What we've been doing.....

Well, Grannylou made it here safely and we've been busy ever since!  We went shopping after picking her up at the airport and of course there was a carousel and the kids got to ride it!  I don't have any pictures of it but they had fun!

Sunday we went to church and then baked peanut butter cookies.  The kids had a lot of fun helping!

Playing outside a lot with this nice weather that I am so sad to say is disappearing in the next couple of days.

And reading the new books that Grannylou bought at the book fair.  Grace picked out a Dora book that she sat and read while we were there trying to find the 'perfect' book for Andrew.  He finally decided on a 3-D Outer Space book and he has had a lot of fun reading it!

I'm going to back up a little to the day Grannylou got here.  We went to the movies that morning since we had to wait until 2:40 to pick her up.  Grace has been very into dressing like a princess lately and she wore this all day....to the movies, the airport, shopping!  A theater close to us has a movie that they play for the whole month on Saturday and Sunday mornings for only $2.50 per person.  This month was Strawberry Shortcake and we all went.  Poor David had to sit through it but it was nice to go and be there as a family.

Andrew looked very handsome as well that day!

Oh, this picture is a little old but these are some of the papers his teacher sent home from the first couple weeks of school.  He has done very, very well and is reading the books she sends home as well as a few that I have that have short vowel sounds and sight words.  In the short time he has been there he has really started sounding out words.  I tried to teach him but I guess it just clicked when Mrs. Green taught him.

He has brought home a few papers that were not complete that we had to send back but he told me it was from centers and he just didn't have time because he was trying to make it look really nice.  I don't doubt that at all but I also think he may be a little bored with what they are doing.  Not that he can't use the practice and I told him that even if he already knows it he needs to try to get the work done in class.

Hopefully I can start updating more like I used to.  David started his new job today.  I'm not thrilled about the pay but it's only about 10 minutes from our house and he will be off by 4:30 and home by 4:45 each day.  I usually don't see him until 6pm each night and today I saw him before he left, at lunch, and then when he got home.  I told him it seemed as if he was never gone!  I am becoming more grateful for the fact that he has a job even if it is going to be a huge adjustment as far as not having any extra money.  Last Friday my neighbor brought me tickets to Women of Faith and is also providing my hotel and transportation and babysitter so mom and I can go.  I also received a code for a free photo book from Shutterfly and so did my mom so I made 2 Christmas gifts tonight and all I had to pay was shipping!  Feels good to know I have a couple gifts ready and they didn't cost much.  Hope you are all having a great week!

Sorry I haven't really been in a blogging mood lately.  Haven't really been taking any pictures either so I have nothing to post.  Today David brought home all of his personal items from the office. He also brought me an electric pencil sharpener that was left in an office and a box of file folders.  Tomorrow he goes in just to get his mini fridge and say good bye and probably have lunch with the few people that are left.  He has been offered a job here in town which is awesome except for the fact of the low pay, which means a HUGE pay cut for our family.  I'm grateful for the job and benefits but I'm not excited about the low hourly pay he will start out with until he is hired full time.  The only good thing I have found about this job is the commute....about 10 minutes!  I will no longer have to drive the truck all over the place and spend a ton of money in gas because he can drive it now!  Of course, we will be scraping to pay the mortgage and bills so if I randomly start looking in your couches for spare change just ignore it....it's just for a season and I'll pay you back!  Actually, we will survive but it will be hard and I'm dreading Christmas this year b/c I won't be able to do as much as we usually do.  Actually I don't think we will be doing much of anything this year.  The kids always get waaaaaaaaay too much anyway so they won't miss anything by us not buying them presents.  I'm going to have to be creative this year for sure! I've already been looking for ideas online of things I can make.  So, if you are family (or friends) don't get your feelings hurt this year! 

Andrew is finishing up his 3rd week of school and he is doing great!  He is only going half day and is one of the only ones that leaves from his class.  They have an optional full day program but they can't introduce anything new in the afternoon so they do fun centers and reteaching.  When I asked his teacher if he was at a disadvantage she said no.  She already tested him and he is fine.  He is doing great with his behavior and comes home with 2 stamps everyday. 

