Smarty Pants!

First 9 weeks done and I'm reminded how much smarter my kids are than me! Ethan made the high honor roll again with all A's and, of course, an A+ in Social Studies - Dad's fave in school. Haley made the high honor roll as well with all A's and A+'s in English and Reading - my faves in school.

Then, there is Morgan. It's hard to explain exactly how well a Kindergartener is doing. It's not as simple as a letter grade. All I can say is that the teacher was exptremely pleased with her math and reading readiness skills. She mentioned that she truly loves her eagerness to learn - just what a parent wants to hear! It was nice to read on her progress report that the only thing she needs to work on is using her capital and lower case letters properly. Yea Morgan!

Logan is still doing what Logan does. I love that girl, but sometimes I wonder what God is trying to teach me!?!?!!!! Her stubborness is really shining through! On a good note, her creativity with her playmates is really blossoming. Every day, I love to see what scenerios are played out amongst the little people running around here! Oh, the funny things I hear!

Mike is finally done with volleyball season. They did well but lost in the sectional finals to Elkhart Memorial. It was disappointing but understandable. They are a great team! Now, he is focusing on the club season by getting info out to prospective players, getting gym rentals set up, scheduling practices and tournaments, registering coaches, etc. Fun stuff! Oh, and it looks like he may coach another year of girls basketball - thanks Tammy!

My house will be a little more crowded after the first of the year. I will be welcoming Adele Jordyn Phillips into the house! Our good friends Jeff & Jen are the new proud parents of a little girl born Oct 26th! She'll be hanging out with the rest of us crazies after the first of the year when Jen returns to Warsaw Schools. God has truly provided them with a wonderful gift and I feel honored to be able to help them out, especially with something they have waited so long for! The kids are anxious to hold her and help out as well. Fun!

That's about it for now. Maybe I can get Halloween pics posted next week. They better share their candy...

Until next time...

Wow!

I figured I would have trouble keeping up with this blog! We'll try it again...

Kids are back in school: Ethan in 4th grade, Haley in 3rd grade, Morgan in Kindergarten, and Logan in Mommy school.

Ethan is having a wonderful year! He has a friend of ours as a teacher so that helps. She has four boys about the same agaes as our kids so she knows how to handle him and is very understanding. Also, he doesn't want to disappoint her so is really working hard. He's getting to do lots more 'hands-on' work as they are studying more science and researching local history and going on field trips. He has been put in a 'helper/leader' role in the class since he is a top student - that makes him feel really good (and, of course, makes Mom & Dad proud, too!).

Haley was placed into an interesting position right off the bat this year. She was chosen to sit directly across from a boy who had just been adopted from Ethiopia the month before school started. Her teacher said that she wanted him to have a friendly face to look at and someone who would be a good helper to him so the adjustment would be easier. Of course, Haley (my little "Mommy") was super excited to meet him! She has enjoyed his company and it makes her feel good that she had this wonderful opportunity given to her to help make his transition easier.

Morgan is super excited every day she comes home from school! She can't wait to tell me what she learned that day! Her teacher has said that she loves her enthusiasm and her eagerness to learn. She has been jealous of her older siblings because they are always being asked to do things with friends and she doesn't. We have been reminding her that she will make some good friends this year and now that she is in school, those opportunities will start coming to her, too. That being said, it was nice to hear that she has made a couple of good friends that she truly enjoys playing with.

And then there's Logan... Where do I even start?!! She's a trip! Her little personality is a little too much some days! Ornary, fun-loving, a bit of a show-off, crazy, stinker, stubborn, sweet, etc. The funny things lately is that she is bound and determined that she is getting a puppy. She was crying when I tucked her in the other night saying, "I want a doggie..." Really? Where does that come from?!! I am babysitting another 3 year old right now so she has a playmate. That has been good for us. I miss the one-on-one time I thought I would have with her this year but knowing I can get stuff done while they entertain each other is nice as well.

