Christmas Portraits 2011

We went and had our annual portraits made. This year we went to JCPenney. I bought a groupon which turned out to be a bit of a dud. I wasn't thrilled with the place and definitely won't go back, but we got some cute pics. It's getting harder as Logan gets older to have him smile genuinely. As many of you know, this is a bit of an art form and something lots of people have to learn. He's one of those people!





It was really hard to pick out which prints I wanted and in what size, etc. So I bought the disc and am printing more on my own.


Christmas cards are going out tomorrow for most of you! Merry Christmas!

Ellie's piano recital

Ellie had her first piano recital on Monday. It was a very small, casual recital at the music store where we take lessons (Danny Ray's in Round Rock). The recital only included Ellie's teacher's students. Her teacher teaches many different instruments (trombone, clarinet, french horn, etc.), so not all the kids there played piano. Also most of them were fairly new at learning so Ellie wasn't totally out of her league since she's only been taking lessons since the beginning of August.
She did great! She didn't seem nervous at all. It kind of freaks me out actually since as most of you know she's incredibly shy much of the time. On stage though, she seems right at home.

She actually played 3 short songs. The video just shows one of them.

We're so proud and hope she continues to want to play. We also hope that she will smile occasionally and not look so solemn while she plays!

Hard Week

It's been a rough few weeks. Adjusting to my new schedule has been hard. Learning my new job has also been challenging. And to top it off, after almost 14 years, we lost Frank. It's been an adjustment getting used to the fact that he's gone. Several times a day, it will dawn on me that he's not here anymore to let in or out, feed, etc.

I'm glad he's finally able to rest and not be in pain. I don't think we'll be getting another dog anytime soon. The kids are already asking of course. I'm glad I had the distraction of work this week and wasn't home all the time to be reminded that he's not here. He was our first "baby" before we had any of our own. We got him about 6 months after we got married, so he's been a "Smith" almost as long as I have. It's weird without him. I'm sure we'll get used to it, but it will never quite be the same.

Rest in Peace, my buddy... Blaine Franklin Smith ("Frank").

Our First Day back to school!

The kids and I both had great days back to school today. I have to be at work at 7 am everyday now! Yes, I know that's insane. However, we're adjusting our morning schedule and luckily Stuart's able to finish them getting ready and walk them to school everday! Yay, Stuart!

Here I am heading out the door at 6:45 am. I'm going to have to get used to this one! No more late nights for me. Today at work was good. It was a looong busy day. We haven't started our regular schedules yet with the kids since we have to get everyone adjusted. Hopefully things will settle down soon.
Don't they look cute!! The kids both had good days too and liked their teachers and the after school staff. Whew! Glad that's over. I'll be glad when this week's over!! It only gets better!

It's official...

It's nice to see it in writing!
Here's a quick shot of our classroom!

Woo hoo!! I got a job!

Just when I thought there was nothing to wish for... I got a job!! It's not a classroom teaching job, but it's a great step in that direction. It's an Aid job in an Autism unit. I know it will be challenging, but I know it will also be a great learning experience for me and will help me get a classroom teaching job next year!
I'm going to be working with 2 kindergarten boys mainly. They'll spend time in our classroom as well as their "inclusion class". That means they'll be in a regular classroom sometimes as well and I'll be in there with them to help.
I'm just really excited to be an official employee of Riojas. I already know everyone that was there last year and they have all been really nice and seem genuinely happy that I'm back.
Even though I've been searching for a job since last summer, this all wound up happening rather quickly. I didn't even really interview for this position. However I had been interviewed there 2 other times, so I guess they figured they knew everything they needed to know! Basically Wednesday around 2:00 I was called and asked to come in and by around 3:00, I had a job! Crazy, but good!
I'm going to take some pics today and post later!

So that's where hope went...

I knew I must have put it somewhere... hopefully I'll find it again soon. :-)

Yay! I passed!

No news on the job front, but I did pass my ESL test. So at least that's one less thing to think about!

Things, Life, Whatnot...

So I've really been trying to soak up the summer. I've been staying up late and sleeping late and being as lazy as possible because I know once school starts... it's all over!

