Last Friday Jeff and Brandon went to LA for a Jiu Jitsu tournament. They went with a group from our wrestling team and had a great time.
Brandon did a fantastic job. He took 1st place! I'm sad I missed it, but happy that at least I have the pictures and videos to see.
Great job Brandon. You're a tough little man!
Jeff and Brandon are heading to LA later today for a Jiu Jitsu tournament tomorrow.
This will be Brandon's second tournament and I'm excited to see how he does.
Say a little prayer for them to have a safe and successful trip!
Well, the beginning of a new school year is underway and I am proud to say we have made the transition quite smoothly.
Alyssa loves Junior High! She loves the fact that they switch classes, she loves the fact that they have lockers, she loves all her teachers and she LOVES her new cell phone! My mom and sisters can vouch for that, she is a big fan of texting.
I've also over come another huge hurtle. Alyssa's school is about a block away from Brandon's. They both get out about the same time and obviously Jeff needs to pick up Brandon...so Alyssa is walking from her school to Brandon's. In a group...a pretty large one too. I know, some of you are rolling your eyes at this point. But for those of you who truly know me know how freaked I am about these things. I am aware that I can't keep my kids in a bubble but I'm a believer in not exposing them to unnecessary risks.
Nutcracker rehearsals are under way. I am SO excited for the show. I know it will be fantastic, but more so with my little lady dancing one of the leading rolls.
Brandon has made the transition into 2nd grade very well. I love his teacher and I think she will be a great fit for Brandon. I spoke to her last night and she told me how well mannered he has been. My spawn?! I am so happy to hear things like that, I know he is a good boy, but again, if you know Brandon...well. You know Brandon.
September will be his last month at Tap Out until March. We're getting ready for the new wrestling season! I am SUPER excited for that!
Jeff will start new hours at work on Monday. He will now be working 7pm-3:30am.
He has always worked graveyard hours but the earlier start time leaves me with the full responsibility of the kids activities. Thankfully, I sat down with my mom, both of us armed with our calendars and we have dived up who takes who where and what time. It's literally a full time job getting them where they need to be.
On the plus side of Jeff's new hours. He will get more sleep and he'll be home on the weekends. We won't see but a minute of each other Monday-Friday...but we'll have all weekend together.
I'm hanging on. Taking it one day at a time. I have days during the week when I leave for work at 7:30am and don't walk through the door again until 9pm. My kids are happy though, doing what they love and of course that makes all these long days well worth it.
Oh...and not to leave my Gabriella out.
She is such a good sport about everything. She is just so laid back, besides her every 2 second demands for me to belt out "Jesus Loves Me" and "You Are My Sunshine" she waits so patiently for her big sister while she is at dance.
She is finding her place in our crazy family and testing her limits more and more every day.
So, if you're still reading this...well. Thanks!
Alyssa and Elizabeth have been best friends since 2nd grade.
They do everything together. Lots of phone calls are exchanged to discuss important topics like clothes and shoes, boys and annoying brother stories.
I'm glad they have each other.
Here we go again...
another new school year. Alyssa is now officially in Junior High and Brandon is in
2nd grade. Where did the time go?!
The kids were excited. Not so much for me. Of course I'm having a hard time with the fact that my teeny tiny baby is now in 6th grade. Ok, so she's not so tiny anymore.
I also know how much more crazy my life is going to be with the addition of school, homework and a more structured bed time. All this added onto an already crazy schedule of Tap Out, Wrestling and dance classes. Can you hear me sighing?!
All and all...the prep for today was great, the kids fell back into the routine like clockwork and I must admit it was nice to have sleeping kids before 10pm last night.
I'm hanging on cause I have a feeling this is going to be one heck of a school year.
Wish us luck!
Oh how I love my sweet little Gabriella.
She really is very sweet....most of the time
This past weekend she has really given me a run for my money.
Maybe it was the giant tantrum she threw when we were buying new shoes or the way she ran from me all. weekend. long.
It may also have something to do with emptying two of her dresser drawers and screaming and hitting when things were not going the way she had desired.
Yup...it's official. Gabriella has ventured into the terrible twos.
This is the only picture I have of Alyssa...this is when she was still in the know it all phase...
Yesterday we took the kids swimming at my moms house.
As usual we had a lot of fun. Gabriella seems to be getting use to the big "bath" and was eager as ever to jump right in. With daddy, of course.
Brandon, as you can see from the video below has no fear either. He was doing front and back flips from the side of the pool and out of daddy's arms too.
Alyssa...well. She was grounded. It was one of those days when she knew everything and we...well, we just had no clue. In the end we caved and let her swim too. (I know, I'm so weak!)
