Has it really been a year?

It's nearly a year since I posted to my blog. There have been dramatic changes in my life. Too many things to talk about, so I'll just cover the immediate future.

I start my Master in Teaching program at the end of April. I'll be going non-stop, 40 hours per week until the end of next March. It's pretty amazing to be able to earn teacher certification and a Masters degree all in one year. It's also going to be a lot of work, but at least it's only one year. I'm not happy about sending the two younger kids to a child care center, but it could be worse. And at least T is 3.5 years old. K will be in school part time, so her time at the center won't be quite so long. I'm looking into schooling option for S for next year. He's no longer happy where he is at. He isn't challenged enough academically and socially the kids are just too immature for him.

We're all really looking forward to summer. I won't be home, but the older kids will be going to residential camp and a couple of sessions of day camp as well.

I'm looking forward to the summer of 2008!  I'll have the whole summer off!

So many changes!

Ok, well really just one big one. :) 

We removed S from school about a week ago. We were planning to homeschool next year so that K could go to the kindergarten that is 5 blocks from home (S can't go there because they don't have a nurse). However, he had been having problems with 2 different bullies all year. We weren't satisfied with how the school was handling the situation, but since S didn't want to leave school we didn't remove him. We talked about homeschooling frequently and S's response was usually, I'll wait a little longer.

 Last week there was another bully incident so I decided to park outside the playground to watch what was happening at recess. Well, while I was watching a group of 4 boys stood behind S -- who was waiting to choose sides for soccer -- then they bunched together and all shoved him! He stumbled forward, looked around confused and walked away. Then one of the boys stared him down as he returned to the play field. Needless to say, I was very upset. E happened to call on the phone just after I saw this happen and he was furious. He called the principal and got the usual non-action response. So he told the principal that we were done with his school and to get S ready for me to pick him up.

It's really one of the best decisions E has made. Everyone is happy. S doesn't have daily stomach pain anymore!

That's all I have time for right now.

December and January were a whirlwind of activity. It seemed like we had errands, an activity or were out visiting every day. Lots of fun!

We're almost finished cleaning out the home office so that K can move into it. She and S are really looking forward to having their own rooms. Of course, now E is talking about moving T into S's room, but I don't think he's ready for the move. K is very excited about getting some hermit crabs. They have them at her preschool and she has been asking for some for months. We're supposed to find some next week.

We got two new puppies before the end of the year. One is a Shepherd mix and the other is a Shih Tzu. We're having problems with the latter, he is chewing on the furniture, even though he's about a year old. So, we're going to try to find a more attentive home for him. It's not just the furniture that's the problem, he terrorizes the cats and despite all of our efforts he still pees wherever he is standing without giving us an indication that he needs to go outside. :(

T finally has his oral surgery scheduled for March. He's been learning to talk fine, despite not having the top four teeth to push his tongue against. His vocabulary grows every day and he's speaking more clearly as well.

We're all very excited about the Seahawks being in the Superbowl.  WA-HOO!!!!  I'm shopping for our food today. We're having super nachos and veggies with dip. Oh, we'll probably have pizza too. Hope you all watch the game -- if you're behind the Hawks, that is. ;)

We celebrated T's 2nd birthday yesterday. :)  He didn't really understand the birthday concept, but enjoyed opening his present and liked the singing and the cake.

The rainy season has set in. It's been very windy and cold and wet. Not my favorite weather. It's days like these when I wish we had a fireplace or a wood stove.

E started his new job three weeks ago and it is going really well!   S was honored with the Terrific Kids award last month. K helped cook a  harvest dinner with her classmates for all of the preschool families. I'm continuing with my LLL responsibilities.

So far Fall has been pretty nice. We're looking forward to a quiet Thanksgiving and Christmas at home.

S. has decided to stay in school for now. However, I am very frustrated by the lack of challenging work. When I ask him each day what he learned, he has trouble coming up with two things. Two things for a 6 hour day? It sounds like a waste of time.

T. needs to have 4 of his top teeth pulled. They became malformed, probably from medication exposure when he had the respiratory problems during his first year. Now the teeth are decayed and are an infection risk. Poor kid. I don't think he'll miss the teeth though because they are so worn down from not having enamel to protect them.

K. is loving preschool! Her teachers are so sweet and wonderful, she's having a great time.

I'm still trying to adjust to the new schedule. I seem to always be driving across town with T. in tow. I like my van, but I don't like it that much. lol