Update Time

 

So I know it’s been a couple of days but I really wanted to update before the weekend I have forgotten all of the things through the week.

 

So what’s been going on.  Well we had the parade last Saturday and Miss Maya was in the parade for Little Miss she was super cute and I think she REALLY enjoyed her time being in the parade.  I had Joyce do her hair and it looked SOOOO cute.  She was really done being in the parade by the time it ended but it was fun for her.  She only has two more parades left and then she’s done until next summer J

 

This past week Nikolai has been really cute in him learning how to say Please and speaking more.  He has learned quite a number of words and has been using them more and more frequently.  We still have periods of time where I can’t understand what he’s saying but compared to where he was before it’s truly been good.  He did say “I love you mama”  of course it was prompted but I was excited that he started saying it.

 

Lehna meet some more friends up the hill.  When we first decided to move back to Indiana Lehna was so worried that there wouldn’t be any kids her age to play with.  Well Lehna meet two little girls that are RIGHT up the hill from us (you don’t even have to walk across the street) that are 10 and 7 so they are the perfect ages for Lehna and Maya to play with.  So I’m really excited about that.

 

This weekend we have playtime at the hotel.  The kids are going to go spend the night at the hotel after swimming of course and then tomorrow we have the FOP golf tournament.  It’s a tournament was play in every year.  This year it feels a little strange just because of things that are going on in the background but I’m hoping it’s still fun.

 

Anywho… that’s what’s going on right now.

Empowering thoughts.

So I came across a few quotes that I really liked so I thought that I would share them.  They are all by Steve Maraboli, from the book “Life, the Truth, and Being Free”.  I think I might need to read this book I like some of the thoughts that Steve has to say.

 

“Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over instead of craving control over what you don't.”

What I like about this is it is impowering.

“Happiness is not the absence of problems, it's the ability to deal with them.”

Seriously isn’t this the truth.  I mean problems will happen that’s part of life but isn’t this the truth!

 

“Forget yesterday - it has already forgotten you. Don't sweat tomorrow - you haven't even met. Instead, open your eyes and your heart to a truly precious gift - today.”

This is truth I need to worry more about the present and stop worrying about what I did yesterday.  What a few empowering thoughts.

 

Now if only I could actively use these. 

 

Any who that’s my thoughts for today… and they aren’t even mine LOL

Investigation is my Middle Name

The search for a the perfect daycare

 

So we are searching for a daycare for Nikolai when summer ends.  We have been very blessed this summer by having Don watch the kids while we are at work.  So we are looking for other options for when summer does end, as Don will be returning to school.  I joined Care.Com and was able to put a job posting online and I have had people respond to it.  We have had one interview from it so far.  I really liked her and I think she would be a good match for Nikolai, but we have two more interviews next week to see if all of the options.   We also talked to a couple of daycare facilities that we are touring next week to investigate this option as well.  I would like Nikolai to be in a facility b/c I think he would REALLY LIKE it and he would enjoy the socialization.  I think it would also help his speech development as well.  So the search will continue until we find the best fit.  The problem will be space as both locations we spoke with, although they are in our cost range, they do not have space, so they put us on the waiting list.  But both of them want us to tour.  So I don’t know if that’s just what they tell parents so they can interview them first or if they truly don’t have space.  I guess we shall see. 

 

The search for the perfect school

 

I’m also investigating some other options as far as graduate school for myself.  I sent a request to Purdue to see what kind of requirements they would need and to start taking the tests for grad school.  I really would like to grow my education b/c I think it would only open more opportunities for myself and my career.  I’m looking in this area as well for schools and finding out what kind of schools and programs that they offer.  Just looking for additional education and opening so more options for myself.  My job right now is pretty easy and don’t get me wrong I definitely need that, but I want to expand my horizons and I think that this will be a great route to do that. 

 

The search for the perfect balance

 

So I started another blog, which is my weight loss blog.  I don’t know if you can see it or not… doesn’t really matter.  I have jumped on the workout train and let me tell you… yikes am I OUT OF SHAPE.  Tait and I work out with a personal trainer 1 day a week and she gives us HELL and then we follow that routine the rest of the week.  We are working out 5-6 days a week and my body HURTS.  It usually takes me about 2 - 3 days to recover, which is totally sucky!  I am also trying to eat better.   I am entering my food in Lose It again which is so crappy.  I hate watching what I eat…  but I NEED IT SOOOO BADLY.  I mean it does me no good to work out like a slave and then eat like a horse… I mean the two have to have balance.  So I’m searching for balance. 

