Hello All!!!!!
I hope this update finds you well. The Hawley's are keeping busy and doing very well. What has been happening since July.... In August we took a fantastic driving vacation. We hit Pittsburgh for a Tigers/Pirates baseball game. What a great time! The Tigs lost but a very nice venue to watch a game. Our hotel was right across the parking lot making it extremely easy for Megan and I to make a getaway when Megan got tired and was ready for bed. The next morning we were off toward Baltimore. On the way there, we stopped at the Flight 93 Memorial. Holy smokes, what a moving experience that was. We are so grateful that we were able to go see it and have brought our children, too. Jacob & Alex were far too young and of course, Megan wasn't even born but we are sure it made a great impression on them. Baltimore was great. What an awesome city! The inner harbor is amazing. If you haven't spent some time there - you really should. The weather was perfect for walking around, eating outside, traveling via the water taxis and for the boys to see yet another MLB game. They made a last minute decision to hit Camden Yards to watch the Orioles take on the Skankees - Oops, I mean the Yankees. ; ) We spent 2 days in Baltimore, then off to DC. Although it was a very brief visit, it was awesome to walk from the Washington Monument, to the Lincoln Memorial, then past the Whitehouse. Next off to Virgina to visit one of our travel buddies: the Patricks!!! Holy smokes, we missed them so much. Even though Brandi and I talk often, it was so great to sit and visit like we often did in China. They are such wonderful people and are thankful to call them dear friends. So much has changed for them since we saw them in August. They just came home from their 2nd visit to China. They brought home little Ruby to complete their awesome family. We couldn't be happier for them. We could have stayed for a week and that wouldn't have been long enough but after one night we were back to Pittsburgh for a night and then home. Megan did fantastic on the entire trip. Only a few times did she complain that her butt hurt from sitting too long. She wanted Papa to kiss it but he told her no. Poor Chicklet.
Summer was over far too quickly... On to school... Alex entered the 8th grade and Jacob entered his senior year. Megan began speech class once a week and she loves it. "Speech Is Fun!" is what she says all the time. She has a great speech therapist who said she is doing amazing. She is very smart and fun to work with. Megan is currently far ahead of where they anticipated her to be at. Yay Megan!!!!!!!!! She is talking much clearer and the things that girl says are too funny. Both boys continue to do great school work. They are such great kids. Jacob has been accepted to Michigan State University. Yeah Hooooo!! Megan is already very familiar with MSU gear and says "Go Green! Go White!!!!".
Overall Megan is doing fantastic. Since her tonsillectomy in June, she has been sleeping like a champ! Thank you, Jesus!! I'm not sure how many more nights I could go through waking up 3 or more times... Her health has been great. We pray that all our kids continue to be healthy this winter. She loves to play with her babies, color and play playdough. She also is an amazing "cook". She loves to make Jeffrey chocolate cake and pizza and she makes a mean donut for her Mommy. Megan has learned to recognize all her letters and most of her numbers. Hopefully she'll learning to write soon. Such a big girl!
Jeffrey is still keeping very busy but doing well. He's looking forward to an upcoming seminar in Tampa... I am totally jealous of his destination but not the seminar. I am doing well, too. I am no longer working in corporate America. My position was eliminated after almost 17 yrs - due to a bank merger, but my new position is being a stay at home mom. I can't believe I just wrote that. Still sad for me but I am thankful to be able to stay with Megan all day and am able to greet the boys when they get home from school. Who knows what will come for me but I'll keep ya'll posted.
12/17/14 marks our 1 1/2 yr anniversary since having Megan enter our family! We couldn't love this Chicklet any more than we do. I look at her every day in pure amazement that she is here with us. God had amazing plans for her to enter our family and we will forever be grateful.
Many blessings to you. May you have a wonderful and safe holiday season.
