Update by Lisa ('cut and pasted' by Rich from Lisa's family site)
Me fiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrrst! This is actually the kind of thing I hear a lot of:)So, Spring has sprung in Missouri but Winter is not going to leave too easily. We had some snowfall last night--that melted quickly once the sun came up. Everyone says if you don't like the weather here...just wait 24 hours.Rich is cubmaster and shares the ward organist calling. This week he had a big scout thing to present two boys their arrow of light awards and have a crossing over ceremony for them to begin boy scouts. It was great! There were pyrotechnics, costumes and drama. The boys--and all involved just loved it. Work is very busy for Rich too. He works long days Mon-Thurs then this weekend he had 3 other work events. Friday, 4 hours of training for their fandangled new ICAT (3D imaging) machine. Friday night dinner and a show with his partners and two of their referring doctors and spouses. We took Parker with us also. It was his first time to go to the Fabulous Fox Theater here, so it was fun to have him along. We saw a Cirque du Soleil show and it was a great one to take Parker to. I have been busy with the kids stuff and RS, helping Rich, and handling the bills and financial stuff for our family. Plus now I have to prepare a talk for the Saturday evening session of Stake Conference! On missionary work! I guess I am supposed to be a much better missionary. The stake just focused on this in our ward conference, our ward theme this year is missionary focused, the elders identified our family as 1 of 4 families they are focusing on to encourage and follow up on, and now I have to give a talk in Stake conference on the same topic! Rich can laugh about it, but he's not the one speaking--aargh.Parker had his first adjudication for piano and got a superior rating. He did a cool science project investigating whether spices inhibit the growth of bacteria and it has been chosen to go on to the Greater St. Louis Science Fair in May. He is playing cello through the school program and goes to Advanced Strings once a week after school at the Middle School. He still talks about science stuff that I have to get him to explain to me, and makes other people wonder why he is 9 and knows this stuff. His Triad project (student directed) he has been working on at school is about DNA. He had to do an interview with someone so we called Michael last Sunday. Michael you were awesome! Thank you so much for dropping everything to do the interview. You did a great job answering his questions and it was fun to talk with you. Despite all this brainiac business, he seems very much like a normal 9 year old boy. He whines about chores, loves to play on the computer or video games, is a picky eater, and likes to wear his hair short and spiky. He talks a lot, makes random noises or tells jokes and riddles to entertain himslef and others, loves to draw and memorizes facts about fictitious things he has interest in like Pokemon and Bakugan. I had fun taking inventory of our food storage last week with Parker's help. He is a sweet and handsome boy and becomes more insightful about those around him as he matures.
Scott is our little engineer. It's actually kind of funny how many other people have recognized that about him lately. I took him to Trader Joe's with me and a guy gave him a balloon. Scott looked at the ribbon, held up the empty end and said, "can you put another balloon on this end?" I never would have thought of that! The guy smiled and said, " so you're an engineer huh?" He built some cool creation with gears out of Bionicles that was quite complex and his babysitter on Friday night made the same kind of comment about him as an engineer. He also makes awesome art! During Sacrament meeting today he made a terrific mask. This guys has to keep his hands busy. He cut a paper towel tube and inserted the pieces into the eye holes, Fringed the top of the construction paper to resemble spiky hair, and drew a complex design on the face with crayons. It kept him occupied from after the sacrament until the meeting ended. We'll have to get a picture of him with the mask. His art teacher said he "exceeds expectations in understanding art concepts." He is compelled to create. We had a spike in poor behavior from Scott before Rich and went to San Diego at the end of February, but he is doing much better now. I don't think he even had a clear understanding of what was bothering him, but I feel quite sure that it was anxiety over both of us being gone. However, we did just start seeing a psychologist to help us with behavioral interventions too. He really is a sweet boy--particularly sweet to me since we have been back from our trip and I have been able to reassure him how much I love him and always want to help him.Thomas is a firecracker. Adorable, but downright rude at times. He wants to be the center of attention and does great one-on-one, but if there is someone to compete with for attention look out! He is a great reader, and has excellent verbal skills. He is trying out new phrases. He asked Rich, "what time do you think Parker will get up--in your opinion?" And he also loves to tell jokes. He makes up riddles that sometimes don't make sense, but we love it anyway. He adores Parker and tries to be like his big brother. Thomas just turned 5 on St. Patrick's Day. It was during our Spring Break so we drove down to Branson that day and stayed for a couple of nights at a great resort on Table Rock Lake. Thanks to Leslie's friend for recommending Big Cedar Lodge. It was beautiful weather so we swam and took out a paddle boat and canoe on the lake. We had a little log cabin that was decorated nicely and the kids loved it all! We saw two shows in Branson; The Haygoods and New Shanghai Circus. (See our blog for more info.) Thomas was excited to take a treat in to preschool for his birthday. We took some cute shots of him holding his cookie cake. After school he told me, "Eeeeeveryone loooooved my cookie cake. Eeeevryone!" This was all said with his eyelids and hand movements giving added emphasis. He is a saavy little boy. And typically lots of fun.Well, that's probably enough for now. Can't wait to hear from all of you! Love ya!Lisa