Christmas concert

So this past weekend has really started the kick off to Christmas and it will go strong until next weekend. Even though josh is pretty miserable we still seem to be able to get a lot of holiday stuff in. Only thing that would be better if we could get some snow.

The concert was held on a Monday night, which was so not fun. We got Bella to school and I spent my morning attempting to clean and be ready for the night. I mean that have broken down too since josh was worse then the day before and other things were not going our way. It made the drive to work awful. Max had speech and did really well. Work went ok. I wanted to see the dress rehearsal but my preschoolers needed to run.
So once school was over, the big kids arrived and then mom showed up with supper for Bella and me, at 3:30pm. A bit early but this worked out as Bella got to eat early, get ready for the show and then wait with mom to get seats for the concert. They got great seats by the way.  Some how I lucked out and all my kids were gone home before Josh and Max arrived so we all went to join mom in church. The wait up there seemed to take forever! I took Max on a walk and ended up meeting up with his preschool class. He didn't want to go with his class or preform. So i hung out with him until I was able to slip away. Thank you Ms. Shawn!
Both kids preformed and did great.. Below are a bunch of videos.. Bella has more songs but hard to see her and hear here. I will be buying the DVD so if anyone wants to see it.

Update/catch up

From my last post you know its been crazy, but that’s life, right? So here’s kind of an mini update about all of us.

Mom’s group started up for me and Max. It’s a great group of moms that meets at school for bible book study and support. Just a great time. naturally I have to miss the 2nd week due to work.  I”ve also been working more, starting work three days a week at 1130am. While it’s fun to be with the kids, it’s leading to some long days and shorter nights it seems. I’m feeling a bit better about things as a bunch of loose ends from last year are finally fixed. I am still excited to see what will happen this year. Max did come with me one day and that was more of a struggle then I thought it would be. I do enjoy when Bella can stay with me for a while and catch up with her.

Josh is doing ok, maybe even good if you take out the cancer stuff. He’s been able to get some fishing in, doing some “farming “ stuff and getting some of the projects in the house done.  The cooler weather has helped out a lot, and we are eagerly awaiting for it to be cooler.

Bella is loving school. She adjusted to 2nd grade so far with no troubles. They have an online system to earn points through out the day for being behaved, helping other, staying on task, participating, ect. Whoever earns the most at the end of the week gets a prize. They also get a character to customize based on how many points they have earned. The system works great for Bella. We had one slip up on her spelling test, but now know going forward what to do. Her reading has found to be in the higher level (no surprise) but we won’t know more of how she is really doing until conferences in October. Bella also started a class via our support group. It will be interesting to see how she handles that. We haven’t told her yet that Poppy has cancer, but it’s coming, so  at least she has an outlet to express those feelings too.

That leaves us to Mr. Max. He started preschool, and is a pro at school. I get more updates on him since I work with his teacher closely. He’s doing really well, and quickly learning how school works. I did worry about him since he’s a boy of “my idea or no way” But he plays ok with the other kids and listens to the teacher. He’s also been able to stay all day a couple times and does good with lunch and quiet time.  He also started speech again. I almost didn’t say anything about it , as he freaked out with his new teacher. Same place, but new teacher and he couldn’t handle it. Well I talked to this new teacher and realized that she didn’t know where Max was, and since then we have had another visit, which was his speed, and he did great!  She’s impressed with his vocabulary, but noticed he drops syllables so that’s what we have t work on.. he also can’t make the “s’ sound so I hope that will come soon too.

Bella got to cantor at church last week. She was so excited!

Max at treatment with Daddy

I lvoe that I get to hang out with my kids at school

 

Max talking about tractors

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walking with daddy

Bella singing:

Mother’s Tea

The kindergarteners and 1st graders hosted a Mother’s Tea for the mom’s. We first got sashes decorated by the kiddos and then we went to Mass with the kids. Following Mass we went for “Tea” and muffins. I got milk instead. The kids performed a few songs including singing “happy mother’s day” to the tune of Happy Birthday to each mom. It was so sweet. I didn’t get too many pictures though. Bummer.

one of the songs

 

Mommy time equals Daddy and kiddo time

So Josh watched the kids for me so that I could go to a consignment sale along with lunch out with the girls in Madison. I had a great time with everyone, until I had to drive home in the rain. Working hard to get over my fear of driving in the down pouring rain.

