For a person who has been SO good in the last few years about blogging, I sure have slacked off! This year- 2015- has been a whole new adventure for me...and I haven't posted anything at all. These are moments I don't ever want to forget... so I better get on the ball! LOL
Where to begin...
In August, I posted about my decision to sign up as a substitute teacher. I had no idea... AT ALL... what a life-changing decision that would be. I knew how much I loved being at the school last year when I volunteered a day or two per week in Xander's class. So I signed up thinking it might be fun to make some money while helping the school. Little did I know how IN LOVE I would become with this position! On my days that I don't get to sub, I feel like part of me is missing. Is that a bit drastic? Perhaps, but it's the best way to describe how I feel. Those kids... and the faculty.. they have become my family- an extension of me. I love every single kid... I WANT to be there with them. I have great respect for the teachers, assistants, and Principal... I see myself there. I want to work there full time! Eventually, I want to finish up my degree so I CAN be there full time as a teacher! Already, I have a couple people serving as mentors for my future. I am learning so much- not just about the kids, but about myself...about what I want to do with my life! Needless to say, my decision to sub this year has been one of the best decisions of my life!! I'm excited to see what the future holds :) |
| I can tell a slight difference! Can you? |
Also... about me... My New Year's Resolution this year was to change myself physically. I decided that enough was enough, and I needed to get control of my health and my weight. Now, I'm in my 5th month... as of last week, I have lost 33.9 pounds. I have so much further to go, but I am quite proud of myself. I am too stubborn to quit! AND, while I do still have "cheat" days where I am SO far off of my plan, I am determined to get this weight off, to eat healthier, and to live longer for my husband and kids! I have started doing zumba... I think it helps! I love doing it- it's so fun to dance/exercise and time passes so quickly. It doesn't feel like "WORK," but it sure does burn calories!!
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ALSO, since I last updated, Tim started college. He graduated high school, then went straight to Rhema Bible Training Center... he never went to college. So now, he has decided that he wants to do more with his life... he is currently in his second semester. In addition to his 40+hours of work every week, he is also taking 9-12 hours of college courses online. It's been very busy and a tad bit stressful...
But I am loving this time. He is doing a great job- in fact, he has all A's so far and was recommended to join the honors program of the school!! I'm so proud of him!! He started school saying he thought he wanted to be a teacher... but as time passes, he is leaning towards counseling. It'll be fun to see where this journey takes him!!
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Xander is doing a great job this year in the third grade. It is his last year at our favorite school... moving up to the IGC next school year (intermediate grade center- 4-6 grade). First semester, he had all A's except for 1 B, and he got Tiger Cub (kinda like a student of the month recognition,but not quite as awesome)... Proud mommy here!! This semester has been a little more challenging- he has one A and the rest are Bs... still just as proud!! In March, we found out that he was named the STUDENT OF THE MONTH!!
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| With his AMAZING teacher: Ms. F!! |
This is a big honor for the third graders! He got to go out to lunch with his Principal and he helped lead the monthly assembly along with the girl who was also chosen!! He is doing such a great job... did I mention how proud he has made me!!?? Xander says he doesn't want to go to college. He wants to go into the Army because "Army guys are honest and strong, and I'm honest and strong. I want to fight for our country!" Again... PROUD!
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Asher is doing great as well! His teacher said to me one day that he is a "breath of fresh air!" She can always count on him to be quiet and doing his assignments. The first month of the school year, he received the Tiger Cub award. For homework every week, she gives a homework BINGO sheet- so there are 24 assignments. They only "have" to do 4, plus the free box for one bingo... but my over-achiever kiddo loves turning in a "Black Out" every week!! He loves to read and to learn. He is one of only a few in his class who was reading at a 2nd grade level by Christmas!! He wins the class coloring contest often- he loves to draw and color!!
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| "My Feginstan Is Sceree" (My Frankenstein is scary) |
I am so proud of how far he has come in the last couple of years... he had a rocky start there in pre-K, but you'd never know it now!! His teacher has done a great job this year pulling him out of his shell and challenging him to learn so many things! She's proven invaluable in his little life!! We love Mrs. U! Asher hasn't said much about what he wants to be when he's older... but he did say recently that he'd like to go to Bible college like Tim and I did!!
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Jonathan... he's such a goof! Jonathan is doing well in school also. He had essentially "mastered" all of his kindergarten stuff before Christmas break. His reading is improving... he loves to read and is constantly trying to figure out how to spell things! The first month of school, along with Xander and Asher, he received the Tiger Cub award!! It was pretty cool to have all three boys get it together!! He has a few friends who he always asks to have play-dates and sleepovers with! He loves his teacher!! In fact, just a couple days ago, when I showed my excitement for him moving to first grade soon, he said that he didn't want to go to first grade because he loves Mrs. B too much to leave! She really is a great teacher... we'll miss her!! He says when he grows up, he wants to be a fireman!
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| On a cold day, you've gotta have a good friend :) |
Bella, my princess baby!! Although, if she heard that, she'd say, "I'm not a baby!!" HA!! She is my youngest, and therefore, will always be my baby!!! Even if she doesn't believe it!! She is doing well in kindergarten too! She has grown so much over this year. She started off struggling with most everything, but is now LOVING books and reading and spelling. She writes all the time, (incorrectly, but she's learning) then brings it to me and says, "Did I spell this right?" I don't have the heart to say no, but, instead, I tell her she sounded out the main sounds of the words just perfectly. For example, she wrote a note to her teacher and said, "You r the bst tchtr" ... close, right!!?? She does love her teacher this year too. I must admit that we have an awesome set of teachers for all four kids! I couldn't ask for better! She has 3 best friends... and doesn't care if anyone tells her she can only have one. She will argue until she's blue in the face!! Bella says she wants to be a fire-woman when she grows up... we'll see about that!!
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SO, that's been our past several months! I'm sure I missed so much, but I really felt like I needed to update... it's been entirely too long! If you stuck around through it all, thanks for visiting our life :) I really will try to do better about keeping this maintained!!
