First Day of School 2014

Carter, you are adorable, but you have never been a fan of getting your picture taken in the morning. 

Ethan, you are starting 1st grade and you are so excited! You love school, all of your friends, and you have been telling us that your teachers name is Ms. Tortoise and we've been explaining to you that she is not a turtle...her name is really Ms. Torres. I hope you call her by her real name at school. ;-)

Clara, welcome to America! We hope that you love living with our family as much as we love having you here! We hope you meet lots of friends at the high school and share all of your experiences with your friends and family back home in Germany. 

Mariah, this was your last first day of high school! You were pretty emotional the night before your last first day. You laughed so hard that you cried and cried so hard that you laughed which scared your boyfriend, Ryan, but made me laugh and cry with you. We love you very much and wish you the best last year of high school. Make it a great one peanut. ;-)

Ethan: Getting Ready for Kindergarten

Recently, I got to spend TWO FULL DAYS with this handsome little man!  These two days were amazing.  I was off of work, the other kids were at daycare and school, Cory was working, and Ethan and I got some direct one on one time.  I wish I was able to do stuff like this more often.  It's days like these that make for some amazing moments to remember. 

On the first day, Ethan and I got ready and took him to school!  He had Kindergarten screening.  Ethan went in to one room to work with the teachers and I went to the other room to fill out paperwork with the other parents.  When the teachers brought Ethan back to me they said he did amazing and charmed them all.  Uh-oh... should we be proud or worried that our oldest son is a charmer?  Just like his father. 

After screening we did some shopping.  See all the new cars that Ethan picked out?!  Then we went to his favorite spot, Georgie Porgies, for lunch. 

After lunch we made a visit to the eye doctor.  Ethan was an amazing patient during his first eye exam. 

He loved wearing the goofy 3D glasses. 

20/20 vision! 

And... it's October

Mariah has a job!  Her very first official job!  She is working at a local Farmer's Market and Gift Shop.  She was hired on as seasonal help, but is really enjoying it and hopes to get hired on year-round!  I have some great pictures of her first day, but haven't taken them off of my camera yet...

Carter moved up to the toddler room at daycare.  He is still adjusting.  We miss the infant room teachers a lot.  :-( 

Ethan is adjusting to the new school/daycare/preschool year.  His friends that were older than him have all gone off to kindergarten and now he is one of the oldest in his class.  He is adjusting and making new friends.

Daycare's play area is all sand.  ALL SAND. Which means every day when I pick up the boys they are covered in sand.  It's in their shoes, coated on their socks, in their hair, on their skin, in Carter's diaper.  Seriously it is everywhere and it makes me CRAZY!  The daycare is having a fundraiser for more playground equipment and sand... how do I tell them that I am not helping them with their fundraiser... because the sand is HORRIBLE! 

My brother and his wife are due to have their baby boy any day now!  So excited for them.  Baby Oliver Christian is going to be a very loved little man.  I can't wait to snuggle him! 

Well, that's all for now.  Not much for my first post in over three weeks.  Sorry about the lack of pictures... Just how I role lately. 

Happy October!

What's For Lunch?

Did you see the article about Pink Slime?  Here, let me link it for you.
Gross?  Did you want to eat some of that?  

Did you eat cafeteria food when you were in school or were you lucky enough to bring a healthy lunch from home?  Did you know that parents have to jump through hoops to send a qualified lunch to school or daycare?  There are rules.  Crazy rules.  Rules that I had to laminate and refer to often in order to make sure I'm not missing anything. 

Did you know that parents could take the easy route and just order school lunch for their children?  I've done it for many years.  It's easy.  The kids enjoy it because its junk food.  And, I didn't have to make sure that I met the correct measurements on a daily basis. 

Well, maybe I'm older and wiser now.  Or, maybe I'm just sick of cringing every morning when I read the lunch menu for the day to my 4 year old son.  Today on the menu was a chicken patty on a whole grain bun with sun chips.  Wow, really?  And how does that meet all of the requirements?  I am not seeing it? 

