So yeah, this blog has been sort of on the back burner for the last few months. Basically school started I ran out of time. I will admit that if i could update via my phone i would probably be able to update more, but that's a first world problem.
So September came with everyone going back to school. I'm starting my 5th year at SJB and decided to go back to school to get my teaching license. I've been wondering what I've wanted to do with my life since i became a stay at home mom. Josh always told me that i could go back to school, but i had to know what for. Farmer's salary don't support just random classes. So after teaching for two years i finally realized that i wanted more education to be a teacher. I found a great program and started that right after school started. It's a lot of extra work for me this school year, but the goal is be done by June. Bella is now a 5th grader. She's in a tiny class, but seems to be able to get more independent time. She is rocking at all her subjects. I'm not sure she has one that she doesn't like. Max is a 1st grader and another smart cookie. He's had a little bit of a learning curve with new expectations but seems to be doing ok.
Some other September highlights were going fishing back at my dear friend Court's house with her parents. We also moved Nana into her own apartment, so the kids are loving her new place and all the fun things they can do there. We were able to attend a UW whitewater football game and see Elly perform with the band. It was a fun game to watch since whitewater won! Then we got to be part of the Gemieklechit parade. This year the badger bus was part of our "float" so that was nice to get out of the heat of the day. Max also loves watching Mr. Becker drive the bus. I worked on fixing fences and we put up more fencing to allow Carmel more grazing areas and less mowing ;) We rounded out the the end of the month with a trip to the apple orchards with Uncle Tony and then a visit to Pairie to hang out the Grandpa and Grandma and a few cousins :)
October brought some ups and downs. The weather wasn't the greatest so i quickly took our family pictures one random evening. I was able to go to the pumpkin farm with Max's class and then with Bella's class too. We actually got 5 pumpkins from our plant this year, too. We carved them early because Max just couldn't wait. We also went back to Lancaster for our annual Jahnke family gathering and Stonefield trick or treat. Max wasn't a fan of most of Halloween, but they both did witch's night out. We did one family Halloween event with Gilda's at the mini golf place. The much need day off was heavenly!
November was a hard month. I struggle with the turning cold and gray, also three years ago we need that Josh wouldn't see another holiday season. But we kicked off the month on a positive note, with Rake-a-thon at school. and taking back our Sundays. We spend more time just going to church and hanging out on Sundays which has been a much needed break that we all need. I went out with some friends and saw Mamma Mia, a nice change for me. Then the kids performed at the veteran's day concert. Then we had a really hard day, Bella's poor little goat Chandler had to be put to sleep. He had some medical problems that just were not fixable for us. It was really hard on Bella. To lighten the blow we were given two goats that needed a new home. They are short and fat, but they can hold their own again Carmel. They won't ever replace little Chandler and Bella still misses him everyday, but they do offer some companionship to everyone.
Then it was Max's 7th birthday. We had a party for him and he loved the attention. It was a great mix of people and he was spoiled with legos. We also went out to see Elf at the fireside with some great friends. The kids and I took Mom to see the Zoo lights preview. We all dressed in purple on the 15th in honor of Josh and all those suffering from Pancreatic cancer. I was surprised at the number of co-workers who joined us too. Thanksgiving was at my mom's new place and it was a great time. I love that my kids can play the games that my sister's three can play too. WE also hit up the stores for black Friday shopping. Bella ad Max even saved up money to spend on their own deals. Finally we wrapped up the month with getting ready for Christmas. The kids did all the tree decorating on their own this year.
December arrived with Cookie baking at my house with my family. Then Bella got to go see ELF again with her choir class. She also went caroling at St. Coletta's. St. Nick arrived with items for the Helenville parade. We had such a blast in the parade again. I think that's my new favorite tradition.
I did a Holiday Llama painting and then we all went to Court's family's cooking baking day. That was so much fun! The kids rocked the SJB Christmas concert, Bella playing the clarinet . Some how we all survived that last few days of school, though I wasn't sure i would. Then Christmas break showed up! We celebrated Christmas with Grandpa, Grandma and all of daddy's siblings in Fennimore. Then Christmas eve we celebrated with Nana before attending Christmas eve mass, where i performed in the choir. Christmas morning was very laid back before we headed to my sister's to celebrate as a family. The rest of our break has been spend playing with new items, cleaning and just whatever happens. Sleeping in until 7 has been heavenly and just being laid back. new years eve was spend with some great friends who even braved the snow to drive us back and forth.
2018 has been up and down, but i have laid some frame work to hopefully make 2019 better then 2018. I feel like i'm ready to get out of the just surviving mode and start to grow again.
I'm sorry for no pictures, but if you follow me on facebook or instagram they are all on there. :)
