Blake, Tiffanie, Emery, Everett, and Delaney: Christmas 2022

O God, you are both tender and kind, not easily angered, immense in love,
and you never, never quit. Psalm 86:15 MSG

Christmas Letter 2022

Emery

Emery turned 10 this year and completed 4th grade in May. She got braces in February and by December, it's amazing to see the progress! Emery participated in Quiz Bowl with her gifted class this spring, and at one point, her teacher called it the Emery Show (because she was answering most of the questions correctly). Her team won! She had artwork displayed at a local art museum. Her gifted class also made a movie and showed it in their auditorium, complete with red carpet and Oscar awards. She performed in her school's production of My Son Pinocchio. This fall she started 5th grade. She excels in all subjects and her artwork is, in our opinion, really fantastic. She learned to knit.

Everett

Everett turned 5 this fall and has the same preschool teacher again this fall. She loves when he reports the winners of the football games from the day before. Everett and Tiffanie began reading the Boxcar Children series together and he is rereading the first book by himself. He loves playing Wordle and Worldle (a geography game) and he learned to play chess and backgammon. This summer he was swimming and jumping into the water the same day he learned to hold his breath underwater.

Delaney

Delaney turned 3 this summer and went to a few weeks of preschool this summer. She is reading some words and tries to sound out words on her own. She is beginning to write some letters and likes to use scissors. Delaney loves kitties and playing pretend. She can often be found wearing a costume or changing her outfit multiple times a day. We realized this year that she's a Curly Girl and we've started caring for and styling her curly hair.

Tiffanie & Blake

This spring, the governor of Virginia decided state employees could no longer telework, so Tiffanie's nearly 14 years working for the Northern Virginia Community College ended in June. She doesn't miss it. Blake still works for the University of Arkansas and leads a division with about 35 full-time employees. He also began a graduate certificate program in Higher Education Leadership at the Citadel. He has completed 2 courses and has 2 more to go.

Kitties

Our Ginny turned 1 this spring. She continues to be the sweetest, loveliest cat ever. She cares for the kids when they cry (and pretend to cry). She loves to sit with us nose to nose. This spring, Tiffanie and the kids started volunteering at a cat shelter. We visit the shelter twice a week to clean and love on the kitties. Upon our first visit, Emery instantly fell in love with a fluffy tabby kitten named Embry. We brought her home in June and gave her the name Bree. It took Ginny and Bree a while to tolerate each other; Ginny wasn't interested in sharing anyone's attention. Bree is sweet and a little timid. And oh so soft! She loves to watch birds out the window and take lots of naps. In July, we offered to foster a sweet kitten named Treeo. He never left us. He's just too sweet. He's spunky and playful. He and Bree have bonded and are often found curled up together. Blake said no more kitties :)

Homeschool

The gifted program in 4th grade here in Arkansas was not what Emery needed academically, though it was a fun supplement to her week. So this spring, we took her on tours of private schools in town, and she chose the Catholic school where Everett attends preschool. However, when Tiffanie's job ended unexpectedly, we switched directions and decided to keep her home for homeschool. We learned about a two-day-a-week school for homeschoolers where they teach history, science, art, and PE, and we teach language arts, math, and whatever else we like at home. So we asked friends who homeschool for suggestions on curricula to choose, and we chose mostly 6th grade-level work for Emery at home to make sure she is challenged. We started in August. It has been a big change for our family, but it is going well. In addition to our school work, she is keeping a reading log and read more than 60 books in August-November and counting.

Travel & Visitors

Early this year, Blake and Tiffanie celebrated 15 years of marriage. Blake's parents were able to come visit us in Arkansas in February and stay with the kids while Tiffanie joined Blake on a business trip to Orlando. Blake went to conference sessions and Tiffanie visited with a former cheer coach friend and went for quiet walks and ordered room service.

For spring break, Tiffanie took Emery on a trip for her 10th birthday. Emery wanted somewhere with an amusement park and a beach, so we landed on Tampa. We went to the zoo, 2 aquariums, a science museum, Busch Gardens, and the beach. We ate take out and went to the hotel pool and enjoyed ourselves!

Our family visited Virginia for Memorial day week and Tiffanie was able to see her co-workers and say goodbye. We also spent time with Tiffanie's parents and our friends.