derby with a car he designed all his own.  He was successful at earning the right to have a pet and is the proud owner of a tank full of Triops!

Dade

Dade successfully learned how to solve a Rubik’s Cube (in just a few days) and has gotten pretty quick at it!  Dade also completed 2 college level computer programming courses this year and passed with flying colors.  He also served successfully in all of his church responsibilities (Secretary in the Deacons Quorum, Librarian to his Scout troop, and passed the Sacrament to the congregation every week.).  Dade has also proved himself a fabulous babysitter and has thus found a new form of income!

Ella

Ella’s speech went from almost completely nothing to complete sentences.  Even just in the last few weeks more people are being able to understand her with out my translating.  She has even started slowing down when saying certain words and trying very hard to get it just right.  (ie.  “Me habit book.” is slowly changing into “I have a book.”)  I’m so proud of her!  She also knows the sounds of and can recognize all the letters of the alphabet and can even tell you words that start with them.  Ella also potty trained herself this year and is completely dry at night.   She’s come so far!

Sylvie

Sylvie has stopped destroying her room, is working on potty training.  She has stopped biting and is working on the hair pulling.  She’s not running off as much and is listening much better.  She started singing this year and I can hear her in the other room at all times of the day singing a tune she’s made up.  She is also dressing herself and has overcome the daily need to wear a dress.  And, though not really a goal, more of a hope…..her legs have finally straightened out!

Christy

I accomplished a lot this year!  I overcame my fear of leading the music in Primary.  I started a successful photography business.  I lost almost 40 lbs (and gained 12 back but that’s like 3.5 steps forward and one back so I’m okay with that…).  With help, I got the computer room organized and a room painted!  I tried bacon & pepperoni pizza and liked it (no big surprise there but I DON’T try new foods….ever).  I successfully cut back on fried foods in my diet.  My home has been cleaner & more organized.  I have greatly increased the time I spend weekly studying the scriptures and have been very focused on studying the talks from General Conference.  I have been more consistent in my discipline of the kids and yell less often.  My memory has improved…slightly.

Ryan

Ryan completed our new kitchen.  He developed a solution for our storage needs and now has a new workshop (shipping container) out back.  He made it through another year at work despite his back problems.  He also got the last dead car up and running that was sitting in the driveway.  Ryan also developed his own bread recipe and perfected his homemade pizza and the ability to cook it on our grill in 5 minutes!!  These particular successes have gone over very well at home!  Ryan also has greatly improved his diet and is eating MUCH better.

Our Family

Our family successfully read the Book of Mormon together as a family nightly (even  Ella & Sylvie repeated verses back that were read to them) and finished the entire book on Christmas day!!  We also succeeded at having Family Prayer together every night.  Now we’re moving onto the Old Testament!  YEAH US!!

 

 

So, here’s to a year of Successes and more and more of them in the year to come!!