To the Faithful Three

Thank you my faithful readers (all 3 of you)! I appreciate that you stick with me and follow the mundane details of our lives. Recently I have been thinking about going private. If you would like an invite, please email me or leave a comment.

To my blog stalkers (if there are any): thank you! The fact that you stalk my blog makes me feel special! And I would be fine if you continue. Just let me know that you want an invite.

I will let you know when this change happens.

While the muffins are baking

ugh... I should blog. But there is a serious monopoly on my time. School, kids, housework, homework (mine & the boys), scouts, etc... there is anytime to do what I want. But of course, I DO find time to some things that I want. Because, you know, sleep is overrated.

School is going well. I did well on a project/paper for my communication class and I am sure that I did well on a test in poly sci. On the other hand, science is still my big struggle. Who know that you would have a whole chapter and 2 days worth of lectures on chemistry when you are taking a GEOLOGY class. Thankfully, I have gotten into a routine with my homework and the kids and that is making everything easier.

The boys are doing well, but there are definitely some struggles. Sometimes they come home frustrated with things at school. It is hard to tell your kids that life is unfair, and then have them learn that lesson. Eric especially feels that things are unfair. I want life to be fair for them, but it just isn't. But for the most part he and J are having fun and are happy to be back in school.

Both boys are excited for their upcoming birthday parties. Admittedly, I am stressing on how to do everything for those happy events without involving my very busy and completely wonderful husband. Thank goodness for store bought party favors, cakes, and sister-in-laws who make invites!

Katie LOVES going to Stephanie's house each day. They have a cat and now Katie wants a cat. She meows at me all day long. I am glad that she is happy there, but I hate dropping her off and I LOVE to hear her scream MOMMY when I ring the doorbell each afternoon. Those hugs are the best!

Today's highlights: broken van door and an escaped dog.

Today I am thankful for: car warranties, a found dog, ebay, Jay Leno, and box mixes of chocolate chip muffins.

Totally toddler

Totally busy.

Totally mischievous.

Completely cute!

my new adventure

About six weeks ago I received a very pretty cherry red legal sized envelope in the mail. It stated that the University of New Mexico was happy to re-admit me as a student for the Fall 2009 semester.

Since then I have been spending a lot of time getting the financial aid ready, talking with an advisor on campus, finding someone to watch Katie (thanks Stephanie), convincing work that I would not be available to work very much, and figuring out where to park (thanks Bishop Schaap!!). And I must not forget to mention all the time I spent registering, buying books, and my school supplies (that part was fun).

My new adventure starts Monday.

I am excited. I have always wanted to finish school, but often our circumstances made it very difficult. This time we are not going to let circumstances stop us. I. am. going. to. school. I. will. finish.

Financial aid will be my friend. Pell grants will be my best friend. It might have to pay our bills. We will make it work.

It will take me three years. Sadly they are not accepting to many of my Ricks credits. But it is only three years. It could be four, or five. It could be worse.

After all the struggles and stress I will become a high school teacher. I will be home with my kids during the summer and winter breaks. Home after school and available weekends to participate in their soccer, golf, baseball activities. Brandon won't have to work two jobs to make ends meet. Our family life will be better.

Only three years. I can do it. I am looking forward to it. Go LOBOS!

the FIRST day of school

Today is the day. It finally came. The first day of school. Not that I didn't enjoy my kids being home for the summer, but it was getting harder and harder to entertain them and the fighting was getting bad. In short, they were bored.

Here they are all ready to head out the door for the bus. I have always taken them to their first day of school, but this year neither of them wanted me to take them. I was disappointed, but I guess that it is good that they are so independent.

Eric claimed that he was not excited to go to school. I don't really believe that, I am sure that a part of him is excited to go. He was very reluctant to get his picture taken though! Despite that isn't he a handsome kids? SO grown up! He started the 4th grade today. We met his teacher last week and she was very nice. She said that she is not that big on homework as long as the class work is finished. Eric always finishes his class work and so I am very excited to not have to much homework from him!

Josh was super excited to be in the 1st grade. He is just too cute! He was very anxious to get out the door and onto the bus. He was the one pushing to go by themselves. We met his teacher last week and she seems very nice and very patient. That is a good thing for Josh. They will get along well.

So it is just me and Katie chillin' at home, at least until next week. That is when we make a big change around here. More to come on that later.

Our summer fun: ITZ

One Friday, a couple of weeks ago we had another fun family day for FREE, courtesy of our favorite local radio station!

This time it was at ITZ and we had never been there. What a great way to check it out!

It was an awesome place for the boys (including Brandon), but Katie was still to small to participate on very many of the rides or video games. Not that she didn't have some fun!

All of the kids enjoyed the bowling. Just their size!

The boys (remember, this included Brandon too!) had a great time on the bumper cars and this other ride that spun you around in the air. Katie really wanted to ride that one, but she was too small.

She was just tall enough to ride this little train roller coaster, so Brandon took her. She was very excited until it started. Then she was very scared!! The ride operator had to stop the ride and let her off, she was that scared.
So she settled for a few of the kiddie ones.

And then the boys hit the video games. Truthfully, I do not understand the attraction of the video game, but they enjoyed them!

Afterwards... yummy Dions for lunch. It was a great morning!

Five days. I have lost 5 days.

I hate getting sick. My clean house and other projects have gone to pot over five little days. I have goals and a date to achieve them by. And now, that may not happen.

And the thing is... I don't really feel that much better. I have to medicate myself to sleep and medicate myself to get out of of bed in the morning. I even called into work. That never happens.

Today I went for my walk with Renee. She had to take it easy on me because my lungs are gunked up from my sinuses draining and this nasty cough I've had. yuck yuck yuck

On a positive note. I am getting better. Just more slowly then I would like. I prefer the illness where you feel crappy for one day and then wake up feeling 100%. But not this one. I am hanging in there. And maybe, maybe by the end of the week, I will be feeling 100%.