Happy New Year

Dearest Family and Friends,

Merry Chirstmas and Happy New Year from our clan to yours!  This year finds us even more settled in and in love with our home in Louisiana.  Any of the little details we wish would change, are just that ... small details.  All in all the big picture is great, and full of blessings.

Ethan, 11 this year has left behind the ranks of Cub Scouts and dove in head first to the world of Boy Scouts.  He attended summer camp this summer in North Carolina (without Mom or Dad), and enjoyed himself immensly.  While at camp he completed enough requirements to advance three full ranks in scouting, and experienced white water rafting for the first time.  In day to day life this meant, he came home knowing basic first aid, knowing basic food safety and how to cook some basic dishes, and knowing more knots than I knew existed.  I am positive there are many skills he learned that I left out, but those are the ones I notice most on a day to day basis.  This is his second year at St. John Berchmans which is now Berchmans Academy.  5th grade has been a big transition, but he has handled it well.  Rhett and I are proud of his growth as a student, and a young man.  Other than scouts, Ethan played soccer and is playing basketball this year.  Ethan has a passion for history, if you spent just a little bit of time with him a convesation about the revolutionary war, war tactics or various weapons would likely be topics of discussion.

Aiden, 10 this year has also entered the world of Boy Scouts.  Because of age however, he didn't begin Boy Scouts until November.  He attended winter camp in Louisiana over Thanksgiving break.  Ethan was also scheduled for winter camp, but was unable to attend because of illness.  I think this actually turned out to be a good thing, and allowed Aiden to experience his first away camp without big brother.  He really enjoyed himself, and also came home anxious to share many of the things he learned.  Berchmans Academy is a great place for Aiden.  He enjoys his school, his friends and all of the activities that go along with school and friends.  Soccer and basketball also occupy Aiden's time.  Aiden keeps Rhett and I on our toes, and laughing.  He has a spirit of joy, and is always pushing boundaries. 

Aly, 8 this year spends alot of time being the little sister.  The little sister role has her tagging along to many practices and games.  Lucky for Rhett and I, she typically does this with a smile on her face.  The soccer field remains one of her favorite places.  As a second grader, she has begun to enjoy reading for pleasure, and does well in all of her classes.  If you asked her she would tell you she loves math, and "despises" french. 

Rhett is still working for PHI, as he was last year.  He serves as the committee chair for the boy's boyscout troop, participates in the Dad's club at school, and is an assistant coach for Aiden's soccer team.  His role as Dad is the one that occupies most of his time and energy.

I am still working for a local non profit.  I left for a short period of time and took a full time position doing case management.  We quickly decided that a full time job, as well as full time graduate student wasn't condusive to my most important job as Mom.  Now I am working about 35 hours a week, and maintaining a full time load in Grad school.  I am officially half way done with my Masters degree.  Our current plan is for me to finish in May of 2013.  My work schedule will likely change some during 2012 as I start clinicals and have to dedicate more time to my school work.  The further into my Masters program I get, the more I enjoy it.  I am enjoying my time at McNeese, am blessed by great professors who are truly interested in mentoring their students, and am thrilled that the University has a top notch autism/developmental disabilities clinic in which I will get to complete my clinical training.  2012 will take me to several conferences in which I try to get a handle on the things like insurance billing, setting up a private practice, and some specialized therapy techniques.  Rhett is nothing but supportive, and is actively participating in making a plan for what happens after graduation.

We just returned from 10 days away as a family.  Rhett and I for the most part shut off our cell phones, and enjoyed our time with just the 5 of us.  The kids and I spent a few days with extended family before returning home.  We are still cocooning at home, knowing that break will soon end and our time will again be dictated by the commitments of life.  It seems cliche to remark how fast time passes, but it truly just disappears.  I spend my days as a Mom trying to savor every moment with my growing, evolving children. 

Rhett and I hope all of you are enjoying your days, and that 2012 will be one of blessings for all of you!

Love,
Amy and Rhett
Ethan, Aiden, and Aly
Theobald

Happy May Day

Spring has definetly sprung in our house.  The kids all head back to school tomorrow after a restful Spring Break.  We spent last weekend on the Florida Beaches, between a resort we love to stay at (that feeds kids for free) and sand that resembles sugar we are grateful to have such great beaches within driving distance.  Last summer in Hawaii, we were in awe of the beauty of the mountains so close to the beach and it's unique terrain ... but  disappointed with the beaches.  Gravelly sand, and huge unswimmable waves just aren't our thing.  Last weekend we rented a boat and headed out to a small island offshore, and the kids had a blast snorkeling near the shore, and swimming off of the boat as well.  We all came home refreshed, and a little crispy ... our only regret that we couldn't stay a few more days.

