Dear Family and Friends,

Summer vacation has come to a close. The weather has begun to get cooler. School has begun.  We begin a new chapter in our lives.

Steven is still working for Advocate Homes as an accountant. He is keeping his eyes open for a new job, but hasn't found anything he is interested in yet. He continues to serve as Scoutmaster and enjoys weekly activities with his scouts. He has been taking a HAM radio class and is hoping to upgrade his old novice license (earned back in high school days) to an expert license when he takes the final tests this Thursday. 

MaeLyn is working on streamlining the house, throwing stuff away, giving stuff away, trying to get the house in order. She is enjoying the extra time she has now that some of the kids are in school. She is still the Primary chorister in her ward, and is enjoying the challenge to come up with new ways to convince the kids to sing each week. 

Hannah has begun third grade. She is enjoying making new friends and still loves to write stories and illustrate them. She enjoys reading Judy Blume books as well as Magic Tree House books and Junie B. Jones books. She is looking forward to turning eight next Sunday, and especially looking forward to her baptism at our Stake Center on September 29th at 10:00am. (Anyone who wants to come is welcome. Call or email for details or directions)

John is busy in first grade. His teacher thinks he is awesome. Last night he finished reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone, having taken just two weeks to complete it. He also enjoys I Spy and Where's Waldo books and doing puzzles. 

Joshua has begun preschool two days a week. It is a "Mother Goose" program where the parents take turns teaching the six kids each week. Josh really enjoyed his first week. Josh loves dogs, and spends a lot of time pretending to be one. He knows his numbers and is working on learning his letters now. 

Peter is growing like a weed. He looks more and more like John every day. He is talking a lot now, and has fun naming body parts and colors. (He knows the names of the colors, but doesn't match the colors with their names yet.) 

Love to all,

Steven, MaeLyn, Hannah, John, Joshua, Peter & the fish