Now if I could only find a job! I'm still working on that. All hope is not lost. Although with this whole mid-life career change , I've taken a massive blow to my ego. Growing up most things came relatively easy for me. I'm not trying to brag, just being honest. I didn't have to work really hard at much to do pretty well. I wasn't #1 at everything, but I did OK. So, going through the past 2 years of rejection and searching has been a little difficult.

I'm sure in the long run I'll say it's been worth it, but man while you're in it, it just plain old sucks!

In the meantime... this summer I joined weight watchers. Erica encouraged me (yes, she does it too. You know she had those 4 lbs to lose!) I knew things had gotten out of control when I finally replaced the batteries in my scale (after about 4 months) and learned I had gained about 10 lbs since Thanksgiving. To be fair, I had lost 5 before T-giving. So the net gain was only 5, but still! How did that happen? I blame it on working at the elementary school and eating too much!! They like to feed the teachers you know. :-)

I'm happy to announce that even with all the pitfalls of summer, (being home all day with the entire refrigerator and the pantry, going on vacation, etc.) I was able to lose that 5 extra lbs!! Woo hoo!! So now, I'm working on another 10-15 I'd like to lose. I'm hoping it will be easier once school starts now that I have a good action plan in place. We'll see.

Anyway, I just had a few things to get off my chest. Tomorrow morning I'm taking my ESL (English as a second language) test. It would enable me to have kids in my class who speak English as their second language. It's another teaching certificate that hopefully will make me a little more marketable. I hate these tests. But at least it will be over and done with (unless I fail!) Ha! Failure is not an option!! These tests cost $120 to take!

Wish me luck!

Breaking Dawn trailer? How'd I miss this?

Here it is if you haven't seen it!!

It looks great!! I'm getting excited. They've made us wait too long!




The layout of my blog cuts off the right side. If you'd like to see it in it's entirety, click here.

One last pic...

Somehow I forgot to post this crazy pic of Logan. Or maybe he should be called "rubber man"! Did I mention he's double jointed?

Susan's house

We had a great time at Aunt Susan's. We swam 2-3 times each day... so much that Logan came home with swimmers ear. :-(

Here are a few pics of our fun!

Going...

Going...
Going...

Gone!

Cannon ball!!

Uncle Ray taught Logan to do a back flip off the boat recently, so he had to try it here too!

It's hard to catch the shot just right with my cheap little camera. Susan took most of these and she did a great job!

The kids loved getting out and drying off in Susan's big hammock!

Thanks Sue for a great time!

Gordan's release

We decided that after having Gordan the bullfrog for 1 year, it was time to let him go have a good frog life at the pond in our neighborhood. They keep water in it all the time, so there's no need to worry about his habitat drying up.

We got him on 6-16-10 (right after Logan's birthday last year.) This is how he came in the mail. Needless to say I was a little surprised at how big he was as a tadpole.

We watched him grow (quickly!). It was really awesome.

Within just a few days of sprouting his legs, his tail disappeared. Magic!

Here he was the morning we took him to the pond 6-19-11. Almost a year to the day after we got him.

We made sure he was well fed leading up to his release just in case it took him a little while to get adjusted. Once we felt like he was ready we carried him in his little carrier down to the big pond.

Logan gave him a little kiss goodbye!

Miss El had to hold him one last time too.

Look how well he blends in! Hopefully he'll be safe.

There are tons of waterlilies and other lovely plants surrounding the pond, so he has lots of places to hide out and hunt for food! He'll finally get to stretch his legs.

I know he's in froggie paradise right now!! Wouldn't you be if you were a frog?

Ellie's 7th Birthday Party

On our way to the party in her new dress!
The cool stiletto chair where they got their nails painted.

Getting her hair done.

Ta da!

Beautiful!

Standing around chatting like little socialites!

Lined up waiting to "strut their stuff" on the red carpet.

Ellie was embarrassed by this as well and didn't really strike much of a pose.

These girls on the other hand had no problem with it!

Here are all the little beauties fully made up! Lovely!

Ellie doesn't like to be the center of attention and was making quite a face when we were singing to her.

Opening presents!!

A great Birthday!