Catching Up

So, I know I need to post here again. The thing is, I don't have any great pictures or exciting events to write about. My brain doesn't feel like putting together beautiful sentences right now, either. I guess I'll just ramble.

Let's see. Finlay won 2nd place in the pinewood derby a couple of weeks ago. That was exciting. Best our family has ever done in a pinewood derby. Rusty is playing soccer on a freshman/sophomore team that's not actually affiliated with the high school. It's a club team. I think they're called the Salem Shooters. He'll be getting his learner permit in a week or so. Not sure how I feel about that. (Well, I feel good about it. I just don't want to be the driving instructor). Camary is super excited about her first loose tooth. The adult tooth is already growing in behind it, so hopefully it will fall out fast!  Ryan got glasses. He doesn't have to wear them all the time. Only for reading. I got new glasses too. It's nice to be able to see again. Hmmm...that leaves Sam. Let's see. He started a project for his family life merit badge. Something to benefit the whole family. He is organizing and cleaning out the toys in the common room. That's quite the project!

Tracy and I talked to each of the kids individually today. We want to do that every week, but it's been a couple of months. It was nice to talk to them. We discussed topics from Ryan's impending adulthood and future plans to Camary's loose tooth. It was nice.

Oh, yeah. I didn't talk about Xander yet. Xander. Oh, man. He is quite the little handful. So cute and yet such a terror too. Still, I love it when he says "I love you, too." Or the other day when he said. "I just so love you, Mom." Awwww. Almost makes up for his reign of terror in Sacrament Meeting every week.

Tracy got a tripod for his camera at last. He's wanted one forever. (Really. For.ev.er) I'm so glad he finally got one. He's been having fun with it. You can see his pictures on Facebook. (I would post some here, but blogger isn't letting me.)

I still haven't heard from the publisher who expressed interest. I'm dying from the suspense. Three other authors (that I know of) have signed with this publisher since they contacted me. I don't know if that's good or bad for me. (I am happy for those authors, though.) Their books are all coming out in like two or three months, which is super fast, so I hold out hope that they will want to buy mine for later this year too, but I don't know. I fluctuate between hope, despair and frustration. But I'm trying to choose hope! (I can't really talk about this over on my writing blog, though it has to do with writing. I don't want to stick my foot in my mouth in any way.)

Well, sorry to ramble on for so long. Basically, we are doing well. We have our ups and downs, but who doesn't?

Love you all!