Silent but harmless

It has been an exceptionally long time since I have posted anything, but not because I was busy working, or studying to take my board exam again, or out for a run or bike ride, or taking my board exam again, or helping the family with something, or passing my board exam finally, or anything else. Just have been swept up into the stream of life for a bit.
  Not much has changed with us here in Central Oregon. We are nearing the end (in another month or so) of the second year of the kids being a part of Classical Conversations (home school with a weekly day of in-class activities), which has been very good for them all the way around. Kristi has been a tutor for one of the younger classes this year, and so has had even less than no free time. Pati is beginning to read a bit, and we just learned yesterday that she will be getting glasses. Nobody believed that she really required them, and this probably has nothing to do with her amazing fashion sense and desire to accessorize whenever possible, but she is pretty excited about them, and I suppose a picture will be posted at some point.

  Anne is still struggling with allergies, but seems to be much better than she was 3 or 4 years ago, and she is still breathing, so we are grateful.  Amazing what Kristi can do with so limited options for ingredients. She especially does well in school and is our accountant or at least our organizer. Alec is growing quickly, and is still interested in most anything that involves a ball or running around or poikilothermia (he has a leopard gecko). He enjoys school more this year, and especially the socialization as he seems to slowly become some sort of hub where he is placed.
  Jan is growing up very fast, and devours any academic pursuit with intensity. She has very much enjoyed the challenge of study, memorization, and reads late into the night most nights (but don't tell, cause her parents don't know). Now if she could just remember to remove her contacts and replace them with glasses before she realizes she doesn't have solution and is forced to borrow some from her sleeping parents at 23:30, she might get away with more unnoticed. Transparence is good.

  All of the kids have really seemed to settle in here, and have adapted well to moving to a new place with new people. AWANA has been a platform they excel at and enjoy very much. Jan also does Horseless Horse 4-H (yep, she still rides her stick horse... much less maintenance), all of the kids are involved in gymnastics after their day doing school in Redmond, get to see Grandpa Carne and Grandma Maria on a fairly regular basis, hike and bike and attend birthday parties, and are able to see their grandparents and cousins on a much more regular basis.
  I have settled in to work fairly well, I think. The people I work with are incredibly nice, and have gotten me into shape again. There are several who run, hike, mountain bike, road bike, and ski so I have been able to pick up new skills and the gear that goes with them. Kristi and I were able to go downhill skiing a couple of times this year for the first time since we were married, and that was really fun.

The kids all have taken lessons and have learned to downhill this year, so that has been fun to supervise. We are starting to think we may be here for a while, so are pursuing finding a home with some land and a shop so we can engage in more activities. who knows, maybe even plant a garden or get a pet that is not a rodent or a gecko.