Keeping up with Fred-n-Sara

Our summer didn’t really start the first day of June, but it started well before the summer solstice (which hasn’t even happened yet!).  Here’s a little peak at the beginning of summer as we know it here at Fred-N-Sara.

Wednesday, June 1

Isn't he peaceful when he's sleeping? He hasn't been napping well, but today was a good day!

Thursday, June 2
Today was my last day of work indefinitely.  I’ve gotten used to the idea of becoming a true stay at home mom now, but even still, it was difficult to leave the building.  I almost cried actually.  Mostly because I have made some friends at work that I’ll miss next year.  Of course I’ll miss the students too, but that comes with the close of every school year anyway.  In some ways though, today was just like any other Thursday.  I left work, picked up the boys (which was also sad, we will all miss their babysitter, she’s become like family to us!), went home, put them down for naps, and relaxed a little, then went to my grandma’s house for dinner with my family.

Oliver is playing with my sister's soon to be husband. Thank goodness he's good with kids!

Friday, June 3

Today we went to visit Dad at work and help him finish cleaning up his classroom. And eat chicken nuggets.

Saturday, June 4

Morning reading with Dad.

Sunday, June 5

A little water fun.

Splish-splash!

Monday, June 6

Summer is for feeling the sand between your toes!

Tuesday, June 7

Video games are made for rainy summer days.

Wednesday, June 8

Cal is such a big helper, he even feeds Oliver blueberries!

Thursday, June 9

These boots were made for walking!

Friday, June 10

Cal came down with a stomach bug today. So we "rested" on the couch.

With two very young boys, life is always changing.  Sometimes they change so fast it’s hard to keep up! Like when Calvin decided he no longer liked to sit in his chair and eat dinner.  Or when Oliver recently started shaking his head  and saying “No” to everything.  Or when Cal started waking up at 6 a.m. instead of 8 and making sure his little brother woke up as well.  Or when Cal decided naps were a thing of the past and it is now more fun to hold conversations with the retired neighbors from his bedroom window.  These are little changes which cause small adjustments to our daily lives, but nothing we can’t handle.  We’ve been lucky enough not to have too many big changes in our life as a family so far…

Yet, today we faced a big change.  I became officially unemployed.  Right before Easter I learned that I was going to lose my job at the end of the school year.  In the education world, I was “RIFed” which just means the district served me a “Reduction in Force” notice, due to financial hardship of the district.  I could go on and on as to why this happened – thanks to our newly instated governor and his idiotic education reform/budget cuts, but this is a family site, so I’ll keep my opinions of the dirty politician who I would never have voted for in a million years even if he was the only person running, to myself.  Anyway, while I will miss my job as an elementary school tutor, and the students, and the staff, I think this is for the best.  I have been working part time since Calvin was born, and while it was a great job to have while starting our family, it was also very taxing.  I felt like I should be able to do all the things a stay at home mom (SAHM) does, like keep the house clean, cook good meals, do the laundry, and play with/teach my boys, but it wasn’t happening.  For the last 3 school years, things have been stressful as I try to squeeze in what I can and then get frustrated when I don’t get everything I wanted done.  I know that being a SAHM is not easy either, I’ve learned that over the last few summers, but I’m ready for the change.  Being RIFed was a blessing in disguise.  I can focus completely on my 2 main jobs; being a mom and being a wife.

Of course, in about 6 weeks, our family will go through another change, we’ll no longer be a family of 4, but a family of 5!  That will be a huge change for us.  Actually, it already has; we’ve moved the boys into a room together, bought a new car, and of course had to gather baby girl things, since all we’ve had here are baby boy things.  We are excitedly awaiting our baby girl’s arrival in mid July and can’t wait to see what big changes she brings our way!

Now I’ll have more time to spend with my boys (and soon baby girl too!).  That’s what life is about; family.  Plus, who wouldn’t want to spend more time with these adorable guys?

Really, I (well we) are not ignoring our internet browsing friends and family. It’s just been super busy around here. As the main poster (blogger?) for the site, I’ve been busy busy busy with 2 of my last 3 grad school classes.

Yes, I’m crazy; taking two  8 week graduate level classes, working (but only part time!) and coming home to 3, wait, Fred doesn’t count? 2 wild and crazy boys.  Thankfully I have a wonderfully patient husband who is the best father to our 2 crazy boys that I could ever imagine.  He’s been great and I couldn’t have gotten through my classes without him.

2 down, 1 to go!  Then I’m done with grad school (for now…I am still thinking about getting my Intervention Specialist/Special Education license, but that’s another story)!  I won’t technically graduate until May because I didn’t apply for graduation in time and I have to take a comprehensive exam to prove I really learned something in the last 3 years I’ve been going to class.  My last class starts tomorrow, and since it’s only one day a week, I should have time to update the internet world more often than I have so far this fall.

So here’s a little tidbit for you now; Fred took this little clip one night while I was at school.

It’s so nice to see them playing together, even if only for 13 seconds.  Hopefully it’s a sign of days to come when they are best buddies!

Sincerely,
Fred

Last seemed like a busy week, but when I sit and think about it, not a lot went on.  I think it seemed busy because both Fred and I are fully back at work and it’s been a little hectic getting into the grove again.  But here’s a little recap on our week (sorry it’s late…)

• While Fred technically started back to work the week before, this past week was his first full week with students.
• I started back to work on Monday, and even though I only work 1/2 a day, 5 days a week, it through a wrench in what I’ve been able to get done lately.  My schedule also changed from working mornings (last year) to working afternoons now, so that’s an adjustment for both Cal and I.
• Cal discovered the pots and pans cabinet while I was cooking…he loves to cook already!

• Nina got her stitches out.  She’s still wearing her cone when we aren’t around, but she’s doing pretty good.
• Sunday we started  this year’s fall hiking spree with the Summit County Metro Parks, by hiking the quarry trail at the Deep Lock Quarry.  Cal can’t wait to earn his hiking staff!

One more thing…please keep my grandmother in your thoughts and prayers, she went into the hospital over the weekend with some abdominal pain, the doctors think it is related to her colon. Hopefully she will make a speedy recovery and be able to go home soon.