Hard

I knew this school year was going to be a very challenging year and I tried to work myself up to it and be prepared, but I am really struggling with everything lately. I vowed to be the best teacher I can be and not put up with any crap in my room. I was not a push over in the past, but I am just to the point in my career and life, that even the littlest crap I am not tolerating. I want every student to have a chance to learn and not have to try and block out another student while they are being distracting. Well, lets just say it is going to be a long haul. Freshmen love to talk and be crazy. High school is a new experience and they are just so engrossed in the social life. Talking, and getting attention however they can. So I am trying my best. I second guess myself a lot, but there is 180 days of trying in me right now. I don't care how hard it is going to be.

The twins are doing so good in school. It amazes me how much they have learned already. I am enjoying seeing them grow so much. I am so proud of them. They jump right in with courage and determination and it is so awesome to see them excell. Nolan is growing into his own little independent person. No more sissy and bubba by his side. It is so different to go to daycare and pick my one little kid up. We are so spread out it makes me nervous. All 5 of us go off every day to our own little worlds. It makes me sad sometimes. Feels like we are growing apart. I am so thankful though that we all come home every night and enjoy each others company, spend time together, share about our days and what we did and learned and just chill together. These are the best of times. I know it goes by fast, but I hope that we can still come home every night for the next 18 years and be able to share and listen and understand and love each other.

I thank the Lord every day for my family and our love that we share. I am so blessed to have Garrett and the kids. I pray that we can always be safe. That the kids will be able to grow up and make good choices and live a full life. I pray for my little family that I love. Bless them.

We Made It!

We have about an hour before bed time and we made it through mom's first day of work. I am so proud of my kids. They are so easy and they have taken every change in the past month in stride. Only a little tired and grouchiness to deal with, but they came around fast. They were so tired this morning. We all lost at least an hour or two of sleep. They should all go out when they go to bed.

I just remember when I went to school. I cried on the first day of kindergarten. I cried when my grandma had to drop me off and a big school bus honked at her. I cried when I had to be in a 4th 5th combo when I was in 5th grade. Everything turned out good and I loved school. Obviously. I love the smell of a classroom before the students come and stink it up. I love learning. I love math. I love high school sports. It is just fun! It is nice to know that with all of the trials and challenges, I do love my job and it makes me want to be a better teacher.

Change

We finally got the mom take the kids to school and stay at home with Nolan routine down, and now it's time for change again. Tomorrow is a big day. Mom goes back to work, Nolan goes to daycare, and dad drops the twins off at Nana's so she can take them to school and pick them up. I am hoping that another change won't rock our boat too much. It took about a week for everyone to get used to kindergarten. The kids were just weird for a week. Avery was really moody, Nolan really winey, and Austin likes to make Avery even more moody. Needless to say, I am not getting any sleep tonight. This year is going to be the hardest. I just pray that all problems are resolved, no one gets really sick, time flies by so we can see June again. Then we can relax a year and then send Nolan to kindergarten. Change is good, just hard. I know we will make it.

The Last Day of Summer Vacation

I know my posts are kind of out of order. The first day of school is after this, don't forget to look at that. Yesterday we went to Hooker Oak Park and had a picnic and played at the creek. Avery was in charge since she just got do with camp Chi-da-ca a couple of weeks ago. Camp Chi-da-ca is held at the park, so she showed us the best spot to play in the creek. We had fun getting out of the house and relaxing for a couple of hours. Even Uncle Chris showed up for a few minutes.

The last three pictures are of Avery at Camp Chi-da-ca on the last day. The did a little bit of singing for the parents after we all had a picnic at camp. The two girls Avery is in the picture with are Merced and Audrey. Two girls that were in her camp group, "The Serious Crickets". Avery's name was, Bumblebee Avery. Avery loved the singing at camp. She is still singing those silly songs. She said her favorite part of camp was swimming in the creek.

First Day of Kindergarten

The day we have been anticipating is finally here, the first day of kindergarten! It came and went without a hitch. Thank goodness. Garrett and I were as nervous as the kids were, but we all pulled through. Even Nolan made it while asking for Austin and Avery only a few times. He really missed them. Their kindergarten teacher's name is Mr. Kostelec. Austin said he is a very nice man. Austin came home with a girlfriend named Natelie. Avery came home and said that some boy said he liked her hair-do. They were excited and told me many things about school. I hope the kids love school as much as I did. I hope they have a great year, make new friends and make new memories in their new chapter of life!

Summer Fun

So I vowed to do more girlie things with Avery (being the tomboy I am). The boys went to gymnastics and Avery and I had an hour at home by ourselves. This was a great opportunity for girl time. Avery wanted her hair curled so we curled it. It took us the whole hour. Then we painted our toe nails on the back porch. As soon as the boys got home, the kids played in the water and the curls were gone. A whole hour of curling, but it was the time spent together that counts!

Garrett also took the opportunity to plan some boy time. He took the boys to get golf clubs on the way home. Austin was stoked. Now he can go golfing with dad! They all tried out the clubs in the back yard. I though Nolan was going to take someone's head off.

We also had some family time this last week. We took the kids bowling and had a great time.

My Family

Another sleepless night. I took an Excedrin PM, but I don't know, maybe it hasn't kicked in or something. Anyways, while lying in bed I couldn't help but think of my family and how much I love them. Summers are the best because we are all home together and we have the opportunity every day to do things together. I know we are blessed that way because some families don't have that. I look at my husband of nine years and thank the Lord that I have him. He is my strength. Some days I think that without him I would be on the couch all day watching life pass me by. He is my motivator and my best friend. He supports me in everything I want to do and is there for me when I need him. I love Garrett so much.

Nolan, my baby. He is my growth. Wherever I am, he is right there at my side. Our favorite spot is the couch. If I even sniff the couch, he is right there ready to sit and relax with me. He loves hair and the couch is the perfect place for him to play with it while he is sucking his thumb. What a character my youngest is. He just comes out and says and does funny things all of the time. He is such a dare devil too. He jumps in the pool with no life jacket and no idea how to swim and just expects to be o.k. I hope that I am always there to catch him until he figures out what dangerous means. I love my baby.

Avery, my only girl. She is so smart and such a good girl. Avery is quick to do whatever I ask her most of the time. She loves to do school work. She could read and write for hours. She is so independent most of the time, but tries to get attention when she thinks she needs it. Her and I don't spend enough girl time together. Starting school in three weeks, I know she will do well. She always strives to do her best. Avery is a lot like me in that she stresses about things. She doesn't like when there are bad feelings in the room and she feels sorry for people who have bad things happen to them. I love that girl.

Austin, oh Austin. What a quick thinker he is. Always working his mom and dad to get his way. He comes at us in so many different directions. It makes it hard, but it just goes to show that his brain is always working. I do feel for his teachers because they are in for a lot of answering to, as far as Austin goes. Austin loves sports and is athletic. Anything he does, I can tell it just comes natural to him. He will always have his dad there to push him along and give him pointers. Dad is already looking at a golf set and Austin cannot stop talking about it. I love my little athlete.