Well, it's been a fairly mild year for us. No more babies, but certainly no lack of playing and growing here! Fortunately, we are all still healthy and Joaquin still has a job and we still have a roof over our heads---so we are certainly blessed!

Riley will be 9 in March and he's growing up to be a great kid. He's doing great in school (3rd grade) and he loves to draw. He is definitely Maggie's "other mother." God help her first boyfriend.

Jack just turned 7 and he's still the little fighter that he was born to be. He loves 1st grade and is doing very well at reading, and still has boundless reserves of energy. He is the peacekeeper in our home most of the time.

Sammy is 4 now and is still as curious and inquisitive as ever. He lives to please his Dad, and he dreams of doing everything Daddy does. He is our most observant kid for sure. Nothing gets past Sam.

Maggie just turned 2 and she has us all wrapped around her little fingers. She LOVES to read and knows how to sing almost every nursery rhyme out there. It is such a delight to hear the sweet sounds of a little girl singing in the house after so many years of combat noise.

As for Wok & Me, we're still as happy together as day one. He's still a network administrator and I'm still doing web/graphic design on the side. We bought a camping trailer this fall and we're totally excited to put it to full-time use this summer going on trips with the kids.

Love to all and remember to thank the Lord for all you have every night!

--The Autens