Thanksgiving Take Two

We had a really nice Thanksgiving this year. Colby loved spending time with his cousins, although he did miss his cousin Keith. We had dinner at my parents' house and then dropped in at Mike's Aunt Karen's to see his family. Thankfully everyone lives close by. But, here are a few photos. When I took Colby's photo in the morning I later realized I still have a couple on the camera from last year's Thanksgiving. So, thought you might like to see the comparison as much as I did. A bit of a shock for me. He is definitely growing up way too fast.

Oh and just a teaser..... losts of changes for the big boy. Photos to come when everything gets organized again.

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!

Fall Fun and the Hole in the Wall

We have been very busy lately. Thankfully we had a chance to rake the leaves in the yard before today's freaky early morning snow and sleet. (Unfortunately, not enough for a school delay.) Here are just a few really cute fall photos.

On Saturday my morning entertainment was Colby and Mike tearing a hole in my house to replace one of the windows. The other large one was supposed to be changed today but the weather changed those plans. Colby looked very cute with his own tool belt stocked with tools, a beeper, and a cell phone. He didn't do too much work though. He must be practicing to be the engineer or the designer. Here he is trying to use his power screwdriver and measuring the boards for the window.

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?

Long Week

Sorry I haven't had time to post on here. It has been a very long week. Even if it did start on a Tuesday! I started back to work Tuesday and now the Reading teacher at a small elementary school in town. Thankfully a very short commute and my school day schedule will be the same as Colby's. But boy has it been a tough change.

Colby, Mike, and I are all battling some sort of cold. It seems to hit Mike hardest but I'm tired of the cough and stuffy nose in the morning. Colby seems to be fine during the day but has not been sleeping at night. Both Wed and Thurs nights he woke up. Wed was just about every 2 hours. Doesn't make for a cherry start tot he mornings. Mike has been able to put him on the bus in the mornings and a few afternoons he has been home. Thankfully his parents live really close so they can come get Colby in the afternoons. But we really need to sort out a day care situation. I feel bad asking them to watch him every day. But we are waiting to see how Mike's schedule turns out. The winters are sometimes slow.

Me... I think I have been so overwhelmed with the new job and learning my new role that I haven't had much time to think of other things. I really miss my quiet mornings with Colby snuggled in bed and then putting him on the bus. I miss lunch with him and running our errands in the afternoon. I miss bringing him to see my mom at work and having lunch with her, Uncle Lou and a couple of the guys there.But, we can do that during vacations. Most of all, I miss my little guy. But the kids I see and the schedule I have keep me very busy. The school also starts early so I am done by 2:30 and have been trying to get home around 3 or 3:30 (depending on what planing and prep I have to do at school).

This morning we are headed to CT Loves to Read at the local Target. The CT Reading Council puts this on usually in Feb but they changed it to Oct this year. Mike's mom will be there too. She dresses up as Mother Gooses and reads to the kids. Other town volunteers come too. The kids all get a free book, some goodies, and a T shirt and hopefully we let them see that Reading can be fun. I promise to get some pics and post some soon.

Changes: The Good and the Bad

Well, I guess I caught a few people's attention. Yes, things are changing. I had an interview on Tuesday and I received the job. I will be teaching again. Again, after 2 years away. This time I will be the reading teacher at a small school in the city we live in. So now the changes and adjustments begin.

I must say that I am excited about this new job. But it seems everyone else seems to be more excited than I am. I am not so sure how I feel about going back to teaching. I left my last job feeling so unsure about myself as a teacher so I'm not sure how being back will feel. I know I will do a great job but I'm not so sure I want to work again. From the first day we brought Colby home in Feb of 2009, I have been home with him. Just Colby and me. That is until this fall when he started preschool in the mornings. Now that we have adjusted and settled into that new routine we need to change again and Mommy will be gone all day. Not sure how Colby will handle that, nor how I will handle being away. I am so thankful that with all the schools in our city I landed in the school Mike's mom just left last year when she retired. So I know what to expect and already have a link to some of the staff. Now the trouble begins: Where does Colby go in the afternoon??? Since he is already in a morning program he can't be enrolled in an afternoon one through the city, but we need bussing so no programs out of the city. So a day care, not seem to have spots available. Ugh!!! I don't want to take him out of his preschool program, he loves it and since it is through the school system it is free. What do we do??? Thankfully for now, Mike's mom can watch him. Ugh! Now I remember why I don't like change.