Thursday, March 24, 2011

a puppy!



and then...


birthday bliss!

jack had a party at home, with our family. He wanted a "diggy" theme and that's just what he got!


On his birthday morning!


Proud of his cake!


I did buy a half chocolate, half white sheet cake (tisk, tisk!) and had them ice it plain with grass-green colored icing. I made the dirt and put some digger toys on it and added the trees. There is a FANTASTIC cake decorating store near our home and it's an absolute hidden gem in Columbus...that's where the trees came from. At 10 cents a piece.


Jack's birthday snack for preschool! He was so excited to share with his friends.

On his actual birthday, Marc stayed home and we took him to lunch where he ate 2 baskets of fries, a milkshake, chocolate milk and then they brought him a birthday sundae. Ooof.

Then we took him bowling.

He had a wonderful day!

backtrack - valentine's day

playing catch up!

here is what jack brought his teachers for valentine's day to show them how much we love them!


Wednesday, March 23, 2011

hiatus!

My apologies....we have been out of commission without a computer for well over a month! so much has changed, so sit back...

I left both of my jobs. We were doing some part time work at a newspaper delivery service, and let me tell you, it was a nightmare. I was warned about working for this particular couple and I wish I would have followed the advice! Never paid on time, keeping part of our pay, being unprofessional, and just general shady business. We are not the same types of people that they were, so it just wasn't a good fit. It's hard to cope with or understand people that are just not on your level. I also left my retail job. The store came under new management, and well.....let's just say I am not mall-life material. (shudder)

I landed the perfect job. A friend had mentioned an open position at her company waaaay back in the fall. After a few months and a long interviewing period...I got it! I am a Marketing Coordinator and I get to work at home. It's part time and I can set my own hours. It's a FANTASTIC opportunity and the people I work with couldn't be any nicer or supportive. They are being patient with me, as the transition from Social Work to Business/Marketing has been a huge one! They are really professional and I can't believe they chose me. The hope of it turning full-time down the road is a goal for me.

We have had our weekends (now fully open!!!) full with Marc's mom watching the kids so I could venture out on an AWESOME girls' weekend (no, you cannot see photos!) and my parents flying out to see the grandbabies!

Jack is so in love with his daddy, and it's so fun to see. I can't imagine Jack growing up without his hero. They spend so much time together each and every day, even if it's cleaning the garage. Jack adores his dad.

Speaking of Jack, he turned FOUR. Crazy. He is really starting to look like Marc and is doing so well in preschool. We got a glowing report at his parent-teacher conferences. His teacher said he has the best manners, is the most polite and well-behaved. He listens and is so eager to learn. He is kind and gentle and stepped right up to welcome a new girl to his class that speaks no english. We were not suprised, because he has been incredible with his baby sister.

Oh, the baby sister. Claire is still so much a baby, but so quickly turning into a little girl. She still doesn't roll, but is crawling at full speed and pulling to standing. She will even cruise around the furniture if she needs to. She got her third tooth yesterday, with number 4 close behind. Her hair is so long in the front, and sticks out straight on the sides! She is signing "more" and has definite sounds for different things, but no words yet. She is beautiful, and we can't take her on errands because people stop and touch her and stare.

We finished our basement! It now has a full playroom, with my office down there too. My company furnished me with 3 computer screens, a printer, webcam, etc...so I need the room! There is a separate room for storage and washer/dryer. In the past year we have put on a new roof, all new siding/gutters/shutters, had a new driveway put in, and remodeled our bathroom 100%. We also painted 100% of our 1st floor and got new carpet in the family room and front room. I will post pictures soon.

I have over 600 photos to upload and edit....so it may take a while to get caught up! Speaking of photos...Marc thinks the first purchase I make with my first 2 paychecks is a new camera. I am thinking the Canon 60D.

Until then, I leave a picture behind.