Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays!  I think it's a combination of the Fall weather, our anniversary, spending time with family and great food :)

On Thanksgiving Monday Reese had music class.  After class we quickly took some photo's in the ravine that is near her class.  It was so gorgeous, with all the fall colors and paths through the woods.  Unfortunately it was raining off and on and I forgot my tripod :(  So we had to move quick and we weren't able to get a good family photo!  However, I did get a few great shots of the kids :)

How adorable ... honestly.

Love this one :)

We always need an outtake ;)

After the photo's, we headed for Thanksgiving dinner with my family.  Lindsay and Jeremy hosted our get together this year.  Jeremy smoked the turkey and I think it was the best turkey I've ever had.  Moist and delicious!  We had a great afternoon - visiting, eating and watching the kids run 'round and 'round and 'round ;)  Thanks for having us, Jeremy and Lindsay!

Mr. Mason and Uncle Cal

Grandpa, Connor, Blake and Great Grandma Kelley

Blake with Uncle Jeremy and Grandma

Em and Connor

Blake and his dessert buffet ... ;)

Reese, waiting for her dessert :)

Emerson and Great Grandma Kelley

Mom and Dad :)

Happy Anniversary!

Our 11th wedding anniversary was on October 9th and we wanted to celebrate with the kids!  I really wanted to try out a new restaurant, or at least one the kids hadn't experienced before.  We settled on Japanese Villiage and it was a great choice!  The kids were thouroughly entertained by our chef and even got a kick out of his cheesey jokes ... such as, "Mushrooms, Japanese Mushrooms ... from Walmart!"  or when he called the bean sprouts "Japanese french fries!"  The kids thought he was hilarious :)  The meal was also a hit!  Everyone really enjoyed their dinner.  It was a fun night out with the kids!!  I'm so proud of my family and love them all to bits.  Happy 11 years, to us!  

Beautiful flowers that look very similar to my bouquet and dinner with my favorite peeps :)

Extracurricular Activities

I've blogged about Blake's hockey, we know for sure that he will have hockey 4 times a week, for the most part! 

All 3 kids also have swimming lessons on Friday nights.

Reese is in a music class on Monday afternoons.  I've made 3 so far and will be able to make the next one.  After that, my Mom and Cal will take turns taking her to music class.  A HUGE thank you to my Mom, for taking that on!!  I'm so glad we could all work together to make this class work for Reese :)  I enrolled her before I had even applied for my job and after I got the job, it was one of my main concerns!  Reese LOVES to sing and I really wanted her to try a class.  So far she's enjoying herself!  She brings home homework after every class and is very proud of the guitar they made last class!

Emerson is Ukrainian dancing this year and I couldn't be happier!!!  I loved when I Ukrainian danced and can't wait to see her perform :)  She's dancing with Veetreez and has had 2 classes so far.  They are 1 hr long, on Tuesday evenings.  Her bff, Berlyn, is also in her class!  She was excited to purchase her new red slippers and although we can't see the class, she tells us she's having a blast!

Emerson and Reese will both be playing ringette but they don't start until mid-October.  Reese's icetimes will be Sundays from 1-2, in Active Start 1 and Emerson's ice times are Sundays from 2:15-3:15 and every second Thursday from 6:30-7:30, in Active Start 2.  Emerson can not wait to start ringette, Reese is a little more aprehensive!  I will be coaching AS1 and may help on the ice with AS2, depending on if I'm alone with the girls at the rink or if Cal or Grandma and Grandpa are there!  My being on the ice with AS2 also depends on Emerson ... at times she says she wants me to help, other times she says no way!  We'll see ;)

Reese would like to take karate or tae kwon do and we might look into lessons in the New Year!  But for now, I feel we have a handle on the extracurricular activities and we'll leave it as if for awhile :)

I love how active our kids are and in turn, it keeps us active as well!!  I'm hoping Blake's games don't interfere too much with Church on Sunday mornings or with Ringette on Sunday afternoons, but I know we're bound to have some interference!!  Fingers crossed we'll still be able to make most games!!

Back to Work!!

I got the job!!!  I got the job :(  I got the job.  omg, I got the job :)

Where to start ... maybe I'll start from the beginning!!

I've said for a few years now, that if I were to return to my previous career, I would want to work in the school system.  I thought it would be great, being that OTA's in the school system work a compressed work schedule during the school months and have the summers off.  Sounded right up my alley!  Add to that, I would be working with kindergarten and grade 1 students (for the most part) and it seemed like the perfect job for me.

