Masters Degree

I forgot one big thing in my update! I went back to school. I am now one and a half semesters into my Master's degree. I'm doing it all online through a school out of Chicago. I will graduate in summer of 2016. With it I will have a master's in Early Childhood. I already have my B.S. in Elm Education.

I take two classes a semester, but only one at a time. They are 8 weeks long. It has been hard to find the balance but I think I'm starting to get it. I do miss going to the gym but I know this is important too.

I had always figured I would get my master's but then when I stopped teaching I kind of thought that it wasn't worth it. But I found a scholarship that is paying for 90% of my schooling so it is a deal I can't pass up.

Kindergarten

Kindergarten has been tough on Alyssa's health. She has been sicker this year than she has in the last 5 years. The only year she was sicker was her first year of life.
The poor girl has gotten the flu, many many colds, and now a stomach bug. We have also had 3 ear infections.
I really thought with her being in daycare that she would of built up an immunity to some of these germs but it doesn't seem true.
It makes me so nervous for when Colin starts school. The one good thing is it doesn't seem that Alyssa is passing her germs on to him too much. He is still sick but never seems to have the same thing she has.

Today neither Chris or I could take off work so I set her up a bed and she has been watching movies while I work. I think we will make a trip to the walk in clinic after I get off.

Alyssa's Party

Alyssa had her party today. It was a make up and dress up party at a bounce house of all places. They took the upstairs and turned it into an awesome place to get their hair done, dress up, paint nails, walk a runway, and play.
9 girls were invited but only 7 showed up. They all got to pick an outfit to wear, along with shoes, purse, and accessories. They then got their hair styled and then face painted. They then played while the rest finished hair or got nails done. After everyone was done they got to walk a runway while the people talked about them.
Right before the runway I had another surprise up my sleeve and Elsa showed up. So she got to help them sing some songs from Frozen, walk the runway, and then after cake and presents read them a story.

When I asked Alyssa what her favorite part of the party was, she thought for a moment and then said EVERYTHING!

At bed tonight I made her wash her face but let her keep the hair stuff in. She said "Thank you for letting me keep my hair like this, you are the best".
I'm so glad she had so much fun and I think I smiled as big as she did during the party.

Life since July

Since I last posted not too much has changed besides Alyssa starting kindergarten. Which she seems to absolutely love.

Chris is still working for his same job and is close to home which is nice because I have been putting in long hours at the daycare so Chris picks the kids up and heads home to start dinner. I usually walk in the door about the time dinner is hitting the table.

Colin's health has been better. We haven't had any hospital visits since April and no steroids since July. He has been sick since January 2nd and can't seem to shake the cough and cold but he is in good spirits and happy so I can't complain too much. We spent from August to December going to weekly visits to a speech therapist to work on swallow and speech therapy. I think it really helped in strengthening his muscles in his mouth and throat.

Alyssa is a happy girl who is doing very well in school and becoming more grown up everyday.

As for me the daycare is still growing with more changes in the works and I can't wait to see where they all go.

Dear Alyssa #6

Dear Alyssa,

   Baby girl you are 6! I cannot believe you are that old! It seems like just yesterday you were a toddler. You are loving Kindergarten. Your teacher’s name is Mrs. Schuerer and you have a big class with 25 kids but you seem to be learning. Math seems to be your strongest subject right now but you are getting better every week with your reading. Right now you are reading on a level 3 but I think with a little more practice you will be moving up soon.

 You weigh about 50 lbs and are about 48 inches tall. Your favorite foods are anything breakfast, spaghetti, or fish sticks.  You are very independent and love to do everything for yourself. You get yourself dressed, buckle your carseat, and can even help make your own peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Last weekend you went upstairs to clean your room and when I came up you had made the bed, folded your blankets and arranged your stuffed animals. Then for two nights you wouldn’t sleep under your covers or with your blanket because you didn’t want to mess up your bed.

You love to laugh and have a smile on your face most of the time. You love your little brother to the moon and back and look forward to playing with him in the evening time. Your favorite game to play is a mixture of Rescue bot and Barbies.

On Saturday you are going to have your friend party and you can’t wait. We are doing a make-up/dress up party.  

Baby girl I can’t imagine my life without you. You make my life so much more interesting and fun! I love to talk to you and see your take and thoughts on the world.

I love you!

