News: Well, we moved! We still have our rental properties, and rent out our former Hugo St house too...we moved into a house we will attempt to improve over the next year or two, and then sell it. We are in the beginning stages of budget planning and wallpaper removal, at this point, but lots of changes will be coming soon to our new house! Please make note of our new address. Our phone numbers are still the same. And of course, you can keep up with our daily adventures at: www.darbyjane.blogspot.com

Work:

entering information online... Brian: Ooooo, Baron {click}, that is what I want! Darla: You can't be Baron Brian Bolger, you have to choose Mr Brian: I like Baron, it has a nice ring to it (laughing) Darla: Baron Brian, really? (laughing harder) Brian: Well, I do have several land holdings, so yes, I actually am a Baron, and I like it Darla, can't help but laaaaaauuugh: You are so dumb. Now we're going to get all kinds of paperwork with that on it

A drive by tour of We, perhaps amazingly in this economy, the Scholastic continue to be gainfully employed. Brian's building... Brooks: So this was responsibility and workload have increased your very first job? significantly this past year, which is a good thing...but it means lots of hours and stresses on him. He's had some of the most difficult jobs of his career this year Superintending, as well as Mom: Yup Project Managing, and other responsibilities. And his managerial and motivational skills? Well, Brooks: What did it's not always easy to make people work as hard as they need to...After a particularly crazy job, you do there? in which he didn't come home for DAYS (worked 'round the clock, and slept on the floor at the Mom: Well, I job), he posted a sign on the door for all his workers “No More Whining. Just get your job basically made done or replace yourself with someone who can”. boxes for an entire Darla is thankful he's never employed that tactic at home:-) summer Brooks: Did they pay you to do that? Brooks, to Mom: Hey, why are Darla continues to do in-home childcare everyday, Mom: Yes you using a kids cup? And also has taken on a few new things Brooks: How Kenna: Why do you think? She this year too... much? hangs around kids all day. It's how Mom: Hundreds of she rolls dollars Talking about my volunteer job with Awanas Brooks: Wha?! Kenna: Do you think you can make seven Wow!!! Why did hundred pancakes?! you ever quit Mom: Yes, I probably could there?! Kenna: Wow. I mean, when you signed up for this, I thought you would just be helping kids with verses and stuff. I didn't realize you would be the main attraction!

School:

Brooks: Do spoilers actually make cars go faster? Mom: Wellll, yes, I think they are supposed to, but only... Kenna, interrupts: Mom did not go to college, so that question is too difficult for her. How is she supposed to know stuff like that?

Despite apparent lack of sufficient education, Darla has been somewhat successfully home educating the kids. They are becoming really good little independent readers and both show some talent in math, and understand new concepts quickly. Grey is doing very well with learning his letters, numbers, and writing.

Pointing to a Subway sign Grey: I can read dis!!! Is'says (finger pointing, tracing the letters) Old Navy! Kenna has determined she will be a babysitter when she grows up, mainly for the benefit of avoiding all the hard work that college involves. Brooks thinks he would like to be a nurse. Grey, in typical 3 year fashion, aspires to be Superman when he grows up... holding up his middle fingers... Grey: Look at my Wolverine hands! ...For obvious reasons, we are pleased with his change in career path. The kids are also pretty dedicated to their hobby – bird watching. They have seen lots of interesting birds, and even captured some on camera!

Family: Grey, spitting accidentally while talking, and then continuing to spit while talking, on purpose... Kenna: Can you stop it already? You're spitting microbes all over me!! The kids continue to be best friends... Brooks: Are me and Eli actually related? Mom: No Brooks: oh, I wish we were related, then we could see them all the time Mom: You already do see them all the time Kenna: Besides, if you were related, you wouldn't even like him, trust me Mom: Well, liking people is a choice, it doesn't matter if you're related or not, you can choose how you treat people. Like, you and Brooks like each other and you're related Brooks: Weeeellll, I barely like her

Kenna: Brooks is a pretty good bird watcher, but I was telling him he was good except for one thing he needs to work on - his quietness. He's not very quiet, I mean, that boy can't keep his mouth shut ...not unlike his sister, perhaps;-) Kenna continues to live under the impression that her life would be drastically improved, if she had sisters instead of brothers. Brooks, to Kenna: Wanna box? I promise I won't hit ...She may have a point. you in the face

The kids rarely have moments where they need alone time, they always prefer to be together. One of our favourite things to see is how they spend their money on things for each other, instead of themselves. Brooks, trying to figure out how he can give $5 to Awanas to earn a special missions patch for Africa, and still have enough money left over to buy a pack of gum... Brooks: But then I would only have one dollar left! Mom: But that is enough for gum Brooks: Yah, but I wanted to get one for Grey too Kenna: Think of it this way, Brooks, would you rather choose gum or have those kids in Africa go to hell? Nothing like a hefty guilt trip!

Friends & Extended Family: We all have made new friends this year, through church, homeschool co-op, and our neighbourhood. We also got to see every single member of our family, on both sides, all in one year...which is something that has never happened before!

