Wrestling :
Evan and Eli are loving wrestling. Eli would wrestle every weekend if we let him. They are both having a good season and have wrestled in two tournaments.
Ben is in full swing of his season. He has three meets this week so we are going to broke in very quickly!
Zeke Daycare:
We had to make a daycare change this school year. After 11 years, our previous daycare provider got another job. This was a tough transition on all of us. Zeke cried the first few weeks and Lisa had to peel him off of us everyday. He loved it once he was there, and was so happy when we picked him up, but the mornings were really rough. He cried, I cried, it was bad. About a month ago, he turned a corner. No longer did he cry, but instead, jumped out of the car and ran into the house. He LOVES it! She lives on the outside of town and has animals and a small farm. horses, cows, pot belly pig, kitties, chickens, bunnies. The kids have chores and he just LOVEs it. She calls him farmer Zeke and he is convinced he is a farmer.
4th Grade:
It is so hard for me to believe that Isaac is already in 4th grade. I think this hits me so hard because I know how fast this is going to go. With Evan, I guess I just didn't realize that time would fly like it does. Being in 4th grade, he is the oldest group in the elementary. Next year he is going to be in the Intermediate Building...for two year and then with me at the jr high. UGH! I can't believe it. We (Isaac especially) are learning that 4th grade is a year of responsibility. It has been a tougher transition for him and it has caused a bit of stress for all of us. We are getting there, but sure have a ways to go. Isaac is not one to be real responsible. He just beats to his own drum and has a very carefree attitude. He is a kid that would go to school with his shirt on backwards and forget his socks ... EVERYDAY if we didn't remind him. Well, that doesn't really work the older you get.
Isaac has a BIG heart and is such a great help with little kids. School just isn't his thing. He AMAZES me when he talks to little kids. In fact, he has "babysat" for our neighbors a few times for 10-15 minutes. He is so patient, loving and attentive with children....school, not so much! We'll get there, but it's definitely a work in progress!
And I think he gets more handsome everyday!
Me:
I have been busy keeping our family in line and organized. Somedays it's successful, some days not at all! There have been many changes for me this year. We restructured our school district this year. Previously, I was working as the 5-8th grade counselor, but with these changes, we moved 7-8th grade up to the high school. I was able to move up to the new junior high with them. It has been a wonderful change for me. Previously, I was working as a counselor but also teaching a few classes in middle school. This year, I am strictly the 7-12 counselor. I LOVE IT! I am loving being a counselor and not a teacher on top of the the other duties. Our high school counselor is doing a half day alternative program for at-risk high schoolers, so I have been taking over many of his duties. Every day has been something different and challenging. I am learning all the high school/college stuff. It has been a challenge but a very welcome one!
Another change for me this year, I was the head high school boys/girls coach. Last year I coached the middle school and this year took over the high school program. I learned a lot and really enjoyed it. It took a bit more time than that middle school position, but was well worth it.
The other change/challenge for me is a little "side business". I have had a few friends ask if I could take pictures for them. Word spreads quickly in a small town and I have acquired a small business. I have been taking pictures for families. I enjoy taking pictures ... and I finally figured out why. It is one of the few things that I can do that doesn't get undone. I cook, clean, do laundry, etc etc for my family and it is undone faster than I can blink. There are many days I feel very defeated...when I take pictures, I get that feeling of accomplishment. It feels good. I always used to envy Ben. He works so hard on projects around the house. When he is done, he gets to stand back and look and say "wow, look what I did". I swear I work just as hard as him ... and as soon as the kids wake up or enter the house...it's undone. I am not planning on quitting my counseling job by any means, but I do enjoy it.
Here are some of my favorites....