Grannylou comes out on Saturday and the kids are getting excited about that!  I'm excited b/c someone else will do Grace's hair and I will get a break from being the only one that entertains her while Andrew is gone.  Well I've rambled long enough.  I hope everyone is having a wonderful week and hopefully I will update again soon!

crazy

Yep, I'm that mom!  The one that will drive the teacher crazy b/c I want to be so involved.  She sent out a list of days/times that she wants volunteers and it really just doesn't work for me.  I pretty much immediately emailed her and tried to sound sane and not completely obsessed with volunteering in her classroom except that I am.  I have been so excited about helping in Andrew's classroom (although I'm not sure he's so excited) and I worked out Grace's preschool schedule around it and of course, those aren't the days that she is asking for volunteers.  I am really sad and hoping that she will be able to use me to do something else on a different day.  Yep, I'm that mom!  Almost begging and pleading to get to be in the classroom.  This is one of those times when it is really hard to have family so far away.  Well, I'm trying to stay positive about my whole life this whole situation but it seems as if everything is going the opposite way of what I think.  I guess that's b/c I'm making all of my own plans rather than praying and following God's plan.  I'm going to go dust off my devotional and dive right in and see if I can find some peace about this whole thing.  I have obviously made it all about me and not all about Him.  Man, sometimes I wish I would just write in a journal instead of letting you all know how crazy I am!  Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend! 

Fearless

Yes, she has shorts on under her dress!

This little girl is fearless!  We went to the park after taking Andrew to school one day....actually we went 3 days because she was upset about not being able to play at Andrew's school!  Anyway, she played on the slide and swings but that wasn't enough and she climbed on this.  I couldn't believe (although I could) she caught on so fast!  I helped her a couple times so she wouldn't fall.  Each hanging thing(have a better word?) moves and it attached to the ground with a chain and they move quite a bit.  She actually only fell one time and that was climbing off the very bottom step at the end!  I tried to upload a video but it won't work for some reason.  I can't wait until it cools down a bit so we can enjoy the park more. It's still so hot even at 9 am to enjoy the park. 

Surviving and Grapes

Strange combo for a title????  Well, we are surviving kindergarten!  So far, nothing has come home and I'm sad that I have NO idea what is happening when the door closes.  I didn't think it would start in Kindergarten.  Andrew doesn't tell me anything that happens at school.  Some days he remembers things they did throughout the day and tells me and other days he just says he can't remember or that he is too tired!  Ahhhhhhhh!  I can't wait until I'm allowed to volunteer so I can see what is going on every day.

And today Grace and I picked grapes from our backyard.  This is the first year that we got them before the birds!  YAY!!!!!  We picked about 5 or 6 bunches today and David picked 2 or 3 a couple days ago and we still have more out there!  They are so yummy!  Here is Grace with her grapes.  This is her favorite thing to eat (well her 2nd favorite, strawberries are #1). 

OK, so I didn't finish this post before I had to leave and get Andrew and he brought home a bunch of work from last week and he got stars on all but 1.  I think that's pretty good for a first week of school.  He'll just have to work faster at practicing his name so he can finish the page next time.  I'm sure practicing his name is boring for him since they did that same thing in his preschool class for the last year but you have to do what the teacher says!

The Kindergartener

Posing for mom on the front porch!

Crossing the drop off lane to get to school.

In line, walking into the classroom.

Listening to his teacher read a story when they first walked into the room.

He wasn't nervous at all (at least he didn't tell us that he was).  He walked right in and sat down and we stood there for a few minutes and when he turned around to look for us I waved at him and we left.  I realized that I didn't really say bye that first day so now we (Grace and I) hug and kiss him in line and tell him to have an awesome day.  I'm sure he won't let me hug and kiss him much longer so I'll do it as long as he lets me!

