Update

The New Year is ready to settle us back into routines, but with a few minor changes. We enjoyed - and got very used to! - having Abby home for Christmas, but she's returned to Indiana Wesleyan University for her second semester. She almost had to take Daniel (our family nickname for him is, rather appropriately, "Monkey".

Leaving with her good friend, Holly Carlton:


Joshua has started a part-time job at Burger King. This will be his final semester of high school, so lots of decisions and changes ahead for him!

Paul starts Driver's Ed. classes tomorrow. Michigan has a very structure driver's licensing plan. He'll be in class 2 hrs a day, 3 days a week for the next 4 weeks. He'll have 6hrs of driving time with an instructor, and then may test for his permit. After 30hrs driving with parents he takes another series of classes, does 20 more hours of supervised driving, has a waiting period and then can finally qualify for a graduated license. Mom's hoping he'll be ready to take over as errand runner when Joshua starts college!

Thomas, Philip, Sam, and Andrew started indoor soccer practice yesterday. They'll have 8 weeks of drills and scrimmaging before regular season can begin in March or April (pending how much snow is on the ground!)

Speaking of snow.....here are a few more pictures of the wintry scenes around our house. I know only our southern friends appreciate these......you northern folks feel free to groan!! :)