While I was away Josh took the kids to his dad’s to go fishing. Well the fishing wasn’t great, so they took the kids to a fish hatchery, where the kids had a blast!

Dec 18th: gingerbread and gymnastics

On Wednesday we had a very busy day. We started out with all of us going to school Mass. Bella sat with her class and Josh, Max and I in the back. Then we went to Bella’s class to watch her gingerbread program. They sang some Christmas songs, and then performed a play called “the gingerbread boy” Only they had a girl playing the main character. It was too cute! Max and Josh were watching from behind since Max rather play with toys.

Afterwards, Max and I came home. Max Napped while Aunt Diane arrived. She was going to go to Bella’s school to see the play and make a gingerbread house together.

Aunt Diane brought Bella home from school, then Max got his turn to play with her. The kids had fun making snowman and playing “hello kitty Trouble”

Then it was off to gymnastics for Bella. IT was a really small class so she got to do a lot. She had a fun time.

Bella passed her first level for gymnastics. She only had two things to do from when they tested in October, so we were so proud of her. IT’s kind of random when they test them.

Nov 14th Time with daddy

The kids are just missing daddy. He’s gone all day, then milks and then it’s supper and bedtime. So we have been trying to carve out some time between supper and bedtime for the kids to love on daddy. Last year have taught us not to take for granted a second.

Swimming Lessons Round 2

This free picture collage made with Smilebox

Bella’s 2nd round of swimming lessons were a bit different then the first. She knew more, which was good, but her class was bigger and had a different teacher. She did manage to figure out how to float on her back though, and could get her legs up to swim a bit, but she is still lacking the staima or strength to keep at it. She had a lot of fun though, so that’s what really maters.

Swimming Lessons

 

Bella started swimming lessons in June. IT’s for one hour Monday though Thursday for two weeks. She will be taking another two week session starting next week. She’s got a ways to go to pass this level, but I just discovered on Wednesday that she doesn’t hold her breathe when trying to float, so yeah she just sinks. She has made progress and I hope she makes some more in the next two weeks.

 

Make a free scrapbooking design

third day.

first day

Catch up someday

I feel like I’m falling behind on blogging yet, hopefully I’m catching up on everything else.  Monday morning we had a surprise visitor of Father Greg. Bella was excited to see him..along with Josh I think he ended up visiting for about 2 hours. The weather has gotten warm and humid so we venture outside in the early in the day and at dusk. The kids do enjoy playing in the kiddie pool and water table.

Tuesday wE decided to go strawberry picking. I wanted to make freezing jam and I knew we would be leaving for the weekend so it was a now or never sort of deal. WE got there around 8:30 am and by 9:30 , as the rain hit we were heading home. I then spent the rest of the day making freezer jam. I think I made about 24 pints…we had 36lbs of strawberries. Bella probably ate a pound on her own. I also froze some to make smoothies with or pies. 

That night we had Bella’s first soccer game. She was a big unsure of it all, but I got her to “practice” with her team. Then they divide up the kids 4 and 4, to play the other team who is also divided up the same way.

Wednesday, we went to an Organic Valley meeting at a local farmer’s farm. IT wasn’t too far  from us, but yet we were still late.  That took up half the day. Max wasn’t really a fan though. So that made it a bit tough but confirmed we were leaving as soon as lunch got done. WE came home and it was naptime. WE then enjoyed the outdoors while Josh was off round baling.

Thursday, Bella got to go the Summer Reading program at the library. She had a good time and made a dinosaur. That night we had bowling. The kids are doing suprisly well. Also thankfully the other bowlers don’t see to mind them either.