Check out this blog: http://fedupwithlunch.com/  I came across it by searching school lunches on pinterest.  This motivated mama and teacher took packing lunches to a whole new level and actually created a blog about it and wrote a book.  I think I'll be adding her blog to my reading list. 

While browsing the web I also came across this link at Kitchen Stewardship.  She has a list on her blog with some great school lunch ideas.  This motivated me to create my own list for my family.  There were a lot of things that included Peanut Butter on her list.  I couldn't include those items for my kids lunches because daycare has a very strong rule against no peanut products due to allergies, but I kept them on my list for myself and my daughter.  Maybe we can start sending peanut butter with the boys when they start school.  We all love peanut butter. 

Do you pack your kids lunches?  What do you pack for them?  What do you pack for yourself? 

Pajama Day

The boys got to go to daycare in their pajamas today.  They both looked so adorable this morning.  I just wanted to stay with them all day and snuggle them up.  I was also a bit jealous that I couldn't stay in my pajamas today.  We don't get pajama days at work, which is probably a good idea. 

Carter and I were rarring back and forth to each other this morning - inspired by the bear on his pj's.

Ethan loves to give me goofy smiles.  Love my silly boys so much!

Homecoming 2011

Mariah went to Homecoming this past weekend with her friends Cameron, Paige, and Martin.  The four of them were a blast to photograph.  We took a couple pictures at Paige's house, then brought them to our house for dinner, then caught a couple more pictures in our yard. 

click here to see all the pictures 

The girls posing like Charlie's Angels

The guys lookin' cool 

 

My beautiful daughter

 The group

Cameron... that's a pretty crazy smile

So pretty

I did it!

I've managed to get up every morning, get out of the house on time, and make it to work every day this week!  I thought for sure I'd go in to denial by Wednesday or Thursday and refuse to leave the house, but I did it.  I so badly wanted to be home with my kids every day this week, but I did it.  That's huge.

Ethan and Carter have helped to make the transition back to work easier.  They both had a nice time at Grandma Sandy and Grandpa Harry's house on M, W, F this week. They are also enjoying their new daycare.  Ethan went on a field trip on Thursday and got to ride on a BIG YELLOW SCHOOL BUS for the first time!  He went to an apple orchard and learned how to pick apples.  "Mom, you lift and twist, lift and twist."

Ethan's 1 year anniversary!

One year ago today Ethan starting going to Miss Melissa's house for daycare.  This has been a very wonderful year and Ethan has really embraced the transition from a school type daycare to an in home daycare.  Ethan has made some wonderful friends and learned a lot while at Melissa's house.  Thanks for everything you do with him Melissa! 

Saying Good Bye one year ago to Bright and Beautiful

Saying Hello to Miss Melissa's House one year ago

Preschool!

Our little Ethan started preschool this morning.  I was really excited about this last week, but this morning was an entirely different feeling.  I was heartbroken watching our little man go in to his new preschool.  He was so unsure and very sad that we were leaving him there.  I know it's the first day and it's normal for kids to be sad, but he really didn't want to be there... I am hoping that he's warmed up a bit over the past hour and a half and that he's liking it more now. 

Ethan's First Preschool Lunch

This preschool program is at our church and it's a combination of daycare from 6:30 - 9:30am, then preschool with about 15 kids ages 3, 4, and 5 from 9:30am - 11:00am, then daycare from 11:00am - 3:30pm when I pick him up.  There is another preschool program in the afternoon, but Ethan is a napper so he'll probably sleep through it.  If he chooses to stay awake during nap time then he'll join the other kids for afternoon preschool. 

A Little Unsure

We are sending him one day per week for the rest of the school year.  The other four days per week he'll continue to go to Miss Melissa's house.  Then if all goes well we will send him two days a week for the following school year and the other three days he'll go to Miss Melissa's house. 

Okay Mom and Dad... I'll Give The Day My Best



What do you want to be when you grow up?

