Wordless Wednesday--Easter Egg Dying and Hunting

A couple of quick notes...LOVE Josie's new Liberty of London romper and Kevin would like me to relay to the people of the internets that he doesn't regularly wear cut off t-shirts--he had just come home from the gym.  

Olivia, Bobcat Expert

All of 2nd grade was asked to pick an animal--any animal--to become an expert of and report back.  Reporting back involved researching your animal at home and school, making a visual aid, writing a report and preparing a presentation for your class.  Liv chose the bobcat, she says she doesn't know why she picked but it was the first thing that came to mind when it was time to sign up.  Liv had to research (using that term fairly loosely, as our only reference was Wikipedia) the bobcat to find out thing like where it lives, what it eats, and interesting characteristics.  Her report was almost four pages long, which was pretty brutal for Olivia--hater of beautiful handwriting.  She and I battled all week long to make sure everything was neat and punctuation was used correctly.  This project is 40% of her science grade for the nine weeks, and Liv is trying to extend her straight A's streak.  The poster was the most fun to make (I am awesome at 2nd grade).  The initial idea was my idea--with the tree and grass, but Liv did cut out the grass and leaves and glue everything to the paper.  It is done now and will be turned in tomorrow...fingers crossed that she remembers the definition of 'tufted' for her presentation (the bobcat has tufted ears, it was Liv's fave thing she learned about the bobcat).  

Corporate Life

I thought as long as I was going back to work, the rest of the family without a job might as well start contributing too.  This is Josie, clocked in and busy on the laptop.  Of course, she needed a shot of caffeine to get the day started right.  Actually this is Josie on the car ride over to Dallas to come see me during my work 'bootcamp'.  My transition to work has been pretty good--I don't have to get up too much earlier than I always did with the kids and I like what I know about my job already.  I have my desk set up and feeling personal with pictures and whatnot.  This week I have been shadowing people who are already doing my job and next week I will do more classroom training.  I like the people I work with, so that is great.  Josie loves school and already has favorite friends.  Liv loves being back at Kid's Campus and doesn't want to be picked up too early.


The only thing I am having trouble adjusting to is getting off work at 6.  Bedtime is 8:30 for the girls, so in 2.5 hours I need to cook dinner, check homework, pack lunches, do bathtime, clean, do laundry, water flowers, and a million other little things.  I feel like I have no time to do housekeeping stuff, much less spend any quality time with family--I did it for years so I am sure I will get back into the swing of it.  But for now, I am overwhelmed.  

Long time no blog...lots of changes

So, I don't remember the last time I have had such a big break between blogs, but this time I have a good reason!  I got a job, and have been training in Dallas for the week.  I am working at ReachLocal, and yes I meant to put the words together.  My job has a pretty fancy title--Campaign Performance Analyst.  It's gonna be awesome and my first week out of the house and in real clothes has gone well.  It was probably good that I went away for the first week,  kind of like quitting cold turkey my stay at home mom gig.  Also, in the last week Josie has decided that using the big girl potty is awesome, she uses the potty every time and is wearing big girl panties all the time (except overnight when use a pull up as a precaution).  Part of her decision to use the potty was made partly because she started preschool this week and her teacher didn't give her an option to sit on the potty or not and all of her new friends were doing it.  No matter the reason, I am proud and relieved.  I've always said that I wouldn't be to worried about it until she turned three--my worry has set in since her birthday is just a week away, but it seems like we've made it.  Olivia will be joining Josie at the daycare after school since YEP was such a depressing place to be.  Not going back to YEP was Liv's one condition before giving her approval of my new job.  Kevin is having to change up his routine a bit also--I don't get off until 6, and the kids have to be picked up before then, so he will be in charge of that.  


That's about all for now--I feel like I am kinda all over the place, but I have been in training classes/study groups for about 12 hours a day this week-so I guess I'm entitled to a little bit of that.  Kevin and Josie came to Dallas Thursday night to hang out with me, so we are staying through Saturday.  Kevin took Josie to the Dallas Aquarium today while I was in training.  Once we get home, I'll be working on stuff for Josie's birthday party next weekend...


Ok, really that's all...

Live gets glasses (soon)

Pay no mind to Liv's crazy hair--it is the end of the day--and focus on the glasses.  These are the winner and Liv should have them on her face by the end of the week, and this isn't a really flattering picture of her wearing them, I promise in person they are really cute!  I noticed Liv squinting at school to see the board and sometimes she just gets up, and goes to the front of the room to get a better look.  So, I made the appointment, and as it turns out Liv's vision is close to perfect (20/25).  Her problem is more a focusing issue.  When she focuses in tight to see things that are close to her, the muscles get too tight and start to spasm, then when she looks up and needs to relax her focus her eyes get 'stuck' and things are blurry.  Interesting, huh?  Anyway, her glasses will give her a little visual help, which should let her eyes work a little less and never tighten up so much that they get to a spasming point...we'll see.  Liv is way excited to get them, as they are a novelty item.  We'll see how long that lasts...

Liv's team basketball pictures

These pictures are cracking me up--I mean, what other basketball pro is able to have an undefeated season with untied shoes.  Our last game of the season was two weekends ago and Liv capped of the season with her highest point scoring game yet--six points, baby!!  It was pretty exciting, and Liv has decided that basketball is replacing soccer as her new favorite sport.  We are in search of other leagues Liv can join to keep playing, since the Y only does a 2 month season during winter.  We are also in search of velcro shoes...

(Mostly) Wordless Wednesday

Most of the pictures are Josie and Liv being outside on the day we stained the patio and they couldn't get to the backyard.  The other picture is what kids look like when they have their own dinner parties...