The Moody Family

First off, I must apologize for being so behind on my blog--many happenings have taken place over the past 5 months that I would love to share. My goal is to get the blog up-to-date during this two week break...so stay tuned! I will be posting them around the date that the events occurred--I am a chronological order type of person...

Just the other day I was feeling the pressure of getting our Christmas cards ordered and sent out. In fact, I was feeling a bit resentful and thinking that through my blog and facebook most people are pretty up on what is going on with us. But then I realized that that is not what this is about anymore. In this day when we are so connected electronically, it feels even more special to receive a greeting in that snail mail box. Receiving Christmas cards is something I look forward to so much--it is a reminder of the friends and family who are in our lives one way or another. So, for all of you who take the time to send out Christmas cards, I am most thankful for your efforts. I hope you enjoy ours, too! In lieu of a letter included with our card, I decided to go green again--please enjoy our update!

After an incredible cross-country trip where we visited so many friends and family, this fall has been the busiest time we have ever experienced as a family. Not only is Ed teaching full time and writing his dissertation (hopefully done soon--two more chapters to go), but I am still teaching full time, and we we have three busy boys who were involved in PeeWee Football. Yes, that means the boys finally decided to end karate. Although we miss karate, it is very exciting giving the boys the opportunity to try out some amazing team sports! We also really enjoyed UofA Football--getting 4 season tickets this year, we were able to enjoy every home game. Next year we will certainly get 5 tickets as Evan loved going to the games, too. We are officially a "football family."

Speaking of football, here are our football studs:

Collier--11 Years Old--6th Grader

Collier finished off fifth grade this year with a bang--doing very well academically. To no surprise, he has made the transition to middle school with ease. He is taking band--continuing to play his clarinet, reading, writing, pre-algebra (yes, that is 8th grade math), humanities (that is a social studies class for gifted students), science, and PE. Cross Middle School has been great for him. He made straight As during the first quarter and is determined to go to MIT for college, so he seems driven and motivated to do well--we like that! Other than school, his focus is on sports--he loves the Arizona Wildcats and stays up on all the sports stats. It is certainly something that he has in common with his dad!

Before school started, Collier and I had the pleasure of spending three weeks in July in Sweden. What a treat it was to see my Mom, Thompa, Teddy, and Milo--along with friends and family. Showing Collier around--where I spent 7 years of my life--was very special. As soon as we returned to Tucson, Collier started up with Dolphins Football--5 days a week of practice! Although his team only made one win, they learned a lot and had great coaches.

William--9 Years Old--4th Grader

William is a 4th grader who has a passion for just about anything he does. After showing such an interest for singing and dancing, we enrolled him in Kids Unlimited. This is an amazing studio that offers excellent classes. Seeing William on stage was so exciting--he is certainly talented. Unfortunately he had to drop out when football started, but we are hoping he might have time to pick it up this spring. Playing football for William was equally as exciting--he is good! In fact, he will proudly tell you that he had 11 sacks during his season. We are truly looking forward to seeing him play again next season. Right now he is scheduled to play basketball and then baseball in the spring--just like his brothers.

Although William struggles with reading, he is doing so well in school this year. Math is by far his favorite subject--it simply comes easy to him. Regardless of the subject, he works so hard and always receives complements from his teachers.

While Collier and I were in Sweden this summer, William enjoyed spending time with Ed and Evan in Colorado at Gramma's cabin. William loves Colorado and is certainly an outdoors-man. Since he will be 10 this fall, Ed has promised William that he will go hunting with him. He is so excited!

Evan--6 Years Old--1st Grader

Evan, our "baby," is already in first grade--hard to believe! He, just like his brothers, is doing so well in school. His teacher wrote the sweetest note to him complementing him on being such a great listener and always providing an answer. He is certainly not short of words, thoughts, and knowledge! In addition to doing well in school, he did well in flag football and is looking forward to tackle football, like his brothers, in the fall. His coach said that he would do well as he naturally has that aggressive instinct--I guess you get that from being the youngest of three brothers.

Just like his brothers, he loves the Arizona Wildcats and loved going to the football games. I was pretty amazed to see how well he understood the game and how it completely held his attention. At one point, when I had made some naive comment, he looked at me and said, "Mom, you just don't get it!" So, I responded, "Teach me, oh wise one!"

Well, we hope this finds you all well and enjoying the most important things in life. We are certainly thankful for the time with family and friends we have been blessed with this year.

Merry CHRISTmas! Love to you all!

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree:

the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.

~ Burton Hillis

Good news from heaven the angels bring,
Glad tidings to the earth they sing:
To us this day a child is given,
To crown us with the joy of heaven.

~ Martin Luther

We are Stockholm bound!

After a short flight, bus, and train ride, we arrived in Stockholm's City where we met my friend Lena. We were in the same class for 5 years, so it was a treat to meet up with another dear old friend.

We took the ferry over to Djurgården where we went to the Vasa Museum.

It sure was amazing learning about this ship's history. Collier was fascinated and followed the guide around listening intently.

A walk over to Gamla Stan

And a bite to eat. Lena and I are eating a very popular Swedish fastfood...hotdog with mashed potatoes wrapped inside a piece of thin bread. It was yummy and very filling!