WOW! I am behind. I will try and play catch up over the next few weeks.
Our house has been busy but so blessed the last few months. In January I was offered the Interim Director job at the kid's preschool. The past director had been there for 12 years and was moving on to corporate America. Having been a parent, on the school board and an educator, they asked me to "fill in" during the search process. Well, the search process became bigger and bigger as the days went on and my role became more and more real. It has come with an amount of stress attached but we have enjoyed the opportunity and are honored to serve in this role. I DID apply for the permanent position (along with MANY others so I hear) and am waiting to hear. For now, I work 8:30-1:30 every day as the director of the school. We have 315 students, over 50 staff (mostly certified teachers) and operate classes of students ranging from 0-6 every day Monday to Friday. It is a Christian-based program housed in our church and we LOVE it! All three kids have/do attend. The school has a private Kindergarten program in which Cooper attended and Sammy currently attends. So, please keep me in your prayers as the Board makes a final decision regarding the permanent director role and also in the meantime as my family tries to maintain normalcy during this transition time.
As for other news...............
Emme is growing so fast! It makes me sad to see my baby grow but it warms my heart to hear her laugh, see her try and crawl and watch her soak in the love from her brother and sister.
Phil and I took the kids to Asheville, NC over their February school break. We had the stomach bug for four days (ALL FIVE OF US!!!!) and decided to escape for 3 days afterwards. We enjoyed pool time at the Hilton, eating out as a family, walking around cute shops and a day touring the Biltmore. Samantha LOVED listening to the audio tour, Cooper checked around every corner for the Beast (we had just seen Beauty and the Beast) and Emme rode in the baby bjorne the whole time. It was wonderful. We ended the trip with a hike at Chimney Rock.
Emme turned 7 months old at the end of February. She is SO precious, a great baby and has started to try and crawl. She is happy when surrounded by toys, her siblings and food. She's not picky, but likes at least one of those three things at all times! She goes to school/work with me two days a week to the infant room and on the other days stays with Dede (my mom). It has worked out well. She does not have a schedule because as soon as we try, things change (story of life with three kids) but she does well despite.
My parents booked a trip for us (all 5 of us, my brother and themselves) for 8 days in Hawaii. We leave ON Sammy's 6th birthday which is also Cooper's last day of school. We are SO excited to celebrate my mom turning 60, Emme turning 1, Sammy turning 6, and everything else wonderful that will happen this coming year. The 10 hours of flying scares us a tad but my mom and dad traveled the world with ken and I as small kids and we have no doubt we can handle it. We are so excited and purchased this new backpack for the occasion!
I FINALLY after a few years of living here got an invitation to go to the "Mart". It was amazing and I came home with this lovely hair ornament!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a great day I had with my friend Jill. ;)
Cooper has started his soccer season again and this year we are on the Cougars. His couch is Coach Miguel and Phil is the asst. coach. Three of our team players speak English and the remainder Spanish. I have been referring to it as World Cup soccer because these boys can play. He is learning a lot (about soccer and Spanish) and having fun. We look forward to a great season.
Cooper and his three sweet friends made a club. They have badges, rules, etc. They tell us where the meeting will be hosted each week, what they expect to accomplish and we (as moms) make that magic happen. This club is called the Poke-Thon Club and they meet on Friday afternoons. I feel so blessed that our kids have made such special friends here. Things like this make Woodstock truly feel like home!
We decided a while back that our back porch needed some TLC. One day after church we stopped into Pike Nursery and this beautiful set was on fantastic sale so we HAD to have it. We are really excited about Spring afternoons and Summer evenings on our new porch. Come visit!
I never had a sister (a fantastic brother but not a sister) and watching these two is the most amazing thing ever. The love they have for one another makes me know they will be best friends forever! This picture was yesterday after cheer. Sammy has started cheering and we definitely feel we have found her sport! She does GREAT and the competition coach has recommended we try our this Spring for next year's competition squad. So yes folks, I may soon be a cheer mom heading to Disney with a bag full of tiny outfits (cheer clothes) and HUGE hair bows! I love it!!!! To make the squad Sammy needs her back walkover so she works every day. It is wonderful to watch her do something she really loves!!!!
I am the chair of the teacher appreciation/hospitality committee for Cooper's school. Last week was teacher appreciation week resulting in LOTS of wrapping, stuffing, serving, etc. There was an event or treat every day for all 77 teachers. The kids enjoyed helping me!!! Thank goodness for Pintrest.
Last week as also National Walk to School day to promote health, family and safe routes to school. We walked with Sammy's best friend Macie. It was a great way to start our day (then hop in the car and rush to work....thank goodness work is less than a mile from Cooper's school!).
Although busy, we would not trade it for the world. We love every day we are able to spend these moments with our sweet children. We look forward to more soccer games, cheerleading try outs, news about work, a trip to Hawaii, a trip to Disney, golf lessons, etc. Not too much time to update blogs, play on facebook or make phone calls and when our heads hit the pillows we are OUT but life is GOOD. Come visit any time!
