Happy Summer Everyone!!!
I hope you ’re all enjoying your summer break as much as I am. As a family, we just returned from The Twin Cities in Minnesota. Tom had a resort gig there. Housing was paid for, along with some money for food. (Plus Tom got paid for the gig.) Tom likes to travel this way . . . Cheap! Anyway, the kids got a kick out of Mall of America and enjoyed swimming and generally hanging out. It was a fun trip.
To bring you up to date, this is what we were doing before the summer break and what we plan to do the rest of the summer:
I was getting up every weekday at 5:00 am to teach Seminary. If you’re not familiar with Seminary, it’s like a Bible study class for High School aged kids taught in the early morning before school. I had twelve WONDERFUL Freshmen and sophomores in my class. I plan to teach again next fall. Besides Seminary, I started a weight loss support group called “Lean on Me.” Tom built me an AMAZING website for it: http://mypage.iu.edu/~thrclark/lean/index.html. This group meets until July 6, and then we’ll take a break until fall. Beyond these two “activities,” I’ve been busy with Heather’s therapy and playing chauffer to the other kids. The summer changes are: working part-time at the YMCA, exercising, vacations, playing with kids, cleaning, cleaning, cleaning!
Nathan just finished the 7th grade at Jackson Creek Middle School. He ran track/cross-country and played the saxophone in both the school band and jazz band. Nathan NEVER has nothing to do. I think his social calendar is busier than Tom’s or mine. Over the summer: he’s thrilled to have his best friend visiting from Pennsylvania They’ve got the whole summer planned out with group get-togethers with other kids going boating, seeing movies, camp-outs, barbecues, etc. Tom also plans to give Nathan saxophone lessons over the summer, if they can find the time to coordinate.
Right at the end of the school year, Wesley earned his purple-belt in Tae Kwon Do. It took him about six months to earn. Wesley also just completed the 4th grade at Child’s Elementary School with flying colors, and he just completed the 4th Harry Potter book (734 pages). Summer plans for Wes include: Tae Kwon Do! Tae Kwon Do! Tae Kwon Do! I paid for an entire summer’s worth. He can go as many times as he wants until August 18. Besides kicking and punching this summer, Wesley would really like to make another movie. (We’ll have to find a way to post his other two movies on the Internet so you can watch them---maybe on Youtube or something). Wes also just celebrated his11th birthday.
Before the summer came, Camilla worked diligently at reading. At the beginning of the school year (1st grade), Camilla was just learning to read; now she reads like a pro. Camilla also became a “tree hugger” this year at school, and a “health nut.” I think some of you know that she chose, as her birthday party theme this year, Earth Day. Summer changes for Camilla are: learning to play well with siblings (Camilla and Wes can sometimes really go at it), quitting dance for Tae Kwon Do lessons (Camilla has a dance recital next week. After that she wants to learn how to kick and punch like her brother), and swimming lessons.
Before summer, Heather only had therapy twice a week. Now we’re going to try therapy three times a week. Heather’s getting close to walking . . . Heather also began attending the nursery at Church (big milestone for all of us), and she just recently began attending Child Care with me at the YMCA. (Yes, I gave up working at the front desk at the Y to work in Child Care again-ugh! Hopefully after a year, Heather will feel comfortable enough in there to let me move back to the desk). We’ll keep you posted on all of Heather’s development. It’s slow . . . but she’s definitely making progress.
Tom’s routine doesn’t change a whole lot. Whether it’s summer or fall, he’s my “working man!” Seriously, he’s ridiculously busy with all of his work projects. Between his day job and his gigs, he’s practically a round the clock-er. But he’s added a new “summer project” to his schedule: remodeling his office. We’re not talking changing furniture around or anything. With the help of his dad, who was visiting, Tom has knocked down walls, reframed, wired, insulated, and dry walled his office. Of course, like everything else Tom does, it will be fantastic when he’s done!
I wish you all a happy summer! Please keep in touch.
Much love,
Tom, Michelle, Nathan, Wesley, Camilla, and Heather Clark
