Evan's 1st day!!!

Evan's first day of school was very exciting. When we got to car line he unbuckled, hugged me, and told me he would miss me. With that he told me he loved me, and that I was his best friend. Now if he were the first child I would have been in tears at that point Although touched by his sweetness, we were both ready for this moment. He bailed out of the van, and never looked back, and I didn't either. I then met up with Carrie for coffee! I love my children more than words can say, but I really enjoy my 12 hours a week ALONE.

Don't take this email to be horrible in anyway, I'm just having blogging block today so short it is.

Alive and Kicking...

I am still alive, I know I have not posted in forever... With schedules, and then Gustav who has time for anything??? I hopefully will start posting again later this week. Be patient with me, I am in high demand right now!!! :)

Excitement, Nerves, and Emotions...

I usually post about Madison because she has more going on to post about. However, today is all about Evan, and I am looking forward to him doing more things so I can include him more often.


Today was Open House at Evan's pre-school. Last year I was on the fence about it, then I decided to climb over the fence and enroll him. Madison's pre-school was such a horrible experience that I have reservations about doing it all over again. But this is a different place and comes highly recommended!

Evan was so excited to be going to school this morning, he has been waiting ever since we learned the names of his teachers. He walked in like a pro did not have any separation problems which I knew he wouldn't. Things started off well, Evan was playing in the kitchen and this little boy came over trying to play too, when Evan in a not so nice voice said NO. I thought oh boy here we go. Then Evan was playing blocks when all of a sudden a small sibling of a classmate came over and bopped Evan upside the head with a large wooden block. Those of you who know me well, knows that doesn't set real well with me!! Sharing problems, rough housing is one thing, hitting...NO! The lady said she was sorry, but truth be told I was annoyed. Evan cried, but was okay after a Mommy hug, and kiss.


It was time to go to orientation while the kids stayed in class with their teachers. I went over and said goodbye to Evan and gave him a kiss. Just like Madison did on her first day, Evan said a half hearted bye and turned around to play. 90% of me was happy this is how he reacted, 10% of me was sad he didn't need me to stay.

Thank goodness Rachel, and Carrie were there to calm me down and to tell me everything was going to be ok. I returned to pick Evan up, and his teacher said he did fine. Evan is very small for his age, and in my opinion very immature compared to Madison at this age.



I think this will be a good year, and I am sure after the first couple of days of total freedom I will be way over it!

The TOCC Boys!!(they are church buddies)

Non-stop schedules, party planning, and 2 weeks of saying goodbye...

I know it has been a couple of weeks since my last post, sorry. Since Madison has started school, and we have been back on our crazy schedule. Madison's teacher is great, but with great teachers comes great responsibility! 2nd grade is a whole new ball game. Last year they did not get your typical grades A, B, C, D, F. They got E=excellent, S=satisfactory, and so on. Well, for the next what will seem like 30 years of her life to her anyway will be the "real" grades. Let me give you an example of our week.

School gets out at 3:51

Monday - Folder is packed. 10 spelling words to study for a test on Friday(Madison has to write them 5 times everyday) Along with the spelling words comes 5 sentences which contains the spelling words. The teacher will pick 2 of them, but you have to know all 5 because you never know which ones she will pick.(Madison writes them everyday) 5-7 Vocab words for a test on Friday(We study them everyday) Reading comprehension for a test on Friday(yep, we study everyday) Now, she comes home with a text book, and has to read 3-4 chapters, and answer the questions at the end of the story. We go over the story, and answer the questions before bed, and on the way to school. All of this is going on while Evan is bugging Madison at the kitchen table, me trying not to yell at him to leave her alone, her frustrated, him crying because it seems nobody wants him at the moment. And while all of that is going on, I am in the kitchen cooking dinner. Studies finish at about 6ish. Madison gets 1 hour of free time, before bath, brush those beautiful braces/teeth, then she is required to read every night for 20 minutes per her teacher, and us. 8:00 comes, everyone is in bed, and I start laying out clothes for the next day, getting her lunch box ready, breakfast planned, snack packed in her bag, and then I fall on the couch in a daze of what just happened, and where am I!! This is JUST MONDAY!!!!!!

Tuesday - Madison comes home, writes her words, sentences, studies vocab, does her math homework, gets dressed for cheer, I am quickly making dinner, because we have to walk out of the door at 5:15 to get her there on time. While in the van Madison is going over vocab again, writing spelling words she needs extra help on, etc... Cheer is from 5:30 to 7:00. We rush home throw her in the tub, she brushes, then to bed to read.

Wed. - Madison is home, doing the same studies as Tuesday's. I can take a little more time to cook dinner, Madison has to get a bath early so we can make it to church by 7:00, unless I have a church mtg. which is at 6:00, then we have to alter things a little bit.

