making memories!

holiday memories

christmas eve eve with my parents, sister and john--christmas eve with my sis and john--christmas day with josh's family (pics to come). 

crazy memories: ugly holiday sweater time, "shooting" bow and arrows, air hockey, lots of giggles, yule log on netflix

sweet memories: grand parents playing with boys, snuggles, loving presents, togetherness

holiday memories

cousins

netflix yule log

sparkly eye shadow from lj

sisters

blow up reindeer

matching sweaters

from our family to yours

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! We have had a busy yet wonderful 2012~As I sat down to write a note, there were just too many things to share so I will highlight a few.

• The boys both took swimming lessons and LOVED them. This is a first in the past they have not loved the water! We got in LOTS of swimming time at local lakes, at Great Wolf Lodge, at Lake Mitchell with Grandma and Grandpa, downstate with our friends the Elnser's and at our friend's (The Symonds) pool.
• I finished my Master's Degree in Special Education Administration. I was elated to be done..... but then found out the State of MI changed the requirements for my admin license and I have to take more classes. That means I start up again in January. When I am “all done” with this set I will have MANY titles I could hold..... K-6 gen ed teacher, K-12 special education teacher, Special Education Administrator, Special Education Director, Elementary Principal and Secondary Principal. That is a LOT of options :)
• Our lab “puppy”, Max, continues to GROW. We found she LOVES loves loves snow and LOVES LOVES loves water! We find her “fighting” with the boys during the summer to be the first into the sprinkler or on the slip-n-slide!
• I transitioned into a new position this year for Sparta Area Schools. I spend 1/2 of my time as a teacher consultant at the HS and 1/2 of my time overseeing all of the special education for the district as the Special Education Supervisor. I no longer have a classroom. It has been quite a change but I enjoy the challenges the new position brings. I have a LOT of variety and am NEVER bored.
• Josh continues to work for Red Hat and really enjoys work. He has gotten quite a few travel opportunities over the year! It is hard not to be jealous as he jets off to Paris, West Virginia and Detroit. Soon he heads to Kansas :)
• Jack's love of reading has exploded and so has his reading level! He has now started 2^nd grade and we love watching the growth that is occurring. He is turning into such a neat young man.
• Luke finds Kindergarten wonderful! He loves to learn, see his friends every day and help his teacher. Luke is still our little lovable farmer and helps out often on Grandpa Tractor's farm.
• Both boys played Little League and Soccer. Jack finds himself REALLY into Soccer but Luke is not so sure about it. Luke seems to like Little League better. Luke keeps telling us that he plans to play football in the fall. We shall see. The boys certainly have different interests and that keeps us busy!
• Josh continues to play hockey as often as he can and also played softball during the summer.
• I joined an indoor woman's soccer league and find it quite comical. I enjoy it..... I am just not so coordinated :)
• Josh and I got away for a FULL week of vacation at the end of June. My best friend from college got married so we spent a week away in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was a fabulous time of wedding festivities and I felt extra special as the Matron of Honor. We are so happy for the Bride and Groom Melissa and Chris.

We hope this finds you and your family full of peace, joy and happiness. 

With LOVE,

Teresa, Josh, Jack and Luke 

through the eyes of a child

i have been trying to follow the holiday season, especially these past few days, through the eyes of my children--to see what they see, to hear what they hear, to smell what they smell--to gather up all the excitement and wonder they feel! it has been pretty wonderful! why don't i do this more often?

merry Christmas family and friends! pictures of our holiday time to come soon.

love,
teresa

i should have know....

i had a great therapy appointment friday. i had been feeling a significant amount of anxiety since my last appointment but could not really put my finger on why. we had a good talk and as we talked, i felt the glob of anxiety crap rising up through my chest {where it had been stuck for the two weeks}. carol kept repeating that it needed to come out--that i needed to sob and be with someone, to be in a safe spot to work it out. to let myself feel. to let myself fear all the things that instead of being afraid of i push down tight. she reminded me of my pattern--that instead of sobbing, or being afraid {the true emotion i have}, i push the feelings down, then they come out "sideways" and inappropriately {usually anger} and then i get mad at myself for not dealing with my emotions and the process starts over again.........

i did not cry at our session. i held things tight. i feel safe there but it just did not feel like the right time.

so i left the appointment, called josh to talk about our plans and of course what happened.......... everything came out sideways! then i was angry and caused a fight. fortunately my hubby is amazing and over the phone we worked it out and i cried A LOT.  i felt better after the 20 minutes.

i should have known. but instead of beating myself up over it, i will move forward.