Welcome to our blog. We've though of doing a blog for ages, but life's a little busy around here and I'm just now getting around to it. I think the way to start things off is with a little rundown on the kids, so here we go. I'll add a bit about Mike and I and some pictures too if I can figure out how.
Holly (2.75?) is just about the sweetest little girl on the planet. There is still some debate as to how old she is, and we are hoping to get some information this week that will help clarify her age. We've been doing a lot of investigating to try to get her age figured out! Anyway, she is continuing to catch up, and is impressing her teachers and therapists. Her gross motor skills are getting close to the normal range (she was sooooo delayed), and her receptive speech is also just about caught up. Her expressive language is still way behind, but we're all working hard on in with her and we all look forward to the day when she can express herself clearly with words! Although she still doesn't say much that we can understand (we get about 40% of what she tries to say), she is VERY expressive and is able to communicate clearly without speech. She is quick to learn and very social and fun to be around. She adores her sib's and is an animal lover. Her preschool teacher call's her a "gem".
Sophie(3) is certainly the princess in the Crooks Family. Holly tried to call Sophie a Punky Monkey the other day and Sophie looked Holly right in the eye and said "I am a princess Holly, and don't you forget it!". Sophie is a Daddy's girl through and through and as far as any of the guys in the family are concerened, she walks on water. She just batts her eyelids, tilts her head, and smiles, and she promptly has all the guys in the family stumbling to get her whatever her heart desires. She is sweet and funny and smart and just a joy to be around. She is at such a wonderful stage and we all just adore her.
Kai(4) has been home 2.5 months now. He is very sweet, incredibly intelligent, and also highly energetic and impulsive. He has attached well to everyone in the family and is doing great in his Pre-K class at school. His transition into the family has been the hardest for us as he needs to be watched constantly b/c he is often on the verge of doing a large amount of damage to himself or the house, but that is gradually getting better. He is learning boundries and rules and is trying to get this whole family thing figured out. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and think that in another 3-6 months things will be much easier with this little guy. All in all though, he really is a great little boy, and we are so glad that he is part of our family.
Hunter (8) is doing really well in 2nd grade. He enjoys school his friends, and his wonderful teacher, and is also very athletic. He and Kai had a rough start. I think this was because they are actually quite similar and both very competitive. Also, Hunter was displaced as the only boy living in the house. Anyway, just in the last 2 weeks they have begun to really enjoy each other and get along well. I think that they'll be very close eventually. Today they spent the afternoon running around outside and wrestling and being "all boy". It was a joy to watch. Hunter is very sensitive and considerate and although he too is still a bit on the impulsive side, he is at a really fun age and very enjoyable to be around. Oh, and he's started riding again and having a lot of fun with it!
Ciara (9) had a tough start to 3rd grade academically and was just diagnosed with dysgraphia which is like dyslexia but only affects writing (as opposed to both writing and reading). Now that we have a diagnosis we are well on the road to getting her the help she needs and things are looking up. She has a terrific teacher and that's made a huge difference. Ciara is a really great kid. She has a very special spark to her that just draws people in. She's very compassionate and dedicated to the things she believes in. She loves to write (on the computer) stories and is just finishing a book about a Magic Manatee in a great "write your own book" set given to her by my dear friend (who Ciara adores) Shoshana.She loves to ride her pony Ribbons and has just started jumping, which she's very proud of. She also loves to play with her friends especially her best friend Madeline. Ciara wants to join Green Peace when she grows up to work to save endangered animals.
Catherine (13) is also doing really well. She has fit into this family like a glove and is just thriving. She's popular at school and an A/B student. She loves to ride and works hard at it. We found her a terrific pony named Miss Marple at the end of the summer and Catherine just loves her. She competed in 2 shows and other then making a few typical beginner mistakes, she was great! She loves the other kids and really has become the big sister of the house. She's helpful (most of the time), especially with the little one's, and also with the animals (3 dogs, a cat, a hamster, and a rabbit!). She has a wonderful attitude which makes her enjoyable to be around, and that's pretty amazing considering she's a teenager!!! She and Ciara are very close and Ciara wants to be just like her. It's sweet to watch. Catherine just got a new haircut, complete with what she calls "side bangs", and now Ciara wants them too. No way......!
Sean(18) and Lauren(20) are in college so we don't get to see them much. It's sad to have them off and away, and we all miss them a lot. They are both however, having the time of their lives in college and I don't think they are missing us all that much!
Sean is in college all the way in Florida and he just seems soooo far away! He loves it though, which is what counts. He's there to be close to the Winter Equestrian Festival which is the big east coast competition circuit from Dec-April. He's working for and riding with Norman Della Joio, one of the best riders/trainers in this country. Sean has become a very well respected and quite accomplished rider in the last couple of years, which makes us very proud! He is now well known by many of the big guns of the horse world and is well on his way to a successful career as a rider, trainer, or whatever he chooses to become. It's parents weekend in 2 weeks and Mike and Sophie (who Sean just adores) are going to visit him for the weekend. Argh... That means I have 5 kids home alone when Mike, Sean, and Sophie live it up in Florida!
Lauren is in her Junior year at Santa Clara University in California. She has moved out of
the dorms and is living with a group of friends in a nice house very near school. She continues to be a good student, which she has always been. This summer Lauren and her long time boyfriend Chris parted ways. This split up was really hard for Lauren, but she handed herself really well and is now feeling much better about life. Lauren is now free to enjoy the college scene without feeling tied down, and seems to be doing so with much vigor. Lauren is also riding and has two horses with her in California. She feels fortunate to be able to ride and work for John French, one of the best hunter trainers and riders in the country. Having sold her fabulous junior jumper Julian after her Freshman year of college she is now enjoying the different experience of bringing along a young horse. Lauren has truly become a young woman and Mike and I really enjoy having an adult child who we can have fun with! Lauren is a beautiful and funny and just really nice to be around.
Life with 8 kids and 40 horses on the property is hectic, but very very fun, and Mike and I wouldn't trade it for the world! We have had a big overhaul at the barn this fall which has been stressful, but I think it will start to pay off pretty soon. We have some wonderful clients and the barn is a great place to be these days. Mike and I remain very dedicated to the horses and our business, and look forward to the 2007 competition year. We have a good string of horses for next year , anchored of course by our senior and very dependable mare Cassandra. Cassandra is such a pleasure to have in the barn and we feel fortunate to have her. Next is Shakira, a horse with rare talent and ability, but who needs some time still to mature. She is owned by our good friend, and sponsor, David. Mike and I have been putting a ton of effort into this talented mare, and she is progressing well. She is very rewarding to work with and Mike and I have high expectations for her in the long run. We are awaiting the arrival of the newest mare in our string, a young mare by the name of Uryadi. This mare, while very green still, looks also have exceptional talent, and we can't wait till she arrives next week. Uryadi was purchased for me to ride by a syndicate made of some very good friends of ours, all of whom also ride.
Mike and I are so grateful for the wonderful life we lead, for our amazing children, for each other, for good health, and for our friends and family. I didn't mean this to be nearly this long, but with 8 kids and the barn, the updates take a while.....
Thanks for reading this! That's all for now!
~Jennifer~
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