Busy, busy, busy...

Hi everyone--

WOW-- I just had a chance to check and update the blog, and I discovered that 51 people have looked at this blog today alone. Thanks so much for caring about our family and our various adventures!

Well, things have certainly been hectic around the Beck-Aden house lately... Since the beginning of April, I've gone to two conferences (CSCA in Kansas City and SSCA in Louisville), and I'm about to head for another one (ECA) in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, largely due to my recent election as NCA Second Vice President-Elect. I've really loved the chance to meet others in the communication discipline and to attend several cool sessions. Roger has been wonderful about holding down the fort at home, and the girls are okay with the trips... as long as I bring back treasures from my various outings.

Roger has been incredibly busy with his responsibilities as search committee chair for the open director position in our school. Coupled with teaching and writing, it's been a challenging time. Fortunately, the end of the semester is near, and he should get a break in May with the start of summer.

Britti has been busy with her job as 4-H educator and planning for her wedding (May, 2014). She already has her dress, rings, church, reception area, and photographer. It's going to be beautiful!

Chelsea has been busy at college and with her sorority stuff. She just had her formal dance last night, and she's been really involved in intramurals, playing softball, wheelchair basketball, tennis, and beach volleyball. She's also working at the student union in the food court-- very nice for some spending money, especially in light of the "need" to purchase a new sorority t-shirt nearly every week :)

Emmy is finishing up her seventh grade year with yet another sport. She earned straight As again in the third grading period (with all A+s and one A- in Art), She has gone from soccer to basketball and now to track. She has been doing distance races. At her first home meet, she ran the 1600 and was going to run the 4X400 before lightning came into the area. At her first away meet (at Marietta on April 18), she ran her part of the 4X800 in 3:09, a personal best. Her team has been doing very well overall! Emmy has also been busy with her Girl Scout Silver Award project, collecting books for the Athens Integrative Preschool at the former Chauncey Elementary School building, as well as performing in her solo and ensemble contest on the french horn, getting ready for her cello recital, and her dance concert. Never a dull moment!

Ellie-Kate just signed up for kindergarten, and she's playing soccer, dancing at Factory Street, and doing AWANA. She's on track to earn her second book award for AWANA, and she's loving soccer (but not loving the unseasonably cold and damp weather that we've been experiencing). She's also not excited about her first dance concert. She would much rather be on a field or a court than a stage, but she's being a trooper about it. We told her that she has to try things beyond sports, and she is obliging, but I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't stick with it :)

Well, that's the quick update! Now for the past few weeks in review in pictures...

Take care--

Christie