goodby pre-school!

Cameron finished preschool yesterday. It's bitter-sweet. We are all looking forward to summer but we were also sad to say goodbye to Cameron's teacher. He has grown and changed so much this past year. It's hard to describe, but i have watched my shy, quiet 5 year old blossom into an outspoken inquisitive young man. He is so smart and asks interesting questions. He definitely keeps us on our toes.

Camerons teacher, Ms. Rada, was such a blessing. She was so patient and kind to her class. At headstart, the teachers make monthly visits to the homes of each child in their classroom. When Ms. Rada would come over she would always have activities planned that had been tailored to Cameron and what he needed to learn. I remember one visit she raved about Cameron and it touched me deeply. Moving from family to none, I feared that we had set him up for failure. The first few months here in Alaska were very hard for him. He was sad most of the time because he missed his family. He didn't want to go to church because he was afraid none of the kids in his primary class would like him. Once school started we started to see that change. He seemed happier. Although, Ms. Rada was complimenting our parenting when she said what she said about Cameron...to me it was just another confirmation that we as a family are doing just as we should.

We've been counting down the days till school gets out....mainly because I'd like to sleep in :) But when we woke yesterday Cameron was a little sad. It was the last time he would ride the bus with Mr. Fred and the last time he would see most of his friends (we are not in Wasilla city limits...the headstart program he was attending was in Wasilla and most of the students in his class will go to different school...we will go to a Palmer school due to boundaries and such)...it would be the last time he'd see Ms. Rada, although sometimes we run into her at Wal-Mart. We had made her a quilt to thank her for such a great year. I'll be honest, I was definately choking back tears as we said our goodbyes....I'm a big baby, but for me it was the close of our first chapter here in Alaska. We've made a home here and the school and the staff there were a part of that. I know we will find that at the elementary school Cameron attends but for me yesterday was so much more than the end of a school year.

I love this quilt....I hope Ms. Rada does too!

Cole was home one day when Cameron was getting off the bus...Cameron  loved it when Daddy would get him on or off the bus!

Thank You Ms. Rada for such a wonderful year :)

One Year

Our family has had an incredible year! If somebody had given me a timeline or breakdown of how this last year has played out I would have looked at it and thrown it across the room. I didn't imagine the heartache I would feel, how lonely I would be, or how this move would affect Cameron. I never would have believed that I would  be happy, that Cameron would thrive, that Joshua will never know anything different, that Cole would enjoy winter, that we would thrive as a family. I look back over the last year and I have so many memories...stories I hope to be able to tell to my grandchildren one day. I look back over the last year in awe of the lessons we have learned and the trials we have overcome! We have made friends...really great friends...friends we hope to keep forever. We have a cat that the boys adore and an apartment that feels like a home. We are slowly but surely settling into our ward. We have daily and weekly routines. We live in a beautiful town surrounded by majestic mountains. A year ago, the boys and I said goodbye to our friends and family...we took 4 suitcases and 2 boxes...and left everything I've ever known for this wonderful, crazy, challenging adventure! I am so grateful that Cole was there to meet us at the airport when we landed in Anchorage...I was scared out of my mind...but I will ALWAYS remember the grin on his face when we walked out of the terminal and he saw us for the first time in six weeks....he was obviously happy and I was determined from that moment on to make this work and it has. 

I have a new song that I play over and over! It reminds me to keep going. It reminds me to never give up. The last year has been so hard...but I would never trade it for anything. 

Change in the Making

From the album Higher By Mercy River

There’s a better version of me
That I can’t quite see
But things are gonna change
Right now I’m a total mess and
Right now I’m completely incomplete
But things are gonna change
Cause you’re not through with me yet

This is redemption’s story
With every step that I’m taking
Every day, you’re chipping away
What I don’t need
This is me under construction
This is my pride being broken
And every day I’m closer to who I’m meant to be
I’m a change in the making

Wish I could live more patiently
Wish I could give a little more of me
Without stopping to think twice
Wish I had faith like a little child
Wish I could walk a single mile
Without tripping on my own feet
But you’re not through with me yet

Chorus

From the dawn of history
You make new and you redeem
From a broken world to a broken heart
You finish what you start in everything
Like a river rolls into the sea
We’re not who we’re going to be
But things are going to change

Chorus

I’m not who I’m gonna be
Moving closer to your glory

April!

The five people that actually check up on my blog are probably wondering where I've gone off to hide again! Truth be told we've been so busy the last few weeks!

Cameron finishes school on May 9th. This year has flown by! He is thriving at home, at school and at church. he is writing his letters and trying to spell. He is counting and telling us all of the things he's learning. He has been called up to the front of the room during primary a couple of time to hold pictures during singing time and he loves his primary teacher. We are excited to spend the summer together and we are already planning playdates and park fun. I can't believe my baby will be in kindergarten.

Joshua has started talking and is talking more and more each day. He refers to himself as "baby" and tells us when he's "all done". I am "mama" and if he really wants my attention it's "mamamamamamamama". When he's in a really good mood Cameron is "bruder". He's learning animal sounds and he sounds so funny!

Cole and I are great. We are both enjoying the sunshine. I am so glad the snow is finally gone! I have started running :) It feels so good to be back out in the mornings running around our neighborhood! Cole's job is still going good.

