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Here we go......

Every year at this time I get nervous about going back to school. Up until this year I have just been nervous for me and sad that I have to send the kids back to daycare. This year is different. I have to be nervous for me, Raegan and Colton. All three of us are taking on new roles.

My first baby, Raegan is heading to Kindergarten. She is excited. I am too, but wow, did those five years fly by. I know she will love school. She is getting so independent and loves to be around other kids. We aren't "good enough" any more. She is on to bigger and better things and it is exciting to watch her do this. However, it kind of tears you up watching it too. I caught Chris last night staring at her picture when she was 6 months old. He didn't say anything, but I could tell he was thinking the same things I am. So, tomorrow, I will take her to school to meet her teacher, drop off her supplies (all 5 boxes of requested crayons), and walk around the school, and then we will come home together. She only goes for an hour and starts full time on Wed. Chris will stay home to put Raegan on the bus Wed morning. I can't do it.

Colty is starting the Early Childhood program this year. His speech and language are delayed. I am so worried about him. I know it is for his own good. I feel like I am taking him out of his carefree, fun, little simple life and throwing him out into the world. We went to visit his classroom on Thursday. He did OK. At first he got all inhibited like he usually does when he gets shy. He starts to use a high squeaky voice and make little eye contact with new people. His sister acts the same way. Although she doesn't use the weird voice, which drives me nuts, she finally is starting to look at people and talk to them when they talk to her. So, why do I worry 10 times more about this kid. I worry that he will never progress like normal kids. It makes me sad to see all of my friends/co-workers kids that are the same age, talking up a storm and me interpreting for everybody what Colty says. I love this kids more than you can imagine. Maybe that is why I worry. When he was born he had a birthmark on his back. We had to have an MRI to make sure he didn't have a tethered spinal cord, he didn't. When he was five months old, he was diagnosed with Congenital Nystagamus. He wasn't going to develop vision like normal kids. Somehow this went away. The dr said that he has only seen this 4 times in his practice, but it happened with our son. He can see just fine and his eyes don't shake ever! But this, speech/language development issue is shaking me. He is the size of a 5 year old and talks more like a two year old. So, it is my hope that this year of school will trigger a language explosion. I can't wait...even if I have to cry tomorrow when I drop him off (after I put on the happy face and tell him he'll be fine while he screams and cries). It is for his own good..........right?

And Macy....She gets to spend three days a week in the arms of her grandmas and 2 days a week with my friend and her little girl. She will be fine. She is the one person in this family I am not worried about at all!

I am starting a new position at school. I am excited for the challenge and scared of the pressure. It was nice going in this year and not having to set up the classroom. It is nice to be able to go in at 11:30 the first day of school so I can get Raegan and Colton where they need to be. It is nice that if I am sick I won't have to go in at 5am and write sub plans. I am excited to focus on just literacy and not deal with FOSS, math, Social studies, recess, lunch and all of the other parts to being a classroom teacher. I will work with one kiddo at a time for 30 minutes. I service four kids a day. So I teach for 2 hours. Now, there is a lot of testing and paperwork with this job. I will be bringing a lot more home, but that is OK. I will be home by 11:30 each day. It is something that I will have to force myself to do. It will feel strange, but incredibly good.

Sorry for the non-uplifting post....Just needed to vent...

Here I Go Again....

Back to School Time

This time of year is always so hard for me. I have never had to grow up. I have never had a job that requires you to work year round therefore, every year I have to go through this slight mourning process....It's like leaving my baby after being home on maternity leave, except I do it every year. This year is even more anxiety provoking. I have 2 of the 3 kids starting school. Raegan is starting Kindergarten. Her teacher's name is Ms. Kennedy and she is very excited. I hear that the teacher is very LOUD, but nice. Due to some speech and language concerns, Colton will be getting on the school bus 3 days a week and going to the Early Childhood program in DeForest. I will be sending my little 3 yr old on a bus (the thought alone is enough to draw tears). The other two days a week he will be going to Country Creek, where Raegan went this past year. I hope he will love it as much as she did

I can't believe Raegan is starting her schooling experience. I want her to love it. So far she is sooo excited. I am more apprehensive than she is. We went shopping last night for her school supplies...Pretty uneventful. The only thing I found very odd is that they need 5 boxes of crayons. Target was out. I have been teaching for 10 year now and have never known a kids to blow through one whole box much less 5....If they really use that many crayons then they are spending too much time coloring in my opinion....

This year is different for me. I am going back to work part time and starting a new job position. I will be teaching Reading Recovery. This is a great opportunity. It is a program that selects children that are having the hardest time learning to read and write and designs lessons strictly focused on what the individual child needs. I teach 4 children per semester and it is one on one. I also have to be in training while doing this position. I will be taking a class for 3 hours on Tues nights and will be observed often. This is the part that is scaring me the most. Anyone who knows me well knows I do not like to be in the spotlight. I will be teaching behind a one way mirror while others watch....Enough to make me want to puke...Then the teacher leader will come a few times to observe me and I will have to video tape myself a few times. I am wondering if I made the right decision...

The most important thing is that I will be home by 11:30 every day. I will be here to get Raegan off of the bus. I will be here to make Macy and Colton lunch and put her down for her nap. I will be here for my kids.

This is only happening because I have the best mother, mother in law, aunt and friend, Jen, in the world. They are all helping me out to make this happen for me. If I had to pay to put the kids in daycare then I would not be able to do this. So thanks you all. I can't tell you how much I appreciate this.

So as I wrap up my last official day of vacation, I need to focus on the reasons why I took this new position and how it is benefiting me professionally and my family personally...Even if I throw up and freak out 4 times a year when I go BEHIND THE GLASS...

Just love this picture....

Raegan....where is time going?

Raegan and Colton are both taking swimming lessons this summer. I guess this is the weak attempt of us helping Raegan to practice in the 12 inch deep pool.
Raegan started Tball and daddy is the coach. She loves it and is doing very well. She is getting to be quite the fielder....
This is her last day of her "Flips" class. She couldn't wait to be done and now she wants to take it again. She is very interested in watching the Olympic Gymnastic trials....She says she will be able to that when she is 9
Raegan got glasses. She loves them. Also, she learned how to ride her bike this summer. We didn't really even teach her. We took the training wheels off and let go...She never looked back, literally..
Hardest part of the summer was the graduation from her pre-school ,Country Creek. Hands down the worlds best place. Here she is singing, "I'm going to be a star!" The processional was a tune by Rascal Flatts, "My Wish" Here I go again, crying just thinking about it....Read these lyrics and tell me you don't get choked up!

I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
and each road leads you where you want to go,
and if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
and if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' 'til you find the window,i
f it's cold outside,
show the world the warmth of your smile,
but more than anything, more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
and while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
all the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
and you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
and always give more then you take.
But more than anything, Yeah, and more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
and while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you,
and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
and while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you,
and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.this is my wish
i hope you know somebody loves you
may all your dreams stay big

Love this kid!

Never too early to play outside (he's still in his jammies)


Fun with foamy soap!
Classic Colton.... Colton is the epitome of a naughty little boy. On the complete opposite side he is soo happy and loving. It doesn't take a lot to make him happy, unlike his big sister. She isn't easily impressed. I admit I lose my patience with him way to often, but in the end...love this kid!

Raegan Picasso

The Titanic For a while she was into drawing wagons. Don't ask me.. My warm hearted daughter... She is thankful....for freakin Halloween!
Our Family Portrait. I just noticed that Chris only has one leg
This was a touching picture she drew when she was at school. I asked her what it was and she was sad and wanted me to come home:(