This year has been very busy. January, Richard continued his schooling at Ivy Tech and I started there the spring semester. I was undecided on what my major was going to be. I contemplated becoming a writer. Richard changed his major during that semester as well. Thinking he did not want to be a math teacher, but possibly wanting to do computer programming.
In February, we were in charge of the Ward Valentine's Day dinner and dance. Richard made a salad bar that can be used over and over again. The dance was a great evening! We got rave reviews from all that attended.In April, I celebrated my 34th birthday quietly. Nothing major.
The boys and Richard got to go visit family at the end of May in California. The boys got to miss the last week of school. They drove from Indiana. Tricia and Chloe went with them. They stayed at Grandma Herman's house. Richard helped his mom by installing floor and some other projects. The boys got to swim and go to the lake. They got to go to Grandma and Grandpa Herman's cabin.
I got left behind. While the boys were in Cali, I cleaned the house, got caught up on laundry and worked. It was very quiet in the house without the boys and Richard. They came back the second week in June. By the time they came back Andrew was 14 and Jared had turned 8. Richard got back to celebrate our 15th Wedding Anniversary.
Andrew began playing travel ball with the Indiana Prospect team. This took the family to Tennesee, Ohio, Kentucky and parts of Indiana to play games. Unfortunately, he didn't get a lot of playing time. This was frustrating for all of us. When he finally got the chance to prove himself, he pitched no hitter games. The decision came down to playing in the World Series at Disney World. We gave him the choice. When he was told he was not guaranteed playing time, he made the choice to quit the Prospects. We stood behind his decision. 
Patrick turned 12 at the end of July and Richard celebrated his birthday. The boys got ready to return to school. Andrew and Patrick would be attending North Side Middle School. Jared would return to Erskine Elementary. Richard and I got ready to return to Ivy Tech. Richard had finally decided on a major. He wanted to go to Culinary School. He was able to do this through Ivy Tech. He was able to go through the Ivy Tech Muncie campus. I also changed my major. I had decided on a Fine Art's major. I would complete my core classes and take few online classes. I would need to eventually transfer to the Indianapolis campus where the majority of the classes were offered. Andrew got to play local ball and is now on a local travel team. They only travel in Indiana. He got to play football for Northside Junior High. He is very talented in football.
In September we got to go as a family to my company's family day at King's Island. It was a fun day. I think we all mostly enjoyed the water park part. Jared was really scared about going on a roller coaster. Even a little one. He said it would be okay to go on the Avatar. This ride is one that starts out going back and forth, like a Viking Ship. But then it starts spinning as well. It was actually kind of scary for me. I hadn't been on a roller coaster for a very long time. It was doubly scary for Jared!
In November, our friend, Jeff, got married to Tina. The wedding was very beautiful. Richard got to be in the wedding. 
I also got to make my own visit to California. My little brother, Brandon, got married. The wedding was beautiful. I ended up getting to meet my new sister, Kelly. I also got to see a lot of family. I visited with my Grandparents. I visited with my mother-in-law, Brenda. She let me participate in her "Sister's Night". We watched Ice Age 3 and had hamburgers. I got to hang out with my friend, Prisca, and her sister, Nelly. We went to see the movie All About Steve. The trip was a nice vacation from it all. Richard got his grades for the fall semester. He received straight A's! I am so very proud of him. He is loving his culinary classes. He is really cut out for cooking! He has been remodeling our kitchen. We have new cabinets and he tiled the counter tops. It will look so good when it is finished.
The Wednesday before Christmas we got to see Avatar with our friend, Jeff. We both loved it and the 3D action was awesome! Christmas Eve was spent at Richard's dad's house. We had dinner there. Richard made a pumpkin cheesecake for dessert from scratch. Christmas day the boys opened presents. I got a memory book about my mom, Leslie. I read it out loud to the family. We went to Chinese buffet. We saw The Chipmunks: The Squeakqal.We went to another Chinese Buffet. We came home and watched A Christmas Story. So that is our 2009, in a nutshell.
