Me and my crazy boys: December 2007

Merry Christmas everyone!! This year has been especially busy and I didn't get card sent out. So I will just give everyone a rundown of what has been going on this year.
Justin is still teaching 7th grade Special Ed at Taylorview Jr. High here in Idaho Falls. He likes it for the most part, but is getting tired of all the paperwork and legal requirements set forth by the government. Teaching Special Ed, you have to be very careful to dot all your "i"s, so to speak. He is really good at his job and all his students just love him. You should have seen the stash of presents he came home from school with yesterday, as it was the last day before Christmas break. His outlet though, is coaching 8th grade girls basketball. He loves doing that and is an excellent coach. It's in his blood too, since his dad has been a coach for years and years. They talk every night after a game. His basketball girls really enjoy him and the parents are always impressed with how level-headed he is. He is very professional and inspires the girls instead of yelling at them. He currently serves at the Scout Master in our ward, which is a perfect calling for a teacher. He gets to spend the entire week with the boys up at Scout Camp during the summer. If he could do that year-round, I'm sure he would.
Speaking of Scouts, I was called last November to be the 2nd Counselor in the Primary Presidency in our ward. My responsibilities are Cub Scouts and baptisms. So between Justin and me, we are responsible for all the boys in our ward ages 8-13. Fun, huh? My calling keeps me really, really, REALLY busy. But I am blessed with loads of little opportunities to serve the children in our ward. It's been wonderful to notice all the little things that are put in my way to help others.
I am even more busy taking care of our three crazy little boys. Problem is, they are beginning to be not so little. Andrew (will be 6 in April) started Kindergarten the end of August and is thriving. He is in the top group for reading, handwriting and math. He is one of the more silly kids in his class though, judging from what I see when I help out in his class. He has a "best buddy" named Golden, yes, that really is his name, and they love seeing each other every day. Golden is a sweet kid. It's fun to see all the papers Andrew brings home from school about what he has been learning.
Brenden, well he's Brenden. He is SO cute. He is sweet and thoughtful and caring and REALLY SILLY. He is always doing little things to help me and it's so sweet. He is also my shopping buddy and always wants to go to the store with me. He loves to snuggle too, which I LOVE. I don't care if he wants to snuggle when he's 30, I would love it. He also is very polite and always says please and thank you and you're welcome. He is also very kind to his little brother, Carter. He is a big jokester and loves to make us all laugh. He's just a fun kid and a total goofball. He will start preschool next fall at the school Andrew attends. He will do really well. He turns 4 in February.
Carter is getting bigger every day, darn it. I wish he would stay little. He is so cute though. He talks a lot and is very smart. Which can be good, and bad. He loves to rough-house with Andrew and Brenden and is actually very tough. He can tackle them both to the ground. But I think that has to do with his rage. He has a lot of rage...and attitude. Yes, the mother's curse is true I'm afraid. He is also very sweet and will throw all his garbage away himself and clear his dishes from the table and put them in the sink. He LOVES our kitty and would probably turn himself into some kind of animal if he could. He loves all animals. He will be 2 in February.
I am staying very busy keeping the house together and keeping track of my boys. They take a lot of energy!!! I also teach voice lessons almost every day after school and I love doing that. I have six voice students right now. They are very talented and it has been fun to see how they improve. I also have four piano students which is nice. I had a recital for all of them last week and one student and I played a really fun piano duet of Sleigh Ride. It was a blast and she is only 12 1/2!!!!! It's amazing. Along with my kids, teaching and my Primary calling, I have no time hardly at all. I suppose it keeps me out of trouble.
All in all, we are doing well here in Idaho Falls. We love our neighborhood and all our friends here. We seriously live on the best street in the world!! Seriously! Come see for yourself!! Hope all is well with everyone and we wish you the happiest of Christmases.
Love, Holly, Justin, Andrew, Brenden and Carter