 

The search for the bottom of the boxes

 

So we are allllll moved in.  Tait is now here all the time.  THANK GOOOOOODNESS!  So we are still shifting through boxes and putting stuff away.  Tait moved some of the boxes to the attic and told me that if I wanted them they were close.  My issue that I’m having is the lack of having places to put things.  I am really used to having closets and this house seriously lacks closets so most of the stuff is just staying in a box.  But even like spare winter blankets or even spare sheets… no closets.  There isn’t even a lien closet for the bathroom so towels, soap, even shampoo I have made a bookshelf a “closet” and have been putting stuff on that.  It’s kind of annoying b/c I like hiding that kind of thing.  Oh well though what are you going to do.   We also got all of our appliances up and running so we can wash our clothes and cook our food now.  So goodnews on the home front. 

Two weeks in review

So where to begin.  I’ll start with the oldest information first.  So two weeks ago I traveled north to Wisconsin to see the performance Wicked.  It was a good weekend.  We had a GREAT time, the kids stayed with Tim and Helen with a last minute change, but they had a great time.  The show was amazing.  I didn’t know what the story was about at all.  I know Jackie and I had talked a long time ago what the story was about, but I truly didn’t remember any of.  The music was really good as well.  Our seats were AMAZING.  We were two rows from the front!  We could see them sweat and spit!  The spit a LOT.  But the music was wonderful.  I liked it so much I downloaded the music to my kindle later that night.  I’m glad that we were able to see it.  It will be in Indianapolis in November and we would like to take the girls to it.  I think they would REALLY enjoy it. 

 

 Tait and I were also able to get a nice hotel room and had dinner out in Milwaukee.  It was a great weekend.  We really enjoyed having our date weekend and the best part was it was only one week away from when he was coming home for good. 

 

He came back on Friday and the kids were excited.  It was amazing and it is wonderful having him full time.  He has this week of “vacation” before he starts with Indiana DCS again.  He’s so excited about being an investigator again.  We both really enjoy being back in Indiana.  It really is good being so close to family.  It still feels like we are visiting but it’s good.  It adjustment time for us as well. 

 

So that’s two weekends ago…

 

Now for the big news from THIS WEEKEND! 

 

Maya won the Little Miss Miami County pageant.  We were so excited for her.  Her rein will be from Now – until the next fair 2014.  She will be in three parades this summer and then will be able to judge and crown her replacement come next summer.  We were very shocked but Maya was just herself and really was cute.  (not that I’m biased) 

 

The girls were asked 4 different questions below are the questions and answers she provided.  (the first 3 questions we knew what they were going to be the 4^th was a wild card question from her information sheet)

 

1.       What was your favorite thing to do at the fair? 

Maya’s Answer – Eat Cotton Candy

2.       Where would you like to go on vacation and why?

Maya’s answer – To my cousin’s house Zach and Evan, b/c they are my favorite cousins

3.       What is your favorite animal and why?

Maya’s Answer – an Elephant (which she was carrying) and why, because if you had one in your home they could give you a shower every day (she then proceeded to lift it above her head upside down) 

4.       What do you like about your favorite TV Show Peppa Pig?

Maya – They fall down when they laugh

 

We can that Lehna coached her a little but she did these things on her own.  At practice she said totally different things, so we didn’t know why was going to come out of her mouth.  She just was really natural and she smiled really well and blew the judges a kiss.  It was really good.  She was shocked and was happy that she won.  She LOVES her crown and sash.  It should be interesting watching her on the parade routes.  I know she will really like being on the floats and waving.  She keeps asking if the people are going to throw candy at her and we keep trying to explain that SHE will be THOWING candy not the other way around. 
 

We have had some green with envy from Lehna, which is totally to be expected.  She cried a little bit when Maya was wearing her crown.  But Lehna wants to do the Denver Pageant and we told her she could.  I don’t know if she’ll win or not but I hope regardless of what happens she doesn’t turn into a sore loser.  She told Maya that she couldn’t do the Denver pageant and we told her that she already had a crown she doesn’t need to enter that pageant.  So hopefully that will settle her down. So we’ll see what happens. 

 

I have more pictures but they are not off my camera yet.  L  I know I know I suck big time.