LONG OVERDUE!

Seriously....I wish that I had time for all my pictures, scrapbooking, journaling, and keeping up with info about the kids! I thought the blog would make it easier to journal but I don't even find time for that!

So...6 months later I am going to type again!

Alyssa is in second grade now, and she is doing VERY well! She received all A's and E's the first 9 weeks! Last spring (and this fall) she was selected as Superintendent's Student of the Month! SOOO proud of her! Her reading is going great, along with her math. She is doing great on her spelling tests as well. Her teacher, Mrs. H, is very proud of what a great student she is. Alyssa still loves to play with all her dolls, including her doll, Allison. She loves to dress her up and let her play with her horse. ART is another FAVORITE thing for Alyssa. Santa bought her a new art easel that she has worked on almost nonstop since getting it put together. She enjoys playing games on the wii, including the dancing ones. Buddy is the elf she named, who comes to visit us at Christmas. She is an awesome helper and big sis. Nighttime is still not her favorite, and she wants someone nearby. Yesterday was the first time I finally convinced her to try her bike without training wheels. She was so worried about falling and geting hurt. She does not like to be outside of her comfort zone at all. This fall I coached her and 8 others in her first season of CYO volleyball. It was fun, and she improved GREATLY. She struggled with serving at first, but then she did great once she perfected the 'rock' with it. THEN, it lead to crying if she only got to serve once in a game. Bless her sweet heart. She LOVES to watch TV, including icarly and good luck charlie. Alyssa has only lost one tooth, it was after a football game at the coaches party. You still have your beautiful blue eyes and blond hair. You want to grow out your hair again; however, it drives me crazy when it is in your face. You love to drive the gator when we go to MoMo's house. You get frustrated with things easily, and we argue a lot. Unfortunately that is because we are so much alike. You poor girl! :-) You are still my rule follower, which I do appreciate. Although it makes you scared to try new things sometimes. A funny story that you wouldn't want me to write about, but how it made me giggle. (you don't like when I laugh at you...you don't want to be funny or have people laugh at you) One day you asked me if I knew what it meant to "give someone the middle finger." I said yes, do you? You said "Yes, it means you will do drugs and smoke cigarettes." I told you that was not it; however, you said "that is what everyone says." I only let you know it was sign language for a very bad word. If only that innocence could always be there. I love you girl!

Austin is almost 2.5 and still loves his friends at Missie's. He is a FUNNY little man who loves his big sister. He is still a picky eater, not interested in being potty trained, loves bugs, hates getting his haircut, loves tools, loves trains, and loves trucks, tractors, and cars! He is truly a momma's boy, he can identify all sports balls, LOVES M&M's, loves dum dum lollipops. I dread taking you to get your haircut. It is completely miserable. No chance you will let them put the cape on you, you hate when they spray the water, and we both get hair ALL over us! When counting, he doesn't like to include the number 3. He can count to about 15 though. He will not go to sleep on his own since I took away the pacifiers. He must sleep with his 'guys' - the animals we cut off of the last two pacifiers. He always wants milk before he goes to sleep, and he wants momma to lay with him. He almost ALWAYS wakes up in the middle of the night and comes to lay with mom & dad. He also likes to strum his guitar while singing! It's pretty comical. Santa brought him a big John Deere tractor that he can drive - he was very excited about it! When we went to see Santa at the mall, he was scared of him. Alyssa sat on Santa's lap, and we could barely even get him to just stand by Alyssa. I love when I tell him I don't have something, and his response is "Yes you do." It's so sweet! He loves chicken nuggets, fish sticks, and corn! He could eat those all the time! Austin has also mastered batting his eyes at you with the use of the word 'please.' I am in so much trouble! EVERYONE says you are a mini daddy! You look a lot like him, especially with your blue eyes! You love to ride the gator and tractor when we go to MoMo's, and you want to help daddy feed the cows. And, how could I forget that he LOVES Mickey Mouse! I love you little man!

At Halloween, Alyssa was a cowgirl and Austin was a cowboy. We went downtown for a little while, and then we trick or treated in our neighborhood for a while. Austin now loves to wear those cowboy boots. Although some days he tells me he doesn't want to be a cowboy!

The kids enjoyed the parade for the county fair, and they also both enjoyed the rides! Big sister was awesome and rode many of the kiddie rides with her little brother. Wurstfest was lots of fun too. They had fun running around there, along with riding the carousel.

I am still teaching math, and somedays wonder if I can do it until I have to retire. Society has changed so much, along with the work ethic of individuals. It is a struggle that I deal with, and I lose my patience easily. Hard working people that are determined to work and discover an answer is becoming a lost 'art.' Then there is the daily battle with phones in the classroom that is very distracting. Unfortunately I am also scared for kids for some of the things they 'post' in the social media. Don't get me wrong....definitely still great kids out there....but very frustrating on a daily basis.

Chad is still coaching football and baseball. He is also working in credit recovery this semester. Coaching definitely keeps him busy, especially as he prepares for another baseball season.

We also took a family getaway to the riverwalk a couple weeks ago, and that was alot of fun! Hopefully we can do that more often. We also met your aunt, uncle, niece and nephew there. It was so fun to ride the boat and look at all the lights.