New Year

Hi everyone, it's been awhile. I just can't seem to stay on top of these things! A lot has happened in our family since I first posted.
Our family got through the fall sports season, but just barely. Football is insanely time-consuming! Too much stress on our family.
I lost my dad October 31. Sort of unexpected, but sort of not. He was 79 and died at home. It was a blow because I don't care how old your parents are, it is still rough. "No one loves you like your daddy." I'm just now beginning to be able to talk about it and say goodbye to my mom and get through a church service without becoming a blubbering mess.
The holidays were rough, but we got through them. The boys kept us energized, and we're lucky to have them. "Life goes on," as they say. My brother and his family flew in from Italy for a few weeks. They will be coming back to the US in the late spring/early summer, thankfully. But some recent good news... my mom is going to fly to Italy to see them.... by herself! You go, girlfriend!! She is a strong, smart woman.
V. is doing great in school and is playing basketball now. We call it "tackle basketball" because it gets a little rough sometimes. But he has matured a lot. He controls his frustration better than last year and when he gets the ball, he usually scores. And, it's almost always on a fast break. He's not tall, but he's "scrappy."
S. has grown so much. He struggled in 3rd grade, but 4th grade....wow! Many improvements in his schoolwork. He is playing the trombone in school, and is kicking some serious piano butt after only a few months of lessons. Just like V. seems to be a gifted athlete, we believe S's gift is in the arts - particularly music.