Jake loves to come along and go for a swim. He is going to be ten years old this spring, but he still acts like a puppy on the beaches. He usually suffers through some joint and muscle pain the next day, but there is no doubt that he thinks it is worth it.
As for me, I am still working as the Special Agent in Charge of the Monterey CID office, which is probably the easiest job I ever had. I run about four times a week on the beach, where I have encountered pelicans, dolphins, seals, hippies, and have even been soaked by an unexpected wave. Always an adventure. My job causes me to drive around California and Nevada a lot, but I still get plenty of time off to spend with Misty & the kids.
Mom recently came to visit and we had a great time exploring Big Sur, which you can see in the background. I love playing tour guide around here, so everyone is invited to come out, stay with us and see the sights. I am enjoying a much easier routine here than I had in Fort Leavenworth as I am slowing down in my ambitions and taking time to enjoy each day with family.
Well, that's our update for Christmas. My New Year's resolution will be to keep up with this site better. I aspire to do as well with our site as Sheryl does with hers. Isn't the internet a wonderful thing?
As most of you know, Misty started her first teaching job this year as a first grade teacher. Misty has been working very hard as she has to develop lesson plans and learn the ropes of the new school system in her first year of teaching. She often works on school work in the evenings and during the weekends to make sure everything runs smooth for the next lessons. Misty took the job after the school year already started and had to win over parents who were angry that their kids had to change classrooms due to over-enrollment. We all knew she would win them over, and she has, but it was no easy task.
Despite the challenges, Misty manages to achieve balance in her life and take time to take care of the kids and I. Though sometimes they complain, the kids have benefited from having a teacher in the house who carefully scrutinizes all of their homework assignments and performance reviews to ensure they are doing the best they can do.
Misty also played fantasy football with me this season, and handed me a defeat that eliminated me from the competition and now she is a couple games from winning the league. Turns out that I am the real winner, though, as her interest in football has skyrocketed as a result and now she is the one insisting we make time to watch the games on TV. hehehehe....my plan worked perfectly.
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Kyla is in the sixth grade, which is Middle School in California. She has seven classes and six different teachers, so it's very much like High School. She is now a little bit taller than her mom and she will probably grow much taller than her soon. When Kyla grows up, she wants to be an OB/GYN doctor so she can spend her days with as many babies as possible. She loves babies!
Kyla loves to play video games, but this Christmas she asked for more clothes than toys. She is now old enough to babysit, so she often watches Casey while Misty & I go out for dinner or go shopping. After thirteen years of marriage, Misty and I finally get to go on dates again!
Casey is in the third grade and he loves to play video games on the X-Box and computer. He also loves going to the rocky beaches and exploring while climbing on the rock formations. Casey has started to notice girls and often comes home with a note from girls in his class with their phone numbers, which he proudly shows off, but is too nervous to actually call the girls. "Maybe I will just tell them I lost it, so they don't feel bad," he says.
Casey loves hanging out with his sister, who is really his best friend. He also likes to humor his dad and play catch from time to time. He has a natural talent for throwing both the baseball and the football! I try and encourage him so he can buy me a boat and season tickets to Rams games when he is drafted to their team after winning the Heisman trophy. Casey says he would rather work in a zoo and feed the animals.
