Sunday, December 8, 2013

2013 Christmas Letter Shock Family Update

2013 - A new year in a new place.



We officially moved to Austin on January 9th, and have been keeping Austin weird ever since. Our transition went smoothly, without any hiccups along the way. We are living in north Austin, tinkering on the edge of Round Rock. Our neighborhood and surrounding area has a lot to offer.

Atom had two job offers before we even left Virginia. He decided to take a job with TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) and really enjoys his work and his co-workers. We are still a 1-car family, even in Texas! Atom commutes by bike to the metro station and then hitches a ride with a vanpool to work. He rides 10 miles round trip each day! So far he has enjoyed becoming a Texan :)



Jenn has been busy chasing after the boys and managing the household. There have also been a lot of creative endeavors underway. Jenn found an amazing mom’s group that is very active. 



Many of the moms have creative hobbies and it has been a lot of fun getting to share our interests. There is always something to do for the kids (and the moms). She is also gearing up to start looking for a teaching job next fall.


Fletch continues to get bigger and smarter. He has attended two preschools, and the second one has turned out to be a great school. He is starting to learn to read, and we can’t wait until he can read to us at bedtime. Fletch also played T-ball this year for team Hot Rods. 

He had a lot of fun learning the basics of the game. And it was pretty entertaining watching him and his team play.



Wyatt is walking, talking, and keeping us on our toes. He loves to help around the house, even when it’s not that helpful. He really loves music and will stop to dance whenever he hears a good song. He is also really good at banging on the drum. 



He’s almost done cutting all his teeth, and we’re looking forward to some drool-free days. There is always some new developmental milestone being reached and it is still exciting every time.


We all are happy to be settled in our new home in Austin. We have been exploring the area, especially all the great food and music. Even though we are up north, we still like to venture into the heart of Austin. Whenever anyone visits, we use it as an excuse to go check out something in town. We took Uncle Matthew and Uncle Chris to Barton Springs this summer, and we have introduced both grandparents to Torchy’s Tacos.



We look forward to spending the holidays with family and friends. We hope that your holiday season is filled with peace, love and joy.


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!




Love,   


























The Shocks - Atom, Jenn, Fletch & Wyatt