I had applied on a posting a few years ago and did not get a call back, which is probably a good thing because at that point in time, I don't think I would have accepted an offer.  Fast forward to July ... a friend of mine works as an OTA in the school system and texted me to tell me there was a part time position posted on the AHS website.  I quickly went to look at the posting and applied that night.  I knew that I was possibly ready to return to work because I was slightly excited and nervous, waiting for a call back!  Then, I did get a call.  And then I was really nervous because I had this feeling that I was going to get the job.  So I was a ball of excitement and nervousness, all rolled in to one.  With a little bit of doubt, thrown in there!!  I couldn't make an in person interview so they offered me a phone interview (I've already blogged about that!).  A few days later I was offered the job.  I was super excited but a little bit unsure.  How could I return to work after so much time off?  How would this affect my family?  Would the kids need to go to a day home?  The position is a .48 FTE, which equals 23.25 hours/week for the months of September to June.  I threw around some possible scenario's and decided I would accept the offer.  Then I freaked out a little bit and decided there's no way I could make it work.  So I called the manager and said (my exact words), "I am sorry, I really want to make this work but I don't think I can accept the position."  To which she asked me why it wouldn't work and I listed off these reasons: 1) my youngest is in kindergarten and doesn't start until Sept 14 (the start date for the position was Sept 1) 2) I would miss too many field trips/special events/PD days (because I'd be working in the public system and our kids are in the Catholic system). I think I again said, "I'm sorry."  Lisa, the manager, then told me not to worry.  If I'd like the position, I could choose a better start date and that even if my vacation hours hadn't accrued enough to take a day off, I could take an unpaid day if I wanted.  I told her I'd call her back!  So I talked to Cal about it (some more, I'd already talked his ear off about it!!) and decided I WOULD take it!!  I called Lisa back and confirmed (again) that she was sure there would be no problem with me taking unpaid days!  To me, one of the most important parts of being a stay at home mom is being able to drop off and pick up my kids from school and also being able to attend field trips and special events (here and there, not every one!)!  So we worked out my hours and set a start date!

I am an Occupational Therapy Assistant, working with an Inclusive Learning team for the Edmonton Public School Board.  Students and classes are referred to an Occupational Therapist, who then assesses the class/students and refers them on to me for treatment.  Much of the treatment involves printing and fine motor skills.  I'll be working in schools across the city but my office is at ParkAllen school, which is by the University.  Although I have my laptop and phone and most likely will not be at the office every day.  I can start and end my day where ever is convenient (ie, a school I am working at or an Inclusive Learning office that is near to where I am).  My hours are Mondays, 8 to 4:30, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday's, 9 to 2, off on Thursdays.  Cal does pick ups and drop offs on Mondays and I get to do all the other days, plus have all day off on Thursday with Reese (she doesn't have school on Thursdays) and 1/2 the day with all 3 kids (Blake and Emerson get out at 11:46 am on Thursdays)!

We're only into week 2 but so far, so good!!  I'm enjoying it thus far, although it's been too many days of IT issues!!!!  Setting up my laptop and phone has been a pain in the you know what ;)  I forgot about that part of a new position.  I'll finally be in a school tomorrow and I can't wait to being working with a great group of grade 1 students!  We'll being doing a printing module tomorrow.  When we do modules, it is one hour a week, for 5 weeks.  The idea is that once a teacher has participated in 1 module, they will be able to continue to carry it out throughout the school year and in future years.  The entire class participates in our modules.  We also work one on one with specific students.

My heading back to work is probably the biggest change for Reese.  Blake and Emerson won't really notice a difference because they're in school while I'm working!  Reese will be at a day home on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.  Maria picks her up at Kindergarten at 11:20, walks her home for lunch and I pick Reese up at 2:30, before going to the school to pick up Blake and Em at 2:56.  There was some day home shuffling before I began work, originally Reese was taking the bus to another day home but that didn't work out and this is actually much better!  Maria's daughter is in Blake's class so I've known her for a few years now.  Her house is not even a block from the school, which is very convenient.  Reese is glad she doesn't have to take the bus!  If I'm delayed at all, Maria will walk Reese to the school and I will meet them there (Maria goes to the school anyways, to pick up her 2 girls!).

