Dear Amie- Part 7

*I am writing a letter to my grandmother.  You can read Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 here here here here here and here.  This is the final part.*

2011:
In January we got more snow.  You know I am a very happy girl when there's snow.  Everything in our area closed down for a week due to about 10 inches of snow.

At the end of February, Doug, Weston and I drove up to Kentucky, to see Will before he deployed to the Middle East on March 1st.  This obviously broke Mom's heart, but I think the saddest scene that day was newborn babies or pregnant moms whose husbands were going off to war and were going to miss the first year of their baby's life.

Now it's March, so here's the update on everyone.

UG and AV- AV has written several books on teaching and religion, unrelated I believe.  They are both very involved in their church.  B is on the flag team and track team at school.  She will be 16 this year.

UJ and AD- Since he lost his job, UJ has started a company.  He is also still looking for employment.  AD is working at the trademart every few months.  We are going to visit them at the end of April.

UD and AT- Everything seems good at their house.  AT is still working at the Catholic school.  C plays basketball and baseball, both of which he is very good at.  He will also be 16 this year.  In fact, they just spent spring break touring universities in the South.  He may not go to LSU like his parents.  L plays basketball, softball, she cheers and is part of the runners club.  She will be a teenager this year.  Lord help her parents!

Dad and Mom are in transition right now, trying to find the jobs that are right for them.  They visit us often and enjoy watching Weston grow.

Will is in the Middle East, but he seems safe.  However, when he arrived, he thinks he re-tore his knee...the one the military knows nothing about.  Mercedes is a horrible person.  She didn't have a family life growing up, so she suctioned to Will and our family and I think she's determined to tear us all apart.  No one likes her.  I'd like to think you'd be very impressed with Doug, but I have a feeling that you would have "snatched that girl bald-headed" a LONG time ago.  She's very disrespectful and you would not have put up with that.  Hopefully Will's deployment will give him time to rethink the whole situation.  Maybe not, only time will tell.

Doug, Weston and I are doing well.  Weston is growing so (too) fast.  He's almost 9 months old and he's beginning to crawl as I write this.  He doesn't have any teeth yet, but he loves Gerber food, whipped cream, ice cream and mashed potatoes.  He is such a smart, active and joyful little boy.  He usually has a smile on his face and keeps us laughing.  He is starting to assert his independence a little bit, so that's challenging, but otherwise he is easy-going.  Everyone, even strangers, tells us what a good baby he is and how adorable he is.  We tend to agree on both accounts.

Well, that's about it.  I miss you everyday, sometimes terribly.  I often think of questions for you or wonder what you would think of this or that.  I hope you're enjoying heaven and you and Granddaddy are dancing and having a blast.  I love you very much and will see you again someday.

Love,
Ellery