Haines Family

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Joe and Wrestling

Joe started his first year of wrestling in Nov 2011. I wasn't sure he was going to make it through the first few weeks when they were in the midst of conditioning. But, he did make it and has really enjoyed his season. The last day of the season was yestereday. Beavercreek put on a huge 1 1/2 day invitational that included 20 schools. I have been really proud of Joe's hard work and perserverance. He did great for his first year and I hope he does it again next year. Way to go Joe!

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Family Photos and Christmas Message!

Merry Christmas from the Haines Family!
Another year come and gone. Seems like each year goes quicker than the one before…
Chris continues working on his master’s degree in Operation Research at AFIT. He will finish up this March and will be reporting to Langley AFB, Virginia on March 31st. He stays busy with school, teaching the 12 year old deacons on Sundays and also as the assistant Scout Master. The kids and I will stick around until we sell the house and join up with him hopefully by June. So, if you know anybody looking for a home in Beavercreek, OH, send them our way. I (Rachael) am busy raising these boys. I continue to teach fitness classes and have been doing a little bit of nutritional consulting as well. I recently went to California and was certified in the Basic NAET allergy elimination technique and look forward to going back for more future trainings. I teach in primary and also am the ward organist. It is both sad and exciting to get ready to move to a new location. It is always hard to leave behind friends we have made, but also exciting to live in a new location and to meet new people.

Joseph turned 13 this year. He is 13 going on 30. He wants all the privileges of adulthood, but doesn’t quite understand yet the responsibility that comes with them. He has been working really hard at school and is doing the best he has ever done. He enjoys scouts and has completed about 22 merit badges…He’s getting ready to start his eagle soon. He is participating in his first year of wrestling and actually seems to be enjoying it. He is getting tall and is nearly as tall as mom. He can’t wait to pass me up, but mom can still beat him in an arm wrestle. We’ll see how much longer that will last.

Jacob turned 10 this year. He enjoyed participating in student council as well as running club, Spanish club and the after school sports program. He played tackle football this year. Despite being the skinniest kid on the team, he is one of the toughest and played several positions including defensive lineman. He loves math and works hard to improve his reading- his most challenging subject with his dyslexia.

Samuel is our resident scholar. He turned 8 years old this year and was baptized in September. He is a very mature boy. We all expect him to be a math professor in his future years. He loves to learn and read about science. He is doing a great job on the piano. He is such a helpful and intelligent young man and truly a delight.

Ben turned 5 this year and started kindergarten. He is doing a great job with his reading and played a season of fall soccer this year. He enjoys school but is quite shy. At home he is one of my loudest. He enjoys reading and being mom’s helper. He loves having his friends over to play. He loves playing video games with Dad and brother’s.

We are so happy to be able to spend Christmas this year in Utah (thank you to my sister Amy for giving us plane tickets!). Christmas is a time to be with family, to remember our blessings and ponder on the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for his birth, his life and his atonement.

I am making a New Year's Resolution to be better about keeping up my blog! I will try to update at least once per month. We hope and pray for the Lord’s blessings on you all…
Love, Chris, Rachael, Joseph, Jacob, Samuel and Benjamin

BTW, all photos taken by my friend Rebecca Fedele. Call me if you would like her contact information.

Gingerbread Houses, Christmas 2011

It is an interesting thing, moving every few years. This year, as I contemplated this, I came to understand that having "traditions" is one of the ways that I can help to anchor my children. For the past few years, we have decorated Gingerbread Houses. I wasn't going to do it this year. I also wasn't going to put up Christmas decorations this year as we were going to be in Utah for Christmas and New Years. Ben changed my mind about the Gingerbread houses. He asked me with so much enthusiasm in his voice WHEN we were going to make Gingerbread Houses. When I told the kids that we weren't going to put up the Christmas decorations, they looked so forlorn and begged to be able to put them up. I agreed and at this point came to understand how these "traditions" mean so much to them and are a part of how they feel a sense of security and anchoring with the many moves that we make.

Christmas at the UD Library

Our friends the Merrill's introduced us to the Nativity Exhibit at the UD Marion Library our first Christmas in Ohio. It is an amazing display of hundreds of nativities from all over the world. The volunteer staff puts on a fantastic display. The kids are given a pamphlet with various individual pieces from different displays. They are challenged to find which display that piece came from. When they complete the pamphlet they get to choose a free ornament. They also provide wonderful refreshments including Christmas cookies and hot chocolate. We have loved having this be a part of our Christmas tradition while living in Ohio...

Turkey Trot

On Thanksgiving Day, I ran in the Miamisburg Turkey Trot with a couple of my friends. Kaori is on the right and Melissa is on the left. It is a 5 mile race which I ran in 41 minutes and not sure about the seconds. It is the first race I have ran in many years and I had a great time doing it with friends.

Halloween!

I couldn't get Joseph to get in the picture. Jacob is the GI Joe, Ben is Mario and Samuel is a Count Dracula!

Don't you just love Ben's mustache!

Bubbles, bubbles..... Bubbles!

In the background, music was blasting. The kids had so much fun and I couldn't stop laughing! It is a great memory! Here are pics of Sam enjoying the bubbles.

This was so much fun! They had special Halloween section of activities set up at King's Island. In this area, they had a gigantic bubble machine. The whole place was loaded with bubbles.