Magen

I've said this before but I just can't believe how fast time has gone. It seems like just yesterday that I was holding this baby girl in my arms absolutely enthralled with her adorable rosie cheeks. She still has adorable rosie cheeks but she is definitely not a baby.

To say that Magen is out going is an understatement. Everyone is her friend and it doesn't matter how old or young you are. She has a cheerful personality and she doesn't let much bother her. Her arch enemy is boredom. She can see it looming in the future and uses all of her powers to slay it. She has many weapons that she expertly wields including her cell phone. On several occasions the bill has shown that she sent or received over 18,000 texts in one month. Considering that she does sleep and go to school (where her phone should not be in use) the remaining hours of her day are spent in constant communication with.....well everyone. Another weapon in her arsenal is facebook; Magen is able to stay in close contact with each and every one of her facebook friends and there are hundreds. Magen is always involved with organizing activities with friends; movies, bowling, dances and parties there is never a dull moment.

Our most recent adventure is drivers education. I have a chauffeur every where I go and thankfully she is a pretty good driver. During the past few months Magen has enjoyed being a basketball cheerleader, an activity that fits her personality well.

I am impressed with Magen's committment to attending seminary every morning. I think she has only missed one morning all year. As the president of her Mia Maids class Magen has organized and executed a few great events and does a great job helping all of the girls feel included.

I watch in awe as Magen moves through her life. It will be fun to see what the next few years hold for this girl. She would like to work as a crime scene investigator, we will see!

Ryan

There is nothing ordinary about Ryan. This guy has an amazing imagination. He tells me stories that he has in his head and I have a hard time keeping up. One day he told me that he wished he could just plug his brain into a computer that could record it all into a movie or a book. A few simple toys can inspire an epic war between good and evil or aliens and humans or whatever he conjures up in his mind. He becomes enthralled in this imaginary place and his room becomes a jungle or a desert; blankets become mountains and hide-outs. I love to watch and listen as he plays. Recenlty I told him how sad I will be when he grows up and stops making all of the crashing, flying and zooming sounds. I can only imagine what is going on his head.

Ryan is in fifth grade and aspires to be a writer, actor, film maker, inventor or anything that requires a creative imagination. It is exciting to watch him a his talents become more refined; I can hardly wait to see which direction(s) he takes as he grows.

Ryan is an excellent student, his teachers always enjoy having him in class. Ryan likes to write stories and read books like Harry Potter, The Ranger's Apprentice and any book that involves kings, castles and wizards. Television is a passion for Ryan. Again he enjoys shows that involve kings, castles and wizards, he also appreciates programs that most 10 year olds would find very boring. He will watch old westerns with his dad and one day I decided to watch an OPB version of Jane Eyre. He came into the room and got hooked. The show was old and difficult to understand due to the english accents and phrases. He eagerly watched the whole thing and understood it.

I am amazed by Ryan and I hope that I am doing all that I can to help foster his talents. Watch out Steven Spielberg and J.K. Rowling here comes Ryan Hollister.