Last one for 2008

Well I think this will be my last blog until NEXT year!  Seems like such a long way away . . .  : )

2008 was an interesting year to say the least.  We moved out of our house, moved up to Fort Wayne and are ending it still at my parents' house.  Did not see that one coming.  We are planning on being here until beg. of April so we can bank some income and not have to move in the snow (hopefully!)  

 

Austin is back in school and is doing great!  He loves to be around other kids I can tell, I am not as thrilled about some of the stuff he learns from those boys :)  BUT he has a great teacher and the kids are good kids.  I have fun when I volunteer on Wednesdays; inside recess = Uno time! Austin is in 3rd grade reading and math and loves math which is great.  I always wished math came easy to me but it didn't.  He has also started cub scouts and is enjoying that.

Andrew is a complete charmer.  He smiles at everyone and waves to people in restaurants.  Old ladies (and men) love him!  He is a happy baby, but let me tell you I know when he wants something NOW!!  He is a boy with his own time schedule.  It is weird to have one child that started walking on textbook baby time and one who thinks it is just faster to crawl or be held!  He takes steps now but hasn't bought into the whole "walking is better" thing.  He will do it on his own time - as long as he is grooving before his 18 month appointment, I am fine with that!  

Tony is getting ready to start his pre-reqs for PA school this semester.  Hard science classes but he likes those kind.  I may or may not start this semester, Butler is taking its sweet time getting me my transcript.  Maybe I will just start in the summer.  Then I have more time to get used to going back to school.  Hopefully in 2 1/2 or 3 years I will have all the classes finished and be an RN.  Then after Tony is finished w/school we can go on mission trips together and do medical stuff!  That is probably what I am most excited about being an RN!  

For 2009:  

• Lose weight - not be all huffy puffy for running
• More time myself and God - that has fallen by the wayside lately and I can totally tell!
• Focus on goals and don't sweat the small stuff
• Find more fun stuff to do in Fort Wayne with my boys
• Pay off the van (definitely) and possibly the car also

Late Christmas present

Drew walked today!! Took 2 steps then 6 then later 2. I am so excited!! It's what I wanted most for Christmas!

Ahhh the Spa

I went to the spa last night for four relaxing hours.  I had a pedicure, manicure and massage which I have had all before.  And I had a facial which was a first.  It was a pretty good experience.  I felt like I wanted to laugh when she put stuff on my face with what felt like a paint brush.  It tickled!  And she did that three different times.

My massage was by far the best part of the night.  I think I would get one every week if I had the time/money.  It was so relaxing and the only thing I would change would be that I could sleep right there for a few hours after it was finished.  

When I got home Austin said I smelled like flowers.  That is a nice thing to hear from my 8 year old, especially when since I know he tells it like he sees it (or in this case smells it).

Waiting for the ice/icy rain to hit, wondering if Austin will have school tomorrow.  His teacher already gave their spelling test and gave them the gift she made.  Darn me that I didn't send in his teacher's gift today!!  That's what I get for procrastinating - I have known what I wanted to get her for a long time but just finished getting it all today.  And I attempted to make a bow out of ribbon.  It kind of turned out but looks weird.  Oh well my first attempt I can't be too hard on myself.  I have always wanted to learn to make bows so my packages can be really beautiful.  I dream of wrapping packages that look like those in movies and on TV.  Of course with my boys it would only be for my benefit.  Maybe I will just practice and make pretty packages for decoration around the house next year.

Okay I went on a little tangent there.  I am hoping for at least a delay for Austin and we will see maybe no school! 

School school and more school

  In an effort to be able to make some actual money when Tony is in PA school I have decided to go back and get a nursing degree.  Since I have been out of school since 2003 (and even that was part time!) it is FREAKING ME OUT!!!   I think this next semester will be part time since I have some classes done but still a few pre-reqs to get into the nursing program so that will be good to kind of ease back in.  I want to be able to watch my nephew through the summer and then if I go full-time in the fall my sister will have enough notice to find a good place for him.

   I am also homeschooling Austin again starting after Christmas break (99% sure).  I haven't officially pulled him out yet but that's what next week is for!  So I figure he will learn more about anatomy and physiology than any other 8 year old out there!  I am still not happy with his school, I do think his teacher is a great teacher, but the way they do the curriculum is not how it was described to me when I signed him up.  He is in the highest reading group a 2nd grader is allowed to be in, but he is still bored by it.  As for math, he is kind of between 2nd and 3rd grade and there isn't a level for that.  I have been supplementing with stuff in the evenings (since he actually likes to do harder math!)  

  As Tony said the other day, we don't do easy. He is also going to be taking a few courses to fulfill pre-reqs for PA school.  We are going to be in learning mode AND kid mode AND teaching mode AND working mode.  So I'm sure I can handle all this stuff but I think I am just really nervous about going back to school.  Plus if I'm a lot older than the other students it will be very weird!  

   This craziness is the reason we moved back to Fort Wayne where there is lots of family!! 

Let it snow

It's snowing!! Pretty snow since before I woke up. I love to watch the snow fall when I have no place to go and don't have to drive in it. It is b-e-a-utiful!!!

We drove around downtown last night to look at all the lights - the Santa, wreath, Sunbeam building, and many other lights. Austin was not excited about it before we got down there but he got into it and I think really enjoyed finding lights before Tony and I.

Today we are going to do our Christmas craft. Usually we paint birdhouses in red, green and white but since all my stuff is packed up and we have no place to put them this year, we are coloring wooden pieces that stand up. Austin picked out a train for himself, a woman w/packages for me, a nutcracker for Tony and a small penguin for Drew. It definitely won't be as messy as painting!

hello from drew

Drew has been wanting to type like crazy so here goes . . .

    ,l,jhhjnng n çcnnbvnbt4ja nfmndsndfmn,. cvzbzzzzzn g nxghbpbhdlbnnn;;;;;;n,vbvnnbbc,b,l-lm,bvvbbb,0iop[;gfjvlklfn

bfgggf9bhgghhhhhgghgg hjjm

,inlktfghaaxvcccvcccccccccvfnnnnvv b

jzuer./

krkr.,drdrh i/       ll,.

bb.,b.,.

b cxcncbxbxby                   bm,p

I think what he typed is "Hi I have the BEST Mommy in the world Bye"