We are all asked this question as kids and we give our honest full answers without knowing how much school will be involved, how much money we will or will not make, and how much work it will be to reach our dream jobs.  When asked this as a kid I remember saying that I wanted to do hair.  I loved being creative and making people pretty.  Fortunately, I was able to follow this dream after high school and work in a salon for a couple years.  I loved doing hair, loved my coworkers, loved the challenges that were brought to me and best of all I loved making people happy.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to keep this job because the hours were poor and so was the pay and lack of benefits.  I needed something different and needed it fast.  So, I ended up as a secretary.  Set hours, nice pay, great benefits.... yet all my happiness flew right out the window, but I had money and security. 

We make sacrifices in our lives to make the best situation possible for ourselves and our families.  I am sure there is a happy medium out there somewhere, but I can't seem to find it.  I am constantly searching for that piece of me that is missing... that job or career... or maybe to be a stay at home mom.  I am praying that it will find me because I honestly don't even know where to start to look to find it.  I pray often that I will just find happiness in what I do and from time to time I find that happiness, but it doesn't stay.  It disappears quickly and is hard to get back.  Why is happiness so hard to hold on to? 

I knew that I couldn't go back to being a hairstylist because that would mean a pay cut, hours that are not reliable, and besides that... I am getting older and people want young out of college stylists.  So, instead I went to school for psychology.  I figured I would still be able to help people and that would be extremely satisfying for me.  I finished my bachelors degree right before I had Ethan and swore I'd go back for my masters so I could find a job as a therapist or counselor.  Well... I never went back.  After having Ethan I realized that what I really wanted, more than anything in the world, was to be a stay at home mom.  Something that would be so rewarding, so challenging, so enjoyable, and would give me a better reason of self; however, this is impossible.  Our life situation does not allow for me to leave my full time job with nice pay and great benefits and set hours...

When do we draw the line?  Why do we sacrificing our happiness just to "make it through life"?  Isn't life supposed to bring us happiness and joy?  Why are there so many people that hate their jobs and hate what they do, but they do it anyways to have what they have?  I don't want all that stuff anymore.  I don't want an expensive house with tons of bills.  I want a simpler life.  Why is it so hard to go back and find simple after we've made it to complicated?

17 Weeks, Mariah's High School Orientation, and Other Stuff...

I am 17 weeks pregnant today. Baby and I are still doing wonderfully and I have been feeling a lot more movement! I have been working out every day and loving it! We are only 9 days away from finding out the gender of this baby! We are very excited about that and can't wait to pick out an official name and figure out how to decorate Ethan and baby's shared room.

Last night we went to Mariah's high school orientation.  There were a lot of 8th graders and their parents at the high school.  There are about 930 kids that attend the high school, not too big and not too small!  They talked about all the required classes and electives.  They have four 9 week sessions per school year so the kids take 4 classes at a time equalling 16 classes per year.  I think that is a much better idea than trying to balance 8 classes at a time.  Mariah seems really excited about high school.  She is also excited about taking DRIVERS ED the second half of her freshman year... YIKES! 

Mariah is very involved in dance and cheer leading.  She is on the Junior Broncos Dance Team which is for 6-8th grade girls and helps prepare them for high school dance.  Dance replaces the pom-pom and cheer leading teams at the high school.  They are very competitive and are a year round sport.  If Mariah makes the dance team then she won't be able to join any other sport.  She is pretty confident that she will make the team, but still nervous about tryouts.  Freshman dance tryouts take place this April during Mariah's 8th grade year.  We think she'll do great! 

Mariah's dance team performed at the high school this past Friday night during boys JV basketball.  Here are a couple pictures.  Afterwards we went out to dinner to celebrate all of her hard work with the dance team. 

8th grade!!!

My mind starting taking me all over the place last night as I was trying to fall asleep.  I couldn't stop thinking about all of the years that I've watched Mariah get on to the school bus for her first day of school.  I wasn't about to let this year be any different.  But... this year is a little different... it's 8th grade!  My baby girl is growing up and today she started 8th grade!  Last year of being a kid, last year of elementary school...

little posing for the camera...

Ethan wanted in on the fun...

the kids waiting for the bus...

Me and my baby girl. :-) Love you Mariah!

Still waiting for the bus...

Cory and Mariah

Cory with the kids

Mariah walking towards the bus.  My cousin and their kids are across the street.

