Happy Week!

This week was pretty exciting at work... I got to go to a PPO contestment hearing with a colleague of mine, which was pretty interesting. I also got to tag along with a different colleague as she did the jail support group with the ladies in the county jail. I think that I should be feeling a lot more overwhelmed than I do, but I really think that things are going to go pretty well.
I set up the 4-h booth this morning, and that was irritating. I am just feeling so relieved that it's pretty much done, and I will have some time to plan stuff for the club activities and get things set before we need to be planning for the fair again.
The kids are growing right up. I can't believe that Allen is going to be 6 in a couple of weeks and Abby (our baby!) will be two in just over a month. It sounds cliche, but it does really seem like just yesterday when we brought Allen home and were adjusting to life as new parents. Now that I'm not in school, I think I should catch up reading some parenting books to prepare me for what's to come. I'm a little worried. But that will have to wait until after I read the last Harry Potter novel. YaY!! Only a couple more days to wait!

Underpants Gnomes Do Not Exist!!

Today the kids were super cute!

Abby, who will be 2 next month, is learning to speak so well! She was talking to me on the phone today as I came home from work. She kept saying, "Hi Mama, Bye. Okay Bye. See ya!"
We ended up having a bunch of things to do, so we took the kids out to eat at a family-type restaurant. Surprisingly the kids were pretty well-behaved. We've taken the kids out to eat in a casual dining place only a handful of times since Abby came along.
So my husband, the comedian that he is, decided he would start talking to the kids about underpants gnomes, to which Ashton says (loudly, I might add...), "Daddy, underpants gnomes do not exist!!" She knows a lot for her 4 years!

I hope I don't hear any cries in the night about underpants gnomes...

Allen made us all laugh too. My husband was trying to tell me about some stuff he had been watching about some video gaming event, and my son told me that he saw a show that had, "...Yoga from Star Wars..." on it. It might be evident that we're not big into sci-fi movies...
As a mom, I am glad that there are some places that you can take your kids to eat where it's like practice for being well-behaved, places where it's not a crisis if they talk loudly or drop a fry on the floor, but isn't drive thru fare.

No Escape from the Drama...

OK, so did I mention that I am SOOOOO happy that I got a promotion at my job??!!

Last night when I was at work, there was evermore drama, this time not so much with clients in the shelter, but between employees...

I am SO happy I am a counselor now and not just a shelter worker!

On a side note, Man, everyone has been so grouchy! The kids aren't tolerating the heat very well, nor am I. I'm glad that my hubby took care of the baby the other day because I just couldn't take anymore crying! I really didn't want to clean up vomit either. I am looking forward to some cooler weather later this week, but until then, I guess we'll just sit in front of the air conditioner and hope for the best!!
On another side note look out for postings later this week about our experiences going to the fair with our 4-H Art Club!! More Drama is bound to ensue.

Something cute I forgot...

There was one thing that stands out in this crummy day. I was reading our 2 year old the story 'Are you My Mother' by PD Eastman, and it got to the part where the mommy bird comes back to the baby bird. Abby was so excited, she kept saying, "Mommy, Mommy" and hugging the book. Even when I turned the page, she kept trying to hug the mommy bird.

SUPER-CUTE!!

Y'know even thought they are a pain sometimes, I swear we have the cutest kids ever!

Wow, What a Contrast...

Last weekend was the most wonderful and relaxing one I can remember. My boss gave me the weekend off to prepare myself to start my new position on Monday. I went to the spa and got a massage, and I spent the whole weekend cleaning and organizing the house. Having things neat and orderly really helps to give me peace of mind. So this week started out great!
What a Contrast from last weekend! Things were super-busy at work on Thursday and Friday, and it took me awhile to settle down. All day today, I have been feeling very overwhelmed with things to do around the house and with my volunteering. Couple that with the kids acting up (all day....) and well, I was having (to quote my sister-in-law) "not a stellar parenting moment". Except my moment was most of the day. I'm glad kids are resilient. I'm also glad that having one bad day doesn't define me as a bad parent!
I hope the rest of my weekend goes better.

Just the Beginning...

Okay, I am entering into a transition phase of my life. I have spent the past almost 6 years being a stay at home mommy and finishing up college, but things are going to be different for me! I graduated college in April and have been working a part-time, entry-level job at a Women's Shelter. Starting Monday, though, I will be starting my new position as a Sexual Assault Counselor/Legal Advocate, which is super-exciting! I will be getting paid a salary and might even get my own office!
Despite all of these changes, I still am a mommy, and it will be interesting how things will go for me, trying to juggle my "mommy" jobs and my professional responsibilities. I'll keep posting as things come up!