Big Changes

    Not that I have been good at updating the blog, but it will probably become even worse.  I recently made a big career move and took a full time interventionist position.  I had been at my old school for the last 9 years.  I stayed at that school way longer than I should have.  It is an extremely challenging school with very rough demographics.  There is a lot of staff movement because it is a tough building to work in.  I stayed so long because I really love the kids there and felt that they truly needed me.  I had been working part time as a reading tutor for the last four years.  Over the years, I have added to my hours and this year I was working three full days a week.  I liked the freedom of the position, but there were some major drawbacks.  I don't get paid over the summer, I don't get paid for days we are on break, and I am not eligible for any benefits.  The schedule worked for me, and my plan was to work there until the end of year while I finished school and Emmy was still young.
      In October, I attended one of my day long seminars for master's program.  One of my classmates mentioned that her school was still desperately looking for a reading interventionist.  I told her I was thinking about applying.  She urged my to apply.  I had to quickly submit an application and get letters of recommendation together, etc.  The entire time I went back and forth as to whether or not I wanted a full time job.
    My friend from school told me that they were just waiting for my application to become active so they could interview me.  I went it for the interview and I felt it went really good.  I came home and the principal literally called me 20 minutes later and offered me the job.  I couldn't believe it!  All the hard work I have put in getting another master's degree was finally really paying off.  After talking with Joey, I decided to take the position.  I had to inform my old school I was leaving which did not go over well at all.  They were not happy at all to be losing me. I was not under contract though, so I was I able to leave.
    It was really hard leaving my students especially ones I have worked with for several years.  The entire time I just felt I was making the right move.  I was so overdue for a change and I needed to get out of my comfort zone which was no longer a good place for me.
      My new school is absolutely amazing!  It is a brand new school that just opened this year.  It is in the neighborhood right next to ours.  It used to take me 20 plus minutes to get to work in awful traffic.  I now drive through my neighborhood and I am at school in 5 minutes.  The building is beautiful and I was given a huge classroom to work out of. ( I have literally been teaching out of a room the size of a walk in closet for several years).  The staff is amazing and the principal and assistant principal are incredible and so supportive.  Since it is a brand new school, there are some challenges because they still have so much to establish and create.  They have given me the freedom to come and completely create the interventions.  I am able to use Take Flight which is the curriculum I have been highly trained in through my program at CC.  I have been there a month now and I could not be happier. My groups are running so smoothly and I really like the kids and have already started forming relationships with many.  I just love what I do and love that I get the opportunity to change lives each and every day.
   Part of the position is also a leadership/ case management role which has been challenging, but I am really enjoying it. I feel blessed to be at this school.
    The hardest part about taking this job was that I was not ready to leave Emmy five days a week.  I reminded myself that it is never going to be easy to leave her, and I got my master's to help more kids and to get a better job.  The position was truly a dream job and I could not pick a better school to be at.  I just had to take it.
    Joey is able to stay at home with Emmy while I'm at work.  I love that she is not at daycare and spends her days with her dad.  I keep joking he is a better stay at home dad than I am as a stay at home mom.  He packs lunches, gets all the kids to their schools, picks up Grace, does all he grocery shopping and manages to clean the house every day.  I am one lucky lady!
   

Family Updates

       
   I thought I would write a quick update post about what we have been up to the first half of the school year.

    Ashlyn is currently in the 5th grade and really enjoying it.  She is so happy to be back at the school she has been at since kindergarten.  She has her first ever male teacher whom she really likes.  They are in the process of building a brand new middle school right next to their elementary school.  She is excited to attend a brand new school.  The best part is that she can walk and not need to take a bus.  She is taking piano lessons again and learning Harry Potter songs and Disney songs.

   
    Dawson is doing great in second grade.  He seems to like his teacher and his classmates.  He and Ella are in the same class again and most of their classmates don't even know they are cousins.  He is all boy and spends every recess playing kickball with his friends.  He finished up soccer and has been playing basketball at the YMCA.  He has gotten a lot better and recently scored his first basket which was such a neat moment to watch!

     Gracie is just loving preschool.  She is our little social butterfly and has made so many friends.  She really loves going to school and she has learned a lot.  Her preschool is the best and they go on a lot of field trips.  I am so glad we found this preschool because I think it will be a perfect transition for her to kindergarten next year.    

       

     Last Christmas, I bought Joey a fly fishing lesson.  He has always wanted to fly fish, and he was really excited to finally give it a try.  He said he needs a few more lessons, but he really enjoyed it and caught two fish.  

    

Brianna's Birthday

     This year for my birthday Joey surprised me with an incredible treat: courtside Nuggets tickets!!!!  I am a huge Denver Nuggets fan and they are doing so good this year.  I had already been to three games this season, but this was unlike anything else.  Joey told me Friday morning what my surprise was.  I barely managed to get through work that day I was so excited!!!  Right after work, we headed up to Denver.  At the Pepsi Center, when you have court side seats, you get access to the Lexus Club.  The Lexus Club is a swanky little area where you get free drinks and food.  It was incredible!  As we were eating before the game, we saw players walking by.  Right before the game, we stood where the players come out and high fived all of our favorite players.  It was surreal!  Our seats were the best and we were so close the Nugget's bench.  I had so much fun watching the Nuggets destroy the Thunder.  What an amazing birthday present!!!!
     The very next night, I headed back up to Denver to watch the Denver Broncos.  I had told my dad months in advance, that I would got to the Saturday night game.  I was pretty tired from the night before, but I managed to make it.  My dad, Katy, Bryan and I all went.  It was a fun game although a little cold for me.

Where the players come out

Our seats were AWESOME!!!

Jamal Murray warming up.  He is my favorite!

Gary Harris coming out

The Nuggets bench standing up.  We were so close to them.  

Katy and I at the Broncos game

selfie time!

Emersyn's Birthday

  We wanted to keep Emersyn's first birthday pretty low key.  On her actual birthday, Joey took her and Gracie to Monkey Buziness play.  We sang to her that night and she got a special cupcake.  Her first really taste of sugar.  She was definitely a fan!!!

   We had her party that weekend.  Since her birthday is so close to Christmas, I had to do something that was Christmas themed.  I decided to do a Nutcracker theme.  It turned out really cute.  We had just a small little get together.  Emmy opened presents and we had cake.  It was the perfect celebration for our little angel.
   I can't believe in one short year how much Emmy has grown.  She has gone from a perfect little newborn to a little girl.  She is the sweetest thing in the world and she holds such a special place in all of our hearts.  She puts a smile on my face each and every day.  I can't thank God enough for blessing us with such an amazing final addition to our family.  She truly completes our family in the most perfect way!