Happenings at Home

Ethan, Brandon, & Amy ~ Celebrating Brandon's Birthday

We haven't been all that active since getting back, but we have done a few things. The first big event was Brandon's 15th birthday on February 26th. We celebrated with a small family party. Brandon had requested steak and goat cheese salad for his dinner, then we had angle food cake with whipped cream and strawberries for dessert. We had a lot of fun sitting around the table and talking.  One of the family traditions we have on birthdays and other special occusions is to let the person who is being celebrated know what we appriciate about them. It was fun to listen to what Ethan and Amy had to say. They have started to say more meaningful things and not always being silly. Being siblings and kids they do continue to say funny things to get a reaction out of all of us. It is fun to watch.

We couldn't get the '15' in the cake without the whipping cream. We did our best.

The cake with whipping cream and strawberries. 

Brandon with one of his gifts. He also received Xbox live and a new study Bible

 

Brandon & Me ~ I rarely have my picture taken with the birthday person

In other happenings, the kids have all started back to school. Brandon didn't attend the first week, but he is now back full time.(Actually, the kids are on spring break this week, Amy and Ethan had 8 days of school and Brandon five). They have adjusted well to being back in school and with their friends. Keith started back to work full time on March 1. He had a lot of things to get caught up on, phone calls to make, emails to return, camper registrations, meetings, the list, as usual, is endless with camp work. I have been getting the house re-organized and settled after being gone for 5 months. I have also gone into to town for weekly grocery shopping and visiting with a few friends. Town is always a combined trip and I'm usually wiped out by the time I get home. Keith and I have had a few visits with friends, which has been nice. Otherwise we haven't been too active. It is enough and soon it will be busy with getting ready for the camping season.