Newsletter

My sister-in-law, Trina, started the Tadje Family Newsletter almost 12 years ago as a birthday gift to all of us when my brother started med. school. She has kept it up since then, and it's kind of like Tadje family history. All of my siblings contribute, and it's fun to read about what everyone has been doing that month. I haven't been super regular at contributing because somehow I never realize that a new month has started until the 6th or 7th, and then it's too late. I've been so excited for spring to come, however, that I'm very aware that March is here! Hooray! Here is my "news" from the month of February:

Hello All! I'm happy that I'm "with it" enough at the beginning of this lovely month of March to remember to contribute to the newsletter. In January, I was reveling in life, thinking about how wonderful everything was going. I always get a little panicky when I feel that way, because it lasts for about 20 minutes before something happens to rock the boat. This time was no different! As you probably know, Swen was laid off on Feb. 1. Because of the housing market right now, Woodside had to close his model home. Instead of the panic that we should have felt, however, we felt the Lord's comfort and guidance. Swen was able to put his license in with Coldwell Banker, and we're excited for the opportunities that lie ahead.

The kids are getting used to their new school, and we've been proud of them as they've worked hard to be good examples to those around them. Isaac came home from school one day and told me about how the boys he plays with use terrible language and tell inappropriate jokes. I was shocked at some of the things he's hearing in 4th grade--stuff I didn't hear until about 9 grade. I instantly told him that he should just find other people to play with. The spirit quickly told me that this wasn't the right reaction, however, and I felt like we should "research" the answer. We looked up past articles in the friend on lds.org that had to do with friends who swear. All of them talked about being a good example and asking them to not swear around you. Isaac took the counsel and asked his friends to stop swearing around him. I was really proud of him.

Joseph is enjoying this neighborhood because there are lots of friends to play with. He's also excited that he has been able to start piano lessons. He keeps a Book of Mormon in his back pack just in case he has the opportunity to share it. I was surprised at how few members of the church there are. I think Isaac only has one other boy in his class, and Joseph has only one other that he knows of. Joseph had the opportunity to bear his testimony to a girl the other day who believes in reincarnation. I'm constantly grateful for Joseph's help with the little ones. He is so good at volunteering to play with Lincoln while I make dinner.

Alyssa is finally getting the potty-training down. Holy Cow! It has been a long and messy process! She is so funny. We have a room full of toys, but the only time she plays with them is when a friend comes over. She prefers instead to follow me around and talk to me all day. If I try to talk to Swen or Lincoln, she'll say, "Mama! Stop talking! Look at me!" She loves to be the center of attention. It's a constant effort to try and teach her boundaries and the meaning of "NO". She's so sweet, though, and full of love. She really knows how to wrap people around her finger with her little flitty and flirty ways. (It's a little scary!)

Lincoln is finally over his sickness (whatever it was) and is getting fatter by the second. He seriously eats more than I do. His tummy looks and feels like he swallowed a little basketball. He is laid back until it comes to food. I have to keep a constant flow, or he screams intensely enough that it sounds like he's in serious pain. He's getting close to walking, but he doesn't have the drive to make it happen. He's really happy just pulling himself up the back of my pant legs and riding on my hip all day. He's gotten VERY clingy, and I'm hoping it's just because he's bored with crawling. I'm hoping that once he learns how to walk, he will decide it's okay if I leave the room that he's in. He's getting really good at giggling. It's still a novel sound for us, so whenever he starts laughing, the whole family comes running to join in the gleeful sound.

We love you all so much! Love, Howards