15 December 2008 - Fall Report

This summer, we drove to Niagara Falls, coming back by way of Wisconsin. We ticked off a bunch of new states along the way: Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and finally Wisconsin. On the way back, we went more or less straight south: Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas, then through the edge of Oklahoma and back into Texas.

We stopped at zoos, national parks, theme parks, and cheap little roadside motels. The boys had a blast. We stayed at the Embassy Suites in Niagara Falls (on the Canadian side). From our hotel window way up in the tower, we could see both falls, and were treated to a simultaneous nighttime lightning storm, lighted falls, and fireworks display. Couldn’t have had better seating!

Zack is halfway through second grade again. He’s doing better this time than last time, and the school is giving him a lot of extra help. We’ve spent quite a bit of time trying out different medications to help him concentrate better. The medication that helps his ADHD the most also makes him very unhappy, so we’re trying to find a combination of treatments that get the same results in improved attention without making him miserable at the same time. So far, it’s going well. He’s able to listen and do his schoolwork, and is cheerful and friendly.

Nicky’s halfway through fourth grade. The start of the year was kind of rough—he was averaging a C minus—but he soon caught up and starting making A’s and B’s. On his last report card, he got straight A’s. He’s very pleased with himself, and still wants to be a scientist when he grows up. His intention is to invent things and discover how the universe works. I hope he’ll explain it to me someday.

The whole family’s health continues to be good. We had the usual run-ins with fall colds and sinus infections, but otherwise no problems.

Business has been good, too. Although sales are slower than before the recession, we’re still able to pay the bills and put a little bit away each month. We’ve tightened our belts a bit, which is probably a good thing anyway, and hope that next year things improve.

More than anything else, this time of year reminds us how important family and friends are to us. The boys are learning to care for people more than things, and take a positive joy in giving presents to others. What more could a father want?