Our New Adventure

A lot has happened since my last post so this will, again, just be a recap. Since I last wrote, we have visited PC for the holidays and traveled cross country to PCS to Arizona.

Bucky got his Orange Belt in Jujitsu.

We visited Florida before heading west.

Visited the battleship in Mobile Bay.

We spent a couple of days in Tombstone.

We rang in the New Year at a hotel in Tombstone.

Moved into our house at Fort Huachuca, AZ. 

And, of course, enjoyed the beautiful weather.

Now is where I promise to stay caught up and blog every X amount of days but between 2 kids, a husband's erratic work schedule, my school and continuing to set up a house for us for the next few years (hopefully), I'm a little busy. It's a good busy, but busy nonetheless :).

Saints Mini Mites

B played his first season of Football this year. He was on the Saints mini mites team. For it being his first year, he did great! He was scared at first and still sometimes during. Can you blame him? We had the smallest team out there! He really enjoyed it and said he wants to play again next year. Buck was stateside and was able to coach the team. Good thing since the Head Coach was late pretty much every time and didn't even make it to the last game (great example Coach!), but Buck and the other two coaches took over and did a wonderful job!

Picture Day

Practicing with Pads

First Game

Down, Set, Hike!!

Defending his territory

Fumble Recovery!

Chasing the Ball

Waiting for the game

Cheering for Bubby!

Captain for the Game

Oh Those Cousins

Every time my family gets together we try to get a picture of the grandchildren. For the past three years we always add another. This year...it will still only be four :). Here's the best we could do this past September...

Such a ham :)

Cute and Cuddly

And what the majority of the pictures looked like :)

A Year Already

Hard to believe that a year has passed since this little girl came into our lives...but it has. This beautiful little being has been such a blessing for us. She loves to growl, crawl to escape us after making sure we are watching her, get into trouble, put things in her mouth (like, everything), laugh (even if it's fake), make others laugh, build with blocks, race cars, chase things that her big bubby throws, roll around on the carpet, take a few steps if she feels like it, yell "Mama" if I am not paying attention to her, call for "Baba" even when he's at school, chase the vacuum, laugh at loud noises, yank glasses right off your face, give kisses (new), and sometimes help pick things up. She is a wonderful delight for us all and everyone we meet even if only for a moment. She can brighten a room with the amount of smiles she gives out expecting nothing in return. We were truly blessed with another wonderful child. I can't wait to see what the next year brings for us.

Agendas

These were the bane of our lives last year. Who knew one little calendar could cause such ridiculous uproar? For those non-parents or parents without kids currently in school, this is how the teacher tells you what's going on in your kiddo's class. Last year, it was like the Holy Grail that led us to believe our child was just not cutting it (behavior-wise). Behaviors, such as playing in line, talking during instruction, playing on the carpet, became regular topics of conversation last year. I tried to remind myself (constantly) that he was only 5 and in a new environment...because he was. I was at a loss about what to do once he got home because, after all, this behavior had occurred several hours prior. I was in tears some days feeling like a failure, especially because I could tell how bad our little boy was feeling. Sadly, I did not realize until the month before school let out that it was a bunch of BS. Yes, my kid acts out sometimes. Yes, he talks a little too much (don't know where he got that). And Yes, he likes to play. But he was in Kindergarten. Teach him, oh Teacher, how he is supposed to be acting. You can't just punish him for the bad and not reward him for the good. How will he know when he is doing what is expected? How will any of them know? I went to his class a little early towards the end of school because it was his birthday and I took some cupcakes for a little celebration. These "centers" that he was getting in trouble for talking during...there were four kids at each table, facing each other and doing their activities. How in the world were they supposed to "not talk"? Don't get me wrong...I did like his teacher. Otherwise I would've tried to get him out of that classroom. He loves school and I didn't want that to change. This year, he has had good days every day. His teacher gives them many warnings, sometimes for the same behavior, before we even find out. And even if he did have a bad moment at school, we just talk about it and move on. I messed up last year, but I was learning too. I asked my mom how she handled my brother and I when we were that age. Her response - "I didn't have those issues with you. Of course, I didn't know what you were doing unless it was really bad." Point taken. If it's not that bad, don't tell the parent. If it keeps happening, please let me know and we can work together to handle it. But don't expect me to work miracles hours after this behavior has occurred. Who's idea was it anyway to let parents know every little thing that's happening while they are in the teacher's care? You mean...GASP...my child talks and plays?? He NEVER does that at home. Yeah right...

Picture Day

While everyone seemed to be sending their kiddos to school for the first day, we were getting ready for Fall pictures. We always practice a little before school because, well, I want pictures I don't have to spend a bazillion bucks to have. I do buy a package anyway because he's cute but the photographers don't take the time they did when he was in Preschool. 

Couldn't help but laugh :)

He wanted one with lil sis in it as well

(This one is going on my wall)

Getting Bigger

Our little girl is not so little anymore. In face, she is rapidly approaching the one year mark. Holy moly! She has learned a ton of new things the past few months and continues to learn much, much more. She loves to clap, chase you around (crawling), standing up, saying "Mama" especially when she wants something, books, and big Bubby. And tantrums....she LOVES throwing tantrums when she doesn't get what she wants when she wants it. Sometimes she gets mad because we were not able to read her mind and know what she was going to want. She is also teething off and on. We have had a few rough nights and very early mornings but this too shall pass :).