My New Job

All three of my kids start school tomorrow. When I started out on this journey of being a stay at home mom, I had all intentions of going back to teaching when my youngest (whoever that was, since I didn't know it was going to be Lily), went to Kindergarten. Well, that day has come. And I'm not going back to teaching. And I am happy with that decision. Ironically, I never wanted to be a stay at home mom. I wanted kids, badly, but I wanted to teach. I had wanted to be a teacher since before I could remember, and I LOVED it! Even when I was pregnant with Zach, I honestly thought that it would be easy to leave him with my mom, and go back to teaching. After all, I had Spring Break coming up and I would have part of the summer off to be with him. I thought that until I held him in my arms for the very first time. They put that little tiny baby (well, not that little; he was over 8 pounds!) in my arms & I decided right then & there that I would much rather be at home with him all of the time. That of course was not a reality. For one thing, we were in the middle of the school year, and for another, even with the cost of childcare, we still couldn't afford for me to stay at home. When I was pregnant with Riley, Jeff & I decided that with the cost of two kids in childcare, it wasn't worth it to work for what I was getting paid, so after he was born, I was able to stay at home with my two little guys. And I have loved it! Still, I missed teaching. I told Jeff that I planned on going back to work after we were done having kids & that child was in Kindergarten. I think that even while I didn't know it, Jeff knew that I was not going to go back so easily. He's pretty smart that way. =) As the kids got older, I realized that I not only loved being home while they were little, but I love being able to go to their school for things, and I love being there when they get out of school. So, as Lily's Kindergarten year got closer, I told Jeff, "I don't think I'm going to go back to teaching yet." Jeff, of course was not surprised. I love teaching, but I love being home more. I didn't think I could just sit at home all day either though. What to do, what to do? My sister, Amy solved that little dilemma for me. She had this precious little baby in May:

No, she didn't have Emma so I didn't have to be bored at home, but she did ask me if I would watch her when she had to go back to work. :0) She got to stay home with her for 12 weeks, but she has to go back to work today. I know that she will be sad, I remember those days, but I am so glad that she has entrusted Emma in my care. So this is my new job. I get to watch this little sweetie, and I still get to be a stay at home mom. I am excited to start my new adventure!

Bonfire!

On Saturday night, we went to my sister Amy and her husband Sam's house for a bonfire! They live out in the country, so there is a lot of room for the kids to play. They played on the tire swing, bounced big bouncy balls, and just ran and ran and ran!

 When it was time to eat, we put hot dogs, brats, sausages, and hot links on long forks and roasted our food. The kids really liked getting to cook their own dinner.

 Watermelon is always yummy on a warm day outside!

As the sun was setting, it was time for the marshmallow roast!

  

S'mores!!

It was such a fun night!!! Thanks Amy & Sam for hosting it!!!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday to a mom who:
Let us take over her entire living room to play "town", dragging everything we owned to make stores.
Got 9 children up, dressed & ready for school, & packed our lunches, every morning.
Attended every basketball, football, soccer, & baseball game, track meet, wrestling match, cheerleading event, concert, and play.....for years.....
Let us be loud, messy, and have fun.
Got several kids dressed in layers to go out to play in the snow, just for us to come back in a few minutes later and dump said clothes in the doorway. (And she made hot cocoa too!)
Celebrated our good times, shared in our sadness, corrected our mistakes, and showed us how to be a good person.
Makes the best homemade cookies.
Loves our children as much as we do.
Has always been there and will always be there.
Happy Birthday Mom! We love you SO much!!