Right before dinner, kids we've never seen before came looking for playmates outside Kenna, at dinner: So I was like, it's pretty dangerous to talk to strangers, I mean, they could kill you! But it's pretty lucky you banged into us, we don't kill anyone Dad: You said that to them?!? Kenna: yup! Grey: You know dose guys up in Canada? Dey gave me dese... He remembered! A gift from his Aunt Nessa

Overheard talking to one of her friends... Kenna: You don't actually believe in the tooth fairy, do you? You know it's just your parents? Well, it is. It's just your parents Official title: Kennedy, Crusher of Hopes and Dreams

At a McDonald's playplace... Mom: Hey, make sure you are being nice to all the other children Kenna: Oh we are. I've actually already made a good friend Brooks: You know, you can't beat Grandpa Kennedy, 'cause he's a Ninja Dad: Oh, he is? Brooks: Yah. Well, he blocks like a Ninja

Random Facts: The kids are still fairly particular eaters. Not for lack of trying, of course. Topping the list of things they don't prefer – onions and salad dressings of any type. Kenna: ...so if I can't taste it, I don't mind. Like, Dad Brooks: Mom, look! There was half an onion on my told me there were onions in the potatoes, and I was spoon and I ate it! like, awwwwhhh!, but then I tasted them and I Mom: Wow! And it didn't kill you! couldn't tell so I actually liked it Brooks: Why would it kill me? Brooks: Well, my teeth are very sensitive so that Mom: Well with the big deal you make about it, I'm just doesn't work for me surprised it didn't kill you Kenna: But teeth are only for chewing Brooks: I've eaten a small piece before too, you know Brooks: Yah, and mine are very sensitive! They can Mom: And you're still alive, after all that. Amazing always tell what they're eating

Just Because It Was Funny: Grey ate the cherry off his sundae, and handed the "trash" (stem) over to Brian, who popped it in his mouth Grey, astonished: Hey, you ate da BONES?!?! Dad jus ate dat bone!!! Stem came out tied in a knot;-)

pet sitting a dog Brooks, to Daddy: Traxie doesn't listen to anyone 'cept Mom, 'cause she has the most ferocious voice Wii opponent is revealed... Brooks: Oh, this guy! He's a suckerd! Mom: A suckerd? Brooks: Yah! It means like, you lose all the time and never win

Rubbing his skinny tummy/abs Brooks: When I take my shirt off when I'm wearing jeans, I look pretty manly

Brian: ...I have a beautiful life Darla: Well, your beautiful wife needs to go {lists off chores} Brian: Life. I said beautiful life, not wife Darla, runs over to "smack" him: Ooooh, I thought you said wife! Brian: I do have a beautiful wife, but you can't put words in my mouth every time you're fishing for a compliment

playing "coach pitch" with the kids, Kenna mostly missing the ball Brooks: Good job, good job. Kenna, I don't even care if you're not very good, I still say good job!!

Brooks: No, no, Mom, it's called first grade, not grade one Canadian/American problems:-/

Brooks: The baddest word in the whole universe is taking the Lord's name out of vain, right?

We had a very very late night (midnight!), meaning the next day is full of arguments and tears... Brooks: Well, Dad saaaaaaid!!! Kenna: Oh who cares. Dad isn't even part of this Brooks: HE IS SO!!! He is the second oldest member of this family!! There you have it, #2. Love Forever, #1 :-D

Explaining that Uncle Mike is a butcher, and how he cuts the whole cow down into smaller pieces for people to buy Kenna: So wait, don't they have meat at Walmart here?

Darla: I wish I had a jean jacket to wear with my maxi dress so it would be, you know, seasonally appropriate Brian: Oh yah, that would be nice. Then you could combine the Amish look with the biker gang look Darla, rolls eyes

Driving in a new place in Chesapeake, and there is a "honk", not sure if it was directed at me, since I think I was fine, but all three kids were all over me for this supposed heinous error... Kenna: You know if Dad was that other driver, he'd be saying "IDIOT!!"

To Sum Up: In the midst of all the lighthearted moments, this past year has given us many Brian, to Darla: You opportunities to be humbled, to seek, to find and to rest in Him...maybe more than any need to rein in all the other year before. We feel like we live in a blessed “twilight zone” even in the middle of rabbits on all your trails things that may not look, or feel, like blessings. It's a crazy life, and we're hanging onto our hats and enjoying the adventures! 2013 was a game changer for us in many ways, but we have yet to see how that game is going to play out. 2014 promises to be interesting, for sure. We are thankful for all of it – the crazy work schedules, the constant home-improvements, the health concerns, the stepping forward – sometimes blindly...We are curious, hopeful and always praying for what lies ahead. We hope that you have also had a year of growth and adventure – and that your New Year will come full of Love, Joy and the Peace that passes all understanding. Held together by Him and for Him,

Brian, Darla, Kenna, Brooks & Grey