Another digital greeting by Smilebox

Happy New Year!

Imagine our elation when we finally touched down in Texas on Saturday afternoon. 79F with bright blue skies and the big yellow ball that southerners call "The Sun". The girls peeled off their jackets and complained about the long pants and long-sleeve shirts that they had to wear. I have to admit that the gray skies and the rain really got to me this time around, and I felt like turning cartwheels when we landed. I restrained myself simply because I didn't want to alarm airport security.

For those of you that we missed when we visited Oregon over the holidays, we are very sorry. So many of our plans had to be put on hold when Tanner caught the flu and was out of commission for 3 days. I think it was a lesson in thankfulness for our family. We had to learn to be content with what we were able to do even if many of our plans and wishes went unfulfilled. Of course, the time we spent wasn't enough, but we have come home feeling refreshed and ready to take on the next semester.

We came home to find that Kate's fish didn't make it through our vacation. I had all three girls sobbing uncontrollably for a few minutes. I held them tight while Daddy double checked to make sure the fish was indeed dead. Then they very quietly buried the fish (the toilet just won't do for these girls). Then today after we had tumbled out of bed, we walked to the pet store to pick out a new fish. Yes, I said walk. For my dear friends and family in Oregon, I know that walking is an unthinkable thing right now unless you are in a mall, but for us, since the sun was warming our backs and the breeze was skipping along the tree tops, walking was a real option. The girls picked out a bright blue beta and promptly named it Turquoise Crystal Howell.

Spring cleaning took over from that point and right now my home smells and looks pristine. I don't expect it to last for very long, but I am enjoying the sensation for as long as it will last. We are looking forward to this summer and can't help but get excited about the the next 2 years. We are over the hump and now get to count down the semesters. If all goes well, it looks like we will have a fall 2013 graduation. Of course, we can't predict if Tanner will pass ever single class, so I say it with caution, but the feeling is dizzying. After so many years of meeting pre-requisites and trying to get into the right course track, it seems amazing that graduation could possibly be just one and a half years away.