So much learning

I am incredibly behind on my blogging. These pictures were taken about a month ago and I never posted them. I have been so busy with school. One of my classes is online and all I do is write, write, write (type, type, type). We have to correspond constantly on our online classroom, do article reviews and replies via a WikiSpace, we write text reflection blogs, reply on any comments from things we have written and comment on all home group members' blogs. It's crazy how much writing there is but I guess that is what is involved in an online class of this type (psychology). Despite all the writing I absolutely love the class. The topics are fascinating and the group discussion is great. I love that no one knows each other, it makes the discussions more honest and involved. Chemistry is my other class and it's also really time consuming. I have never been away from my kids as much as I have been the past couple of months. I feel like I don't have enough time for school or enough time for my kids and that both are suffering. Thankfully it will be over at the end of March (still seems so far away) and I can be "Mommy" again. I really miss my family. I'm thinking long and hard about when to start my nursing program. This quarter has made me realize I probably can't start until fall of 2012. I had hoped, somehow, starting earlier might have worked out but I just will not be able to make it work without having the schedule of a full time working parent plus some. I know I won't regret waiting a year to start the program but I would regret starting early and missing Kennedy's last year at home before she starts school. I have one last class to do at some point but won't be able to take it next quarter despite being on the waiting list. It starts at 8:00 a.m., that will never work with the girls' schedule. It's an RN prerequisite anyway so technically it will be years before it even needs to be done. I'll see when it's offered in the summer and try it then or as soon as the time works. I'm basing all of these plans on the fact that Eric will be working again. No, he is still not working. I still get nauseous saying that out loud (or typing it, in this case). He's trying to get on at Intalco. The pay is substantially lower than what he was making but reality is redefined at this point and any job would be a huge blessing. I am trying really hard not to get too hopeful but it's hard not to when there is a chance at a job.

Madison is working on her writing. As I said, these pictures are nearly a month old and she has improved a lot since then but I love this learning experience of writing for her. She's loving it and I couldn't be more proud of her.

She lost her first tooth on January 18th and below is the letter she wrote (my writing underneath so we wouldn't forget what she said). The Tooth Fairy respected her wish and left the tooth in her tooth box that she got for Christmas and also a $1.00 coin. She was very happy!

Miss Kennedy is doing her thing, loving life and growing like crazy. She is star of the week and preschool this week and we made a special poster all about her. I'll post a picture of it next week when we get it back from the school. She is so proud to sit in the golden chair and wear her crown.
It's been a crazy winter and I am truly looking forward to the quarter being over, Eric getting back to work and resuming my job as stay-at-home-mom. I am still volunteering at Madison's school one afternoon a week and making all of the field trips, etc. I haven't had to miss one yet which has taken a lot of juggling but it's all worth it. I am also looking forward to another girls weekend the weekend after classes are over with my lovely friends. I can't wait to go and rejuvenate with some wonderful ladies after this hectic time is over.