Ahhhh...April.

Well, from what I am reading of all of your thoughts in "cyberspace", Spring is easing on to all of us and we are enjoying gentle breezes, warmer temperatures, and enjoying it so much.

Quick Family Update:

Clay is enjoying scouting and finished his woodworking merit badge, and is actually flying in a REAL plane tomorrow as he completes his aviation merit badge. He is also working on personal finance and fitness, and we are so impressed that he has earned about $80 on his own, and gets himself up everyday at 6:00am to run and/or do some strength training. He continues to fascinate us and his friends at school with his artistic talents and is also becoming rather funny, kind of 'Gary Larson' style humor.

Catie is still playing Clarinet. She is, as we suspected, naturally talented with musical things and she looks forward to learning other instruments, especially the piano. She also won an award for an essay she wrote about "Citizenship". Also, as I type this, she is attending an "overnight" trip to the Phoenix Zoo as a fun 5th grade field trip to "observe and learn", and I don't doubt giggle into the wee hours of the night.

Lacey is enjoying school and naturally challenges herself to be the best at everything she tries. Hula hoop, multiplication facts, 'cat's cradle", and memorizing her articles of faith. (she knows 11 now, perfectly) -- She is fun to watch grow and continues to crack us up with her quick wit and constant teasing.

Luke has discovered words and writing. He asks me many times throughout the day, "how do you spell..." and we go through the sounding out and it is exhausting and wonderful. He loves to draw, and collect bugs, and read books. He has a fascination with the human body and gazes at his book on bones and muscles for hours at a time. He is an interesting little boy.

Leia continues to dazzle us with her love for singing, she can hear a song once and sing it instantly with a surprisingly strong voice, she's in love with High School Musical much to the embarrassment of her oldest brother who shushes her in public when she "belts out" as tune suddenly...(well, that's what they do in the movie, right?) So funny.

Christian can be described as AD-HORRIBLE! That is the Westphal word for when their very cute kids do those awful things that make you bite your lip not to laugh, mixed with sheer horror of the magnitude of their crimes. (i.e. pulling their pants down and saying, "see my bum?"----giggle, shudder!!) He is currently "Potty training" and it just sounds like so much fun to him "the Potty train!" (like a ride)--Thank goodness for Spider man Under pants. That designer has my vote for the Nobel prize!

Cora is the definition of cute right now, constant smiles, and a new found sense of contentment through crawling around and exploring her world. She brings warm fuzzies to all of us and is the sunshine of our life. What a blessing she is.

Carl and I are also fine, not nearly as cute as the kids, (well, I think Carl is cute...) but we are just trying to hang in through all of the daily tasks that make up life right now. We are very happy and when I type out these updates, I feel so pleased to be the mother of such amazing and beautiful children. We enjoyed our first camping trip as a family of 9...it was an adventure, but really VERY fun. Life is Good!