I promise to not wait so long between updates!

Spring?

We've had a week of beautiful weather here in our neck of the woods. Dreaming of spring.

Winter update

One of my readers is also a very good friend....she requested an update...so here it is!

Sorry it's been so long, Friends! Life got the best of me and I have been trying my hardest to keep keepin' on!

I'll start with the kiddos---
Joshua has now taken on the name of Josh---I knew it would happen :) Although it's my fault! In all honesty I don't care which name he uses and what our friends and acquaintances call him. Here at home he is Joshua, Josh, baby J, Mr J and Shua. Our Little Guy is officially 18 months old! I still can't believe he's growing up so fast. hes just as independent as Cameron was at this age. He loves his toys and plays with his brother often. He has a favorite blanket. although any blanket will do (nice for blanket washing days!). He is the best eater in the house and will eat almost anything I put in front of him. He's learning how to help with simple chores around the house and he's learning his place in our family. He initiates prayer at meals and stayed the whole two hours in nursery last week! He is growing way to fast and i just wish i could pause time...to enjoy these sweet moments with my baby (toddler)!

Cameron is doing great. He is thriving at school and at home. He can write his name all by himself, although he would rather not! He is the best big brother and helps take care of Joshua. he loves to get him out of his bed and helps to find Josh's blanket when we can't find it. He enjoys playing games on the computer (our favorite sites are NickJr and PBS Kids...we also like the Zoodles dashboard) and loves our Wii. It's been fun to watch his coordination change allowing him to play these different games and consoles better. we haven't had any more trouble with kids at school which is wonderful. Cameron and i both love his teacher and the classroom aide. We have decided to homeschool him next year. I am looking forward to the one-on-one time we will have. He is one of the funniest kids I know and cracks me up a hundred times a day. He is also very smart....the things he retains in that little head of his amazes me. We are pretty sure that Cameron has inherited my allergies, though. He will have an allergy test here soon to help determine what his triggers may be.

Cole has had his best winter to date (at least as long as I've known him). To me, it's just another testament to me that we are doing exactly as Heavenly Father has planned. He still loves his job, but has realized that it's just that, a job, and that in order for us to expand our family anymore and buy a house someday he will need a career that will allow him to provide those things. He's looking into a couple of things and is excited about the different opportunities he's pursuing.

As for me, it's been a very hard winter....not because of the winter and lack of daylight but because I am having a hard time figuring out where I fit in. I believe this is the reason I have been avoiding this blog. I have commited myself to me and my family. I have decided that it doesn't matter how many friends I have right now and what people may think of me. I need to do what is best for myself and my family. I have settled into  our ward for the most part. As for Alaska, I love it. I have thoroughly enjoyed our winter and I am looking forward to spring. We've had some crazy snow that isn't normally for where we live. It's been soooo fun!

Overall, We are happy, healthy and enjoying each other!

Update!

It's been a nice low-key month around our home! Cole's schedule has settled down a bit the last week or so. The kids have enjoyed seeing him in the evenings for a few minutes before bed.

Joshua has been cutting teeth like a mad man! Since Christmas he has cut 4-5 teeth! He's been one crabby dude. Other than that he's really started talking. His words are still pretty limited but he is starting to put the words he know into 2-3 word sentences. Last night he said "I want Dada"....he also says "I want that", "Yessss" "Uh-oh" "I want This". He's started waking up really early in the morning....I refuse to get up before 7am so on those mornings he gets to lay in his bed and talk. We hear him singing every morning....it's pretty cute!

Cameron has settled back into school! I am so grateful that he loves school again! He's starting to recognize words when he looks at books and papers. I wouldn't be surprised if he was reading by the end of summer! Right now we are working on recognized numbers....he's very good with number 1-10. Once you get past 10 he has trouble recognizing numbers 11-20. He knows them but gets confused when looking at them! His teacher suggested using BINGO cards and having him yell out the numbers. It's so fun and he has really gotten the hang of these numbers he's been having trouble with.

Cole is doing great. Winters are or have always been very hard for him. I can honestly say that in all of the years I have known him...this has been his best winter to date! I believe that because we are following our hearts and doing exactly as we have been instructed by our Father in Heaven we are being blessed immensely....and I believe that is exactly why Cole is thriving this winter! He still loves his job. Now that his job has slowed down a bit we are enjoying having him home in the evenings!

I am hanging in there....the holidays were really tough! I am still trying to get settled back in since our trip to Oregon! I was finally able to go to Cameron's school this last week to help in the class room....Joshua and I even made it to playgroup this week! I've spent some time reading. I love my primary class! I've enjoyed baking the last couple of months! I am trying very hard to enjoy the days home with my kiddos and then enjoy the evenings with my husband!

We are all looking forward to spring and summer!

My Menu---Jan 22-28, 2012

Sun Jan 22- Cole's Birthday Dinner...His choice!  Shepards Pie (trying it in the crock pot for the very first time as time is limited after church to get dinner ready) AND Apple Crisp for desert.

Mon Jan 23- Soup and grilled cheese sandwiches

Tues Jan 24- Baked Chicken Fajitas

Wed Jan 25- Baked Potatoes

Thurs Jan 26- Homemade baked Chicken Nuggets

Fri Jan 27- Pizza night!

Sat Jan 28- BBQ Pork Chops