Getting Better At Updating!

I have to apologize for this long, late email update. Ideally, I’d like to say that we’ve been busy, but aren’t we all-so that’s not much of an excuse….So, here for the next few minutes I’ll try and update on everyone with our new life in Tucson, Az.

So, we’ve been in Tucson for right at 3 months. We like it here, but miss home (Fla, Indiana, Tx) the weather is nothing to complain about, sunny and warm is the norm. It’s rained 3 times in our 3 months here-we just miss the beach/lakes and green grass and trees, but we do enjoy looking out and seeing the mountains, everywhere! We are still searching for a church home. We were going to a planter church, Revolution Church, but never made any connections, and due to their being a starter church, they cannot offer more for the families at this time. We have a few lined up to go check out, we know we’ll find our church, it is just a matter of time. This week the 3 older kids are going to Vacation Bible School (SonRock Kids Camp) and are really enjoying it. I’ve enjoyed having just Joslyn around from 8:30-12:15 this week!

I’m sure most of you all know, but shortly after arriving to Tucson, Don and I found we are expecting baby #5! Yes, a surprise, but everything has been going according to plan, almost 16 weeks along and we are due 12-2-09, gender still unknown. Come December when baby #5 arrives, we’ll have kids ages 7,5,4, 2 ½ and a newborn-wow! I’ve made a few friends, attended a PWOC (Protestant Women of the Chapel) on base, currently looking in to a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group, found a few fabric stores and am looking at taking a quilting/sewing class to give me some ‘me’ time. Kids keep me pretty busy, and that’s about all there is to share on me.

Don is a busy man at work, averaging about 10-12 hour days. While he likes his new role of section (I hope that’s the right term) chief, being in a management position is an adjustment for him. His work is low on manning and he’ll be on an off shift indefinetly starting on Sun. He likes the people he works with/alongside. We haven’t really sat down and discussed his plans on continuing his education, but if/when he does, we’re pretty certain he’ll look at going to the University of Az, depending on how the TDY’s/deployments fit in to our plan.

Dylan is doing well. He misses his AWANNA club meetings (something we’d like to find in a church here) and is very eager to make new friends. He’ll be turning 7 in July. He still enjoys the Action Heros (Transformers, SpiderMan etc) and is just an all around boy. He lost his 2nd tooth since being in Az, and as much as he’s enjoyed being at home for summer break, he’s already asking when school will start (had we not moved from our old Az house to the new base house he would start school in July due to the modified school calendar) It does seem to be quite the summer break having school off from mid May to mid Aug. So, for summer plans we are keeping busy with VBS, and summer reading programs

Brooklyn is still our busy body. Brooklyn just celebrated her 5th birthday and has found Barbie! We celebrated with some friends coming over and she had a Barbie doll cake, complete with pink icing and ice cream! She is so excited about going to an all day kindergarten class next year, she is beside herself! Brooklyn hasn’t changed much in that she still enjoys anything pink, tea parties, and dress up. Like Dylan, we are keeping busy with VBS and a summer reading program-her prize for her reading is a free game of bowling for every book read.

Evelyn…poor girl has struggled since our move. Shortly after moving to Az we discovered Evelyn has a milk allergy. Unlike Dylan who would get sick immediately, Evelyn would react through her skin by scratching uncontrollably! We were referred to an Allergist/Immunologist as well as a Dermatologist for treatment. Currently, our course of treatment is to avoid milk (as well as whey products) water, and sun-not an easy task with it being summer, and our living in Az. Studies are showing that since Evelyn has a history of excema/dermatitis, being fair complexioned she is at a higher risk of developing skin cancer and cataracts, so if/when we do go out, we have to make sure she is covered (long sleeves/pants, hats, sunglasses etc) Of course, being in the mid to high 90’s we haven’t been completely following this rule, we’re more conscious of what time of day we are out/when the sun is strongest/weakest. For the most part, she’s been a trooper, but she isn’t enjoying any of the creams to keep her moist to try and prevent scratching. We’ve gone back and forth to both Dr’s four times in 3 mos, seems like we’re always there-please keep her in your prayers.

Joslyn is so much fun! She’ll be 2 on June 17. And is such a girl, like Brooklyn! Joslyn isn’t much of a high maintenance baby, but she sure does LOVE, LOVE, LOVE babies and shoes! Whenever we tell her to go and get ‘a baby’ she’ll come back with as many as her little arms can hold. Joslyn is talking up a storm and thinks she’s quite the comedian, always makes herself laugh!

Enjoy the pictures, these are the most recent, I’m sure more to follow !