8/31/11

Awesome

TJ had his first Tee Ball game on Monday night. You can see most of my pictures on Facebook, I’ll be posting them individually on here. I took a picture of him right when he was getting to first base and he made this face. I thought it was awesome. 

He did great in the game. He played a few different positions and hit great.
 
We are so proud of him!
 
Thank you to everyone who came out and supported TJ. He had the loudest cheering section. I know he felt so loved.
 
I did tell Tim I wouldn’t be snapping pictures during every game. I love the pictures but I also want to enjoy the games. I’ll take the camera because I can’t go without it but I’ll just grab it when I need to take a picture instead of holding it and walking around with it.

8/25/11

Big Step

I've been thinking about this for a long time. Actually I have been for years but seriously thinking for about 6 months.

I started back to school this week.

This took a lot and was a really big step for me... I guess I should start towards the beginning.

In 2005 I received an associates degree in science. Then I got married and got a job to survive. I've been working since then and had babies and just lived life. I have been encouraged by my employer, family and friends to go back and finish to get my bachelors in business.

I really wanted to go back but really didn't want to take the time to do it and spend the money to go to all the classes. I wasn't sure how many classes would transfer and just thought I would be starting basically over again.

Well a few months ago (mid spring) I decided to do some research. Why not get this done and taken care of while my kids are young. I found a few schools that I was interested in and applied. Heck, why not right? If I don't get in then that's just God closing the door.

Nope, I got in. Fine, I'll keep praying that if the doors stay open then I'll keep moving through them.

Ok, so now I need to apply for financial aid. Got some loans.

Ok, the door is still open.

Sent my transcript. 63 of my credit hours were transferred over...Um? Seriously? I'm a Junior? You have got to be kidding me? So all I have left is a few basics and then core classes? Door still WIDE open.

Well now it comes down to the final make it or break it decision.

My company offers Education Assistance. Once I got in and got registered for classes I found out what all I need to do. Filled out paperwork, talked to my manager, talk to my manager's manager, talked to HR talked to my manager again, talked to the head of HR, talked everyone over again, defended my case, wrote letters, and then waited.

After waiting for a couple of weeks all while the deadline to get out without any cost to me was approaching quickly. My manager comes over and says "Come to Dave's office" (Dave is her boss and over our facility). I completely forgot that we were waiting on an answer and was worried about what he could possibly need with both of us.

I walked into his office and saw his face and all I could do was smile. You could see the relief on his face. My manager was smiling. They fought like crazy for this to get approved for me. Didn't find out till towards the end that they don't just approve this for anyone. It's nice to know they appreciate me and will vouch for me.

My company pays 90% of tuition, books, and applicable fees!!!!!

Praise the Lord! The doors stayed wide open and I am now in school. I am taking two classes this semester. I decided to just get my feet wet a little and get used to it before I jump in completely. I've just about finished my first week and doing good.

Keep me in your prayers. And thank you to those who have already been encouraging me and praying for me. I'm sure I'll be updating a on this as I go..... Woo Hoo!!!

8/23/11

PreSchool Day One

Well my TJ is now in Preschool. Today was his first day. I took the day off so I could take him on his first day and pick him up.

On the way to drop off Anna, TJ and I prayed the whole way there. We prayed that he would have a good day, that he would have a good year, and he would learn so much that he would be ahead of the game. 

My mom came with us so she could take pictures and manage Anna while I got TJ settled. I was worried that he would get clingy and not want me to leave. It was the opposite. Once we got in the classroom I had to grab him so we could take a picture. When I left I said "bye TJ!" he responded with "bye Mommy" then he turned back around to play.







I did great. I didn't cry or anything. I know it's because TJ didn't cry or make a fuss. That would have made it horrible. But I was still sad...

Then I had to patiently wait until it was time to pick him up. When I got there this is what I saw...

So sweet.

One tired but happy kiddo. He got a sticker on his calendar for today to say he did great.

8/21/11

My Loves...

Well at least two of them.

The other was sound asleep next to these two when I took this picture.


8/20/11

Bows, Tutus and Much More

My close friend was blessed with two wonderful boys.

She is so talented and creative and was hoping for a girl so she could make bows, tutus and more. She found out a few months ago that she will be having a niece and has been making so many bows and items for her.

Since she was posting pictures she has had high demand to teach women with girls how to make them and even requests to sell the ones she has made.

I had a lesson a few weeks back and it has been such a blessing to me. I made a bunch of bows and even a tutu for Anna.
Here is one of them that I made for Anna:
She can make pretty much anything.

Last night we went over to their house for dinner and fun. Well we decided to have a little photo shoot to take pictures of Anna in some of the tutus and bows she has made.





Here Facebook page is under "Lil Stewie Designs" go and "Like" her page!

Check it out and don't hesitate to contact her for any items you need!


8/19/11

Anna is 9 Months Old

Anna has been moving so much. She crawls to where we are and will find us if she can't see us. She is pulling up on everything. Its pretty funny to watch her try to get back down to the floor once she is standing.

Anna said "Dada!" She has said it before but more on accident. She will say it on demand now.

She has been weened. She is strictly on bottles now. I do have a lot of breast milk frozen so she still gets breast milk every day. She was weened a few weeks ago and didn't give me any problems. You know just in case there were any doubts.

She is starting to walk along the furniture.

We moved her bed down lower. Her standing and getting excited was making us nervous. She stood to high over the railing for our comfort.

