Ok, I'm so bad about posting here on Pleo, but most of my friends are also on Facebook, so I don't feel like I neglect ya'll too much!!

So far, the new year has been alright. Had some depression issues, but I am praying and working through them and God is taking care of me and the family.

We got a new car last week (or van) - my DREAM van - a Honda Odyssey. of course, I don't get to drive it (It's Dave's.... who understands a guy that actually WANTS a minivan?? LOL) It's a pretty dark blue too - we've never had a blue car before.

The girls are doing good in school - Abby loves Middle School and Becca tolerates 2nd grade. Abby is a VORACIOUS reader - going through a novel in under 2 days... Love that about her! And she likes all different genres too.

To my book reading friends, there is a series that she and I both LOVE (actually, I'm only on book #2 now and Book #3 doesn't come out until August). It's called the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. It's supposed to be geared toward 7th graders and up and it has a bit of violence, but no bad language or sex... Abby LOVED it. It's a bit sci-fi/actiony. Really really love it.

Ok - better get back to work! Hope to post more often!

We survived our first cruise!! I say survived because there was so much to do, there wasn't much relaxing going on! We had a good time (mostly). Abby had some issues adjusting to the change in routine - could defintely see the Aspergers/Autism come out on the boat which just reminds me that we need to do some more work on it.

Becca had a BLAST!! We were all sick a little bit on the cruise (cold/sinus sick - not sea sick) and the family friendliness of the cruise was just amazing!!

I posted a TON of pictures on facebook, but I'm working on culling them down (there were over 1600!)

Back to the real world and back to work!

Whoa!! It's cold outside today (like 45 degrees cold... very unusual for October in Virginia)! It's been dreary, rainy and getting colder and colder!! We leave for our cruise in 4 days from today and are getting really excited (and looking forward to the warm weather!)

Of course, we are all trying to make sure to stay well and away from the piggie virus.... We are practically bathing in hand sanitizer, scarfing down Vitamin C and Zinc pills - we WILL go on this cruise!!

We went to services this morning and one of our preacher's daughters has H1N1, another one is sick - but not flu and his wife is sick!! Oh no!!!! We made sure not to hug anyone in the Chapman household!! LOL

Hope you all are doing great and no one else is suffering from this crazy virus!!

Happy Fall everyone!! Hope you are all having wonderful weather. I love the fall, but the allergies this time of year are KILLING me!

Everyone is doing well in the Mann household. Abby has adjusted VERY well to Middle school. She just picked her band instrument yesterday and she chose to play the flute! (Her choice was that or the clarinet...) I'm excited for her. One of the high school girls at our congregation plays the flute and another girl from a neighboring congregation ALSO plays the flute! Looks like we are going to have to visit these local football games to see the flautists in action!

My brother's twins are doing really good. They are now in a step down from the NICU step down... basically, they are in their own room and mom or dad gets to stay with them all night and take care of them if they want to. They should be coming home in about 30 days or so. Merrick is over 3 pounds now and Marlee is quickly catching up.

Thank you for all the continued prayers on their behalf. God is truly working His way and we are truly blessed!

We leave for our very first cruise in 20 days!! I'm getting so excited I can't stand it! (Now I have to start packing!)

Angie

Well, Abby survived her first day of middle school (and so did I!!) She had a wonderful day - her only complaint was the bus and how crowded and smooshed she was. Hopefully they will evaluate the bus route and change it some.... But that was the worst complaint I heard. She got a TOP LOCKER!! She is so excited about that. She is 5 foot 2, so she really needs one. Has an easy locker combo too!!

So far, she likes all her teachers and is really excited about band... she will get to pick an instrument (with the help of her teacher) in the next couple weeks. She was not too happy I made her take band. She really wanted to take Chorus, but being the mean mommy I am... I know that singing is NOT one of her strengths and I told her no - but I AM letting her pick the instrument she plays.... (come on CLARINET or OBOE.........of course... memories of the 4th grade recorder are coming back to me.....ARGHGHGHG)

She AND Becca were up at the crack of dawn yesterday (Abby was up at 5:30 - to catch her bus by 7:00!!!) Today, it was very hard to get them both up (I guess the adrenaline wore off!!) They were still excited, but they were just tired!

We also signed Becca up to take Tae Kwon Do yesterday. She's going to take it 2 nights a week and she is soooo excited!! Dave is taking it to for exercise, but his classes are on different days. We are going to see how middle school goes before we sign Abby up - but she wants to do it too!

Well - off to work now. Can't wait to hear how everyone elses first day of school was (for our Virginia folks!)

Angie