Ethan turned 8 in February and celebrated with a bowling party with friends. He started third grade in the Fall, and is continuing to do well with his grades and all the requirements of studying, and multiple tests each week. The material is a lot to learn this year, but he is handling the added responsibilities well. In the summer, he took swimming lessons for the 5th year in a row and has told us that he wants to be the swimming Teacher's helper next summer. He also went to an Upward soccer camp and tennis camp and VBS over the summer, where he learned fun sports skills and about Jesus. Our Fall activities started strong with Upward soccer season # 5. Both boys were thrilled that Daddy and Papa Brisken coached their team. Ethan continues to love soccer so much, and is quite good if I must say so myself! We are proud of all the goals he made and how he was a leader on the Generals team of first through third graders.
Caleb turned 6 in August and celebrated with a backyard Skylanders water party with friends. He started first grade in the Fall, and has done well in his first year with real grades. Although one of the youngest in his class, we are happy with our decision for him to be in first grade this year, as he would've been bored in kindergarten again. His good grades and high test scores confirm we made the right choice for this year. Caleb also took swimming lessons again this summer and participated in Upward soccer and tennis camps and VBS. Along with playing soccer for his 2nd year (this year on the same team as Ethan which made it nice to only have one game each weekend), Caleb also had a strong interest in learning gymnastics after watching the summer Olympics. So, in August we started both he and Ethan in a once a week all boys gymnastics class. They are both excelling at this sport as well. The strength they have gained already will help them in anything they choose to continue with, plus they both really enjoy it!
Alaina will be turning 2 in just a little over a month (Jan 31, 2013). It still doesn't quite seem possible that she has been with our family for 2 years, but then in other ways it seems like she is already older than 2! I guess having two older brothers makes her try and do things on a much faster schedule, or at least faster than Mommy and Daddy's schedule sometimes. She is a smart, active, funny, sweet, crazy, and helpful (list could go on) little girl. She says hi to anyone she meets. Even people walking their dogs out in our neighborhood or people we pass in stores, she demands attention from them by yelling "Hi" until she gets a response. She warms up quickly to new people, and will want to blow you a kiss, give you a hug, and a high five when she says good bye. She loves to color, read books, play outside with her brothers and friends, dance, and sing. She really does bring so much joy to our family.
And as for us, we are . . . just trying to keep up with these three! Along with our children's activities and schedules, Scott continues to drive an hour to and from work working in inside sales at BMC, a building materials company for multi-family developments. Although he has a long drive, he enjoys his job and is thankful for the opportunities it provides him. Jill continues to work part time in accounting at Wolverine Coatings Corporation, a manufacturer of epoxy floor coatings and tank linings. She is continually grateful for the positive work environment, and the opportunity to still have so much time with our children. Jill is also enjoying photography quite a bit this year, learning more and more about how to take "non-auto" pictures with our camera, and even ventured into taking some other families' pictures for their Christmas cards this year. Right now, it is still just a growing hobby, but perhaps one day it will be more. Check out some of her work at www.laineybugphotography.com. We are also still enjoying being a part of our church, and all the opportunities and activities it provides us and our children to be a part of and to grow in our faith. We celebrated our 12th Wedding Anniversary in July too, and enjoyed a quick trip to Charleston, SC in the summer, just the two of us!
Our family enjoyed several trips this year as well. We traveled to Baltimore, Maryland in February to visit Jill's sister, Megan and brother-in-law, Mike and to meet our new nephew and cousin, Cooper (born Dec. 2011). We also welcomed another new member to our family, Daniel (born August 2012), to Jill's sister, Stacy and brother-in-law, Zach. We met him for the first time on our trip to Williamsburg, VA for Thanksgiving. The boys are enjoying getting boy cousins, and are outnumbering the girl cousins 4 to 3 currently. Jill's Mom and Scott's Mom still help tremendously with our kids, picking up from school, watching Alaina during the day, and helping to get them to all their different activities. Papa and Grandpa are also much loved by our kids and they enjoy getting to spend time with them when they are off work. In May, we took our first "ultra family" beach trip to the Outerbanks. Jill's parents, Scott's parents, Jill's sisters and their families, Stacy's parents-in-laws, and Jill's Aunt and cousin all gathered in a huge three story beach home right across the street from the beach for an entire week! There were at least 20 of us. It really was a wonderful time together, and we hope to do it again sometime, perhaps even adding more family members if they are able to come.
As we reflect through this past year, we are so overwhelmed and thankful for the many blessings in our lives this year. Obviously, these are just the highlights. There have been hard times too, but we have depended on the One to whom we celebrate this season, our Lord and Savior, Jesus. Born in a manger in Bethlehem, to fulfill God's plan to offer His free gift of Salvation to anyone who receives it. As both of our boys have memorized in AWANA at church this year, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him, will not perish, but have eternal life." - John 3:16 Our prayer is that if you do not know Him, you will accept Him and come into a personal relationship with Jesus. The sad events that happen in our world just remind us that this world is not our home. We must be ready, at any time, for our eternal home in Heaven.
May God bless you and your family this Christmas Season!
With Love,
Scott, Jill, Ethan, Caleb, & Alaina
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