ICE SKATING kids...

Attitude On ICE!!

Today the kids started ice skating lessons. They both loved it, regardless of the crash and burns. Jessica is in a beginning figure skating class and Josh is in a beginning hockey skating class. We'll see where it goes but they are both so excited about it and it's nice to see them really into something!

This week has been... just another week for the most part. Jessica is trying so hard to adjust to middle school with six classes and six different teaching styles, she's been pretty stressed but loves to go and see her friends. Josh is still enjoying school and has one of the leads in the 3rd grade play. I'm sure it's because he can remember just about anything he hears or reads, so I have to be careful if I don't want to be quoted!

Yesterday both the kids had friends over. Jessica and her friend made sure to stay away from Josh and his two friends who were enjoying tormenting the girls! For the most part I thought the house was pretty quiet for having 5 kids around.

Happy Birthday Ken!

So Cool...

I left this morning (Saturday) at about 7:30 am for a 4 hour nursing class. I said goodbye to my husband and a quick happy birthday to him as I left. I'm not sure if he heard any of it. It's been a hard week for me I haven't been feeling well and started my new classes blah, blah, blah etc. Anyways, when I got home the house had been all cleaned up including vacuuming, bathrooms, and a squeky clean kitchen. All of this on HIS birthday so I definitely have to be grateful for him for what he did! This Saturday school think might not be so bad...

Off to school again...

Well, the kids started back to school on Monday (1/7/08) and I started back Tuesday (1/8/08). It's always hard to get back into the routine! Jessica and Josh both held onto their sheets for dear life as we plucked them from their beds Monday morning. It sure is hard to let them grow up. I do miss them during the day and think about them constantly hoping that everything is going good and they are happy and enjoying themselves. It's hard to realize that they are going to have so many challenges and I have to stand back as they learn how to navigate life! (Although, I probably don't stand back enough!)

I did my first class of YOGA on Monday and I really enjoyed it... although I've felt it after the fact. Then, on Tuesday I went to a Speech class on campus during the day and was caught off guard because I was by far the oldest in class. Yikes! I felt old and I'm only 33... I'm sure this feeling is only going to get worse as time goes on. LOL I have been going to night classes and that is where all the adults are, so this is a bit new for me.

I am so grateful for my family and feel very blessed to have them, it's not easy working around my schooling. I'm so thankful to be able to go to school and pursue my dreams, even if it is a bit later than most.

January at the BEACH!

We decided that even though it was windy, 70 degrees was just right for playing in the sand at the beach today! We stayed for about an hour and the kids had fun finding critters and building sandcastles. It was a lot of fun just sitting on the beach watching the kids and listening to my Ipod that Ken got me for Christmas. There is something very calming about sitting on the warm sand with a cool ocean breeze. We are so grateful to be living here and absolutely love Camarillo.

I was reading my sister Susan's blog (Yates Circus) and decided to copy most of her ideas since she is so incredibly insightful! She mentioned that if you right down your goals you are more likely to achieve them, so here goes for 2008:

My goals are...

• Update this blog every week so that I will fulfill a goal of journaling!
• Make sure my kids say their prayers every night.
• Cook more REAL dinners (bye, bye Mac'n'Cheese/Top Ramen etc!)
• Play more games with my children.
• Be on time to church... Ha, ha, ha
• Start YOGA next week and stick with it... and eat my sweets on Sundays :)

Jessica at water's edge...

Jessica would have danced right into the ocean if I let her! She is extremely creative and can make the fastest sandcastle around!

Josh in the sand...

It's never too cold to play in the sand! Josh can do this all day long, regardless of the fact that the backside of his pants were wet from sitting on the damp sand!

Critters at the beach...

(Jesi & Josh wrestling in the sand!)

All the critters come out to play during

winter at the beach!