Mike is coaching the Warsaw H.S. volleyball team this year. They are currently 17-3 but end their season with some tough teams. It's been interesting this year - the personality of a team from one year to the next can vary so much! He has already started the Outland club stuff. Try-outs are in November and then practices begin. It's still up in the air if he will coach the 7th grade girls basketball team. The money is nice, the girls need a great coach like him (especially at that level), but is it worth the time away from his family????? Tough call. I think as long as he doesn't have to be in the gym for all the Outland practices (we'll have between 15-20 teams), then we might be able to handle it. We'll see...

I am trying to stay sane. We have dropped taekwondo so the schedule is much easier to manage. I think that has lowered my stress level a bunch! I feel bad that they aren't able to continue but the financial obligation for 3 (and eventually 4) kids in it are too much, especially as we are trying to get our house built and furnished as nicely as we can.

I am also babysitting 3 kids during the week and it will probably be going up to four after Christmas. It's going ok but it will be nicer with the extra space for napping and playing that we'll have in the new house.

For those of you who don't know, we will be building here in Warsaw in Park Ridge. The house will have 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, 2 car garage, 2 stories, LR, Den, and an expanded eat-in kitchen. Can't wait - especially for the bathrooms!

I'll try and update this more often. Until next time...

Tricia

SPRING BREAK!

OK - so it's been a while... We have been so busy the last couple months with taekwondo, piano, school work, and getting ready to go to Georgia over Spring Break. We had the pleasure of visiting my sister Marisa, her hubby Monty, and their four children Temperance, Kesed, Liam, and Anastasia. We had a wonderful time with them making new and special memories every day! We were also able to visit with my sister Heidi, her hubby Jon, and children Tatiana and Asher. We actually got to see them on our trip there and back as they were gracious hosts and let us crash in their basement! This was the first time we got to see baby Asher!

All in all, it was a great trip - no one was sick this time! We did get sunburned and had trouble with allergies - ask Ethan about that! Also, Haley lost a battle with some fire ants but Monty rushed her to the ocean water to soothe the bites and she didn't have any more pain after that.

Hopefully, I'll be able to keep up on this a little better from now on! Until next time...

Growing up!

Well, the potty training is going pretty well for Logan. She has about 1 accident every day and it is a good reminder not to do it again! At least she hates being wet! She actually made it thru 3 hours away from home in her undies! The kids had taekwondo classes and she went potty there 3 times! I was so proud! When I went potty there, she kept saying, "I so proud of you, Mommy! You such a big girl! Good job, Mommy!"

Other news, Morgan lost her first tooth! She was such a trooper while Daddy pulled it out with the pliers! She is so proud of it and keeps showing everyone! She woke up in the middle of the night to see if the tooth fairy had come yet! Thankfully, she had just left!!!

Until next time...

Balloon Fun!

Haley and Morgan got balloon sets for Christmas that had a book showing how to make balloon animals and other things out of balloons. The kids used the balloon pumps that came with the sets. Well, Logan was a little to young to use them so she figured she would blow them up herself. Here is the video of what followed. She did this for about 45 minutes - never getting bored!!! She was way more animated earlier before I had even thought about getting this on tape! The second clip has Logan's reaction to hearing my phone ring. She gets that excited every time sometimes running thru the house yelling to me!

Sickies!

Ok! Enough puking and stuff for a while! The only one who has managed to stay healthy is Ethan. He is the one who eats the least amount of fruits, veggies, and juices than the rest of us! How does that happen?!! I hope I don't have trouble the next time getting him to eat good stuff because it is "healthy for" him!

Naptime for Mom so she can fully recover before the new school week begins. Nighty night!

Morgan turns 5!!!

Morgan is five years old today! She is very excited!!!!! We went to Build-A-Bear Workshop yesterday for her very first time. She chose Frosty the Snowman and dressed "HER" up in a purple outfit with snowflakes on it. "HER" name is Crystal. The cashier was very 'excited' saying that she had never seen a female Frosty before! She handled it well, I thought! The rest of us were shaking our heads and trying not to laugh!

We went on the Carousel in the mall and played on the playground as well. They had a great time eating HUGE chocolate chip cookies for a snack before we left. Tonight, we are heading out for dinner after karate class. I'll try and post photos of that as well later.

Until next time...