Potty training and Committees

Okay, so I am glad to know that Holly is alive and doing well. I miss you guys all so much. Especially when I have days like today.
Anneke is potty training, kind of. Andy doesn't want to deal with it, and since i am working all day it has been difficult. She wears her underwear over the pull-ups. Her underwear is Hello Kitty to match her Hello Kitty clogs. Doesn't everyone wish they had underwear and shoes that matched? Anyway, she is doing well, but this is the part I have dreaded since she was born.
Marcus is loving school and of course his best friend is a girl. Her name is Kiya and last night she told him that he was her boyfriend and Marcus just grinned and laughed. His teachers love him and say that he is quite advanced.
Marcus is trying to decide between being Superman and Pablo from Backyardigans. We already bought Anneke's costume, but now she has changed her mind. Since we are expecting snow here this weekend I am worried about being too cold on Halloween. Plus, I have no idea what I am going to wear.
The children's center at SUU is closing and I am so horrified and sad. That is how i was able to get my degree. The circumstances behind it are not good and I now have to write letters telling them to think about what they are doing to all the non-traditional students that need that service.
I am trying out for two committees in the next month. One for the housing I live in (you get $ towards rent) and one for Head Start so I feel more involved in Marcus's schooling. I am worried about taking more time away from my children.
Three days a week I walk with two girls that live near me. It is nice to have that break and chat. Also, it has helped me feel less left out of the loop than before.
I hope that's everything. I miss you guys and will write when I can.

Here We Go Again

Okay, it has been a long time since i last blogged. Not too many people were reading it and it was not worth the effort the uneventfulness of my life. So, about a month later I will post again.
Andy started school and spends most of his time reading for the classes. I was surprised that it is not more writing. He is still adjusting and feeling guilty not playing with Marcus. Poor Marcus does not start his school until next week, but comes to work with me when Andy is in class.
Anneke loves her "work", or child care. She is in the Penguin room and her favorite activity is easel painting. She is very tall and the only little girl around here. She has a big baby named "Connor" that she takes with her when she can.
I had a horrible day yesterday, but today is nice. It is quite cool outside and drizzly, my favorite weather. I have started trying to walk 3 mornings a week with some of my friends. We go about 3 miles. It is nice to have the river path to walk along. I am just afraid it won't last. Things like that never do with me.
I am re-reading all he Harry Potter books and watching the movies after I finish each book. I am excited for movie 5 and book 7! I met someone today who has not read the books and I was amazed.
Well, I have to return to work. My break is over. I miss you guys and would love to know what Holly, Bonnie, Danielle and Scott are up to. Hey, USF is doing one of my favorite musicals next fall. I want to come so badly!

As You Like It

So, I went to the Shakespearean Festival here and saw As You Like It. The production was set in the Depression Era giving it an interesting dynamic. We enjoyed it, but decided it was not as good as a USF best, but definitely better than the worst we have seen. (i.e. Romeo and Juliet) The worst things to us were atmosphere and the staff. It was not as professional as USF and the theater had bench seats with no backs, very uncomfortable. I know that it could be better, but I think that we have great people behind USF.
Anyway, how are the plays this season? What are your favorites? I know Scott's and it was surprising, so I am curious what everyone else thinks. Also, what are the plays for next season? We may be able to come and see some of those.
I wanted to do this before the kids woke up, but my plan was thwarted. So, I need to go spend time with them.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Danielle and Melissa. I feel like a new Aunt or something. I wish I could be there to celebrate with you.
We have been here for just over 2 months and rent has already increased. I was so upset, but luckily it was only a 4% increase instead of the 12% new move ins got. I hate constantly worrying about money and hope things improve. It has just been one thing after another. Nothing seems to be going our way. Andy regrets the move, which makes it even worse. He said we are in it for at least a year. I told him, whatever, we are in it until you are done with at least a Master's. That was the point of the stress we are experiencing, so it had better be worth it.
Anneke is so funny. She thinks her name is "Annhus'. A cross between Anneke and Marcus. She says it with a German accent, and it makes me laugh. She is talking a lot and has a strong will. She had fun on her birthday at Chuck E. Cheese. She loved anything that went up high in the air.
Marcus has quite the following with the children in the neighborhood. It makes babysitting nice, as long as Marcus is there. He is having a hard time fitting in because of being new. I felt so bad the other day when he said he would only have people come to his birthday that were nice to him.
I feel left out in my job. I have a higher degree than these people and I get yelled at or judged daily by the things I do. One child just dropped because his parents don't want him in the "mean" class.
Though this sounds pretty pessimistic I am happy and love the people we live around. I looked out the window the other morning and saw a family moving in. I sent Andy out to help and went to work. We had them over to dinner that night and they were very nice. The man was 5'3 so the moving in was kind of awkward considering there was more than a foot difference in height.
Next week I may get to see As You like It here at the Shakespearean Festival. I'll keep you posted.

