| Merry Christmas 2008! |
| Hello there! Yes, it’s been a while, sorry about that. The family’s chief correspondent and webmaster has been preoccupied with pregnancy and what comes after for all of 2008. It’s been a rather “off-the-radar” period. The good news is that we’ve come through the first six months as a family of five unscathed and finally ready to face our public! Our big news is the fabulous addition to the family of Caroline Rose Isely Smith, who joined us May 14, 2008. Kathy had a difficult pregnancy but natural and textbook birth (i.e., IT HURT), and Caroline has been the most relaxed, pleasant, uncomplaining baby ever since. Adjusting to managing three kids 5 and under has been the harder task, but we’re getting there. Although we still plan on a move back to the US sometime, we’ll stay put for the next wee while with our young family. We take it year by year, so one of these times you’ll read that suddenly we’ve just made the shift! Please read on for the full play-by-play... Isobel turned 5 and started primary school in May (kids begin on their 5th birthday in New Zealand) and has absolutely loved it. Her reading and writing blow us away, and she’s very proud of being in the next class up for math! School is close enough to walk, and she loves wearing her uniform and strapping on the big backpack for the journey. Living in the outdoor paradise of Wanaka has its benefits... primary school kids go skiing weekly during winter term, and they’ve had two weeks of swimming lessons during the spring. Isobel is about the smallest in her class, but won the big cross country race for her age group... watching the little girls wander all over the course trying to find their way was amusing! Dancing is a big interest, and Isobel often flits her way around the house in a series of twirls and leaps. Luke proudly joined the big class at Montessori preschool, which he attends three days a week – “I’m 3 and a half and in the Kiwis class” he informs all visitors. He misses his best friend Isobel now that she’s at school full time, but they still get on well and play together with an energy that exhausts their parents. Luke is lovely with Caroline – very attentive and tender. Nearly more so than Isobel, who enjoys Caroline but is too busy being a big girl to spend much time with her. He’s a sensitive wee soul, and although all boy in his fascination with Thomas trains, cars, dinosaurs, and ball play he also loves dressing up and the color pink. Caroline, as mentioned above, is the most perfect child we've had to date... sleeps well, feeds well, simply chills as chaos ensues around her. I hear lots of third children are that way -- they just have to fit in since there's so much already happening in the family! Caroline's middle names are her grandmother's maiden names, which provides lovely symmetry as Luke was named for his two grandfathers. I know it's a cliche, but she really does light up a room with her smile, which comes easily... a beautiful gummy grin that we can't get enough of. Kathy is a pretty relaxed third-time mum, enjoying every minute of Caroline's babyhood because I know how quickly it passes. Pregnancy-related problems were frustrating and limiting, but now forgotten with our healthy and happy girl. Shortly after Caroline was born I successfully auditioned for the biggest theatre show in our community, called Stars in Your Eyes. Each performer impersonates a famous singer, trying to emulate his/her singing and look exactly. I was Petula Clark, singing her 1960s hit Downtown. It was a pretty professional gig, and fun to meet a bunch of new folks. I've served as Trustee and now Chairperson of the Board at Luke's preschool, essentially providing the kinds of services I did as a consultant -- organisational change and leadership communication advice. Phil continues as General Manager of David Reid Homes Wanaka, a residential building company with franchise operations throughout New Zealand and Australia. His responsibilities include pricing all the projects, managing staff, and liaising with clients. Despite the global economic slowdown, the high end house-building market continues to be strong. He's chairing a big project at church, planning for a big building expansion. Phil's looking forward to summer in paradise, with boating, fishing, biking all on the agenda! We're having our first American Christmas in six years ,enjoying time with family and friends in both San Francisco and Chicago. Then it's back to NZ in mid-January, looking forward to the rest of summer. Do come see us before we really do move to the US... the door is always open. Feel free to peruse previous editions of the website for old news and photos... we'll try to post new ones in 2009. You'll find our contact details here. We send warm wishes to you and yours for a wonderful new year! |
| Happy New Year 2009! |