Mid-Year Family Update

I've been really awful at updating here so I thought I'd give a little spiel about each member of the family ..something like our annual Christmas letter.  So here goes...

Dave:  He continues to be a very busy bee.  He has taken on another online professoriate job for a university so that's a total of 4 paying jobs (CO, self-defense teacher, online criminal program professor x2).  He continues to be active in his judo profession, teaching weekly at his club.  Various opportunities have come up to share his self-defense program with a few local schools.  He recently purchased a baby, I mean, a car (a Benz) that has been dubbed "the family car".  Cool! 

Jinky:  Enjoyed being Class Mother in David's class this year.  She even got the opportunity to volunteer in the school's library filing books ..boring but interesting experience.  Of course, she continues to read and book blog.  There has been authors and publishers who have actually approached her to review books so that's been fun and stressing to her.  But can't beat free books!  Speaking of books, she received a Kindle Fire for her birthday and has ventured in the electronic world of books and she likes it more that she thought she would.  Though the printed books are still her preference.  However, her proudest accomplishment this year was institutionalizing Family Home Evening regularly and recently does weekly Book of Mormon chapter reading with the missionaries.  Definitely bringing spiritual blessings in the home.

David:  Straight A's the entire third grade for this young lad.  He even got accepted to the GATE (The Gifted and Talented Education) program!  Woohoo, following in his father's footsteps!  He absolutely had a blast in third grade, gaining new friends and having a wonderful teacher.  He continues to be an awesome Kuya (big brother) to his siblings.  In the beginning of the year, he got promoted to Bear in Cub Scout.  Still sensitive and thoughtful young boy.  This summer he will be busy reading to earn money for his video game addiction.

Sophia:  Still vibrant as can be!  Continuing to be the life of the family.  Yay, no trip to the E.R. thus far!  She thrived in kindergarten.  She is an excellent reader ..level 10!  And more importantly she loves to read!  That makes her mama quite happy as you can imagine.  She's got a happy-cheery disposition.  A girly-girly girl that loves pink and purple.  She's helpful around the house and a total sweetheart.  Her smile can light up a room ..heck, a city! :)

Steven:  Recently turned four years old.  He loves to play with his siblings.  He and Sophia are especially tight.  He adjusted well to just being he and his mom while his siblings were at school.  Lately he's been into playing Angry Birds and other games in his mama's iPod and Kindle.  He's following his brother's baby footsteps and doesn't eat well and lives on milk.  He's sprouting though so no worries.  He's still a mama's boy and may he say that way, says his mama. He's simply the most adorable 4 year old!  ;)

Uncle Joey Our Hero!

(Wikipedia)

This afternoon my kiddos and I went to my sister's to celebrate my nephew's 17th birthday.  Swimming in the pool was part of the festivities.  So when it was time for that part, I sprayed sunblock on all the little munchkins (cousins) and off they go to the pool.  I specifically told Sophia to stay in the shallow jacuzzi section of the pool with her cousin Kaelyn.  She said okay; my brother was the adult watching them; and Leno and a couple of his friends were good swimmers so good, I go inside the house.  Later I go to the sliding door and see Sophia on the deep end of the pool, arms holding on to the edge, head seemingly on the way down with her body ...she wasn't actively drowning but she was in the deep end and you can guess the terror that overcame me.  I screeeamed her name over and over again and before I knew it, my brother jumped into the pool and I'm out in the scene just as quickly.  I see my brother flailing (he really doesn't know how to swim ..maybe manage a dog paddle) but my eyes were concentrated on Sophia who at that point got out and headed back into the jacuzzi section ... and my brother managed to fight his way off the pool safely.

I hadn't realize that there was pool steps/seats and Sophia was standing on it!  So she was actually not sinking but I happened to catch her at the moment when she concluded climbing over the jacuzzi/deep end divider and on her way to stand on the steps.  At the time my brother's eyes were on his phone but as soon as he heard my panic yells, he looked up and from his point of view, he thought Sophia was drowning and instinctively jumped into the pool after her forgetting he couldn't swim! 

Boy, that will be forever be a memorable moment!  Our family excitement of the decade!  I gave everyone present there a big scare with my desperate screams.  It all happened so quickly and reactions were overall shock.  Those in the pool and in the house were stunned and BOOM! it was over.

We (my parents, sister, brother and I) had a good laugh afterwards because the "lifeguard" who ended up jumping in the pool couldn't swim and could have drowned!  Of course, it was only funny because everyone was all right and we were having post tension perspective. 

Through it all, I looked at my brother with love, gratitude, and admiration because he dove to rescue his niece, my daughter!  What a loving and brave uncle!  Thank you my little brother, our hero!!

(Here's a last year pic of my brother that I have on hand ..with his daughter Kaelyn and nephew Calvin)

**This one time the kids did not have their life vests because they out grew them.  Not happening again!  Next time they will have some sort of floatation device and that pool will be covered with all types of floatables!! ..and maybe a certified lifeguard! LOL.

ANYWAY,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE LIN!  WHAT AN EXCITING DAY!!

WE LOVE YOU!!!