You Do Read it!

Since I did get 3 responses, I will continue blogging. Can you believe that Anneke is going to be 2?! Most of you guys were there for her first birthday. She is so funny. I am not sure where all the energy comes from. For her birthday Marcus got her Hansel and Gretel Weebles because he thinks it is a Candyland game for her. Still, she will like it. Since she is still so young we are going to Chuck E. Cheese's on Monday and not doing a party. I don't think she will notice this year.
The Head teacher in my room is not doing too well. She got a CAT scan yesterday and will have the results next week. I am still not quite sure what is expected of me at work. Right now we are doing scrapbooks for each of the kids that are graduating from preschool. 20+ scrapbooks with 4 years worth of pictures is a chore. Especially since I have no clue what is going on in the pictures.
My classroom is called the Rainbow Room. All the other rooms are random animals and we are the odd man out. I wanted to change it at first, but am getting used to the name. One girl wants the names to change to native Colorado wildlife. Right now the Bears are the only room that fit that category. The penguins, roadrunners and tiggers (yes like Winnie the Pooh) are not. We could have buffaloes, mountain lions, deer, bunnies, etc. I know that was random, but still...
I miss being with my kids. Last night Marcus asked me to sit with him until he was asleep. I didn't want to until he said, "Mom, I just want to be with you since I don't get to anymore." I cried and held my children for a while. I keep wondering when things will get easier. Andy starts school August 28th!

Is anyone reading this?

Okay, I was coerced into blogging by quite a few of you. However, you guys are all so busy that I see blog updates from you once a month if I am lucky. I am really not upset, I understand, but I don't want to blog to air. So, if you want to continue hearing from me please respond. This is not a guilt trip, just a basic question: Is anyone reading this? I love you all and think about USF and how things are going. I wish that we could come see the productions.
It has been raining straight for 2 days. I love it! Andy and I went to see the new Pirates of the Caribbean. It was not as good as the first, but still worth watching. However, we sat in the front row and Andy said he used muscles that he has not had to use for at least 10 years. :) It was nice to get away and the theatre was nice. We also saw "Cars" this week. Anneke was a pill. She was eating popcorn off the floor, put the drink cup on her leg and head and kept accidentally kicking the guy in front of us. If you see the movie, stay until the end of the credits.
Anneke smashed me in the face last night with the back of her head. There is no visible bruise today, but it still hurts. She felt bad, but is still her wild and crazy self. Marcus is so great. He is so patient with Anneke. I should take lessons from him.

My job and Fireworks

Anneke is scared of fireworks. She is so fearless when it comes to every thing else, but not to bright lights bursting over her head. That is another odd thing, she seems to be scared of the light and not the noise. We live right behind the field where the fireworks are set off, so we set up chairs on the wet ground and waited with some friends. (It poured down rain for about an hour before we went outside.) Anneke asked to go home about 1 minute in, so I took her the 200 feet to the house.
I finally started my job a week ago today. It has been so fun and very different. I am teaching the children going into kindergarten in the fall. They have so much character. On Monday I only had 6 children and that was a nice way to get to know the few that came. There is a little girl with 2 moms that threw me when I first found out. I had just never encountered it before and was a bit surprised. The little girl is hilarious and asks a lot of questions. The center is very diverse. We have Native Americans, Mexicans, African Americans, Indians (the country), Japanese, and very few Caucasian children. I have loved it! We are having a graduation at the end of the summer for all the children going to kindergarten and I want the theme to be Super Heroes.
Hey, we met Junie B. Jones. She came in her Stinky Smelly School Bus last week to Barnes and Noble. We have been reading those books to the kids before bedtime. You would have thought she was a celebrity the way the children were acting. As soon as I can I will post the picture we took with her. Marcus asked where she went to school and if it was close by. My children are characters I tell you.