It's been an absolutely amazing 6 years at home full-time with my 3 beautiful kiddo's, I wouldn't trade a second of it.  But I am really ready to get back into a career and have something for myself.  I'm glad I was able to find a position that works out so well for our family and still allows me to spend before and after school and their early dismissal days with them :)  Oh, and summers!!  And Spring Break and Christmas Break!  Thank you to Cal for making this easy for me, for rearranging his Mondays and for letting me work out the logistics and ultimately, leaving the decision to return to work up to me! 

And last but not least, I'm excited to get a paycheck ;)  lol!

KC SAINTS

Blake is the newest member of the KC Saints, the second rep team in KC!! Congratulations to our boy :) He skated hard during evaluations and is so excited to be a Saint!!  He's pretty proud of making a rep team but really, he's most excited to be playing with his buddies, Dante and Cameron!  It's been a crazy few weeks, since the teams were named.  Cal was asked to Head Coach and said yes.  It's been an unbelievable amount of work thus far but I'm sure every second will be worth it ;)  Rep has proven to be significantly different than house league.  We knew it would be different but it's a whole new 'game'.  Budget's, extra ice time, mandatory apparel, fundraising, team power skating, dry land training, cash calls, etc, etc.  A lot of planning is involved!!  Our good friend Adriana volunteered to be team manager and I am the team treasurer, so together with Cal we've spent a large majority of our weekends on the above!!  Adriana jokes that Cal is her hockey husband and she spends more time texting/emailing him than she does with her own husband!  Good thing we're such great friends, we all laugh about it!!  The team has been on the ice a lot and is on the ice Saturday (with a bottle drive before practice!), Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday!!  4 of those ice times are team power skating with Donna Stewart, one is a 1.5 hr, full ice practice and Sunday is an exhibition game.  These boys will be in great shape by April ;)  Our team will be in tier 2A (the second highest tier in EMHA).  We're in for a great year of hockey and to be honest, I'm most excited to be on a team where all the players and the parents are 110% hockey crazy and dedicated, just like us ... lol!!  Let the fun begin!!!

Back to School 2015

And just like, it was time for back to school!!  The kids all started slightly later this year, with Blake and Emerson on September 8th and Reese on September 9th.

 Blake was headed to grade 3, somewhat reluctantly ;)  He wasn't opposed to going back to school but he wasn't bouncing off the walls excited either!!  I can't help but think about how Blake only has 3 more years in elementary school.  Slow down time, slow down ... please ;)  Being that there is only one grade 3 FI class, Blake knew all his classmates and his teacher.  Which is kind of nice!  His teacher this year is Mlle Elisabeth, who I've only heard great things about.  A few of the students in Blake's class have older siblings who have had Elisabeth and all the mom's say she is wonderful.  So if we go by their word, we're in for a great year!  Blake is excited to learn handwriting, he wants a 'signature'!!  He also really misses Social Studies, Gym and Science class.  He told me he also really likes Math but that he doesn't think grade 3 math will be hard enough, lol!  He was looking ever so handsome on his first day and we are just so extremely proud of him!!!

 

Emerson's first day of grade 1 came quickly ... so hard to believe she's already in full day school.  Em, I can say without a doubt, was really ready for grade 1!!  Being a February baby, she is the oldest in her class and sometimes I wonder if she wouldn't have been better off starting 'early' and being the youngest in her class!  Kindergarten was a breeze and she is really needing more of a challenge, which I'm hoping (and pretty certain) grade 1 will provide.  She has the same grade 1 teacher that Blake had, Mme. Khair.  Mme. Khair is a great teacher and Em was excited to be in her class :)  There is only one grade 1 FI class and so Emerson knew all her classmates and was excited to see some of them!  Emerson is nearly desperate to read but Blake tells her she won't learn to read in grade 1 ... to which of course, I say, yes she will!  To which Blake says, well, yeah but only in French.  So apparently he regards reading in English as 'real' reading?!  lol!!!  Emerson was the most excited about back to school.  She was counting down the days, it was great to see!  I remember feeling much the same way, all through school!!  We're so proud of Em and her love of school and can't wait to witness her growth this year!