She still sleeps great. Eats great. Happy all the time. She has started to play on her own more. She'll go off and find toys to play with. Her favorite toys are cars, horses, and Buz Lightyear...Wonder why?

TJ loves to play with her. He always tells me he is ready to play with Anna. He always has to say good night to her before she goes to bed. They are really sweet together. I love to watch them play.

Here is a video of her standing and moving to sit down. I thought it was cute. 


Her Schedule:
A few changes just in the food she eats.
She wakes up at around 9 and then eats oatmeal with fruit and milk, stays up and plays till 11:45 and starts eating then lays down at noon, sleeps till 2 to 3, eats again, stays up and plays till 4:30ish, sleeps till 6ish, up for stage 3 meals, around 7:30 we start baths and she is eating and in bed by 8:15. She eats about 8 ounces at each feeding.

At my mom’s house she'll eat a little bit and then go back to sleep till about 9- 9:30ish then the rest of the schedule is the same.
 Beautiful Baby Girl, 
Thank you for bringing so much joy to our lives. You make our family complete. Your smile is radiant and shines so bright that it makes everyone smile. Love you baby.
Love, Mommy

8/17/11

Comparison in a Good Way

 Wow!

Can you tell at all that we are related?

No?

You are blind then...

Josh is the oldest. I'm the middle child. Amy is the youngest.

Amy and Josh have the same smile and their eye shapes are the same.

Amy and I have the same eyes.

Josh and I have the same noses.

Amy and I have the same chins.

Josh and I have the same ears....ugh. Poor Anna has them too.


Here are my Mom and Dad

Josh has my mom's eye color.

Amy and I have my dad's eye color.

I have my dad's eye brows.

Josh and I have my mom's ears.

Amy and Dad have the same nose.


Josh and Amy's eye shape is like my mom's
Mine is like my dad's

Amy's super gorgeous curly hair is from my dad.

We are all tall. We are family. We fight. We love each other. I don't say it enough but they are my loves, my family. I miss them when I don't see them. I get tired of them when I see them too much. But love every minute of it. We have memories and laugh and joke at each other. We can have heart to heart conversations. We snap each other out of our negative moods.

My parents have been married for 37 years. Thank you for being such great examples to us!

LOVE YOU ALL!

8/16/11

Guest Room Dilemma

We have a guest room. This room has a closet but no place to hang clothes because its full of shelves. We have already decided that once Anna bed moves to a full size bed like TJ's bed that there is no need to keep the current guest bedroom as a guest bedroom.

We've talked about putting a futon in there and putting the office desk back in there and making the room a TV/office room.

Since Timothy has been working out all the time and is currently working out in the garage. Yeah even when its 100+ degrees out there for over a month. He even works out at the hottest part of the day. He rocks doesn't he?

Anyways. Tim keeps saying things like the following:
He wishes he had a workout room. 
He wishes he could work out in private, not with the garage door open where everyone can see him. Man I wish I could work out in the air conditioner.

I've told him to just wait it out another month or so and it will be comfortable in there.

The dilemma is....Do we keep the room as is until Anna moves to a big bed or go ahead and make it the tv/office room that we can put his work out stuff in?

We shall see. Yes, we shall see!

8/15/11

First T-Ball Practice

Well, we have our first T-ball practice under our belt.

He did pretty good. It was very hectic and busy shortly after we got there so it took a bit to keep him focus to throw and pay attention. After he went off to practice with the assistant coach while the head coach talked to us he was doing great.

He has his next practice on Thursday night. The practice is at 7 so most likely Anna and I will have to stay home.

I was the only mom that was constantly taking pictures, mastering taking care of a baby, and coaching my son from the sidelines. [smile]

 Coach said he had a great throw
 he's ready
 focus
 I yelled his name to take his picture and he yelled his name back at me
 first huddle with his team
talking with daddy about what to do
 Coach Daddy
 Great HIT
RUN TJ RUN!!

And we have a VERY supportive sister!

8/14/11

Learning Train

TJ got this train puzzle for Christmas. I knew he wasn't ready for it being that he had just started talking. At the time he couldn't even say his name.

He could repeat all the letters when we would say them but to pick out the letters and put a puzzle together wasn't going to work.

We've been working with him on pronouncing his words and working on his letters. So I knew he would be ready for this without getting frustrated.

He has put this together a few times and is really loving it. In one sitting we can't do it more than once. If he can't find the letter or picture that is next we have him sort the pictures by color.  

For example if the "F" is on a red cart of the train then we tell him to find all the red carts. Once he pulls out all the red then we have him look for the "F". Finds the letter he is looking for every time.

He is starting school on the 23rd and is really excited about it. It's going to be a busy schedule starting in a week or so.

Fun Times!


8/13/11

Weekend of Family

My brother Josh and his wife Dre with their son Nate came into town last Friday. They came to travel with us to Fredericksburg to celebrate my Grandfathers 90th Birthday.

There were there with us on Friday night for church then we all headed out Saturday morning for our trek to the Hill Country.

Saturday we had a family dinner and then a scheduled time for photos out at Glorieta after dinner.

Glorieta is the land and house that my grandparents owned and built a log cabin on. My Uncle and Aunt own the property now but it was a great backdrop for photos.

Here are some of the pictures the Photographer took:
My Grandparents
TJ and his Cousin Morgan

The whole Schlueter Famiy
While she was taking individual shots of the different family groupings and couples. I went inside and grabbed my camera and took some shots to keep myself occupied. wink.

And here is some from dinner:

yeah....I know, there are a lot of pictures. Sorry I can't help it. I love taking pictures

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