Hello, old friend...

It has been so long since I posted on here, nearly a year.

We bought a house and moved in.

The boys started school, E in 4th and Alex in kindergarten. They are both doing great with everything subject-wise.

Behaviors have been up and down for E, as has his frustration level but between his teacher, the resource room teacher and I, we have helped him through the year and he's coming out shining with A's & B's, getting ready to move on to 5th.

Alex had some issues with talking constantly for a while but that has gotten much better. He's in "enrichment" for reading, writing and math since he's so far ahead. His teacher just started having him do spelling tests since he'll be doing that in 1st grade and he is doing great with sentence writing (2-3 sentences instead of just one) and he is reading at 2nd-3rd grade level already. He gets to be the guest reader once a week in the 1st grade class.

Both the boys started Religious Education classes in September at our new parish and since E was so far behind, having never gone, we put him in the "Sacrament class" which is for children missing 1-2 years. Even though most, if not all of the other students speak English and Spanish and some only Spanish, and the teacher speaks both but has quite a heavy accent, (the co-teachers were her daughter and another teen who didn't) E did incredibly well, the only child who scored 100% on the end of year test! He also had no absences, made his First Reconciliation in March and his biggest day yet is coming! More about that in a moment. E will be going in the 5th grade class next year. Alex was in the kindergarten class, which was somewhat informal but fun for him. He met some kids, learned about God and Jesus and really enjoyed going. He's already talking about next year!

About Ethan's big day! He is making his First Holy Communion this coming Sunday!!! I'm so proud of him and he is truly excited. He told me yesterday when we were at Mass "I'm ready today Mom, for Communion." I said to him that he had to wait just one more week but it was so special and I knew he could do it. After Mass, we are having a get-together in his honor with family and friends.

Of course, there is more going on but until the "official announcement", mum's the word. Hopefully the other person will be ready to say soon, as I am BURSTING to tell. LOL. It's so hard to talk to people you know and love and NOT be able to say anything about such a big deal!! Oh well. The time will definitely come. ;)