Sturm Family Website

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News about Dave:
David continues to do well in school. Today, he got back the grade on his midterm for his graduate level course in Politics of Africa. He got a 96%, the highest grade in the class! He's getting As in all of his classes.
On the professional side of things, Dave is really making a name for himself. He recently presented an inservice in the Shawnee Mission school district on Electric Kilns. Bracker's has already recieved several phone calls from teachers who attended that presentation praising him. (And placing orders for stuff!) At the end of this month, Dave will be presenting a smilar lecture at the annual KAEA (Kansas Arts Education Association) convention. Then in the spring, he will be doing a 2 day intensive workshop for Bracker's on electric kiln firing, maintenance and repair. Bracker's already has about 5 people signed up and it hasn't even beed advertised yet!

Jump to info about: David Cindy Kelli Sophie Daphne

News about Cindy:
Cindy has been exploring a new computer program, (or rather package of computer programs) for video editing. In addition to the 2005B Sturm-memories movie, she is working on editing and mastering a DVD of the Steve Branfman workshop that Bracker's hosted in 2002. When finished, a copy of this will be sent to Steve for approval. If he likes it, then the DVD will be duplicated for retail sale, with proceeds going to the Jimmy Fund for cancer research. Cindy will also be transferring the already popular Jerry Horning videos to DVD for resale. Bracker's will be the "exclusive galatic distributor" of the DVDs. Jerry Horning was a wonderful potter and teacher in the Omaha, NE area. The producer of the video tape version of this series is a Bracker's customer and friend. And if those projects aren't enough, Cindy will also be creating a wedding memory dvd for a friend married last June.
Outside of video editing, Cindy has recently begun to actually work in clay, not just sell it. For years, a series of Ceramic Windchimes have been floating around in her head. Recently, she became inspired to finally start bringing them to life. Right now, she is working on several tests. What is most exciting is that as she works on one test, she gets an idea for another variation. The possibilties seem to be endless at this point. Cindy hopes to have enough windchimes made by May of 2007 to do Lawrence's "Art in the Park" art fair, which is also a fond memory from her own childhood.

Jump to info about: David Cindy Kelli Sophie Daphne

News about Kelli:
If you haven't already been to Kelli's picture page, you should go to it right now! Last week, the third graders presented their musical show, "Singing & Movin' in the Land of Oz" Kelli was a big hit as the wicked witch. The video speaks for itself. Of course, we've always known of Kelli's ability to be dramatic (which she comes by honestly), but this kid REALLY has a future in theatre!
Other than that, she continues to do well academically, and she is improving socially. She is seeing the school counselor once a week as well as a WRAP worker (kind of like a social worker with an emphasis on preventing inappropriate behaviour at an early age) to help her learn to socialize appropriately with children her own age. Next month, Kelli will again be writing her own news report. Be sure to look for that!

Jump to info about: David Cindy Kelli Sophie Daphne

News about Sophie:
Now 2 1/2 years old, Sophie is in the 95% in height and 65% in weight as of her Doctor's appointment on October 11th. She is just learning so quickly! It amazes me sometimes how smart she is. According to the questionaire at the office, she functions at the level of a 3 1/2 year old. She counts to 20 (although often leaves out 15 & 16) and to 10 in Spanish (thank you Dora) She can read her name in print and spell it out loud. Hasn't quite figured out how to write it though. She speaks in complex sentences and thinks in multiple steps.
She is still testing the waters of what she can and can not get away with, but usually will give in and follow directions when she hears that parenting tone of voice (we all know what that one is, don't we?) She has recently learned that she can get out of bed in the morning or after a nap all by herself, that she doesn't have to wait for Mommy or Daddy to come in and tell her it's ok. Sunday, she woke up from her nap and just started playing with the toys in her room. She played happily by herself for about 15 minutes before coming out to see what everyone else was up to.

Jump to info about: David Cindy Kelli Sophie Daphne

News about Daphne:
At 9 months old, Daphne has finally caught up to Sophie's height. She measured 29 1/2" at her doctor's appointment on October 11th. That put her in the 95% in height. She was in the 65% in weight. She had her 9month old pictures taken on October 14th. Although we had an adorable outfit (sized 9month) all picked out for her, when we tried it on her the night before, it was too small!!! We had to make an emergency trip to Target to find something else in a 12 month! Couldn't find any cute dresses, but we found a nice little peach 3pc outfit. I think the pictures will come out well.
Daphne now has 3 teeth (her first top tooth came in just a few days ago!) and she is crawling all over the place, much to the cat's dismay. She has recently started doing what we dubbed "the spider monkey walk" when Sophie was doing it. Basically, she crawls on her hands and feet, rather than hands and knees, with her little butt up in the air. It's pretty funny. I think it's mostly because her little knees hurt. They're all red from carpet burn, poor thing. She's also pulling herself up on all the furniture and cruising along it. She even will try to stand up just in the middle of the floor! She babbles a lot and says ma ma and da da, often getting it right when she sees one of her parents! The only time she really cryies of fusses anymore is when she's being changed - diaper or clothes. She just doesn't want to be changed. Getting dressed in the morning or into pajamas at night is a screaming fit!!!! Other than that, she smiles and laughs almost all the time, especially at Sophie & Kelli.

Jump to info about: David Cindy Kelli Sophie Daphne

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