CLCS Spelling bee.

• Callie was asked to be an alternate in the CLCS Spelling bee. She never made it up to participate, and her classmates were eliminated; along with just about everyone else, so quickly that I think it may have been the fastest bee on record!

These poor kids just spelled one wrong word after another....

But we got some pictures out of it!

Maybe next year, Doll!

2011... in pictures

Well, it's not EVERYTHING about this year, but it has the last part, and some of our more substantial happenings.

Halloween.

Hopper's Birthday.

Last day at Bacchus Elementary.

First day at Christ Lutheran Church & School.

Christmas program at CLCS.

Christmas program at Christ Lutheran.

Decorating the Christmas tree.

Christmas.

My last post talked about "waiting" for Christ Lutheran to have a position come open, this was to be the best scenario for me, Callie and Ethan. (unless you factor in that I was SUPPOSED to be basking in "quiet time" now after 20yrs of parenting!) *sigh*

That call came. In the MOST dramatic fashion, of course. I had interviewed for a position with Philo T. Farnsworth in November, they had room for Callie and Ethan and were very interested but I had made a commitment to CLCS for the month of December while someone was on maternity leave, and they just couldn't make it work with two weeks off in December... but I had the job otherwise. Tough. I had JUST told Doug how UNFAIR this was.... but that I was going to call Philo back and tell them that I would withdraw from the CLCS commitment.

I quit crying,  picked up the phone, got voice mail of the person I've been working with for MONTHS trying to secure a position there. I advised her that I have tried every way possible to keep my word, but that I had to have a job; could she she possibly find another substitute?

I walked out of my room, down the stairs, phone in hand and sat down at the kitchen table. That is when the phone rang......

"Hi Catherine, I got your message and I think we can solve this problem right now"

Pen in hand, writing down all the details of when I will be starting, when the kids can start and what position is being offered... crying the WHOLE time. I'm sure she thought I was crazy!

Cody had walked into the kitchen by this time, totally confused but sure something was wrong! Poor kid. Doug told him he was pretty sure something really good was happening and that I was fine. When I got off the phone I was completly overcome; I could barely breath. Doug sat down and with tears in his eyes said "just watching you is making me cry"

The kids started the Monday after Thanksgiving and then the "waiting" was on for baby Clawson, which took another week, and it was GREAT. We got to take the kids to school in the morning and I got a much needed break.

The kids LOVE their new school, not even a beat was missed. They have terrific teachers and have settled in and adjusted amazingly well, we all have.

We had three birthday's. Cody turned 20. Hopper 18. (Doug turned 45 if really interested!) then school Christmas programs. We had a little "Staycation" downtown and with that Christmas was easily and happily dismissed.

We spent our New years eve seeing "Ghost Protocol" and then picked up the kids and had Italian Nachos at home. 2011 is the third in a row that I figure "good riddence"

My new "job" is such a bright spot in my new year. Kids go with me to school and we leave together. I see them at lunch and in the halls. We are all together, and that makes me very happy. The job itself is fulfilling and the people are like another "family" and I am very grateful to have secured such a great place to work with so many terrific "side" effects...

Welcome 2012. Please be kind.



Life.

It happens.


We have been busy, too busy I think. I sometimes I find myself just wishing our life could/would just SLOW DOWN.

Followed closely by my desire to have things quit changing. I'm not generally Change's biggest fan, and I'm going through ton's of it on a just about weekly basis.

Time has come to go back to work, I do want to (sort of,) but I want to be happy in that role, and I know that means finding something that will incorporate my little ones.

Lucky for me, I found a place that does, and it's a great place. Christ Lutheran Church and School. I love this place. I have subbed a few times now, Pre-K, Two year old room and toddlers; LOVE each of these rooms, but I have a real affinity for the 2's/toddlers. I just really loved these kids, and it's a place I can really "see" myself. I love that the idea of God, higher purpose and Christ centered values can have a place in school.

Problem is, they don't have anything full time, even part time right now... So I am in a holding pattern.

In the meantime, I started one job, hated it but hung in there for 2 mo's.... then started getting interviews for Special Ed assistant, and I interviewed for an elementary school that I really had a good feeling about, and they offered me the position, two seconds AFTER the Jr High offered me the same position! I ended up telling the Jr High that I was going to pass, take the Elementary job....

This begins a series of "comedy of errors" that is just funny, but irritating, I don't even have the motivation to tell the story here... but I finally started last Tuesday.

Special Education= Autistic group. Surprise!

I don't know much about Autism or what kids with autism are "like" but I am about to really find out that it's a TOUGH GIG.

I have been punched, kicked and hit. It's been a week.

Autism=S.A.D just a sad situation. It's volatile and unpredictable and exhausting.

Worst of all... everything you know to do and be as a woman/Mother is out the window. Every natural instinct you have is WRONG with these kids (most anyway)

Touching, hugging, TALKING and reading are all unwelcome activities and for some will get you hit, kicked or otherwise hurt.

So, I am back to square one. This job won't ever get me benefits, is more than likely less money than where I just was and where I am trying to go.

I could do without the constant turmoil. What to do, what to do.....

I don't feel like wasting time with things that don't really make me happy, and with things that don't have any value to them, a "job" for the sake of a job just isn't going to be enough, I guess I have Sundance to thank for that, as I know if you're going to work, you can be happy with your work and with the company that employs you and with the people you work with.

I will probably make that commitment to Christ Lutheran and hang in there until I can get there as a permanent resident, which I feel is more "when" then "if"

Even with a scenario I love, I am having a hard time with my ever changing "role"
It's not fair. I have to try very hard to remind myself that sometimes life isn't.

Sometimes, you have to keep your eye on the bigger picture and just put your faith in the feeling that your feet are on the right path.

But I could do without the turmoil, have I mentioned that?

Catching up, once again...

Well, here I am.... again, catching up. I am going to try, really hard to get back on track. We've had a busy last few months.

Changes, and more changes. I'll be happy when it seems like I'm not making some change every few weeks...



Our Summer....

Our Summer.

HAS. BEEN. BUSY.

We Went to Disneyland in June, via Las Vegas, we had a full day where everyone was together, it was really terrific. The boy's returned home, and we went on to Disney.

Dolly had a birthday right after we returned home, she turned 9... my how time flies.

We had family come at the end of June/July, it seemed like we were hopping the whole month of July with family visiting, swimming, various activities with cousins and Aunts and Uncles and Grandparent's.

I started working. This is a mixed bag of emotions, and quite frankly, the bravest thing I've done in awhile. There isn't a good time for Mom to be gone, and it's taking some getting used to.

The kids will finish this week, and then have all of next before they go back... Ethan to 1st grade, Dolly to 4th.

We still have another week of activities, and I will be posting pictures again soon.

Our summer has been a lot of fun, probably the most fun we've had over our "off track" time that I can remember. We've made a lot of memories......

All four children, TOGETHER for the day

It's not very often all four are together with us.... big boy's are off and running in life now. So it was a real joy to have us all together for the drive to Las Vegas... We got to swim and eat dinner together, then we walked the strip, the big boy's rode the New York, New York roller coaster and the little one's just loved all the lights and people (well mostly, Dolly said "I don't like all these smoking people... and those BAD cards they keep trying to had us!")

The nice thing about walking the strip with little kids? They don't even try to hand them to you!

Happy Birthday, Dolly!

June 24th. Just means one thing....

DOLLY'S BIRTHDAY... so far.....