Pop and Grandma Here!

This past week has been so much fun spending time with my parents, Pop and Grandma.  A visit from Florida to Virginia always includes lots of fun, wrestling, homemade desserts by grandma, and playing ball outside with Pop.  And most importantly, going out to 5 Guys, and a double date

 to Maggianos!  We had a great time with you guys.  My mom extended another week here!  Yahoo!

IRAQ

We just found out that our next assignment is Jonathan going to IRAQ for a 1 year unaccompanied tour.  He will continue his Special Agent work there and be doing special ops  with Intelligence and will leave next June '09.

Being in the foreign service, you can stay in the States a maximum of 5 years.  We have enjoyed staying and due to the kids' medical issues, haven't felt right about going anywhere else overseas quite yet.  Although this year was the first year we felt like we could go (Brasil, Rome, etc) we also knew that it was inevitable that Jonathan would have to go to the Middle East sooner or later.  So we chose for him to leave sooner.  While the kids are still young.  If we left to go somewhere overseas for 3 years, only to come back and have him leave to do Iraq for a year then, it would be so hard as the kids would be older and understand more.  As it is now, myself, Austin and Ash are all set up in activities, school, friends, etc.   Things will be just fine.

He'll serve on the Secretary of State's detail until June, and then he'll leave.  He can come home 3 times in the year for a couple of weeks each visit.  

We have prayed about this decision we've made and we feel good about it.  The timing seems right and if it has to happen, we'd want it to happen now.  I know that the Lord will watch out over all of us while he's away.

 

Busy Week!

Ashley started her first day of preschool this week!  She loves it.  She can finally wear her backpack and put things in it!  For preschool/playgroup, we rotate around at each other's houses and this week was my turn to teach.  We did an "All About Me" day and African Safari day.  The kids loved going on a "safari" in our basement, touching and examining with binoculars different pictures and African sculptures, statues, things we have from when we lived there.  It's a lot of fun!  Did I mention the kids had a great time too?  Ash also had a great time at her Super Beasts class at Little Gym on Friday!

Unfortunately, Austin has been having terrible asthma issues (not to mention the hard time I'm having with the school nurse forgetting to administer his asthma medication at noon each day..ugh!) Although he and I ended the week on a wonderful note having a "date" lunch at his school eating McDonalds happy meals.  What a treat.  For both of us!

This week I went to my first PTO meeting.  I remember when I was young and my mom would go, and I thought that it was so far off when I would actually attend one myself, for my own kids.  So as I sat in the little chairs at the library at Mountain View Elementary School listening to the events/budget, etc a wave of  "wow" flashed over me.  I can't believe I'm sitting here now.  I loved every second of it.  Isn't being a mom, contributing to society, trying to better things that could be improved on the best?  I love where I am now in life.  

This week was also the 7th year anniversary of 9-11.  I must say that I am so thankful to live in this country.

Austin had his first flag football game on Saturday.  Go Grizzlies!  They didn't keep score, but I swear Austin's team won.  Yeah!

Austin is becoming so responsible.  Every since he went to kindergarten, it's like he's changed.  It's bittersweet.  He'll come home and if I'm busy, he'll make himself a meat and cheese sandwich and one for Ashley, complete with glasses of milk and he assigns someone to say a prayer.  She'll eat and then he'll say, "That's my girl!"  He'll make sure she has what she needs and then offers more or anything else.  I can't believe he's just started doing this.  I must say its kinda nice.  

To end this week, Jonathan and I spoke in church today about Honesty.  Can I HONESTLY say I was excited to talk? No.  But am I honestly glad I did it?  Yes.  And it's over.  Yeah!

Have a great week!

Angie

  

First Week of Kindergarten

So much has happened in one week!  School started Tuesday and this week has felt like a month.  I'm doing much better now than I was transitioning to Austin being in school.  He's so happy and loves kindergarten so much and I'm so glad!  He's such an independent little guy.  He has just the personality for school.  He's outgoing, loves to talk and make friends.  His favorite part about class is lunchtime when he can buy his own lunch in the cafeteria and swipe the "credit card"! 

The kids and I went to Target on the day that tropical storm Hannah came through VA.  They were so excited to get their umbrellas out and play!  While at Target, they saw all the Halloween decorations that were already out and they loved it!  We were in the midst of the Halloween costumes and candy for 45 minutes!  We bought Halloween marshmallows and face makeup.  Immediately upon returning home, both the kids put on their costumes from last year (they were both pirates) and put their face makeup on.  They stayed that way all day!  I love it that the holidays are upon us.

Austin has his first Gainesville Grizzly 5k walk/run this week.  

Ashley also started her Super Beasts class at the Little Gym this week.  She LOVES it!  I couldn't think of a better class for her than little beasties.

Ashley also got her first real haircut!  My friend Erin did a great job doing a slight A-line and stacked the back.  Ash loved every second of it!  She loved getting her hair blow-dryed and sprayed too!  So cute.

