Things Going on at Our House

Mason on Haloween

Life Never Slows Down Here

I know you have heard it before. We just never seem to slow down...ever!

I finished my third Master's a few weeks ago and am just waiting for my final grades and diploma. The last two grades were passing but not as good as I would have liked. Oh well, with life being what it is, I have to accept I can't get all A's.

Derek is considering quitting in December to stay at home with the kids. He misses them like crazy and feels that they are suffering with how busy we are and that we are never home for them.

Brittney is in college now and so far things are working out. Due to some adminsitrative issues we have decided to adopt her, so that will obe complete in October. Yea! She's also taking a cardio class several days a week to stay in shape, so she's busy, since she also works a two jobs in between school.

Alexis is now in High School and is also very busy, moreso than she's ever been and I think it's getting to her (see her blog). She's working a few days a week, taking driver's ed, trying to maintain A's and B's, softball conditioning, and maartial arts. She's a busy girl, plus she's got a long distance boyfriend.

Mercedes is doing alright. She finally got to start dance classes and she's thrilled. Unfortuantely, she is going to have to work to catch up with her peers. She's not got a lot of "rhythm".

Mason and Micah are still witht he same daycare provider. She's started preschool programs with them so they are starting to get ready for school. It's hard to believe that Mason will be in kindergarten next year! He will probably start martial arts (along with Mercedes) in January too). Micah isn't old enough yet, and I am really not sure he needs to be taught how to hit anything! He's violent enough as it is. He's in full-blown two year old mode. Mercedes and Mason were nothign compared to them.

I am still working part-time (though it seems like more sometimes) at the online school. It's not a bad deal, though there are times I feel overwhelmed. It's helping me to pay off bills though so that's nice. Hopefully, I will be 1/3 less in debt by this time next year : )

We are still planning to go to Disney in November for the holiday. I think it will be a nice family trip. We need somerthing fun, away from here. I think we are all too wrapped up in our schedules!

Just Catching Up

Ok, I have gotten addicted to Facebook and MySpace. I am sure it will pass, but I have been spending WAY too much time on those sites!

I found out today that we are ready to start the second phase of Brittneys adoption. It should go fairly quickly fro here. I will pay the remainder of the attorney fees so that will prevent any legal hold-up. In the meantime, we are still trying to work through Brittneys problems with the college. If I didn't know better I would think they are doing it on purpose.

I will be done with this last Master's degree next week. Yes, I sped it up and added to my stress, but I am vulnerable for a career move in the next few months and the last thing I need is to be in the middlle of a degree. This one is military studies, so not good for much outside the Air Force, but it's a degree, so I won't complain (too much). It has really been stressing me out, so I will be very happy to be done.

I am also teaching four classes. I have taught up to six which can really kill me. As much as I enjoy the upper level classes, it is more than I can take. The amount of work is doubled and I am already feeling guilty about not spending more time with the kids, though I am trying to make a point of breaking away from the computer earlier to hang with them.

I am ready for school to start back up. We are trying to keep things quiet until Derek quits working. That should be next year, though I am still secretly hoping he gets a government job (Sigh!).

So so busy

You know, our life isn't very interesting or exciting, but there is always a lot going on.

For example, Derek and I are in the process of adopting Brittney. Why? Well, since her Dad never got us the custody paperwork, the scholarship she earned is not valid until she becomes a state resident. Yea, it's a loophole, I think a scam actually. However, the adoption solves several problems, and we are all ok with it. In the meantime, she starts college in a few weeks and we think we have everything covered.

Alexis has been going to volleyball conditioning since they cancelled softball conditioning. However, she does not think she really wants to do volleyball, even if she were to make the team. She says softball is where she wants to focus, and she also wants to get back into martial arts. Oh, and she wants to get her Learner's Permit so she can start driving. Frightening, isn't it? We told her she has to maintain a 3.3 GPA or higher to get her driver's license next year. Harsh, aren't we?

Mercedes started a dance class on base a few weeks ago. it's really convenient since the instructor can pick her up from daycare and then I stop and pck her up from there. She's loving it too. She says it is what she wants to focus on versus martial arts or softball. We are going to try to support her with it and let her continue at a school here in town once school starts in a few weeks.

Mason is doing well. He's quite the little engineer. He likes to take everything apart and try to put it back together. Very cute!

Micah is just sheer hell! He's feisty and violent and fussy, but then turns around and is so cute. He's got quite a vocabulary too, when he chooses to talk. Quite a character.

Derek has made the decision to quit working in December. He's fed up with his job and really wants to have more time with the kids. With as busy as we are, I am just not keeping up. He is also considering starting a Master's online, but he's not sold on that yet. We'll see!

I am finishing up Master's number three. I have three weeks left and I will be done!!!! The big pain right now is the research paper. The instructor is anal and I can't seem to please him, at all. Oh well, as long as I get an B, I will be fine.

Been a LONG while

I'm sure I am quite a disappointment, since I know so many people follow the BLOG. Seriously, we have just been so crazy busy for so long, and I started using Facebook and MySpace that I lost track of this BLOG. I think I am going to try to start posting here again, just for posterity's sake.

Heading out tomorrow

I have survived my first week in the new jobs, but I think they were going easy on me since I am leaving for three weeks. I feel like I am their Christmas/birthday present to themselves. I am taking on a lot of the admin/day-to-day type of things. This week, I have mentored a young officer, provided significant input to a senior leader briefing , and just been there to do little things. I know it's going to be even busier when I get back. And our new boss gets here in July so I imagine I will be gearing up for that as well.

I am looking forward to this 3 week training class as an oppotunity to get away, but I still have a lot of things I have to keep doing while I am gone. I have started work on the research paper/thesis I have to do for my current Master's and I am finishing up two classes I have been teaching. I am starting four more classes (teaching) while I am in the class learning, so it's going to be very interesting.

I am hoping to use these three weeks to get back into shape by working out and getting back onto the lower calorie diet I had been foloowing. I gained a few pounds over the holidays so I want to shed those. They don't really worry me until I put it into the context of 4 lbs every holiday with no weight loss in between. It adds up then.

Life is pretty good though. Busy, but good!