Lucky 11

The first of six birthdays in the next six months.

Happy Birthday McKay!

McKay is an official "tween". She turned double 1's yesterday. It's been quite the busy week as yesterday was also the science fair and we have been working on projects all week very late into the night. More on that aspect later.
McKay didn't give a list of things she wanted this year. I also forgot to get an "end" picture of the birthday presents. One gift from the grandparents was a set of beads and watch faces so I based ours off of that as well. We got her a decent size bead organizer with bag, and we are taking her out next weekend for a night of shopping for her taste of beads and clothes! She was excited.
She banned cake from the traditional birthday cake / candle/ singing routine. She only wanted ice cream. So we had four of her favorites there and she was in heaven. McKay is such a sweet girl and I am so glad she is our daughter. I couldn't imagine life without her. We love you, McKay!

not holding back

A couple weeks ago, Keli wrote on Facebook that if we all talked about our problems, we could help each other out. So I'm not holding back tonight.....maybe.

I'm starting work again tomorrow after 9 years of being able to stay at home with my kids. I'm not going back because I "want" to, it's because we "need" it. It's a job that is close by (within 2 miles) and my employer is (I can already tell) the BEST! He understands that I have a family at home. If you want an insight check out his website here. I am going to be running his office, shipping, ordering, managing the books, etc. I'm excited with what he wants to do and that he wants my help in getting there. With Jacob's schedule this semester it makes him at home all but a couple of hours each day. My dear and close friend is helping out so we can make this happen. I really am happy that we have an answer to our prayers and have been blessed. But in the same way...

I'm terrified. The mother instinct kicks in and I don't want to leave my kids. I'm 30 years old and I'm finally realizing what is so important in my life. I have taken for granted that I have been able to stay at home and be with my kids. I have enjoyed helping out in the girls' classrooms and being able to work with their teachers. I've done preschool at home and the Cruz has learned so many things already. I know that I will still be a great mom and that I'm strong and independent but I'm still so scared.

It's official....

Grades came out today and once again Jacob got straight A's ...

Yet somehow he still can't figure out how to use a fuel gauge. Jacob ran out of gas today for the third time this year.

a crafty tick tock

Our Easter 2010

Last Sunday, I slacked and didn't take pictures as the kids found their baskets left by the Easter Bunny. (With all the bad weather, we called off the egg hunt and everything was indoors. Our school district even had a snow day on Tuesday the 6th because of the storms we had got.) The girls had a watch face inside their basket (along with eggs filled with coins) and Cruz had a new Ferret Webkinz.
So on Thursday night, as Jacob was finishing finals, my friend brought over her huge collection of beads and we let the girls make their wristbands. McKay is now addicted and is already talking about doing more. The faces were between 3 and 5 dollars each so if you had the bead collection started it's not an expensive hobby.

Cruz was happy with his toy too. When he names his Webkinz toys he picks out a truck / tractor / equipment name. There are Bobcat, Tractor, Cement Mixer, Dumptruck, and Wheel Loader to name a few. When he was deciding a name for his ferret, he went to his box of trucks and picked out a Road Grader. I was surprised at how well he chose for the resemblance of them both.