We're slowly getting into a schedule here.  Although I thought I'd have more time during the day while Austin was at school.  By the time I workout in the morning, there's normally a morning activity, lunch and then Ash takes a nap... we're already off to get Austin at the bus stop!

Have a Happy Week!

Angie

SCHOOL DAYS

KINDERGARTEN

Today was Austin's first day of Kindergarten.  I had a REALLY HARD time.  The past couple of days prior to today, I've been very nostalgic and thinking back upon the entire 5 1/2 years I've had Austin here at home with me.  We've cuddled more, read more stories, picked out his first day of school outfit, new lunchbox, etc.  But it hit me hard today that suddenly I'm supposed to send him out and rely upon all of the things that I've taught him so that he'll make his own correct choices.  Here I've monitored what/who has come in and out of his life so that he was raised appropriately.  And I'm so thankful that I could stay home and teach him myself and have first hand dibs on what he was exposed to/what he was taught.  Now he's out in the world.  Putting the little boy he's been molded into to use in society.  By the age of 5, Austin is who he is.  Thankfully he's a sweet boy with a huge heart.  Gosh.  Imagine the mess I'll be when he goes off to college!

I met up with my dear friend Erika at Panera to commiserate together (her first child Cameron is in Austin's class and they go to school together and so we share the sadness).  While we were there, there were other moms we knew there that were celebrating their children being gone.  I feel so far from being in that situation right now.  But it was quite funny.  

I'm so thankful for my dear friends and family that called and helped me out and laughed at me, and cried with me during Austin's first big day.  I love you guys!!!!  You helped me through this!!!

Austin, unlike me, is doing GREAT!  Austin LOVED school.  Loves the bus, loves his class, lunchtime, recess and making new friends. And of course, Ashley had to wear her backpack to the bus stops as well!

 

New York City!

As our last hurrah, the kids and I went to NYC!  I met up with my dad (who had a conference there) while Duane was out of town.  We had a GREAT time!  We of course did all the touristy things....Times Square Toys R Us, Central Park, FAO Schwartz, Hershey's, M&M's store, St. Patricks Cathedral, did the Today Show on Wednesday at Rockefeller Plaza, I got to see the Broadway musicals Legally Blonde (which I followed on MTV-the making of the next Elle Woods and Bailey was on Broadway!) And I saw WICKED.  Which was AMAZING.  Truly my favorite Broadway performance.  I ate my weight in Carnegie Deli goods and shopped ChinaTown and Little Italy.  

Austin's new nickname with my Dad is "chops" because when he would get in trouble with Pop, Austin started saying, "Quit busting my chops Pop!"  It was out of the blue and so funny!  Ashley's new nickname is Cocoa-because we stayed at a Hampton Inn at Times Square (I love Hamptons!) and they have the free cocoa 24-7 and Ashley drank hot cocoa 24-7.  We had a GREAT time together.  The only snafu I ran into the last day of our trip, is that my wallet got stolen and I saw the thief!  We reported it to the NYPD and Austin was thrilled to zip around in a police car up and down 5th Ave looking for the thief.  No luck.  But, 2 days after I got home my wallet appeared in the mail.  All the$140 cash was gone, but credit cards, license, EVERYTHING was accounted for.  The New York post office mailed it to me with out a note or anything.  What a blessing.  A minor snafu for the amazing time we had.  Thanks Dad!

Footballs and Peaches

Peaches Peaches Peaches!  We went to Hartland Orchard in Markham VA and picked pounds of peaches!  The peach tree branches were hanging low enough that the kids could just pick them right off!  Austin and Ash loved it.  Every summer/fall we've loved going fruit picking.

Austin also started his "Gainesville Grizzlies" flag football practice this week.  He loves it!  They've started plays and he's now the center and hikes the ball.  He loves the team, players, the game.  The coach (Coach Robert) is excellent he lets and the kids have fun while learning the sport too.  Ashley loves to cheer Austin on.  It's so cute.  Go Grizzlies!

Burke Lake Park

While trying to get everything in before the end of the summer, while Jonathan was in between trips, we all went to one of our favorite locations in VA.  Burke Lake Park in Fairfax!  Austin loves the train and going fishing, Ash loves the merry-go-round and I love taking the kids on the trails and making them put on shows in the amphitheater!  The best part is that Daddy was there to share the fun with us.

Signal Bay Water Park

We played with our good friends the Johnsons and Crowley's this week at

 Signal Bay Water Park.  Ash and Gavin were having a great time on the slides chasing each other!  Little Lottie was taking it all in, splashing, and being really cute!  Austin's buddy Tate came over and Ashley was in the middle of whatever they were doing the whole time.  Poor boys.  

County Fair!

Every year we've attended the Prince William County Fair.  Every August we look forward to the demolition derby, petting the animals, cheap thrills, funnel cakes, elephant ears, fried oreos, big corn dogs ....do you get why the Toler's really go to the fair each year?  FAIR FOOD!  We had a ball this year!