Work, School, and a Little Bit of Fun

I guess I haven't been able to write lately. I have been very busy at work. I really am enjoying being back at work, especially in my new role. No longer the classroom teacher, I am able to actually work with more students and even help out my fellow teachers. Being the Reading teacher is something new, and being the Reading teacher within the reading framework where I work has been very interesting and definitely challenging. Everyday brings new challenges but also new hugs and laughs. The kids really are great, despite their little too-mature attitudes. And they crave attention.

We have hit a bump in the road though, Colby does not enjoy his daycare, and often tells me so. He seems to like the kids and his teacher, and I like where he is. However, I think he is having a hard time adjusting to being away for a full day. He attends a preschool program in the AM through the city's school. Mike is able to put Colby on the bus in the morning to preschool and they love that time together. Then after school he takes the bus again to his daycare. He loves the bus but it is a 45 minute ride. He's only at the daycare for about 3 hours but it does make for a long day. He says he can't sleep at daycare so he is certainly cranky afterward. And Colby tells me he cries a little at daycare because he misses us. Top that off with a child who fights tooth and nail not to wear his eye patch. Ugh! Thankfully that is only for about an hour. We have now decided to let him choose. Put it on in the morning before school and watch "Dino Dan" in the afternoon without it or wear it after school during "Dino Dan". The past two days he wore it in the morning. It worked out great! We'll see how things continue. I just hope we are doing the right thing. Me working is a definite plus but I miss being with Colby and I can see the change in him.

Ok. All I was going to write about was last weekend's fun. My Aunt Doone is a leader at her church. They held their annual church holiday fair. She had called and asked if I could help her out. She brings one of her miniature horses to the fair for buggy rides. While she was overseeing the fair, Colby and I did the rides. My cousin Chelsie and her boyfriend Mike also helped and took over for a while. While they were with the horse I went inside to serve popcorn but Colby wanted to still drive so he stayed with them. Later I went outside to ask Colby if he wanted lunch and found the buggy a little banged up and the horse tied up. Chelsie didn't look too happy. Sunny got away from her and took off down the hill toward Main Street. The smarty she is, she grabbed Colby out of the cart as it tipped over and they were both ok. Buggy and Sunny, a little banged up but all things important were ok. But overall, Colby was great all day and he had a blast with "his girl" Chelsie and his buddy Jaden.

Well, I promise some holiday photos soon, but here are a couple from the fair. Colby the buggy driver!

Halloween

Ok. It's been awhile since i've had the chance to sit and write on here. I've been back to work for 3 weeks and can only now start to breathe. Things are going well, although the kids are quite noisy, but we have fallen into a routine. Colby began going to day care after morning preschool this past week. It makes for a full week for him and he is VERY tired by Friday. But he seems to enjoy it. And thankfully I can't seem to keep a book out of his hands, although he loves his Leapster that his cousins Max and Alex handed down to him.

So, we are over the Halloween chaos. Colby loved it this year. I'm not so sure he quite understood it last year, but this year he started in July with trick-or-treating and what he wanted to be. Last year I got to choose, a monkey it was. This year, his choice, but I was able to make the costume and I think that was the best part. I found the pattern, cut it, and sewed it. Mike's mom helped with sewing the fringe on. Then Mike, Colby and I put on the studs. What do you think?

First, we visited with Mike's parents, and his brother's family. Little Lizzie was an adorable little gnome. Then my brother brought Keith over for some trick-or-treating before we headed to our parents' house. We tried to make it an early night but we were home after bedtime, which resulted in a not quite so happy Colby this morning. Boy was he tired! But we all had a great time and perhaps, just perhaps, this Halloween thing isn't so bad after all.

A Little of Everything

Fall has arrived and so has lots of change. Overall, when I can sit back and look at everything as a whole, I am pleased with the change. However, when I start to think and nitpick at everything, I am not so happy. I guess that is how change just is.

I had become accustomed to being home and enjoying lots of time with Colby. I can see how our time together has been so important. In Colby's development in all areas. In our bonding as a family. And in my growing into the new role of Mommy. I couldn't have asked for anything more. The road to my being home was not planned, nor was it all that wanted at first. But it has become the best part of my life. But now, that will all change.

I received a full-time teaching job again. I am now the reading teacher at a small school right where we live. It is a new teaching role for me, previously only being the classroom teacher, so now I have a new role to learn. I have been working now for two weeks and can only now sit back and relax a little. I think I have fallen back into the teaching role very easily, sort of like riding a bike again after a long time. But this role also has me working with other teachers and supporting them. That is a new role I am not as comfortable with yet. However, it is going very well I think, except for an exception or two. We are all learning a new reading program together and it will take some time to implement well. But I am thrilled with my new job and all that it holds.

On the home front, Colby is in pre-school in the mornings, riding the bus, and loving it. Mike has been able to put him on the bus in the mornings. He has also been able to watch him most afternoons or his mom did. Thus changing our roles. I really miss my time with Colby waiting for the bus and eating lunch together. Running errands and just relaxing together. I also REALLY miss nap time! I feel like I am missing a lot of his day. Although happy at work, I find myself wondering what he is doing and how his day is going. This week Colby will start going to a day care after school in the afternoons. Another big change. I hope it goes well. We shall see. Thus far we are doing well, although Colby has been more whiney and a lot more tired lately. Is it growing pains or all the change? I'm not sure but it is definitely something I need to keep an eye on. I have already asked both school and day care to watch for me.

For now, I need to learn to balance Mommy and teacher and not forget about wife and just plain old Melissa. Ugh! How do you all do it?