Thur. Same exact schedule at Tuesday (cheer is twice a week). I give Madison a spelling test, and if she misses any, she works on the words on the way to cheer.

Friday - can not come fast enough in this house. After Madison gets home from school she runs to her room and does whatever she wants, I fall on the couch thanking the lord it is Friday, and good luck with dinner people, you guys are on your own!

Sat. - Madison has private cheer/tumble lessons with her coach for an hour.

All of this while I am helping to plan church functions, Navy wives functions, being room Mom, working in the office at school as a volunteer, etc.... I do enjoy staying busy, but I love the weekends that have nothing scheduled and we just lay around all day.

The next 2 weeks will be emotionally draining. Travis' boss (CO), and the CO's wife (COW) will be leaving the command. They are not moving, but there will be a new boss in town. The Connon's are wonderful people, and have been an absolute pleasure to work with, and to be friends with. For the next 2 weeks there will be lunches, picnics, parties, and a ceremony to say goodbye.


I know it sounds crazy, but I LOVE this time of year!!!

My point...I may not be blogging as often!!!!

Ding Ding!! Time for school....

Yesterday was the first day of school for Madison. My alarm went off at 6:45 on Friday, and as I annoyingly hit the snooze button, I realized I did wish it on myself. I have been counting down the summer ready for the school year to begin, but with the pros comes the cons, like getting up early!! I walked into Madison's room to wake her up at 7:15, she jumped out of bed excited it was a school day. I give her a couple more years of excitement until the typical pull the covers up over the head, and moan routine.

I know with every year comes change in kids, but this is the first year that I saw a HUGE change in Madison. Here is a picture of her first day of school last year going into first grade....

Here is a picture of Madison's first day of school going into the second grade...

Madison is about 8 bls. lighter than last year (not that she needs to be, it just happened, cheer maybe?). She is about 6 ft. tall this year!!!! LOL :) Madison has a better understanding of what school is for, and what is expected from her. Just total change...

Madison is in the newer part of the school building this year with a seasoned teacher. Mrs. Bradshaw Is one of those teachers who have taught forever, is very sweet and loving, but also expects her students to do exactly what she says. In working in the office last year, Mrs. Bradshaw was one of the few teachers you saw needing the principal, etc....because she handles her class, and molds her kids' accordingly. The other students in Madison's class are absolutely wonderful. Everybody knows that there are those kids' that are a chronic problem, and always interrupts the class. NONE of those kids are in this class, and I am so thankful! Last year there were 4 Madison's in her class, this year it is just her. She is so happy about that!!! Madison came home yesterday all smiles, she loves her teacher, she loves the other kids, she loved everything. Let's hope it stays that way. I think it will, and we are all excited about this school year being a total success.

Four graduations down...one to go???

Congratulations Travis!!!

Travis finished his 2nd Masters degree, and graduated today. We are all so proud of him. Travis has been in the Navy for 19 years, and has loved every minute of it, well almost every minute. On the way home not to be mean, but I asked him if he was getting bored with graduating so many times, because I am kinda getting bored with it!! :) Anyway it was a nice ceremony followed by cake for the kiddos, and signifies the end of school, and the beginning of deployment.

Babe we love you, and are so excited for your future.

So, Travis any chance of maybe a doctorate degree in the future???

What's up with us? Well...

With summer winding down so are we. Madison is still cheering 3 times a week, and Evan still hangs out with us, and on us!!

Madison is not quite a pro on her backhand springs yet, but getting close. She can now do them without a spot at the gym, and with a spot on our trampoline. A huge thanks to Daniel for coming over to show us how to properly spot Madison. Oh, and if you ever see Daniel and a trampoline in the same place ask him to do tricks for you, he is absolutely AMAZING!! Here is some video of her last Sat. at private lessons.



Since Evan is 3 he pretty much has cheer 3 times a week too! He has been working on his toe touches, his dance, and pom routine! So here is some video of Evan yesterday!




A couple of weeks ago we had Christmas in July at the Gilbert's. We had all kinds of holiday food and eggnog. We all wore holiday garb, it was hilarious!! Another thanks to Daniel for picking up our sweaters at the Goodwill!

Ang. & Daniel

Daniel, Travis, Ang., Michael

Everybody

Carrie and I went to the Gilbert's last night for some Karaoke fun! I don't have any pics. or video, but Becky sure does. Carrie was FANTASTIC! I have never seen a better Celine Dion ever!! My heart will go on Carrie.... Maybe one day I will have the guts to get up there and join, until then I will continue to chair dance and sing backup. Good Times.........