Our Franczek family year-end summary for 2008
Ian is now 8 years old and in the 3rd grade. He has the same teacher, Ms. Kane, that he had last year (multi-age classrooms). Over the summer it seems as though Ian had been bitten by the reading bug. When we can’t “find” Ian it is usually because he’s found a quiet corner to read. The latest series he’s into is Lasky’s Guardians of Ga’Hoole. Ian also got glasses in May. He wasn’t really excited about the idea of wearing them at first and didn’t wear them much over the summer. They were actually “lost” and then found just in time for school to start. 
Alex is 5 and started Kindergarten this year. We’re a little relieved that he loves school. Having the history of Ian’s emotional rollercoaster Kindergarten year in our minds, we were prepared for a harder transition for Alex. He pleasantly surprised us and adjusted pretty easily. He generally is just more tired and sometimes falls asleep before supper near the end of the week. It’s interesting to watch Alex’s world get bigger as he makes new friends and finds new and interesting things to talk about.
Erik is 3 and has really blossomed this year. We can’t deny that he’s not a baby anymore. He potty trained quite reluctantly, but is really proud of his underwear during the day and night! He also makes his opinions known with vigor. If he thinks anyone’s not listening, he puts his hands on either side of your face and turns your head to get eye contact to make sure that you ARE listening! Erik easily transitioned out of the family bed this summer after we purchased bunk beds for the boys. Now all 3 are in their room. Ian, on top, and Alex and Erik in a full-size on the bottom. Having Alex to snuggle up to made Erik not miss mom and dad, though he sometimes creeps in our bed in the early morning.
Chris is enjoying his 2nd year with his “new” job at KJWW Engineering. He’s now heading up large projects on his own and is traveling more often. He finished up projects in St. Louis, MO and Traverse City, Michigan and is now working on ones in La Crosse, WI and Duluth, MN along with other projects in the Madison area (mostly on campus at the UW). We continue to be amazed at the commitment KJWW makes to its employees. This was evidenced by our first trip to the KJWW family Christmas party in Davenport, IA, complete with a Santa party for the kids then babysitting while there was dinner and entertainment for the adults. The company is faring well and are in a healthy position despite the economic downturn, which, of course, always hits construction hard. Chris and Dean are continuing to work on the three times thick album, and it is nearly finished (finally?!). Also, one sad turn of event was that Chris’s grandmother, Ginny, died this last month. Being in Chris’s daily life growing up, this was a hard loss. We feel very fortunate that Chris was able to be by her side when she passed.
As for myself, I’m trying to put a positive spin on all the changes at St. Mary’s Hospital. There were more changes this year than the last 10 years combined! The switch to an electronic health record was hard and the adjustment is ongoing as the programming continues to be revised. Patient and health care provider interaction will never be the same. As a distraction, I’ve gotten more involved with La Leche League and am now the state treasurer. I’m also excited that both the House and Senate in the Wisconsin legislature have won Democratic majorities. The PAC I’m working with feels the breastfeeding legislation that is so badly needed here in Wisconsin might actually go somewhere this time around now that the Committee Chairwoman (who happens to be a Republican) will now lose her chairmanship.
Looking back over 2008, we were real homebodies, preferring to work on the house and yard rather than vacation. Part of this was because our dog Wheeza was near the end of her life and it was hard to get away. She passed away in July. As a result, the basement is now an extra living space for the boys to play in, the driveway is redone so now (crossing fingers) the basement window won’t flood, and there’s more garden space to keep growing more food and flowers.
So, all in all, there were many sad endings in 2008, but we’re also looking forward to many new beginnings for 2009.
