halloween 2013

Halloween has come and left. It was a blustery one, but the kids still had a ton of fun. Their grandparents joined us. As usual, they enjoyed handing out candy more than Trick or Treating.

Holy Smokes!

Can it truly almost have been a year? A lot has changed around here! I am no longer working from home, which at first was a shocking layoff, but has truly blossomed into something wonderful. As it turns out, it was the best thing that ever happened to me. Working for a narcissist that throws you under the bus can truly be eye-opening. And I have a new understanding of the legendary Napoleon complex when working with tiny men. I am working part time in retail, and it's a ton of fun. I {love} the people some of the people I work with, and it's nice to get out of the house. Still home with the kids full time, which is the one place I truly want to be. It's the way it supposed to be. Marc is working harder than ever, and has made another record-setting year in his sales. We are very, very proud of him! We have a lot of upcoming changes in 2014, and can't believe what lies ahead. We got a new car for Marc and are in love with it. I just got a new computer and I am even more in love with it! Talk about a huge screen, and it's a touch screen! So neat. We are planning some large house renovations and are very excited about it. Onward and upward, friends.

Claire

Jack is back to school and Claire and I have been enjoying each other's company. She is such a mama's girl and it's so neat to watch. Her language is exploding and she talks in full, run-on sentences.

Christmas Cheer 2012

Christmas came and went so quickly in our house!  We had a wonderful time and the kids were so happy.  We had Marc's family over and it was a really nice visit and our little house was packed to the gills with food, fun, and family. 

I received my new camera (thanks, Marc!!!) just before Christmas and it's surely an upgrade from the last one...still working out the learning kinks.  And there are a bunch of kinks for me to learn! 

Claire and I both were given the gift of the stomach flu Christmas night, so that affected our "time off."  Marc hardly gets ANY time off, and the vacation days that he is forced into taking often fall in bewtween Christmas and New Year's.  So hopefully we can make up the time during his next vacation time.  Which will happen in 6 months.  Blech.

Here are some pictures from the big day and the days leading up to it!  We were given a healthy dose of snow and the kids have been loving it.  Jack has really enjoyed teaching Claire all about sledding and the wonders of snow.  He is such a great brother. 

so thankful

Can you beleive we are past Thanksgiving and on our way to Christmas?  Crazy!

We had Jack's first real parent-teacher conference.  We love his school, and adore his teacher.  We learned that Jack is doing very, very well and is a nice boy to have in class.  We already knew that, but it's ncie to hear from someone else!  Not a single complaint about him or his behavior, except that he is a bit silly.  But he IS only 5, you know :)  We will take it. 

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are sailing into  Christmas season.  The kids are really into the holiday and it's so sweet to see the excitement and joy on their faces.  They have been playing with each other so well, and it's so sweet to see their genuine excitement for each other every day.

Here are a few Thanksgiving photos.  My camera is truly on its last leg.  A very sad sight, indeed. 

Time flies when you are having fun!

Well, we are in the swing of things.  It has been quite the adjustment gettin gup so early these days!  Our little guy has to be on the bus about an hour and a half before we even used to wake up (before Kindergarten days) so it's been quite the adjustment.

Except for Claire.  She still sleeps till 8 am.  :)  I have been making coffee at home and learning to take advantage of the hour I have between her wake up call and when Jack goes to the bus.

Think that me making my own coffee isn't blog-worthy?  It is.  You should see my outrageous Starbucks bill.  It's frightening. 

Jack is doing so well and we are so proud.  He really seems to be growing up and he changes so much every day.  It's amazing.

Claire has been taking gymnastics and LOVING it.  My hours have almost been doubled and it's a large adjustement as well.  It's great for our family, but I am still learning to be the organzied, planful mother that I {like to think} that am.  I am so fortunate to be working 80 hours a month, but still being a stay-at-home mother.  SO fortunate. 

I will admit, I have no desire to go back to work full-time ANY time soon, but I will say that while I adore my children, I often times feel lonely and isolated here at home.  It can be rough when the world around you keeps revolving and they only way you really know what's going on is by watching the news...which can be downright depressing. 

That being said, I have a wonderful community of mamas around me, both stay at home and not.  Everything sure does change when you have a baby.  In ways you never thought possible.

We have a Kindergartener!

Jack's first day in school has come and gone.  He proudly put on his uniform and I packed his bag, filled his water bottle, made his lunch, and bagged a snack. 

He trotted off to the bus while Marc and I walked with him, poor baby Claire was still asleep in her bed.  Luckily the stop isn't far from the house.  The bus finally came and he climbed the steps, turning once with teary eyes and said he didn't want to go.  We smiled and waved and wished him well.  He found a seat behind the driver and they drove away down the boulevard.

I cried like a baby.

I got to be there at the school, and after stopping for my favorite coffee, was able to see him get off the bus. 

He found his seat, greeted his teachers, and went on about his day. 

And I waited with bells on for our little big boy to get off the bus that afternoon.