Good luck Mariah!  Have a great 1st day of 8th grade!

Oh no... Ethan just realized that he didn't get to go with Mariah.  He wanted so badly to get on the school bus and join her at school.  Heartbroken little man... :-(

8th Grade Registration

Yesterday Ethan and I took Mariah to register for 8TH GRADE!!!  She is very excited about 8th grade... and I am a bit nervous!  This will be her last year of Junior High... last year of Elementary School... last year of being a KID... gulp!

Well, at school registration they also take pics of the kids for the yearbook/school pictures.  I think this is really nice instead of squeezing picture taking into the middle of a school day after the kids have eaten lunch and had gym... remember those days?!  Anyways, here is a sneak-peak of Mariah's 8th Grade School Pics.  She had me take a picture of her before we left the house so she could make sure she looked okay.  

Yup, she's my daughter... hee hee!

Maybe not...

Today is day three in my first class towards my masters degree.  I am already not enjoying it and feeling the loads of extra stress... maybe this isn't the right time to go back.  For the past two years I was dead set on the fact that I was done with school and not going to be a professional person.  I was done with the stress of studying while juggling everything else.  Then within the past month or two something triggered me to go back and give it my best... well... I did just that and am now changing my mind. 

I guess I really need to figure out what I want to do in life.  Do I want to make lots of money and work long hours and be important in the professional world?  OR... do I want to stay where I am and make okay money and have set hours and time for family and friends?  As inviting and challenging as option one sounds... I think that my heart is in option two.  As many know my real dream in life would be to live in Florida, be a stay at home mom, and have five kids.  AND as many know that is not going to happen. :-( So, maybe option two is the best compromise for me. 

Maybe this school thing was a reality check for me, an eye opener, something to make me realize that I am good where I am.  I don't need a challenging career.  I don't want a challenging career.  I just want to work at my secretarial job, have Pampered Chef shows once in a while, and then spend the rest of my time with family and friends.  That fits me better.  Ahhh feeling the stress lessen already...

Back to school.......

Yesterday I started my first class towards earning my masters in Higher Education Administration... Excited, yes... nervous, even more so!  I will give this first class my best... but not sure I will stick with the entire program.  I still am not really sure why I am doing this?!  If only I really knew what I wanted to be when I grew up... Sure wish I could have a professional career as a stay at home mommy.... BIG sigh

Lots of Updates!

Wow, it's only been a little over a week, but I have so many updates to post! 

Ethan's new daycare situation is going wonderfully!  He did very well over by Ms. Melissa on Monday and Tuesday and couldn't stop talking about her and her kids whenever he was home.  Unfortunately, he got sick on Tuesday night and wasn't able to go over there on Wednesday.  He asked many times on Wednesday why he couldn't go.  Then on Thursday I sent him to Ms. Melissa's house and by 11:30 she had called me and said that he just wasn't doing well.  :-(  He then had his last round of throwing up on Thursday night and then his fever finally broke.  He was 100% better by Friday!  So, it was a rough week for Ethan.  Not only did he have a bad stomach bug but he also had a new environment situation at Ms. Melissa's house.  I hope that this week is much better for him and us!  We want him to love it over there, but not more then he loves it at home of course. ;-)

As for the weekend, the weekend was beautiful.  We went for a nice long bike ride on Friday morning.  We found a trail that is about 15 minutes from our house.  We drove out there and then biked for about 1 1/2 hours.  We had a really great time.  Mariah loves her new bike and Ethan loved riding in the burley. 

We also finished our shelves in the garage this weekend!  We finally have places to put things!  It made our garage look so much bigger.  Surprisingly though... we think we might need even more shelves....

On Sunday we went to mom and Harry's to celebrate Easter.  We had lots of great food and hung out with family.  It is always so nice to get together and catch up with each other's lives. 

On Monday, Cory had to work so the kids and I hung out and went shopping!  We bought a new TV for the kitchen and 7 paint samples!  Yes, I am painting the kitchen and dining room again.  I just haven't figured out what color I am going to paint it yet... any suggestions?  ;-)

That pretty much wraps up our busy week!

Love, The Bartlett Family