I don't know if I can recount the last 4 months in one blog, actually I'm not even sure I fully remember the last 4 months as they happened. I do know, that we survived the summer and we are all loving the cooler weather. Emma and Josh have already been in school for one quarter and parent teacher conferences are this week. I can't wait to hear what their teachers have to say about them, all good things I'm sure.
Before school got going again, the kids and I (minus Lizzie) got a chance to spend some time in California with my grandparents. It has become the highlight of the kids whole summer to stay with grandma and grandpa and be around their other cousins. We had a great time and Jonathan was the perfect baby the entire trip. After our trip, Emma and Josh participated in Vacation Bible School and had a wonderful week learning more about their Catholic faith.
As school started again, we were given the opportunity to change Josh's preschool so that he'd attend the same school Emma does. I was very nervous about making the change but it has been a huge blessing and I'm so glad we did move him. Emma started off her school year in one classroom but the classes were so large that the grade level split the first week of school and by the second week, she was in a new classroom. I was worried about the switch for her too because the week the classes ended up splitting, she broke her foot jumping on the trampoline with her much older/bigger cousin (totally my fault for letting them jump at the same time). She missed a week of school but returned to her new classroom with ease (especially thanks to the school nurse). She was a definite trooper with the cast on for 3 weeks and got around on a rolling scooter.
Both Emma and Josh have started catechesis classes again and this year they are in different levels which means different classrooms. This has proven to be a good thing for both of them and I love watching their relationship with God deepen all the time. Emma got a guitar for her birthday and has begun lessons. Right now, she has a lesson every other week and she seems to love it. We're not really sure what sparked her interest in guitar but she kept asking and talking about it. I'm excited she wants to play an instrument, I have always regretted never taking up anything other than the piano. Josh really wants to do karate which is no surprise since he loves the Power Ranger (ugh, gag) and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. We have decided to wait until Spring to get him started in anything because I honestly don't think I can keep up with another activity right now.
Lizzie is still Lizzie. She is the sweetest most loving little girl one minute and the biggest terror, screaming her head off the next. The girl seriously has split personalities. She is pretty predictable now and I know exactly what's going to bring the beast out but unfortunately hearing no and not always getting your way is part of growing up. She loves taking Emma and Josh to school every morning and saying goodbye to them (I think she loves the one on one time we get while they're gone) but she is equally excited when we pick Josh up and always begs for us to get Emma too. She loves her baby brother and is great with him. She loves telling me exactly what he is doing and what he needs, "baby hungee" or "baby seep" and her favorite "baby poopy". We are still working on getting her to eat more and it has been a huge pain in the rear. She is doing better but I have decided that having a Josh sized eater before a Lizzie sized eater was not a bonus, I was definitely spoiled by him eating anything and everything. Oh well, one of the joys.
Jonathan is the happiest baby much like Lizzie was. We are a bit worried that he'll turn into a loon (said with love) like she has but, time will tell. We had him baptized in August and had a small family gathering afterward, it was a beautiful day. We are still battling him to be a good sleeper but he has proven to be a stinker. His favorite place to sleep is mine and Eric's bed (which if you really know us, is not something we have ever allowed). I don't know if I've gotten lazy or I've gotten soft but for awhile, the kid was in between us every morning. Last night we made the switch to his crib in his own room (that he shares with Josh) and he did great. Tonight is the second night and hopefully he'll keep trending upward.
I am enjoying my time at home and have come to realize both the positive and the negatives to being a stay at home mom and not a working mom. My days are honestly less stressful than they were when I was working. No more rushing out the door in the mornings and having to kiss my kids goodbye. I have time to workout and catch up on a tv show or a book while the kids are napping (thank God for naps!). We have gotten into a good groove now that school has begun and we are doing well. It is hard not having a paycheck and living on a budget. It is also hard to not get out of the house (even though we go places) or be without my children ever (sounds strange but when you work, you're separated from your kids so much that it is an adjustment to be with them all the time). Don't get me wrong, I do love the I am home to be with my kids all the time and that I don't have to worry about what I'll do when they get sick. It turned out to be a huge blessing when Emma broke her foot because if I was working, I have no idea what we would have done. I am enjoying this time and am excited to volunteer in Emma and Josh's classrooms this year.
So there you have it, a snapshot of what we're all up to. Well, at least myself and the kids. I guess Eric isn't really that exciting. Just kidding, really he has been working a lot. He's gone on a few hunting trips and has shot clay pigeons with a friend a few times in the evening. He's playing Fantasy Football again (which I totally love) and hoping to go camping with the kids next month. We are busy and our life is crazy and loud. There are some Sundays when Eric and I just shake our heads at each other. We are also blessed and though we dream about the quiet, we wouldn't have it any other way.
