2011 reflected- a little.

It's amazing how alike the two kids look. Even with different fathers, they still look like little replicas of each other. Some people would tell me when I was pregnant that the age difference was going to be hard, but it's not at all. They love each other so much, it's amazing to see. 

It's been a long year. A bumpy year. A stressful year. I'm ready for some smooth sailing, and hopefully we get a little reprieve right around the corner. Ray might very well be back to full time in the next few days, which will mean we are back to regular health insurance, and reliable pay. It doesn't, however, look like he'll be teaching any classes any time soon. That's a bummer because it brings in some extra money to get things paid off. But, him going back to full time will be nice. Having health insurance again will be nice (Jacie types as she squints at the computer screen, wishing she could order new glasses.) Working at WKU has been nice, just because I still get time to be home with the kids, but also still bring in a little extra money. Although, Wesley is starting daycare tomorrow, and I have some serious butterflies about that!

I can't believe Christmas is just around the corner. And in between now and then I turn 26 (On the road to 30!) and my baby girl turns 8. This year we are taking her to Disney World for her birthday, and I am really excited to surprise her with it. When Wesley gets old enough to surprise with Birthday trips, we will always end up being at Disney for the Star Wars festivities. I hope he enjoys SW as much as all of us! I love being able to spoil the kids!

I really want to get back out to Reno soon to visit. Southwest just fooled me, claiming rates were only $59 one way. Trickery. $214 is nothing like $59!!! But, I will visit home hopefully after the first of the year. It's going to be a busy 6 months: Visit home, 4 weeks of working 50 hour weeks, Ray's birthday, Mike and Nicole's wedding, hopefully Star Wars Weekends for Ray and I, and then Wesley's 2nd birthday. And that's only through May! 

Whew. Bring it on.

Work is a cure for homesickness... Sometimes.

I really should update this more often...
I can't believe summer is over. Carly is in second grade, and it really feels like just yesterday she was my little baby. Today, she is such a grown up little girl, and it makes me just want to bawl.
Mom came for a visit and was able to go with us to take Carly to her open house AND her first day of school. It's so amazing how close mom and Carly are. Carly slept with my mom every night (And that made it hard last night, getting her to sleep alone, sans TV.) and they did everything together. I feel bad it's been 7 moms since we had seen mom, and I am so grateful she came up. We really need to make sure we are getting out there more often and vice versa. I told mom that we would try to come up before Christmas, since both Ray and I are off work for 2 weeks around Christmas. (Nice!) Wesley remembered mom, and she didn't think he would. But he wanted her to hold him right away, and spent the rest of the week following her like a lost little puppy. Having mom here made me so homesick. So, so homesick.

I really love this job. I loved, LOVED my DMV co-workers, and this setting is a bit different. A lot of the workers on the floor are student workers, and then you have the back office support staff, and we are all not, haha. (Well, I am, just not here! Next semester, I'll take a class here for freeeee.) But this environment is so much more laid back. Their motto is as long as the job gets done, that's all that matters. Right now, I ahve absolutely nothing to do until 2:00, and my boss told me that I could check email, go browse the store, anything to pass the time. Of course, we have had our busy times, and the busiest is yet to come- Rush Week. I've been working full time hours for this month, and next month be back to part-time, and that is perfect. That puts me mostly stay-at-home-mom with a little working mom rolled in. It also gives me the chance to work on my classes this semester. (4, bleh.)

It's been a busy, but great week. We loved having you here mom, and we are going to make it so we see each other more often. Thank you for all you did for the four of us, and have a safe flight home. We love you!

I promise, I'll post more often...