It's SUMMER!

Wow, it's been SOOOO long since I blogged. I joyously finished up my semester at UL about 3 weeks ago. I had never taken 20 credit hours (that's 6 classes) before...and I hope never to again! It was a long semester, but the outcome grades and all were really good. There are several accomplishments like never having to take history or algebra again that made the semester very worthwhile. The kids finished up school for the year a week ago. Both boys ended on Honor Roll for the year. Ethan had the privilege (note the definite sarcasm) of participating in "High Stakes Standardized Testing" which of course is mandated by No Child Left Behind... so we were all anxiously awaiting those results. He did well. Scoring well above the state average in everything... but scoring a 98% on the reading comprehension portion. The sad reality of standardized testing is that once they test in April the teachers feel like there is nothing left to teach.

The boys have been very active in Boy Scouts and both advanced a rank this year. Ethan will be a WEBLO and Aiden a Bear Scout next year.

Boy Scout trip to Houston Space Center

Aiden at Lake Fausse Pointe State Park.

Since the heat of the Louisiana summer is here we have begun a routine of spending weekends at the University pool. There is no better place to pass the humid days of summer than the pool!

Spring Break this year found the kids and I in Panama City Beach, Florida. A good friend is the morning radio co host on 94.5 KSMB here in Lafayette. Their morning show hit the road for the break, and Ali (my friend) invited us along. We all very much enjoyed the beach, and it left us wanting to go back....SOON!

The first week of our summer break the kids had the chicken pox. All had fairly mild cases, and are fine now. So now the real summer break can begin. We have a busy summer planned. I am taking summer school for the first time ever, as well as teaching summer classes through the University as I have done in summer past. Aiden's mornings will be spent at reading camp at UL, and Aly and Ethan will spend some mornings at daycamp, some at Vacation Bible School...etc. Rhett heard about kidsbowlfree.com where kids can bowl up to two games a day for free...so we've been hitting the bowling alley a few times a week as well. Once summer winds down the kids and I are planning a LONG road trip to visit family and friends.

I am enjoying my time with the kids. There are few dull or quiet moments in our house! Ethan began reading the Harry Potter series shortly after Christmas and is now almost done with book 5. Rhett and I are delighted that he has come to enjoy reading as much as he has. Aiden tends to spend alot of time writing and drawing. He seems to enjoy being creative. Aly is practicing her writing skills, is learning to read and is counting down the days to next soccer season.

We are all happy, and healthy.

Time Marches On

The last few months have been full one's... I ll attempt to reflect on them, and then within the next week I will post some new pictures of our growing children. Tonight, being a Friday in Lent we went to eat seafood as is somewhat of a family tradition. Sometimes we just do tuna at home, but at least a few times we like to get out and enjoy our local culture. So tonight we did just that. The kids enjoyed learning to peel crawfish...Rhett enjoyed eating the ones I peeled for him, and we all enjoyed the music and company. Rhett had on a Jayhawk t shirt, and in walking to the dance floor met a couple who was from Lawrence but lives in Louisiana now.
The kids are barrelling through life at top speed. My favorite time of day is when they first wake up and are still groggy, they all still come out of their rooms and cuddle with Rhett or I ... it's nice to have my "babies" back for that 5 or so minutes. Our typical day has us all out of the house at 7am and returning home between 6 and 7 pm. Usually the week has passed and it seems that yesterday was Monday...
Boyscouts has been eventful in the last few months for the boys. They both qualified for regionals in the pinewood derby race, and enjoyed competing in that with Rhett's help. This weekend they are headed out of town with boyscouts and I will be joining them later on Sat. we'll all come home on Sun. Aly is playing soccer, and enjoying school and friends.
Rhett is keeping up with work, and being the Worlds Greatest Dad in his downtime. I m taking 20 hours this semester, and trying to finish up my service committment with Americorps.

Wrapping up the year.

The Christmas "break" is half over, and I m already dreading the end. The last few days have been heavenly, as Rhett and I were both off of work and we had some down time as a family. Today it rained, and rained, and rained. The kids rooms got some much needed attention, and we got some things better organized in hopes that the kids will be able to keep on top of it easier. Knowing that it is highly likely within the next 3 years that we will have to move, we are motivated to try to keep the clutter down. This week my goal is for the kids and I to go through and clear out cabinets that have become catch all's, as well as getting the Christmas Tree taken down. This year we bought a real tree, so we just need to undecorate it and take it to the curb.

About a week before Christmas I went through our everyday dishes and after much thought, discussing it with Rhett, I decided to take the drastic step of getting rid of all but one cup,plate and bowl per person.(I have nice dishes to use when we have guests) I had read an article in one of my Christain Mom magazines that suggested this as an end to the overheaping sink and dish battle, further more a great way to teach kids to do their own dishes...with a natural consequence that if your dish isn't clean you can't eat. Several times the kids have said "Mom where's my dinner?" with my response,"Your dish wasn't clean." The situation has remedied itself within minutes, and no one has gone hungry. Now most of the time after dinner one of the kids ends up washing their and their siblings dishes, they seem to quite equitably take turns and mediate it amongst themselves. I am happy to have an empty sink most of the time!

As we usher in 2009, I m hoping some of our basic household chores can become easier and less of a battle.
So what are your New Years Resolutions?

Christmas Greetings 2008

Our normal tradition since we became a family is to include a letter in detailing our year and updating everyone on our lives.  Last year  I didn't write that letter, rather did it in email form.  While I don't want to discontinue the letter all together, I find that most all of those interested in our lives come to this blog from time to time.

