In lieu of a Christmas letter, we’ve decided to put our efforts towards setting up a new family blog. We let the old one go for so long that we just decided to start from scratch. I hope we can do a better job keeping up with this one but if you find yourself reading a printed Christmas letter again next year, don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Things here have been a little…busy. In January we left the Boston cold and drove down to Florida to see Natalie’s grandmother and to Disneyworld. Wouldn’t you know that Florida ended up with record low temperatures and we actually saw snow in Orlando! It still felt like a heat wave to us. We were also able to travel to Texas between Jim’s finals and our move to West Point to see our families. Jim and Natalie flew back to NY without the kids to select a house at West Point. We got lucky and got a great house but it wasn’t ready for move in until June 31st- just five days before our newest addition was due to arrive. Jim’s parents flew with the kids to Boston to meet us and see Jim’s graduation from MIT. From there, we drove the kids to our new “home” at West Point. Since we were without a house and did I mention VERY pregnant, some old friends very graciously offered to let us move in with them until our house was ready. The kids had a blast. Every night was like a sleepover.
So at 37 weeks along, we moved to a new state and I started seeing a new doctor who would deliver Cooper. At 38 weeks, we found out that he was breech and scheduled a c-section for five days later. I did everything I could to get him to turn around the right way to avoid the surgery. On June 24th, I went into the hospital with labor pains and discovered that he had flipped back around and was on his way! Everyone thought this being the 4th, he would make his appearance rather quickly but that was just not the case. He finally arrived in the afternoon of June 25th. He was worth the wait. :) Cooper James weighed 7 lbs. 6 oz.. Our friends brought the kids up to the hospital to meet him and he has been their little pet ever since. They fight over who gets to play with him and hold him. I worried before he was born that I wouldn’t be able to give him as much attention as I did the others but have discovered the complete opposite. Cooper never gets left alone! Someone is playing with him ALL the time; so much so that I actually have to tell them to back off and give him some space. These past months have flown by and I don’t even remember life without him. He will be 6 months old on Christmas. He loves babbling, bouncing, and laughing at anyone who looks at him.
Avery turned 2 this past May which we celebrated at the zoo in Texas. I don’t know that there are words to describe Avery’s personality: outgoing, spit-fire, talkative, strong willed, diva. The list goes on. She never stops talking or asking why. She thinks every other woman who comes over here is her mom and also wants to listen to everything she says, answer all of her questions, and even take her potty. She is almost always a mess or has created some sort of giant mess. But she also can make ANYONE smile, is exactly the face you want to see if you’re having a bad day, and gives the very best hugs. She keeps the house laughing.
Alli turned 4 and started Pre-K this year and continues to do ballet, tap, and gymnastics. It’s been fun watching her make so many girlfriends here at this post since we were surrounded by boys in our last neighborhood. She loves all things pink, purple, and if it lights up or sparkles, it is on her Christmas list. She still loves art and spends a lot of time doing some sort of “art project” which means I am always looking for new places to hang up these masterpieces. She also started learning to read this year which just makes her seem very grown up. It’s hard to believe she’s not my baby anymore.
Cole turned 6 in April. He finished his kindergarten year and moved up to an orange belt in his karate class. He had some great friends in Boston and it was hard to say goodbye but he seems to be adjusting pretty well here too. We decided not to homeschool this year and to give school a try. Cole started 1st grade at West Point Elementary. He is having a great time and is doing well. We aren’t sure of our school plans next year but that’s for another time, another post. Cole played soccer this fall and joined the Cub Scouts. He is also still loving AWANA and is in his second year of Sparks. Cole still LOVES his legos but can often be found tearing through the house with a light saber in one hand and shield in the other. Cole also enjoys seeing how many times he can burp or say gross things before he gets in trouble. Such a fun game. Sigh.
Jim has loved coming back to West Point to teach. It has been a reunion of sorts for him seeing many of his old classmates who have also come back and I have found great friends in their wives. He is teaching Chemistry to freshman (plebes) and recently found out that he will be teaching some Chemical engineering classes next year. He was promoted to Major this past fall. Now we can officially call him Major Dad.
I have just now started feeling like my head isn’t completely spinning after this whirlwind move and new addition. I am leading Cole’s Sparks class but that is about as much as I want to commit to right now. I am very busy keeping up with the day to day demands of these 4 little people who need me around the clock. I am enjoying West Point have spent most of my time taking care of Cooper getting settled so I haven’t done much NY sightseeing yet. But those days will come.
And now I must sleep. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