Love,

Mommy

Alyssa 6 year old Interview

What is your favorite color? Pink

 What is your favorite toy?  Barbies

What is your favorite fruit? Strawberries

What is your favorite tv show?  Frozen

 What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Spaghetti

 What is your favorite outfit? My dress that twirls like Anna’s

What is your favorite game? Frozen Trouble

 What is your favorite snack? White Cheese itz

 What is your favorite animal? Penguins

 What is your favorite song? Let it Go

 What is your favorite book? Junie B. Jones

 Who is your best friend? Lizzie and Madelyn

 What is your favorite cereal?  Frosted Mini Wheats

 What is your favorite thing to do outside?  Swing on the swings

 What is your favorite drink?  Orange Juice

 What is your favorite holiday?  Halloween and Christmas

 What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Just my Blanket

 What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?  Muffins

 What do you want for dinner on your birthday?  Spaghetti and salad and cake

 What do you want to be when you grow up?  I want to be an Artist and a D

4 year old Interview

What is your favorite color? Green

 What is your favorite toy?  My rescue Bots

What is your favorite fruit? Bananas and grapes

What is your favorite tv show?  Rescue Bots

 What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Chicken nuggets

 What is your favorite outfit? Mustaches (a shirt he has)

What is your favorite game? Jake games

 What is your favorite snack? Animal crackers

 What is your favorite animal? Elephant

 What is your favorite song?  Oh no you never let go 

 What is your favorite book? Rescue Bot book

 Who is your best friend? Daniel

 What is your favorite cereal?  Frosted Mini Wheats

 What is your favorite thing to do outside?  Run

 What is your favorite drink?  Orange Juice

 What is your favorite holiday?  Christmas

 What do you like to take to bed with you at night? My Teddy

 What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?  Cereal and Strawberry Poptarts

 What do you want for dinner on your birthday?  Spaghetti and salad and cake

 What do you want to be when you grow up?  A worker just like Daddy

4 year old Colin

Before I can write about Alyssa and her 6th birthday I must write about Colin and his 4th.

Dear Colin,
   You are 4! You are so excited to be 4. For your birthday you wanted a big booster seat just like your sister. Now she had to wait until she was over 5 to get a booster seat but because you already weigh 46 lbs and are about 46 inches tall I agreed to a high back booster for you.  You love sitting in it and feel like such a big boy.
    You love to laugh and eat. You are usually willing to try anything once but your favorite food is corn dogs and cereal. If you get to pick those are the two things you always ask for.
    This past year has been better health wise for you. We did not have a single hospital stay from your 3rd birthday to your 4th birthday and only one unplanned hospital visit. You are on 3 maintenance medicines a day to help keep you healthy.  For now they seem to be working. Your immune system still isn't normal and it still takes you a really long time to get over any illness.
     You are a smart and caring little boy. If someone is hurt or sad you do everything in your power to make them happy. At times you come up to me and ask to snuggle. When you snuggle you curl your little body up as close as you can against mine and don't move.
   You enjoy music. You are always singing usually a song from church or the Christian radio station we often listen to. If there is a band or live music anywhere you will stop and watch. In church you sit the stillest while watching the trumpets and drums. If you aren't singing you are making car noises to move around. Your favorite show is Rescue Bots and you got all of them for your birthday and enjoy setting up scenes for them to act out usually with Alyssa's Barbies.
   You are finally able to sleep through the night again. You go to to bed about 8 and fall asleep usually by 8:30 and sleep until about 6:30 every morning. You still take an hour nap each day at daycare but we have stopped doing naps on the weekend.
    You are still swimming and are now able to swim the length of the pool by yourself. You are getting stronger at treading water. Your dives still need some work but you try hard.
    You also love to go places with me or Daddy. If we have an errand to run you will usually go with us. Just last night I needed to go to get my tires aired up, You went with me. As I was filling the tires you were bent down next to me asking me questions and doing your best to help me.

Baby boy I love you with all of my heart and you have made me a better person and mom. I enjoy watching you grow and look forward to what the next year holds for you.

Love,
Mommy

I'm alive

I haven't blogged since July 8. That is almost 7 months ago. I don't know why I stopped. I guess I felt I didn't have much to say. But as I try to remember fun things and milestones for the kids I always start with my blog.
So I would like to try to start updating it again.

There is much going on with the business, the kids and life yet none of it is huge or life changing. Just normal life.
One of the first new posts I will do is on Alyssa and her getting ready to turn 6! Look for that later this week.