We bring you Christmas greetings this year again from Louisiana.  This is our fourth Christmas in Louisiana, things that were once new to us are now traditions and we feel at home here more than ever. Rhett and I have both changed jobs this year.  

Rhett is now the IT manager at a small company here in Lafayette, and I am still teaching very part time at the University's continuing education department, and serving as a part of the Universities Americorp team.

Rhett really seems to enjoy his new position, and we all enjoy his new schedule!  I am grateful to not be working nights any longer, and haven't missed the Casino at all!  Between school, work and kids I stay super busy...and feel so much better not being sleep deprived!  I took more hours this semester than I ever had taken at once (17)...and am getting closer, and closer to being done.  My classes are mainly Speech Pathology Classes now, and I really am enjoying them. It is a blessing to be pursuing a degree in a field I enjoy, and am passionate about.

My favorite role however, remains that of Mom!  As I watch them grow I wish there was a pause, or a slow-mo button I could use from time to time.  

Ethan, now 8, is a third grader in the French Immersion program at Evangeline Elementary.  He's quite the reader.  He enjoys school, and does well.  Boy Scouts, Taekwondo, and playing with his siblings and friends keep him busy outside of school.  

Aiden, now 7, is a second grader in the French Immersion program at Evangeline Elementary.  He's quite the artist and builder. He too enjoys and excels at school.  Boy Scouts, and Taekwondo round out his days as well.  

Rhett and I are thrilled with the boy's language skills, and still amazed that they have become bilingual.  It did get a little interesting when Ethan's French teacher (from France) gave her opinions on American politics to her 3rd grade class.  It provided great dinner time discussion about freedom of speech, and evaluating people perspectives in deciding how valid their points are!

Aly, now 5, is in Pre k at the Academy of the Sacred Heart.  She is learning some French this year, so is trying desperately to catch up with her brothers.  Soccer and Taekwondo keep her active and busy.  There is no place that we can imagine would be any better for Aly than ASH! When we discuss moving in the future, it's a struggle for us to imagine our family anywhere else!

The boys have become quite competitive and are always into something together.  Grass stains, hole's in the knee's, and dirt are remnants leftover daily from their time together after school.  Aly is right in the mix with whatever they are up to, and at times is the mastermind of it all!  

Ethan, Aiden and Aly keep us on our toes and laughing.  There are few quiet moments in our home, and many joyful ones.  We took several trips as a family this year,to Tennessee, to the beach,and to Disney World.  Our day to day lives are so busy that these short respites are enjoyed by all.  

Our daily lives are blessed with Friends that have become family.  From picking up kids from school, fixing us dinner on days that were just too busy, and just loving and taking care of us when we needed something they've done it all!  Rhett and I both are thankful for the blessing of good friends.  

We enjoyed snow just a few days ago.  We were thankful for the snow, but just as thankful for the 70 degree day that followed it!  Cold weather is something that will take getting used to when we move North again.

Although, time with family, and holidays have always been something I treasured ... the loss of my Uncle last December makes me a little more conscious of just how fleeting those moment's can be. I pray that you all embrace all of the moments with loved ones not just during this season, but all year long! I hope the Holiday's are enjoyed by all, and that everyone is healthy and happy for the New Year!

Merry Christmas!

Love, 

The Theobald Family

I will be uploading new pictures within the next day or so!

"Normal" Life

Since I blogged last time, Rhett and the boy's attended their first cubscout camp out. Everyone had a great time! Rhett has become the Den Leader for Ethan's Bear troop, and is enjoying planning and executing all that goes along with that. In fact as I am blogging Rhett and the boys are at skit practice for the Thanksgiving skit.  Aly and Rhett attended the annual Father-Daughter brunch at her school.  We stay so busy with school, and other activities that we struggle to fit in Taekwondo once a week, but still enjoy it when we make it !  We are enjoying the freedom that Rhett getting off work at 4:30 and me not working overnights gives us as a family, and stay very active together...I m attaching a few pictures of some of our recent activities.

Aly and Daddy before Daddy Daughter Brunch!

Backyard Campout.

Parent Teacher Conference's and Report Cards

It's that time already. Ethan made all A's and B's with the exception of an 82%C in French Spelling. Aiden all A's and B's which put him on honor roll. As always I am quite present at the Boy's school. Both have great teachers. Ethan's teachers are great, and seem to understand him well. Both are happy with Ethan as a student especially since it is a rare day that he does not have an A in conduct. Aiden's teachers are the same teachers Ethan had last year. I was happy with them then, and I continue to be. I do get notes sometimes saying "Aiden is a very interesting little boy" primarily from the French teacher, not sure what that's about but it is humorous. Aly of course doesn't get grades yet but her parent teacher conference went something like this... Ms.Sonier "Do you have any concerns or question s?" Me, "No, not really." Ms. Sonier "Good, you have no need to be." Me, "Is Aly on track academically, and socially?" Ms. Sonier "She excels at everything we do and I love teaching her!" ... Of course we small talked a little but that was the meat of it. I drop in as often as possible to watch lessons at Aly's school as well, and she is engaged, happy, and challenged. So the generality here is they are all doing well!

Finally...Photopass pictures from our Disney Trip

Our first photo entering Disney World, about an hour after the kids figuring out where we were going!

What 4 year old little girl doesn't love Princess'?

Aly's first look at herself after being "made over".