Sara's 1st Day of Preschool

A milestone has happened in our house today, Sara started preschool. She will be attending two days a week at Calvary Church. She has some of the sweetest teachers. There are 13 other children in her class. Only part of the class goes at a time this week to help them transition, next week all 14 children will be together. I am so excited about the program she will be attending; at two years old she will have music class, Spanish class, Science Lab, as well as daily she will have art time, play time indoors and out, Bible, and many other fun activities.

She looked like such a big girl walking into class carrying her monogramed lunch box (Thanks Kelly, Scott, and Ella for a great birthday present!).

Jared is a Teenager

Well my oldest has made it to the age of a teenager. Lord please help David and I as parents; I don't know that we are ready for this; haha! To celebrate he wanted to go to one of his favorite type of restaurants; a Japanese Steak house, so that is what we did. He also enjoyed yummy ice cream cake from Carvel, a kid after my own heart.

Happy 13th Jared. We love you very much and are proud of the young man that you are becoming. You are now in your second year of middle school, 7th grade. I can not believe how fast you are growing up. You keep reminding dad and I that you will be able to get your drivers license in 3 years. You are still taking the trumpet (i'd like to hear you practice more), and are participating in Boy Scouts. (You actually gave up a white water rafting trip to stay home and celebrate with your family, I'm sure that won't last too many more years!) You have such a sincere heart. You may test the waters; but we know you are only trying to find your independence however, don't forget sometimes there are natural and/or logical consequences. You are a blessing and daddy and I are proud to call you our son and are thankful that God entrusted us to care for you.

Happy 13th Birthday Jared!

Peyton Dawn Letteer

Congratulations Andrew and Amber Letteer on the birth of Peyton Dawn Letteer. She was born at 12:52 pm weighing 8 lbs 4oz and 21 inches. Welcome to the family Peyton; your uncle David, aunt Kim, Jared, Xander and Sara love you!

A Knight with his Princess

The Family Ministry at our church hosted a night called "A Knight with His Princess."; which was a father-daughter dance. David and Sara attended and had such a good time. They watched the new Veggie Tales movie: Sweetpea Beauty: A Girl After God's Own Heart; which teaches them about beauty is what's on the inside. They also danced the night away, ate snacks, and had some great time together.

Rochester NY for Walter Letteer's Funeral (July 25-28th)

Well David and I have now hit the east coast, mountains and heart of NY (central part), and western border of NY all in one months time. We headed to Rochester, NY for his grandfather's funeral. As we have either been on the road as a family with vacations, or the boys have been at camp. David and I made this trip without the kids; whom we left with my parents. Jared and Xander even requested to stay at home, especially Jared who had just got home from camp less than 24 hours before David and I were leaving.

David's grandfather, Walter Letteer, Jr. was 92 yrs old when he passed away. He had served in the Army during WWII and was also a POW after being captured in Italy. Walter had spent the last 15-20 yrs living in Blacksburg, SC. He was buried next to his wife and parents in White Haven memorial Park and was honored with a military funeral and 21 gun salute. American Legion Color Guard

This was the first time in many years that all 5 of Walter's children were together. David and I visited with his aunts and uncles; some which he hadn't seen in over 15 years (and I hadn't ever met).

Donald, Darryl, Dorinda, David Sr., and Dale Letteer

Despite the sad reason for all being together we made the best of it. David and I took a few short 'detours' and trips on the way to Rochester and while we were there; while other family was still traveling to Rochester. We stopped along Lake Erie, went to Niagara Falls for a few hours (the Canadian side- as I threw in our passports just in case), and spent time touring parts of Rochester that I hadn't seen and David hadn't seen since he was 3. We also visited David's maternal aunt, Susan (who also lives in Rochester and Dave and Paulette stayed with) and his cousin Joe's family. We walked along the beach and Pier at Lake Ontario Beach Park in Rochester, as well as enjoyed the beautiful low 80 degree weather (while it was 102 in Charlotte). After the funeral we spent the afternoon with David's Uncle Dale and his wife Rhonda, Aunt Dorinda, and his cousins, Clarissa and Jeff; walking along the beach and then all of us adults rode a carousel that was over 100 yrs old; that his aunt and uncle used to ride as kids with their dad.

David and I at Lake Erie

David and I in Niagara Falls, Canada


Niagara Falls, Canada


Paulette and Susan (David's mom and aunt)

Jeff, Dorinda, and Clarissa (David's cousins and aunt)
Dale and Rhonda Letteer (David's uncle and aunt)
Dale on the carousel

Jared's Boy Scout Camp

Jared spent a week at Boy Scout Camp this summer. He left on July 18th and returned on July 24th. His troop went to Camp Powatan in the Virginia mountains. Jared participated in class called the Brown Sea, which prepares younger Boy Scouts for years to come. He camped out, cooked, out, swam, widdled on sticks, hiked, fished and many other activities. Jared told us that there were Brown Bears spotted in the camp site and the leaders confirmed this.

On Friday; Xander, Sara, mom, and I traveled to the camp for his 'graduation' from the Brown Sea program. David was unable to attend because of work and family matters (see next post). While we were there, Sara and Xander enjoyed looking at the snakes, rabbits, birds, etc, that were in the science pavilion; and then petting the camps goat that was "watching" over the infirmary.

(The day Jared left we picked Xander up from camp 2 hours later- next year they'll both be gone the same days)

Walter M. Letteer, Jr

David's grandfather, Walter M. Letteer, Jr. passed away on this day at a hospital in Gaffney, SC. Walter was an Army Veteran of WWII and a POW/MIA. He is survived by 4 sons, 1 daughter, 4 daughter-in-laws, 10 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren. The funeral and burial will be in his hometown of Rochester, NY.