Merry Christmas Eve

 Merry Christmas Eve everyone! 

This may be the last year I take my child(ren) to see Santa.  Kinda sad.  Natalie has been acting like Santa is real, despite our conversations last year, so I'm going with it.  I don't know if she's pretending because we asked her to, or if she still believes... Regardless, we went to see Santa and she couldn't stop smiling.

They insisted I get in on the picture action.

 Such a sweet smile.

I can't get over how much time Santa spends talking to each child.  Making sure they each feel special and that he knows how good they've been all year.

One last big hug before it was the next kids turn.  I hope we'll be back next year!

* * * * * * * * * *

I have to apologize to those of you who check my blog and have been disappointed that I haven't been posting.  I guess I didn't realize many people still look at it.  Besides being extremely busy with my school work, working three days a week, the kids' school work and their activities, etc...I've been stuck with going through pictures.  I literally have thousands of pictures from our trip this summer and since then that I haven't gone through or organized.  It takes a lot of time, and I wasn't sure it was worth the effort.  Because I've now had several people tell me they have missed me posting, I will try my best to keep on top of it.  (Plus, I'll only be taking six credit hours instead of twelve - I did get all A's!!! - next semester which should help some.)

Quick updates:

Roby seems to be enjoying his job.  He's teaching classes now and will be starting some college classes next month.  He has also adjusted to being home all the time, and has helped me more than he can realize with simple things like picking Natalie up from after school daycare, taking her to dance, spending lots of time with Ethan, picking a few things up from the store, whatever.  Its the simple things that make a difference!

I'm done with my first semester toward my bachelors degree.  I could get it done in another two, but will be taking four to complete it so I don't loose my mind.  I'll be student teaching for the first time next semester (I'll be teaching two class sessions, but need to be there for all of them).  I'm working a LOT right now as people are making sure to use their benefits before the year ends, but starting in two weeks, it'll be back down to three days a week.  I haven't had time to take many day-to-day pictures, and I miss it.  

Ethan is still loving bass guitar lessons.  He seems to pick it up rather quickly.  He is always very excited when he comes out of the lesson and tells me all the new things he's learning.  He's doing really well in school.  He never did move up into the advanced math.  I guess the week he decided he wanted to, he got a B on a quiz, so his teacher said they should wait.  I'm not sure why, but Ethan seems ok where he is now, so I won't push it.  He's extremely excited about turning THIRTEEN in less than two months, and won't let me forget it for more than a couple days!

Natalie is her usual Natalie self.  She ended up quitting Girl Scouts because some of the mean girls in her grade are in it now, and with dance, it was just too much.  She hasn't mentioned it once since she quit.  She is LOVING dance lessons!  Earlier this month she had her first dance performance and absolutely loved it!  She wants to take more classes, but I think we'll wait until next year to add to her schedule.  She's doing well in school, but struggles with her teacher always rushing them, so doesn't always do as well as I know she can do.  We have finally come to the understanding that every now and then we get a teacher that is a little more difficult than others, and just have to learn through it.  Plus, they are already half way through the year!

Dogs...are our dogs.  Maggie is currently cuddling with me on the couch and Farley is feeling left out so he's laying his head on my leg begging for attention.  

Enough typing for now, I'm going to start going through some pictures and hope to make a few daily posts for next week.