It has been a while since we have entered the blogging world and a lot has happened in the time that has transpired. I don't care to fill in all the gaps, suffice it to say, Jessica has formally resigned from teaching to be at home with the boys for this coming school year. It is a decision that did not come lightly and we have been contemplating the logistics of such a choice for some time now, years really, and feel that we are in a position for her to be at home. Jessica loves teaching and can't quit "cold turkey." She may have an option to remain in the scholastic atmosphere as both a substitute and part time employee in the LEAP program, but neither of those options is certain at this time. She is working on organizing the home and transitioning more into a stay at home wife and mother. It is a role that will certainly come with challenges but also its own rewards.

William is excited to be entering kindergarten this fall. We are considering enrolling him in a dual language program offered through the school district which will give him a chance to learn Spanish. We feel he is bright enough to handle this kind of challenge and living in Dallas that particular language skill will most certainly come in handy! This past spring he enjoyed playing another season of t-ball as well as soccer. He made a lot of improvements during the course of the year and is asking now to be enrolled in tennis.
Weston continues to progress at his own rate and provide the family with entertainment, and while he doesn't enunciate any vocabulary, he has learned to communicate with a series of high pitched squeals, staccato grunting, and finger pointing. He loves to laugh and spend time with his older brother who in turn eats up the attention.
I recently completed my first, and hopefully only, pass at the GRE in anticipation of pursuing some type of higher education. I remain at Parkland Memorial Hospital working in the ER as a nurse. It is a busy environment, even on the night shift, and I find I actually enjoy the stress that comes with the job. I have grown a lot in the last two and a half years since being there, learning a lot about medicine as well as myself. I have had several opportunities to train and manage other staff and have seen a lot of positive changes in the crazy environment within which I work. We see between 11,000 and 14,000 visits each month and right now it seems very busy with a higher acuity than we have seen in a while.
I provide the following images of the life and times of the Petrie clan over the past year.

 Thanks to a talented sister in law, Jen Mabray for the family photo shoot.

Weston enjoys "organizing" things in his own fasion and if left to himself has an uncanny ability to perform such tasks with great efficiency.

 

William's graduation from pre-school

William with one of his best frineds at a waterpark over the summer. Two peas in a pod.

William and Weston with two of their cousins at the Dallas Zoo.

Lead me, guide me, walk beside me

William hanging with the boys from his team.

This boy loves watermelon

Another zoo picture

Excited to be wandering around the zoo, and about the noisy bird next to him.