where to begin? as maria would say, "let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start."
1. my kids are so big, as pictures will prove later. having a one and three year old is definitely a work out. when your one year old has been walking since around 9 months, life is never boring! it doesn't make anything less calm when your 3 old is a crazy talker who won't potty train. always an adventure. they are also incredible sweet, adorable and fun. liam is constantly learning and asking and amazing us with what he remembers. if i was a better mother, i would have it all written down somewhere, but for some reason time slips away from me. audrey is also becoming quite the talker and picks things up so fast we can hardly keep up, of course with her paci in her mouth, we don't always understand what she is saying. ha ha.
audrey is much more fearless than liam. she climbs, jumps, falls, and loves every minute of it. she also is into everything. no drawer, closet, shoe, or remote is safe with her around! liam is an official computer, or should i say iPad and iPhone genius. the boy knows what he is doing. he can play games, read books, and and watch videos. but before you think that is all he does, he is a playing, jumping, sliding fool at the park and jump'n jungle. audrey is not quite as interested in the technical side of things as she cannot sit still for more than 5 seconds at a time. move move move!
healthy breakfast to start the day
our genius
social climber
2. i am feeling a quite a bit lighter than i have felt in a while. through weight watchers, prayer, and a little bit of self-control i have lost 42 pounds. i look pretty good, if you ask me. now comes the really hard part, keeping it off!! wish me lots of luck. the ice cream, it calls to me! also the spaghetti, queso, and fried rice. basically if you can eat it, i love it. how do you think i weighed so much to begin with.
3. getting older . . . praise God! we both aged one year, have been married 11 years, and we still like each other. that is no small feat. thank goodness for a sense of humor. can i get an Amen! how else do you make it if you can't laugh both at and with each other. he truly is my best friend and i could not and do not want to go through all of this without him! he is such an amazing father and husband, especially with the start of this new school year.
the birthday boy (yummy!)
liam reading daddy a story on his birthday = precious
which brings me to . . .
4. a return to full time teaching. i will return to the 5 day a week classroom this year. i will be the assistant theater director as well as the speech and debate coach at Frenship High School. (Go Tigers!) i am both excited and terrified. i know i will love it, i love teaching, but how will have the energy to teach 5 days and still enjoy my own kids at home? i also have no idea how this beast called UIL works! it is a new world, full of new challenges, which i probably really need. i can get comfortable and complacent and this will be a good kick to the derriere to shake things up. God has opened the door and i am walking through it. it is going to be one busy and interesting year.
start your prayer engines now and pray that matthew and i find time for each other, that i have the energy and endurance to take care of business both at school and at home, that matthew will not only be good at but enjoy being a mr. mom (he already is great, i just hope it stays that way), and that as a family we do not lose sight of God and each other.
a busy but exciting school year ahead of us!
on your mark! get set! go!
now for some random but adorable pictures of the kids:
crazy girl with crazy hair
working with tools like his daddy
doesn't need explanation
yea, we rock!
audrey before her first haircut
tuckered out
loves to swing
bucket buddies