Aiden and Ethan both earned their Arrow of Light in Cub Scouts.  For Ethan this signifies his time to cross over from Cub Scouts into Boy Scouts.  We have been preparing for him to crossover for the last year or so.  Rhett and I were pretty thoughtful about the Boy Scout troop he would be joining.  Each troop has it's own personality, made up not only by who is leading it, and the boys involved with it... but also by the activities they do, and how often.  The variance is huge, and we had more than 5 choices.  Since the boys have both expressed the desire to continue with scouts all the way until they earn their Eagle Scout, Rhett and I wanted to try our best to put them in the troop that would be the best fit for their likes and personalities.  So we were thrilled to find a troop that Rhett really clicked with the male leaders (I m a firm believer this is BOY scouts, so I am supportive behind the scenes) , that is super active (this may come back to bite me :) ), that is large enough to have a stable group to be active, that routinely has boys make Eagle Scout .... and one thing not necessarily on my list but an added benefit is that they are starting a venturing group within the troop so as the boys are old enough they will have access to High Adventure activities.  Boy Scouts is a whole different world than Cub Scouts and really focuses on independence and self reliance.  So the leaders ask the parents to back off a bit, and allow the boys to learn to depend on themselves.  For us this means, Ethan will begin packing himself for trips, he will learn how to cook for himself when he is camping, he will learn to work with his peers to pitch his tent, he will work with his peers to plan the menus when he camps, he will learn first aid skills.  All of these things while a little scary for Mom are life necessities, and fit with our goal of wise freedom.  (Now do you see why we were so thoughtful about the leaders of the troop?)  So as a new Boy Scout Ethan will be attending summer camp in North Carolina with his troop this summer, and will get to do some fun things like white water rafting! Ethan is excited, and Aiden a little jealous that he is not yet old enough to crossover to Boy Scouts.  Aiden's turn will come in 6 months, but patience is a tough thing for a 9 year old!

Last month I started a new job. I left a part time position, and took a full time position.  After my 90 days of training I will be able to work from home quite a bit, and have flexibility that will allow me to still be involved with kids activities at school during the day!  It's the first time  since Ethan was born that I have worked a traditional full time job, so it's been a bit of an adjustment. We are all excited however, that after June I ll be able to have more flexibility.  I will also continue to work on my Masters degree, which I am enjoying.

We spend alot of time these days outdoors.  Enjoying the mild spring weather, before the heat and humidity will keep us inside.  The basketball goal, and our homemade kickball "field" are a few of our favorite things!

Yay, it's Month 2 of 12

It's finally Feb. which means spring is near! Tonight, we are hunkered down for a winter storm, which is all very comical to us because we ve lived aways above I-10 for significant periods of time.  I however, am happy to play along! I make sure the dogs have extra food, the pipes are taken care of, make a nice big gumbo, and bake some bread! I welcome the schools closing with open arms, and am looking forward to an unplanned free day with three of my favorite people tomorrow. If it does snow, I will rush the kids outside demanding that they enjoy it before it melts.  When picking up the kiddo's from school today, I noticed all the horses had on their coats, and the barn keeper was bringing them in loads of fresh hay.
They will all be warm and well fed.

 Last month I started parent-child journals with the kids.  It's been fun to write notes to each other daily.  It gives them that chance to express things to me that we may not find the time to talk about with the whole family around. I tend to gush all of the good things I feel in my heart about them onto the page.  With the boys though I find that in the journal they will write me back and say thanks, or I love you too ... where if I said it out loud they would groan and roll their eyes.  It's been nice, I feel like I get a little piece of individual attention with each one everyday!

New Year Luck?

On January 1st Rhett skeptically ate a large helping of greens and black eyed peas, as did I.  I wasn't about to be the one to insure a year of bad luck by not eating the appropriate foods.  So far there is no evidence that it helped our luck any. The first part of January has been rough around here ... There's been car trouble, an IPhone thats screen shattered, a television that broke, doggie drama, and kids whose clothes aren't able to handle their enthusiastic play.  Perhaps however, it has allowed me to exercise my perspective.  None of these things that broke were/are absolute necessities.  The car is the closest thing to a necessity, and Rhett and I had already been trying to sharpen our self sustainability skills by researching and being able to fix our own cars.  So Rhett repaired our car for $1.78 and 30 minutes of his time, the quote from the shop was $150 dollars minimum.  Thank you Lord for my resourceful Hubby!  The biggest victory I suppose is being able to keep a sense of humor about it all.  My second semester of grad school started this week, and I am excited about my classes.  I m crossing my fingers and toes that Feb. is less traumatic in our household!

Sadness

I keep this blog to keep others who are far away "updated" so to speak on our lives. I however, rarely if ever have blogged without self censoring. I find myself uncomfortable with being vulnerable, and putting feelings of frustration, anger, or confusion into writing.  The fear I suppose is that I may at some point regret what I wrote. So this entry is a new thing for me ... I have had a tugging on my heart for a while, at least a month to write about these topics.

