Nerd Herd, Minus Two

As many of you may (or may not know), Tim's youngest two kids moved with their mom to Idaho in August.  It has been a huge adjustment for everyone, but in honesty, from what I see and hear in all of the kids; it seems to have been having positive outcomes in all of the kids.

We all knew that Gavyn, being the oldest, would have little to no adjustment period.  He is still surrounded by all of the same friends that he grew up around, playing the same sports, and going to the same school.  It must be hard for a teenage boy to be separated from his mother, but we are all trying to make the best of the situation.  I think that he absolutely loves living with his dad again.  He looks up to Tim, and seems to respect both of us as his authority figures.

Kenzie, who now has a full-time older "brother" with Gavyn living with us, is becoming more and more confident in herself by the day. I think that having Gavyn around, who has to be the most confident, outgoing and smart teenage boy that I've met, is giving her ambition to be just that herself.  I know how much she misses CeCelia every day, but I think that them being apart from each other for longer periods of time, that the times they do get together will be treated differently, and hopefully, they won't take advantage of each other.

Before the move, Cayden always felt that he was stuck in Gavyn's shadow, and felt that he wouldn't be able to distinguish himself from his brother.  Before the move, he had always struggled with his schoolwork, and connecting with his peers.  Since the move, however, it seems that he is completely coming out of his shell.  For the first time in his life, he has made the honor roll at school, and has made a ton of new friends, a lot easier than he ever had here in Minnesota.

CeCelia, I think, is too young to have this situation affect her yet.  She’s a little girl, who is happiest wherever her mom is happy.  She is making the best of the situation, and totally loving her new adventure.  I know that she misses her dad a lot, but knows that she will see him soon!

Needless to say, this has been a rough few months, but it is becoming quite clear that we will all make it through it, and treasure the little things.  Life is not easy, but everything we go through makes us who we are, and make us stronger.  We just need to take it day by day, and stay by each other through everything.  We will come out of this stronger, and have a more solid foundation beneath our family.  I know it!!! I love my family more than anything in the world, and will do everything in my power to make sure everyone is happy!

All Domesticated, and Stuff....

In June, I unexpectedly lost my job. At the time, I thought it was the end of the world, as I have never not had a job, and was so close to driving myself (and everyone around me) absolutely insane.

Since then though, a lot has changed.  All because I have the best man in the world! I am finally content with my situation.  Early on, after my job situation changed, Tim told me not to worry at all.  That we would be okay no matter the status of my employment.

Honestly, nothing makes me more happy than making sure my family is taken care of.  Every day, I bring Gavyn down to Andover for school, and then trek back up to East Bethel to drop Kenzie off.  During the hours (at least until November 1st) that they're at school, I go home and clean like a mad woman. Once afternoon rolls around, I backtrack back down to get Gavyn from school, and come home and cook dinner, while we wait for Kenzie and Tim to get home.  Most days, we're on a tight schedule to get to practice(s) and/or games before I get to relax for an hour prior to passing out every night.

It's amazing how much can change your outlook on subjects (such as being a "housewife").  Before I met Tim, I never knew there was a man out there that would make me as happy as I am, and honestly, I never knew that it was possible to be this happy.  He has made me love taking care of him (and of course, our kids).  I enjoy every minute of our life together, and look forward to whatever life throws at us!

Who'd of Thunk....

Having a teenage step-son brings out all sorts of thoughts in this lady.  This is my second season watching youth football, and MAN-O-MAN is it stressful.

Sitting on the sidelines watching these boys, who have TONS of talent being misused, has to be the most high-tension fun that I've had in a long time.  I absolutely love the emotions brought out on the football field, and watching them grow as a team! I never knew how much I would love football, but I'm so glad that I get to watch them year after year, and be a part of it!

On a side note, Tim was talking to Kenzie this past weekend about what sport(s) she wanted to play next summer.  She did participate in the St Francis (REC) softball league this summer, but it was the worst sports season that I've witnessed.  The teams were ranging in age from 6 to 9, and they didn't even teach them the rules of the game (pitch coach until you hit, no outs, and every batter batted every inning with the last batter automatically getting a 'home run').  He asked her if she wanted to play Fast-pitch Softball, or little league baseball... She JUMPED on the opportunity to play little league! So as soon as football season is done (three more games left), Tim, Kenzie and Gavyn will start getting ready for the upcoming baseball season!  I think the fact that she chose baseball makes the boys very proud!

Needless to say, I'm SOOOOOOOO unbelievably excited to watch Kenzie learn and grow with the sport, and watch another (hopefully GOOD) season of baseball!!!!

Our Spook-tacular Friday Evening

It's been a while since we went out and did something fun for the kids, so on Friday, Tim came up with the idea to take Kenzie to her first haunted house!  She's been talking a lot of game lately with him about how she wouldn't get freaked out during scary movies, or other scary situations, so he thought he'd put it to the test.

