Dezi continues to love all things soccer and Chelsea FC. To simplify family life a bit, he left the advanced program in our district to go to charter school closer to home. After worrying about leaving his classmates of 5 years, he took all of a day to make new friends and climb the social ladder. This guy has no trouble working the social scene and wooing the ladies. We’ve got a 16 year old Casanova trapped in a 12 year old’s body. Can we please turn back the clock? (Ryan’s Edit: Clearly dressing him up as an elf for the family portrait is evidence of how seriously Raquel is taking this “turn back the clock” thing.) He had his first guitar recital and has impressed us with his progress in one year. He learned salsa and swing and may start private lessons soon. To keep with tradition, he took home photography awards from the South Jordan Art Show.
Cai decided to start spelling his nickname Cae, like in Brazil, even though it makes people think it is pronounced Cā instead of Kī, leaving everyone confused how to spell his name. (Ryan’s Edit: Who could have anticipated this problem? Oh yeah...me...at the hospital the day he was born). He is doing great in his dual language immersion program and we love seeing his portuguese progress, even though it means he can intercept my coded statements intended for Ryan. He played TNT by AC/DC at his first drum recital. He quit soccer and started parkour and tumbling with the goal of learning “cool flips”. A happy unexpected consequence of his training is a pretty impressive six-pack that he will proudly show anyone who asks. I’ll let you decide whose genes he got that from. (Ryan’s Edit: Clearly he didn’t get it from me, but I take pride in my doughy physique.) He also learned salsa and swing and came home with a photography award from the Art Show.
Tiago continues to love playing soccer, especially with Ryan as coach. (Ryan’s Edit: At this age level the coach runs around on the field with the kids, which gives me a unique vantage point from which I can hear parents demand Pele-level performances from their 4 year olds like complete psychopaths. Good times!) Tiago’s aggressive “try, try again” attitude resulted in countless goals and celebrations. He started piano and has impressed us with his note reading skills and ability to keep time. In addition to preschool 2 days a week, he is doing a Waterford program at home that tested him as already reading on 1st/2nd grade level. We’ve loved seeing his progress and confidence! He is Bionicle aficionado who works independently to build his complex creatures. Lastly, he teaches his parents patience as he deals with his daily bouts of anxiety and desire to control everything. There are no tuck ins, drop offs or goodbyes without a ritual of everyone having to say “Promise to love you forever and ever. Stay safe.” on repeat, followed by an onslaught of questions detailing exactly how long the separation will be. (Ryan’s Edit: Sounds cute, but by the millionth time you’re researching straight jackets for kids on Amazon.)
Anna Isabella loves the idea of playing soccer on Tiago’s team with Coach Ryan more than the actual game time. She spends a fair amount of time holding the coach’s hand and asking to sit out. After watching Tiago “get” to go to preschool for a year without her, she finally started this fall and just loves going to the same school as Tiago. She marches right into class with a happy attitude every time. She is Miss Independent and even likes to leave the house to visit friends or the park on her own, often leaving her mother in a panic. She loves to color, dress up, and play with her toys. (Ryan Edit: ...and smother our new dog with unwanted full-body hugs.) She refuses to wear “scratchy” dresses and “cold” jeans and takes her socks off whenever she can.
Raquel led a remodel of our main floor to keep us from spending a lot more money on buying a new home. The transformation was a success and we love the style of our new living space. (Ryan’s Edit: That last sentence seems plucked straight from an HGTV commercial.) She spent more time getting involved with the International Rescue Committee and helping refugees from war torn areas of the world resettle in Salt Lake. The biggest thing she did was go on a trip to the Mexican Riviera to go to a Spanish school and do some adventuring with her friend. She “accidentally” dropped her phone in the ocean on day 1, limiting check-ins with the family, and thus allowing for a more guilt-free travel experience. (Ryan’s Edit: Let the record show that I kept the family alive for 10 days and the police never had to swing by to help me track down Anna. I’d like to thank both grandmothers, Mac & Cheese, and Netflix for their contributions. Couldn’t have done it without them.) It was her first time away from the family reliving her nomadic traveller days and she wonders why it took so many years to do it!
Ryan found himself squarely in the throes of middle-age this year. He found his first gray hair, lost 35 pounds after adopting a no-sugar diet (Raquel Edit: Then promptly put 20 back on when he ditched the diet and resumed his love affair with Chick-Fil-A), and conceded defeat to male pattern baldness by shaving his head (Raquel Edit: He’s not bald!). He’s continues to drive his emasculating purple prius despite the siren call of a midlife crisis sportscar. Seeing AC/DC in Vegas with his brothers was a 2016 highlight. He’s been with the same company for almost 10 years now and these days, when he’s not on the road, he works from home. The time he saves on the commute allows us to have family breakfast and dinner on most days, and the littles absolutely love getting to see him at lunch. Despite being a Utah Jazz season ticket holder he dreams of taking Dezi to London to watch their beloved Chelsea play at Stamford Bridge.
Life is challenging and good. Love, The Lubbers
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