 

And now our baby is in Kindergarten ... one more year closer to full day school and the passing of time at any even quicker (and somewhat scarier) rate!!!  Reese's staggered entry day was September 9th.  She only went to school for 1 hr that day and then began the regular schedule on September 14th.  Reese did really well!  She had a few tears in her eyes on the 14th but was all smiles when I picked her up a few hours later :)  I think 1/2 day kindergarten is really great for Reese!  Not sure she'd manage as well with a full day!  Reese has the same teacher that Emerson had, Mme. Sina.  I love Sina and look forward to having another child in her class.  Reese likes me to escort her to her classroom in the mornings and so I have been doing that!  Eventually we will work up to a drop-off at the door but for now, I think it helps her to adjust :)  She is enjoying school and making lots of new friends!  She's a very social little girl!  She has been practicing simple french words and was excited to sing a new french song for us :)  It's wonderful to see her learning and growing and we are of course, extremely proud of our Reesey!!

Here are a few more of my favorite photo's from Blake, Emerson and Reese's 1st days:

Our pride and joy :) (on Reese's 1st full day of kindergarten)

Our beautiful grade 1'er!  Ready for her 1st day!

1st day for Em and Blake, love them sooooo much!!!

Blake was so cute on his first day, he asked for many different photo combo's - including one with Heidi ;)

The annual front step photo :)

Em, waiting for the bell to ring on the first day!

Blake is in his classroom, ready to rock grade 3!!

Em's in her classroom, ready for whatever grade 1 throws her way!!!

Miss Reese and one of her 'poses' on her first full day of kinder!

Thanks to Blake for capturing this moment :)

And off they go, all in the same school!

I was pushing my luck with all the photo's but got one last smile before they headed to their doors!!

Big girl in the big kid school ;)

Found her name, figuring out the kindergarten routine!

 

    

Summer 2015 - That's a Wrap!

That's a wrap on another FABULOUS summer!!!

Besides our summer vacation and great camping trips, we've had a lot of other fun days/experiences!  Including:

Hanging out @ Berlyn's pool!

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A great day of Baseball and Ice cream with the Anderson's and Weaver's :)

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Reese's 1st long bike ride - the slurpee at the end of the ride was great motivation!

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The green shack program!  The kids love the green shack program at our local park.  The leaders are often University students and the kids have a great time playing games,  and meeting new friends at the green shack program :)

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A day at Cross Lake with my parents, sister and my nephews. It was an awesome day, full of tubing, playing at the park and hot dogs :)

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A fun-filled day at the Valley Zoo with the Anderson's!  We spent the entire day at the zoo, it was a blast :)  We love our little zoo!!

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A great day at Fort Edmonton Park with my friend Melissa and her boys!  We had only been to Fort Edmonton on field trips, so hadn't explored the entire park until now.  I found admission a bit expensive but it was worth it.  We had so much fun, the weather was great and we spent most of the day there! 

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A visit with my Grandma Marg.  We're so lucky that my Grandma was able to visit us for a week!!  We had family dinners and lots of time to visit and spend together :)  Thank you so much to my Grandma for visiting and to my parents for making it happen.  I am so glad the kids got to spend so much time with their Great Grandma.  They keep asking when they're going to see Great Grandma again and Reese is still making artwork for her ;)  We joked that Grandma Marg would need to by a new carry on suitcase to bring home all of Reese's 'presents' :)

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Reese and I attended 'First Riders' at Northlands.  Reese is going to be riding the noon hour kindergarten bus from school to the day home, three days a week.  She's excited and I think the First Riders event helped to ease her nerves!

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An afternoon at the Edmonton Corn Maze with the Parenteau's.  This has become a yearly tradition and a great one it is!  The corn maze is so much fun with so many different activities to do.  We always enjoy our time there and this year the weather was great, which made it even better!!  It was a great way to spend this last afternoon of summer break :)

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And before heading to the corn maze, Reese had her first music class!  I found this teacher via social media - I can't remember if it was Twitter or Instagram but I clicked on a picture of a preschool music class and automatically thought, "Reese would love this!!"  Reese is always singing and asking me to help her 'write songs' :)  So I registered her and she began her semester on Monday!  She had a great time and even brought home some homework!!

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Our summer was full but we also enjoyed many quiet days at home, where we didn't get dressed until the afternoon and we watched far too much tv.  I am never really ready for the summer to end but I am thankful for all the wonderful memories made this summer and I look forward to the next chapter - back to school and fall :)

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I will be updating the blog with the last days our summer vacation, soon!  I hope you also had a great summer :)

xo

~Tracy