I ve always loved Christmas time.  It's my favorite time of year. I love all that goes with it, the decorations, the traditions, the lights.  When Rhett and I were dating, I remember us scouring the local wal mart for the cheapest tree we could find.  Then we made ornaments, and garland.  The entire month of December we would make hot chocolate and drive around looking at Christmas lights.  It's just a great time of year!  Since the loss of my Godfather in 2007 I ve struggled to find that same excitement.   The motions are still the same as before he was gone.  It's such a weird thing to articulate ... I am filled with joy and sadness at the same time.  My joy comes in the experiences we have with our little family that are driven by the purpose of the season. The sadness however, makes me really want to withdraw from the activities that seem more superficial ... the office Christmas party, the professional open houses I needed to attend for networking purposes all hosted under the theme of Christmas.  My brain just isn't able to focus, and make cheerful small talk.   Perhaps it is the awareness that the joy with those we love can be fleeting.  Let this serve as a warning, unless your one of my children or my hubby I m not all that fun to be around during Christmas. I wonder if that will change in the years to come.

So let me tell you some of the joy we experienced this Christmas Season.  It is so much more fun to talk about the good, rejoicing in God's Grace is a great thing.  On December 15th Aly participated in her school Christmas program (as she has the last 2 years) now being a big first grader she is no longer a barn yard animal, but a candle holder.  The program as always was a blessing, and true sincere expression of the gift that our children are.  On December 16th (the 3rd Anniversary of Uncle Jerry's passing) the first song on the radio that morning as I drove the kids to school was I Can Only Imagine, which was played at his funeral. Ethan exclaimed "It's Uncle Jerry's song, he's still with us!" Yep, he is ... Thanks God for the reminder.  That evening the boys participated in their first Christmas program, since this is their first year at their school.  Joyful is the best description of being able to witness the sweet spirits of 100 little boys singing about the gift of Baby Jesus!

On Christmas eve I sent the kids in to get dressed.  Aiden came out in the red plaid shirt and black pants I had bought him for the evening, but had added his bright blue and mint green tie from Easter and his navy suit coat.  I said "Aiden you don't really need your jacket with that shirt" He interrupted me and said "Mom I wanted to look my very best for Jesus" I had nothing more to say, but said a little prayer thanking God for such a sincere child!  The best part, the priest stopped on his way into the church and complimented Aiden's tie.  Like everyone else we exchanged gifts, but it was our time together that was more of a gift.

2010 has been a rocky one, but I continue to be held in the Lord's peace and providence.  I am grateful for the faith he has given me! 

It's Christmas

Merry Christmas from The Theobald Family.  We are all doing well, and enjoying our time together as a family.  Somehow this year I just never pulled together a Christmas Card, I do however have some words I want to share with others so watch your mailboxes for New Years Cards.


This year once again finds us at home South Louisiana.  We adore the community in which we live, and consistently are finding more and more ways to stay out of "town" and shop, eat and live within the small community we live in. 

Ethan, is 10 this year. After a year of homeschooling joined the school community at St. John Berchmans.  He loves his new school, is a successful student, and for the most part a joy to be around.  This year he played soccer for the first time, and is looking forward to the spring season.  Archery, camping and boy scouts are things he gladly fills his time with.

Aiden, is 9 this year and also joined St. John Berchmans.  He too is a great student, enjoys his friends and school, and keeps Rhett and I smiling and on our toes.  He was also able to play soccer for his school this year with Ethan, and proved to do pretty well at goalie.  Aiden is an intense sports fan, and catches his favorite teams (the Yankee's, the Saint's and the Steelers) whenever they play on TV.  Baseball season last year was a delight for him, and he's ready to play again! 

Aly, is 7 this year.  She remains at the Academy of the Sacred Heart.  In celebrating her 7th birthday she remarked that she had been an "ASH" girl more than half of her life! Somehow I suspect she'll always be an "ASH girl".  This was her 3rd year playing soccer, and certainly won't be her last.  She loves it, and when it is not soccer season, she wants to know how long until soccer season. 

Rhett is working in the IT industry still, and is grateful to be employed.  He finds his enjoyment in his life as a Dad.  Whether it is weekend activities, a pick up football game in the back yard, or helping with homework ... our three blessings absorb the majority of his time and energy.

I am working part time for a non profit organization, and enjoying feeling like what I do matters.  Of course, my role as Mom still occupies most of my thoughts and energy. My perfect Friday during the day is spent helping out at the kids schools.  My role as student has changed a bit, as I have completed my Bachelors and am now working on my Masters. 

We will be sneaking away later next week for 3 nights of camping.  I am looking forward to ringing in the New Year next to a campfire just the 5 of us!  I hope our update finds all of you and yours happy, and healthy!

Love,
Amy and all

Thankful

I am thankful for:

    Three amazing children, who all arrived in my life in God's perfect timing, who are such individuals there is no doubt we were all created with purpose in mind.

     my husband who is an amazing Dad, and even after 11 years is still my best friend.

     living in a place that just feels like home.

     the Oaks.

    passion.  I am passionate about my job, my field of study, and my future career.

    peacefulness.  We live in an area that is peaceful, and serene.  There is no road rage taking the kids to school, rather lambs grazing, horses playing, and occasionally a loose calf in the middle of the road.

   community. Our families lives are better because we are part of a community.
  
    Teachers who hug students.

    My Father.

    The time I got to spend with those who are no longer here.

     Library Friday's.