The boys finally returned from visiting Australia/New Zealand.  Dad had been thrilled with their brief visit - he made the most of the four hours alloted (between flights) in Wellington due to the generosity (not!) of Charles.  I was so pleased to hear they had been able to drive around Wellington and out to the Hutt Valley to visit the homestead in Korokoro.

It was also back to uni for all of us.  What a successful first Semester Antz had:  4.0GPA!!!!!!!!   Making his own mark at uni, as he is pursuing different studies to his brother, majoring in Biology to eventually apply for Med. School and specialise (that's open as to what area).  Rich will graduate at the end of this Semester.  WOW how the last four years has flown by since he first went off to Austin.   

I really missed not having anyone at home any more, though I'm glad that my sons are successfully spreading their wings and flying high, preparing for their own independent lives.   It's still great to have them flocking home, and Antz has returned to Houston this MLK holiday weekend to celebrate his 19th birthday and see his friends.   This meant a change of plans for all of us.  I stayed in Houston, Bob will be arriving later today and Rich will be getting his third car:  Another ZX300 but this time not a convertible.  Finally the insurance check came in for his car that was totalled after some idiot decided to u-turn into him on his street as he was driving down the road.

Uni. studies for me look a lot easier than last semester (relief!) so it will just be a matter of disciplining myself to study.   I'm looking forward to it as both courses are interesting and very relevant to my students.  Hopefully I will be able to pick up an online course or two to finish off my Masters so I won't have to travel back and forth between Austin and Houston.  The travelling has really begun to weigh heavy on both Bob and I.

February hopefully will be the commencement of building our new home.   We are well on the way towards a closing date and have received all the bids for the work to be carried out.  It is nervewracking, as the construction industry is notorious for unreliable subcontractors and cost overruns.   I think I will be talking to my dad in New Zealand to get some pointers from him about getting contractors on site when you need them.

It's been raining constantly in Houston for the past couple of days, miserably wet and cold.   Finally, the sun has peeked its head out and for the first time in a few months I am feeling positive, alive and full of energy with the great promise of all my family's successes and more successes ahead of us.  Anthony is enthusiasticly looking forward to the house being built.  He announced he wants to buy a windsurfer to use on the lake.

Who knows, Rich may have some extra surprise attendees at his College Graduation in May      He has some big decisions to make as to where he will work and live.  There is a whole world out there to choose from.   I know he loved being back in New Zealand for the brief time he had.

2008 is full of promise and I love the closeness that we all feel and share with each other.  We are a small tight knit family with a lot of love.  Having Bob in our family has enriched it more and it was wonderful Rich said Bob is our family too.  I know that means alot to him, not ever having had any children before.