Bag Tag

I made this tag for Andrew's backpack.  We went to Kindergarten orientation and they told us they wanted each students name on the outside of the backpack with a permanent marker.  Well, that just isn't going to happen so I set out to find another way.  My first thought was a luggage tag but I would have to find one and of course I want it to be cute and I just didn't have time to find the clear ones or self laminating.  I used my digital scrapbook program to make the name tag and then found a badge from work and took out the existing name tag and cut it to the size I needed.  I used an eyelet and a ring to hang it from the backpack.  When I priced some online they were about $8 each.  This didn't cost me a penny since I used things from around the house but even if I had to buy the holder I would guess it might cost $1.

I used a baseball theme that he liked and used the base on bottom right hand corner for his teacher's name and classroom number.

I think it looks much better than permanent marker!

6 years

6 years ago (yesterday August 7th) I married the love of my life!  So much has happened in the last 6 years.  We had Andrew one month before our 1st Anniversary and then found out we were pregnant again right around our 2nd anniversary.  We have endured job loss (and another one as I type), miscarriages, and the everyday things that can tear people apart.  We've dealt with illnesses and this 'thing' with Andrew.  Our baby is getting ready to start Kindergarten.  Time has flown by.  Thank you David for being my rock and sticking by my side through it all.  I know I haven't been easy to deal with, especially with the miscarriages and depression that came with it.  I love you with all my heart and I thank God for placing you in my life.  Thank you for being the reason I went back to church and for teaching our kids all that you have!  I am so proud of you and I love you!

We were surprised on Friday with this delivery from my dad and Kathy!

Kindergarten

WOW! I can't believe my little boy is going to Kindergarten!  He is so excited and yet we met his teacher tonight and he is incredibly shy around her.  Just give him a few days and he'll talk her leg off.  We got the teacher that I wanted and I was thrilled.  We didn't get to request a teacher so I was nervous.  Tonight was Open House to see the school and meet the teacher.  There were so many people that we didn't even walk around the school to see it all and show David but we'll see it all in September at the official Open House.  We weren't able to see the classroom yet.  Monday morning is going to be so exciting!

We also started Sonshine Choir at church tonight.  I am going to be volunteering for this and helping to teach the kids the songs and dance.  This is Andrew's first year to be able to go and it was quite funny to watch him tonight.  He definitely has 2 left feet!  Right now it is just meetings for the leaders and the kids will start in September.  The group makes monthly videos that they show in the classrooms as part of their worship time and they are a huge hit with all ages.  I'm so excited to be involved in it this year! 

Well, I guess that's about it for my ramblings.  Oh, David got another week of work....Praise the Lord!  Still no job so we'll take as many extra weeks as they will give!

Appt Update

We took Andrew to the doctor today and he isn't going to do any treatment right now and thinks there is no reason to be alarmed about anything.  He said there is inflammation in his leg but when he did an exam Andrew showed no signs of pain.  He told us to wait 3 months and see if it gets worse or continues this way.  I'm a little frustrated with the result.  I don't want to put Andrew through anything invasive but at the same time I want to make sure that nothing is wrong.  I missed a call from the pediatrician and when I talk to her I'll find out what she thinks and go from there.  If she wants a 2nd opinion then we will.  Since we have an HMO, I have to get the referral from her for a 2nd opinion so we'll see what happens.

Disneyland

So, I am finally getting around to uploading the Disneyland pictures.  We had so much fun.  We didn't ride everything that we wanted but we also knew we were going back so we have a list of things that Andrew really, really wanted to do and we'll do those next time!  Click here to see all the pictures.

Grace was a little freaked out by how tall they were so they had to kneel down which made Grace think that she should be lower also. 

Andrew all giddy after Belle was flirting with him.  He didn't want his picture taken with her though.

For some reason Andrew was grouchy and wouldn't go have his picture taken with Lightening McQueen and Mater.  Oh well.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) morning is Andrew's doctor appointment with the pediatric orthopedic surgeon.  Hopefully we'll get some answers but I don't have high expectations right now.