And another one down!

The start of 2009 has started and we've said goodbye to 2008. The girls are all growing up so much, its hard to believe. Samantha started Kindergarten this year and she loves it. She gets to stay full day two days a week, but she wishes it were all week. I'm afraid its a little boring around here without her sisters. She did soccer in the fall, and although she was pretty good, and made several goals, she spent most of her time dancing on the field....So we put her back in dance where she belongs. Now she prances around the house all the time. Sam is growing into her tall body, and has found her own sense of humor. The other day she asked why her name wasn't spelled Samanthe with an e at the end because she knows how to spell THE, and it sounds the same. Funny girl! She is taking more responsiblity around the house, now if we could only teach her not to hide her sisters stuff all over the house!
Jennifer is in first grade and thrilled to have her teacher Ms. Jensen. In fact she wants to be like her so much that she got a guitar for Christmas. Jennifer has given up soccer and is taking a singing/acting class and hip hop. She finally gets to put all that drama to good use! She is also really looking forward to turning 8 and getting babtized. Jen is trying hard to make better choices, but boy sometimes its soooo hard! It's a good thing she so cute, or she might be spending a lot more time in her room!
Kaylee has finally grown taller then Megan, which she might consider her greatest accoplishment yet! She is in third grade, and following closely in her mothers footsteps, doing as little as possible to still get a good grade! Ooops. She is a great soccer player, and has enjoyed trying goalie and defender. She also has reached new heights climbing to the top of the first two rock climbing walls, and taking a swimming class at the YMCA. She is very funny, and loves to find the answer to abstract problems. If she would sleep a little more, she would be close to an angelic child.
Megan is on the verge of officially becoming a pre-teen. Even though she hasn't gotten much taller, she is really growing up, and her mood swings prove it!!! She is a great student, and trys hard at everything she does. This fall her soccer team went undefeated, and even won several tornaments. We were even more proud that she chose to not play the Sunday games, even though it was really hard not to. She is looking forward to 6th grade, and going into young womens. She is lots of fun to be around (when she isn't having a mood swing), but her sisters think she reads too much! (just like her mom) She is a big help to me around the house, and I call her my alarm clock. We would never get anywhere on time if it wasn't for her. She has also started babysitting and is enjoying some extra spending money and freedom!
Todd has been promoted to sergeant, and is in his year of training. He has had some bumps in the road, but things are going great now as he has found his groove! He is enjoying seeing the girls more with his new schedule, and is a big help to me running them around! He is also enjoying his big screen TV, and new Ipod touch. WE love having him home at night (when we can pull him away from mob-wars!) He is the assistant scout leader for the 10 year old boys, and is clearly going to learn alot from that!
Jenelle is having a taste of the empty nest syndrome, and loving it. With all the girls at school, she is keeping up with things at home better, able to volunteer at the school, go to the temple, and enjoy time with girls when they get home!