Update Anyone?????

So I spent nearly 20 minutes this morning finally updating my blog just to accidentally bump some key on they keyboard--not sure which one--and delete everything.  I mean do you realize how long it's taken me to finally get to this blog?  Oh well, here I go again.  I thought since it's been sooooo long, I'd give a little update on how we're all doing.  As a family, we're alive and well!  I feel like it's kind of the same old same old--nothing new.  But, things are good though.  We are happy and enjoying the holiday season.  The boys are of course excited for Christmas and so am I!  Here's the low down on the boys:

Braeden--he's one busy, fun 7 year old.  He loves 2nd grade and school--even though sometimes he says he doesn't.  He is a very social young man that sometimes seems like a mini teenager!  Yikes!  He is taking piano lessons now and is doing pretty good.  It is just hard getting him to practice.  Typical, I know!  It's so good for him though.  A few months ago he decided that he needed to get a job.  He has these totally mean parents that won't buy him all the things he want and would tell him he had to use his own money.  The problem with that was that he didn't have much money at all.  So, he told us he wanted a job and asked to see the help wanted ads.  He had a hard time finding people looking to hire 7 year olds.  So, we discovered that the little local county newspaper (which does a once weekly delivery) would hire him.  So, he works hard every Thursday to get those papers delivered.  After a few months, he has learned his route pretty good.  This has been a good learning experience for him.  He enjoys trying to manage his money and even wanted to open up his first savings account. He is learning how to write out the deposit slips and send his deposit in the tube at the drive thu all by himself.  He is anxiously awaiting his first statement to see how much interest the bank is "just giving him".  We are hoping that he is learning some good work/money principles through all of this because sometimes the paper route is a pain in the neck for us.  He is reading up a storm.  He usually reads one chapter book every night.  He especially loves the Junie B., Magic Tree House, and Flat Stanley series.  He is such a smart, fun kid!  He is so full of live and enthusiam.  He just tried out for the school play--he got up and sang a solo (Jingle Bells) in front of a ton of people.  He is now waiting to see what part he gets. 

Carter is a fun little kindergartener!  He's 5 1/2 now and loves playing video games on the computer quite a bit, but his favorite activity of all time is playing with his buddies.  Two of his best friends are in his school class.  He has adjusted very well to school.  He says his favorite things about school are recess and centers.  He is learning to read and loves numbers.  He loves riding to school everyday in dad's green car.  Braeden and Carter get so excited when they see each other at school.  Carter had to get his tonsils out in the fall.  Overall he did great with things.  Nights were really, really hard for him though.  He got used to lots of special attention and being waited on hand and foot.  He had kind of a hard time adjusting back to reality when he healed!  His brothers got a little bit jealous of all his special treatment.  They thought that a life full of laying around all day watching t.v. while eating ice cream and popsicles seemed pretty attractive.  Carter learned to ride with no training wheels in the summer; however, he still prefers to ride his batmobile big wheels over a two-wheel bike.  He played his first season of soccer in the fall and surprised us with an aggressive, competitive spirit! 

Tanner started pre-school this fall.  He loves his teachers and his little classmates.  It is so cute!  He is learning so much and doing great.  He just turned 4 and had his first little friend party.  He just wanted to go to McDonald's with all his little friends and play at the playland and have happy meals.  It made for a very easy party.  Tanner still loves tractors and now is starting to get into computer games (ugh!).  He loves rhyming things all the time.  He can't hardly say anything normal.  He has to call "underwear" something silly like "thunderthere" or "hunder hare".  He does this with lots of words and does it all the time.   It's quite endearing.  Tanner got a little Strider bike (pedaless bike) over the summer and learned how to balance after a few days of riding it.  We put him on a regular two-wheeler and he took off.  He still prefers the Strider bike though.  He could ride that thing for hours.  Unfortunately due all the construction in our neighborhood this summer, he wasn't able to ride outside as much as he would have liked.  We are hoping next summer will be much better as far as that goes. 

Coleman is a busy, busy, busy little 21 month old.  He keeps us on our toes.  He is soooo fun and cute though.  He has such a sweet, cute personality I must say.  He is a total little love bug.  He loves his big brothers and they love him.  He is adored.  He is becoming less and less a baby and more and more a toddler.  He loves to give "knucks" (fist bumps) and high fives.  He loves to try and wrestle with the big boys.  He loves to go places and get out of the house.  Bathtime is his favorite.  We have lots of fun, silly nicknames for him--our favorites are "Coley Guacomole", "Cole Cole", and "Mani" which is short for MANIAC! 

Anyways, sorry that might have been long for some people's liking.  But, hopefully that kind of catches everyone up.  I don't think it's even possible to try and "catch up".  We'll hope for more bloggins in 2012.  It really is a great way to keep in touch.  It just seems to be the last priority on my list.  I love reading all of your blogs and keeping up with our friends and family though.  So, I'll try and do better.  We wish you all a very Merry Christmas.  We feel so blessed!