Long overdue updates

Well, we survived the holidays and school starts again tomorrow (for Kaleb). I am still home with the girls until Jan. 20, when Olivia and I head back to school. I had a really busy December and did not get as much done as I had hoped. I had to finish up my final prerequisite class for nursing school and I barely squeeked by with an A. I had to focus a LOT of time on the class in the final stretch. I also had a lot of last minute tasks to complete to finalize my spot in school. Drug test, physical, registering for classes, financial aid to name a few. The kids kept me busy while they were on break. I did some baking, some reorganizing and a quick trip to Vegas to visit Byron's mom. I did not send Christmas cards this year for the first time in many years. It was on the agenda and did not get done. I am planning on spending the next two weeks getting prepped for school by pre-cooking many dinners and freezing them, cleaning the house since it will be a while until it happens again and getting some pre-semester rest. The kids are doing great and are all smart, silly, crazy, lovable and fun. Hope you are all well. I will break out the camera soon and post new photos.

A great thanksgiving...

Today was a nice and relaxing day. It was a great day for everyone.......except the turkey. We went to Robert and Noy's house on Wed. night and had an excellent dinner there and followed it up on Thursday with a dinner at our house. Robert had to fly to Minneapolis so Noy and the kids came over for dinner. We have had rain for the past two days here in AZ and it is always nice. I find the rain refreshing.

Otherwise, we are busy with lots of little commitments to school, friends, work and holiday engagements.

Busy, busy, busy.....

I am not sure where my days go but time is moving at warp speed. And each and every day I don't feel like I have accomplished very much. We have had lots of events since my last post. Kaleb had a birthday on October 19 and he is now 6 years old. WOW! I can't believe I have been at this parenting for six years already. Alonna also had her #2 birthday on October 25. We celebrated both in a small way this year. We got a cake to share because we certainly don't need two cakes in one week. Kaleb got an extra special treat this year for his birthday. His grandma Fern took him to Minnesota for a week and he was able to spend time with my parents and Byron's grandparents. He LOVES Minnesota. We had a nice Halloween. We started out with a breakfast of snakes, centipedes and cockroaches which didn't go over very well until the kids figured out they were gummy's. We went out in the neighborhood for trick or treating and got a ton of candy. For some reason our development is the one that the entire town comes to for halloween. We get 200-300 kids each year. This year was much slower though probably due to the bleak housing market. Let me tell you, these foreclosures sure add to the amount of legwork we had to do this year.

As for me, I received a letter from the nursing school that I am on the alternate list. I called and was told that I am #4 on the list so I have a good chance of getting a spot in this year's class. I am not at all disappointed but a bit surprised. Here is how the numbers work out:

Last year Averages

GPA - 3.82

Math test - 92%

Comp test - 74%

My scores

GPA 3.83

Math test - 100%

Comp test - 73%

So my scores were higher than the average score that got in. Here's the catch, the school lost 40 spots due to state budget cuts so 100 people got in and 322 was the total qualified applicants. My score total was .018 points from the cutoff. In the sceme of things, being #4 on the alternate list isn't half bad. I do hope to obtain a spot because I don't really want to have to bother with applying again, taking tests, paying fees and transferring transcripts. It is all a pain! So, keep your fingers crossed and I will post again if anything changes. Other than working 2 jobs, taking 1 class and managing 3 kids.....nothing new to report.

Cute Pictures

I am not sure who the kid on the left belongs to.

Picture Day at School

Today is picture day at school and Kaleb was really excited to dress in.....pants and his nice shirt. By the end of summer he is always begging me to wear pants and I won't let him yet because it is still in the low 100's here in the afternoon. Still too sweltering for full length anything. He is doing really well in school now. All of the "testing the teacher" seems to have passed and he is on track and behaving. Coming home with good reports and a smile on his face.

Olivia, on the other hand....

She is in the testing mode now and is not behaving at rest time. She insists on getting off of her rest mat and walking around the room. This is against some sort of "code" the school has for safety and she is disrupting her classmates. It seems she is somewhat of a leader because a few more kids have decided to join her in her naptime behavior. Otherwise, she loves school and is coming home with lots of projects every day.

Alonna is good. She is really busy right now and keeping me busy. I thought I would be getting much more done with the two older kids away all day but, not the case. She is bored without her siblings and is getting into anything she can get her hands on. She is talking a lot and imitating her older brother and sister.

I am still looking for a full-time day job before I start school in January. My window of opportunity is closing quickly and nothing has come along. There are around 150 applicants for some of the positions. I did sign up to substitute teach in some of the local school districts and I hope to start getting calls from them soon. I should find out about the nursing school admission some time this month.

Byron is good. He is working hard keeping the "bad guys" contained and controlled in the local jail (and managing the three we have at home). Kaleb is especially fascinated with "bad guys" and why they are in jail and how life is in jail. Hopefully not a precursor to anything to come.

No News Is Good News

Nothing much to report. Kaleb is doing ok at school. He has had some issues with disrespecting his teacher and has gone to the office twice! We are keeping a close watch on him to make sure that school stays positive and an enjoyable place to learn. He is usually being silly or talking to his friends when he gets in trouble. I cannot, for the life of me, figure out where he would get such silliness and talkative behavior?????? Olivia loves preschool and is having a GREAT time. She loves all of the activities and she seems to be making good friends there. The teachers report that she is really great and no problem. She does have some crying episodes that the teachers just had to get used to. She is very sensitive. Alonna is good. She is loving alone time with mom. We try to go to the YMCA most days and I work out while she plays in the play center. It is really hard for me to belive that she is almost 2 years old. She is all personality. When she is mad, she is really mad, when she is happy, she is really happy, etc. It is really nice to see such vibrance.

As for me, I did very well on my nursing school entrance test and I am pleased with the results. I will not know if I have a spot in the school until sometime in October. In the meantime I am looking to work during the fall to get a jump on the lack of work when I am in school. I am working on funding for school and finding a job.

Byron is great. He is working hard keeping the community safe from all of the "bad guys". He works out a lot and is getting really fit.

Hopefully this will fill you in. Really no real news to report so I guess that means we are good.

Updates

Below are some random pictures of the kids. Not much to report. School is going well for the kids and they both really enjoy it. I am studying to take a nursing school admission exam on Friday and I start my final prerequisite class Monday. These are the last two items that I need to complete for my admissions packet. Work is slow so I have lot's of time on my hands.