Welcome back....

Jonathan and Katie on their first day of school. September 2011

So excited to start school!

Not as excited as his sister.. lol...

Really Mom?

Well, goodNESS. It's been quite some time since I've been here. Well, I've actually been here a few times, but not on the inside here making a new post.

It's been like -- 2 years since I've made a post. My babies are still the most important thing in the world to me. They are now almost 11 (EEK!) and 6. Jonathan is in 5th grade and Katie Grace is in 1st grade.

It's been an interesting couple of years. We are no longer attending the Kenmore Alliance Church -- for reasons I do not wish to blog about :) We then started attending Whitehaven Road Baptist Church for about 1 1/2 years. Now we are attending Northgate Community Church with Brian's parents. I can't say that it will be our final landing place, but for now it's a place to heal and be with family.

The kids are also in a new school. For Jonathan, that means his 4th school. And he is only in 5th grade. For Katie, it is her 2nd school, and she's in 1st. But we believe they are where God wants them to be, and their education (both academic and spiritual) is much better at this new school.
Business First ranked St John Lutheran School of North Tonawanda 7th out of 280 schools in WNY. We have some friends who attend there and have loved it. We are into October -- about 6 weeks into the school year and we feel we have made the right decision.  It's definitely more challenging academically, and the spiritual aspect beats the old school hands down. We are all working hard to adjust but by God's grace we are doing it! :)

I've added a few pictures from their first day of school last month....

I will backtrack to this past summer and show vacation pics and Katie's b-day pictures in the posts to come. I'm trying to get back into journaling our lives so my kids have something to look back on in the years to come -- and know how much their Momma loved them.  Even if no one else ever reads this blog but me (and eventually, my children) -- I will be thankful I took the time to chronicle the events of their little lives.

Katie's Pre-K Graduation

Randomness

Jonathan had his very first "Academic Day" -- and he chose sharks to research. The final result was pretty impressive (we thought!) for a 3rd grader. We love you, Jonathan David!

the committee - fire, winter break and other ramblings...

My little Katie Grace is growing up. I see it in little and big ways all the time! Just a couple of weeks ago she wrote her name for the first time! I have been wondering if she was going to go to Kindergarten this coming fall, but she's showing signs of getting ready.

One thing I have never done is to correct them if they say words incorrectly -- I KNOW the day comes when they learn the correct way to say the word and I will never again hear that sweet mispronunciation out of their little mouths. For instance -- Jonathan used to call the baby monitor the "mom-iter" -- which actually makes more sense, since it was more for MOM then anyone else ;)

Another cute thing Jonathan used to say was ba-dee-dee for banana -- how he got that was beyond me lol but it was adorable.

Katie calls the humidifier the "committee fire" and I LOVE THAT so much!!!! Every time one of my girlfriends comes over, I ask her what that is and she says, very seriously, "The committee fire, Momma" and I DIE every time!! LOL

This week has been winter break so they are both out of school and we have been B U S Y!!!! We have had playdates every day and we have more today and tomorrow! It's been fun (and necessary lol) to keep us from going a leedle crazy.. They have gotten outside as much as possible but it's cold and windy and snowy out there as well..

I'm in an organizing mode in my house --- Not working at the moment, so I have been spending pretty much every spare moment organizing and cleaning out drawers, etc. (wondering how long this energy will last, haha!)

So thankful for each moment with them -- they truly are growing up before my eyes.

A Very Special Day

Katie Grace had her very first hair cut and experience at the salon today.

This feels really nice Momma!!!!

Look at that sweet profile....

Sweetie Girl

It got a little overwhelming at one point, so we're glad we had "Lovie" along...

Getting a Style

the final product -- perfection ♥

Miss Kelly even gave her hot cocoa -- Katie declared it "a GREAT day Momma!" ~ and it was.

Fun Meme

Haven't done one of these in awhile. This one looked kinda fun.... (I know I did one similar to this before, but this one looks cute)

Directions:
1. Go to http://www.photobucket.com/
2. Type in your answer to the question in the “search” box
3. Use only the first page
4. Insert the picture into your Blog.


Here goes nothin'!!

1) What is your current relationship status?


2) What is your current mood?



3) What is your favorite band/singer?



4) What is your favorite movie?


5) Where do you live?


6) Where do you work?


7) What do you look like?


8) Favorite TV show?


9) What do you drive?


10) What is your name?


(except not the zeta jones part ;) )




11) What did you do last night?

This makes my heart so happy...