We decided to go to "Nightmare Hallow-Scream Park" which has haunted hayrides, a haunted house, and a clown maze!!!

The first thing we did was the haunted hayride.  Sophia (my best friend Shannon's daughter) got the bright idea that we should sit in the very back of the hayride...  At first, Kenzie was completely freaked out, but about halfway through the ride, she was laughing at the characters when they tried to scare us.  At this time, the girls switched perceptions - Sophia was now the one that was getting freaked out, and Kenzie was having the time of her life.

When we were standing in line to get into the haunted house, Tim was psyching Sophia out, and got her so scared, that when she went into the main building to go to the bathroom, she didn't come back!  I am SO not the scary movie/haunted house sort, and during the haunted house, there were several times where Shannon and I grabbed each other and ran for it....  After you got done with the haunted house, you had the choice, either exit the building, or go through the Clown Maze.... OMG, I will NEVER AGAIN do something like that - I'm so freaked out by clowns, yet Tim got us all to go through it...  At the very end of it, Shannon and I took off as fast as we could muster, and at some point, Tim said something to the effect of "I will NEVER see you guys run that fast again..."

After that, Kenzie just HAD to have pictures with all the "bad guys" because she was loving it so much - all in all, it was the best Friday evening we've had in a LONG TIME

                                                

Kenzie and Sophia before the night began.

Shannon and I before we went in

Sophia, Jack Sparrow, and Kenzie

Kenzie with her freaky face painting

Kenzie and Freddie

Sophia and Kenzie after their faces were painted

Kenzie and I after the face painting

What Every Mother Needs At Some Point

It has been dawning on me more and more every day. Plain and simple, Mackenzie is NOT a baby anymore.  I like to pretend that she's still a little tiny 'peanut', but she really isn't anymore...

After attending her fall THIRD GRADE conferences last night, it completely hit me what I have on my hands now.  My beautiful baby girl has blossomed into a very smart and well rounded adolescent.

Her teacher confirmed things that I already knew about Mackenzie, but it is always a great thing for a mother to hear, and was exactly what I needed when I needed it the most.  She told me that Kenzie is above most of her peers in her reading level, and is doing "Excellent" in every aspect of class work.  If/when she is done with her work ahead of others, she will take out a book or extra work and complete it quietly while waiting for everyone else to finish.  She stated that Kenzie is the child in her class that will take anyone and everyone under her wings, and either help them acclimate to a new school, befriend them, or show them how to do things in class.

Hearing such positive things from people who do not know me or my family very well proves to me that I am doing a good job at something.  I have raised such a loving, smart, outgoing and sensitive child, and am so proud to be her mom!

Okay, enough cheesy emotions from this lady for one night!

OH, so Excited!!!!

I know that I've been AWOL for way too long, but guess what?!?

I'M BAAAAACK!!!!!

Oh my goodness!  I cannot contain my excitement any longer!!!

My family and I will be moving out of St Francis, and back into Andover!  While we've all enjoyed living out in B.F.E (Bum F*$k Egypt), I think I speak for all of us, that the drive to do absolutely ANYTHING is driving us insane!  Not to mention the fact that the two kids that live with us full time are attending schools in different school districts which means LOTS O DRIVING for this mom (aka Amy's Taxi Service).

In 22 days (yes, the countdown has officially taken over my daily life), I get to begin turning a house into OUR home! It may not be the ideal housing situation, but the house has so much potential, and it will be US in no time!

I've already picked out colors for EVERY wall in the house, and now that I'm an official "housewife", I will have all day, every day, to pour my heart and soul into this project.

I can't wait to show y'all the "before & afters" that all of my blood, sweat, and tears will soon be poured into!!!!

What Can of Worms Did I Open?!?!?!.......

Never have I had the space (or the want) to host a family holiday until the past few months.

My outlook on everything has completely changed in the past year, and now that we DO have the space, I jumped on the first chance I got. The thing is, now that it's days away, I'm kind of wondering what the heck I signed us up for!!!!!

I did the math, and what's usually 10-15 people has turned into THIRTY!!!!! Seriously, I'm kind of freaking out here…. I know that everything is going to go smoothly, and it'll be a blast, but at the same time, 30 people to cook for (appetizers, entrees, and deserts) and host is outside my comfort zone a little, not to mention the clean up afterwards!!

I had all these ideas of what to do for the kids (Easter egg hunts, Easter baskets, games), and the foods to make, but now that it's in 4 days, and I haven't even started the shopping, my mind is in fifty-million different places, and I have no clue where to even begin!

~~~INSERT SCREAMING MOM NOISE HERE~~~~

Let the planning and shopping (not to mention cleaning) begin in T minus 7 hours I guess…. I hope Tim's ready to tackle this one with me!

On the bright side, check out the awesome decorations Kenzie and I made this weekend!