More Work Updates!

Even more work updates for myself since February.

Still with the magazine and with my promotion role. Hectic at times but going okay.

I did not become a certified sleep consultant until the end of April. In May, I did my first "in home" visit - meaning I went to a client's home where I sat and went over their assessment and then hands on helped them implement it - for twins none the less! It went well. Things generally slow for Summer but come Fall I may have some speaking engagements.

My newest work news is that I have started as an ESL teacher in February - meaning an English as a second language teacher. I teach kids in China. It works kind of like Skype in that we connect via a camera in a "classroom" through the company. I would say the most difficult part has been just getting used to the times I teach - peak time in China is EARLY AM my time (as in 3am, or earlier some days until 7am). Some nights (my time) are also available, particularly during China's Summer months when kids are home. Getting used to being up (and showing and having energy!) has been the the biggest adjustment. I began with a 2nd ESL company not long ago as backup. My hope is the 2nd company will eventually take over the first one, as it has a friendlier teacher policy. I do enjoy the job itself (99% of the kids so far are great and its neat to teach a variety of ages and class types). It has been great in terms of another job I can do around the kids at home (and practically in pajamas!) and its the most money I have made from home yet. I would say the fact that Preston no longer naps has made this a bit harder - I can't exactly lay down for a quick catnap much anymore!

Virtual classroom

Due to sleepy brain I can't remember if this has been mentioned, but I also have another little blogging job with Green Kid Crafts, a subscription mail service of crafts and projects for kids. They pick what crafts they want me to do, the kids and I do them (I take note of instructions and take pictures), I send the company those and they get posted on their social media. Here are some of past projects...

Candle making with crayons

Rock crystal candy making

Painting using yarn

Working electrical circuits - using batteries and LED lights

I enjoy this job too as it allows the kids to partake in it, we do some neat things.

So, life is very busy over here, especially during the now Summer months with everyone home.

Preston Update

Last I wrote, we were beginning potty training. It did not go well. I tried for a few days, but he was scared of sitting on the potty. He ran from it. When it became noticeable that it was just going to be mommy cleaning up messes on the floor continuously, we were done. In March, Preston began not taking his nap so that has gone out the window too (somehow my boys have always been on the younger end of the spectrum when it comes to ending nap!) That has been a struggle, as I always used the time to work/do house work/self care. More of a balancing act for me but that will be discussed in another post!

At the end of March, Preston started a preschool program. Talk about a saving grace. Two days a week, Preston goes to a program at our gym for two hours. I do have to remain on site and it's not as long or as many days as I would like, but it does give him time with kids his own age and the social time I think he needs. And time for me to workout/do some work! There was an adjustment period as it's also his first time being with people he doesn't know, but now he looks forward to his friends and the things they do. He has even tried using their little potty! It was not until our other boys were 3-3.5 before they were trained so maybe I'll check in at the end of Summer. For now I'm thankful he has a place to go where he can be 2 and NOT potty trained! Being potty trained is a big deal at most places.I'm excited that when the boys start school the end of July that Preston's program, too, will start back up. 

Other Preston facts :

--He loves eating! haha. It's great to have an adventurous eater.

--He still sleeps in his crib. I'm not feeling anxious to move him into a toddler bed at all. Preston hasn't even tried to get out of his crib so unless he grows out of it, he's staying there. Half joking. Half not. That was also another adjustment period for my older boys, it took what seemed like weeks or months for them to stay in bed and not try to get out of their room. He is a pretty good sleeper; going down now at 6:30-7 on his own.

--Talking up a storm now. It's nice to start eliminating the frustration of communication. I can tell he's absorbing what he does in school too - numbers, letters, colors. 

--Continues to be on the high end of the growing curve! A lot of people think he looks older with his height. 

--His favorite place and person ever is his Nana and her house. Every-day we listen about going to "Nana's house". 

--He loves his balance bike. And being outside. He begins swim lessons tomorrow! 

Nathan's 11th Birthday

We're back! For a quick minute to update life's passings in the last few months. Much to discuss!

First off, I last wrote right around Nathan's 11th birthday! In lieu of birthday parties for the older two this year, we had family gatherings where we let the kids choose outings. Nathan did indoor skydiving with my family and went to a local theme park with Josh's. He enjoyed both!

Now some 11 year old stats!

---This year he has really begun those tween changes- he has grown and all that entails (deodorant! smelly room!)

---On the flip side it also means he has really matured, Josh and I can have a date night now when Preston is down for sleep that we know he will get Aaron to bed. That has been really nice for Josh and I not having to arrange babysitting for each thing. He has always been responsible.

---Very goal oriented. He wants to be a pilot when he grows up so everything is starting to come into consideration for that (will that look good on my resume?)

---This last school year he has played percussion in band. He seemed to enjoy it and has decided to continue in his 6th grade year.

----His 6th grade year! Where we live, this is the last year of elementary school. I can't believe we are already at this point. He has adjusted well to our new school this past year.

---Also has continued on into Boy Scouts (see above-does it look good on my resume?) It is even more active than Cub Scouts so he stays pretty busy. He has his first, all by himself, trip with scouts to San Diego the end of June.

---Just starting over the Summer he is taking a diving class. This boy plans to live in the pool all Summer long

2.5 Year Old Comparisons

Can you believe in a few weeks Preston will now be 2.5?! That in about six more months it's time for his birthday again? :( Me either. This is a huge year of changes. We just weaned him from his pacifier use. I think with each day it gets better. I was nervous at first with how he would settle, but he really didn't fuss much at all. He knows what it means when something is "broken", so we just cut his pacifier. He was beginning to bite into it and make holes so it was time for it to go. Next up: potty training! In one more week. I think I'm prepared. I've done a bit more reading and research so that it too is a smooth process...hopefully!

