new news

Well, school is going well. I am very surprised at how busy I can be. The high school keeps me busy keeping up with grades and helping teachers make accommodations. The elementary keeps me busy from classroom to classroom. It has been very nice to have a major distraction from being sick constantly though! :) We found out that we are expecting back the first week of school and with anxiety from the new job and planning a new baby just started to overwhelm me. But school is now a welcome distraction from being nauseous.

high school revisited...

Today was my first day with the students at my old high school. I am going to be setting up a program for those students who have special needs, whether the student already has an IEP or 504, or just needs help. Today I was walking through the halls and as classes were changing and felt just like back in the day. Being short and more than 3/4th of the students towering over me reminds me of why I went into elementary ed. :)
Taking this job has really deepened my dependance on God and I have taken Phil. 4:13 as a theme verse for this experience. When I say it though, it seems fitting to think it out as "God can do all things through me because He gives me strength."

Gluten and Dairy free Elmo!

For Kade's party I made a gluten and dairy free cake. The gluten was for my niece and sister-in-law and dairy free for Kade.
In the process of the party Kade opened his present from us and wasn't really sure about the Elmo. He still doesn't want to touch it!

Elmo says " I looked up, up, way up!" So Kade did...

Vacation!

It was so nice to get away for a quick weekend. We spent time hiking northern MI,
biking,

swimming, playing at the beach,
and just relaxing...
and cuddling with Grandpa!

July part 2

Kade has really taken an interest in cleaning... gets that from his dad. :) Before his nap the other day I told him we needed to "clean up" and put the toys away. We sang songs while cleaning and then it was time for nap... well Kade was not ready. He wanted the vacuum out and wanted to vacuum before nap. When I told him no he about melted down. I took the vacuum out of the closet and told him after nap we would vacuum. That was good enough for him. Sure enough when I got him up he was trying to see if the vacuum was still there and he helped me clean and then wanted "I do it" :) Let's just hope that this lasts!Also Kade thinks that he can swim... We were at Jaron's Aunt and Uncle over the fourth and he wanted me out of the way. He would just jump into the water! I let him go just far enough that he would learn he was not a fish, but that didn't stop him. He would get out of the pool and go around and try to get in from the side! We bought floaties the next time we went to a pool and he still was pushing me away, but at least he was staying above water this time!

I have started a garden this year... first ever and I have one sugar pea and one sunflower so far! The squirrels are getting into my deck boxes and so my basil is paying dearly.
Head and tail hanging out...
This one fell over shortly after I took this picture... not sure if he was still in it.

July

Since I have only posted once every so often the title is just plain and simple. Well, so far this summer things have been pretty quiet. I have helped out at Kindred Spirit a couple of days and worked my first "shift" in well over two years... things went well. Last night we were able to spend some time with extended Montague family and some cousins from Idaho. It was so great to catch up! Then Kaden's allergies just exploded! So now we have to figure out what outdoor allergy he has! He was sneezing out of control and his skin looked like he was attacked by a swarm of mosquitoes. When we stripped him down and got him into a bath his skin was fire red. :( Poor kid. As soon as the benadryl kicked in and the itching subsided he was okay to play, just looked bad. This morning- no signs! He just likes to keep us on our toes!

I have been having fun playing with vinyl lettering and sewing and quilting. I need to spend some time organizing everything, but still having fun experimenting. I've made some cute pillowcases and "dolled" up some overalls and skirts (not for Kade).

Jaron is almost a year at his job at the prison. Longer if Standish prison stays open. We shall wait and see.

Kade will be 2 on Aug 1! Can't believe it! Love all of his quirky ways... okay he learns them from us, but it has been such a blessing to watch him grow. We are looking forward to all of the new experiences this year will bring.

not much

Well after not being able to post for a while, I got out of the habit... so now I am trying to remember to sign on and post...

Kade is just curious about everything. He points to everything wanting to know what it is. Today he learned window. We were in the car on the way to Church and we put the windows down since it was so nice out. Now he points to all of the windows in the car and says window. He has been working on using silverware. Actually doing well.

I started working as a title 1 tutor at Carman-Ainsworth. The schedule was the best part of taking the position. Jaron and I still pass like ships, but we have our time and protect it.