Anyway, onto the comparisons of the kiddos.

All in order! They definitely all have the same grins! 

New Year Traditions

As with other holidays, we've begun forming traditions for this day, too. On NYE we will have Noon Years Eve since we're the non fun parents who don't let our kids stay up that late (heck, Josh and I are lucky every now and then to stay up that late!)

I will usually buy hats and favors

...and sparkling cider! Preston loved it. We also do a Netflix countdown.

It has also become tradition that we visit this particular restaurant that has a nice NYE vibe - and is kid friendly. 

I'm thinking about making fondue something we do on New Year's Day this next time!

Birthday Getaway

For the first time in who knows how long, Josh and I got away around our birthdays this past year to celebrate. There had been a cute, little boutique hotel I had been admiring for a bit that I wanted to go to - so we went. It was such a refreshing time away. Something we haven't done in a long time is time spent straight up doing nothing - like lounging around in bed for a day. That was pretty much my birthday wish!

Lounge time

Good eats!

Leisurely breakfast

Literally, we read and binged Netflix. When do we get those opportunities? Never when we are at home! 

Holiday Happenings

Three months since I've made it back here - but always making the effort as I know I will appreciate all these memories I'm sure I'll forget later down the road.

December was a bit of a blur as we spent the month sick with colds, sinus infections - which for the first time turned into pinkeye for me and spread to the kids. But, we managed to have some holiday fun sprinkled in there!

After having skipped last year, we started with our tradition of going to Zoolights right before Thanksgiving. Preston was really into lights this year so that made it really fun. 

I took the older kids to see The Nutcracker, we had a few holiday parties. 

The last day of school for the quarter the boys had a Jingle Jog along with holiday sing-a-longs. 

Love the post run snacks

...and the school's holiday spirit! This is more limited nowadays.

So cute that each grade had a theme- Nate's teachers were elves

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Meeting Santa went ok this year...mostly.

We had a fun morning one day at our gym, where the kids had a snow day, made crafts and met Santa (above).

Minus Josh getting sick on my birthday getaway (more in another post), Christmas was nice with our families. Christmas Eve with Josh's and Christmas Day with mine. Seeing Preston being able to enjoy and appreciate the holiday even more this past year has been fun. 

We continued another year of Elf on the Shelf. Every year I think I'll get out of it, and every year the boys talk about Eddie our elf coming back! This year his friend, Norman, started to come. In times of not having much fun or magic, why not, right? Even if it means multiple nights of remembering during the night to do something with them. I surely thought this might be the year of having to talk about Santa, but not yet. The boys were excited to have had an Hot Wheels advent calendar to look forward to each day. 

Promotions

Things had already been busy before, but in October Josh and I both got promotions within the same week of each other! Josh's had been in the works for a bit but finally became official that particular week after months of work. He is more of a manager overseeing other engineers. It has been a much better year in terms of less travel for him so I hope it stays that way.

I got a promotion with the magazine I write for, making me more of the right hand of the publisher. I write more, take pictures and also help organize our monthly event (as well as take pictures at other events and also for our sister publication). I'm also in charge of both publication's social media. It is exciting but also just comes at a hectic time of year to be learning/getting used to new job duties while also having accelerated deadlines with the holidays. I actually feel like in January it might almost seem easy when I get the 10ish additional days back to complete all my work. It has been a new balancing act I'm getting used to, since I primarily try to streamline everything, minimizing the amount I do outside of being at home. 

I'm also hoping by year's end to have another promotion with my other job - sleep consulting. Since I finished the coursework in May, I have been working towards becoming certified since that point. It has been a much longer process than I anticipated. Having to complete so many clients, has taken quite a bit more time. My clients have only counted if they go all the way with completing support of the assessment/plan we recommend. I should hit the number I need to be certified in December I believe - but it is ultimately up to my mentor to decide if I still need more practice than that or not. I hope to begin the New Year as a certified sleep consultant! 

Considering all of this, I plan to drop being with the Mom's Blog early next year. I also just informed school PTO about my intentions of not coming back next year. It is time for me to let go of some things as I start to get busier. I have been on PTO since Nate started school full time, so I'm looking forward to being a typical Jane Smith parent next year. 

November

Full steam ahead continues for this crew! The boys began the month going to a NASCAR race. This was Aaron's first time getting to go - I thought he might not like all the noise and would have trouble sitting  for the duration, but he did well and enjoyed his day. Tickets already to go in the Spring!

It was another busy month for school. They have what is called Fine Dining (but what I considered a Friendsgiving). The kids dress up, act like they are dining in a formal restaurant, student council serves a Thanksgiving type lunch, there is classical music playing...it was a unique event to witness. They are strict to how many volunteers can come, but thankfully I was picked to help with Nate's class.

Nate also had his first band concert! His 5th grade band played three songs in which he changed percussion instruments. Per tradition growing up with my family, we went out for dessert after the concert. 

This month Nate also had the opportunity to camp out with the Boys Scouts- this helped him get an idea of it being something he wants to continue with. The Boy Scouts are much more independent. Nate had to cook, setup his own tent, sleep with other campers. It was a different experience but he had a fun weekend. Josh went along as one of the chaperones.

 

Lastly, just over Thanksgiving weekend I traveled to Vegas on my own with my family. Just a short, 50 hour trip. We weren't terribly busy outside of eating :) but that was great by me. It was nice to relax and I'm sure as I've said before anytime I'm away from the kiddos, enjoy the simple things-like being able to sit, ha! 

Ok, so I also enjoy eating fancy meals out without my kiddos every now and then too! It was a little recharge on top of busy times. That is to be explained in another post ;)