Life Changes

This week was definitely about change for our family. However change can be a good thing. Thursday was my last day of work. I truly believe losing my job may be a blessing in disguise. I have been miserable in my work environment for a while. I loved my job duties but the negative, dishonest and sometimes unethical environment made it horrible. (Let me clarify that this does not apply to the whole organization. The organization as a whole is wonderful. However it only takes one or two people to make a department less than desirable. But let me also say there are many great people at the organization too! I left having so many supporters and friends. I'm so lucky to have so many people willing to serve as a work reference for me. From this experience I've learned how many people like me and think I did a great job. I'm trying to hang on to the positive instead of the negative.) Kevin says he can already tell a difference in me and how I'm much more relaxed. He can be such a great husband! He told me this past week that he wants me to take the summer off and enjoy it with Anna. Then once she starts to school in August I can begin my job search. Wasn't that sweet??!!! I told him that I'd still have my eyes open this summer for possibilities just in case the right job came along. But in the meantime I'm going to take it easy and enjoy the summer with Anna and Mason. I'm so excited!!!

Another change this week came on Friday. It was Anna's last day at DI. She has been attending DI for three years exactly. (She started in June 2006 after staying with Mrs. Bev after her birth.) She took popsicles to share with her friends, and her teacher brought doughnuts. I guess I hadn't expected leaving to be so hard. When I picked her up early Friday afternoon, her afternoon teacher said "Oh, you're early! I thought I had all day with her!" We gathered her things and left gifts in her closest friends' cubbies. When it came time to hug Zoey good-bye, Zoey started crying. I had tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. The teacher was tearing up too. She told me that Anna's morning teacher cried when telling Anna good-bye. Anna was just fine and asked me "why are you upset?" When we got outside in the truck, Anna said "I've got on Zoey's flip-flops!" They had switched flip-flops for the day so I had to go back in and trade out with Zoey. I promised her that we would get together some this summer. Later in the afternoon Zoey's mom called and said the teacher had told her what happened when Anna left. She said we would definitely get together this summer.

It's amazing the friendships that Anna and I both made from her attending DI. I know that she is more than prepared for Kindergarten and will enjoy the break before school starts. Her morning teacher had written this note on her daily sheet "I'm so sad it's her last day! She has been a wonderful student! It has been a blessing to have her in my class, and I will miss her a lot! She's got a bright, beautiful future ahead of her and I have no doubt she will do great things in life." Wow, does that ever make Kevin and me proud!

First day at DI- June 2006

Last day at DI- June 2009

Mason will continue to be at DI. He will stay home many days with Anna and me, but we didn't want to lose his spot at DI. If we gave it up, we probably couldn't get him back in once I go back to work. Plus I don't want to go through the adapting to daycare again! We need to keep him in the routine! He still has difficulity when I drop him off. Kevin normally takes him and he does great. When I take him it's usually horrible. Just this week I dropped him off one morning and it was awful. When I opened the door to his room he fell down on his bottom and started crying. I left him screaming with the teacher. She said "he doesn't do this with his dad." When I walked by the director's office she asked "Is that Mason?" I said "yeah, he's doing the 'make mom feel guilty act'!" So he definitely needs to stay familiar with DI.

(Wearing Anna's former Barney houseshoes- given to her by none other than the Schandevels.)

This afternoon we took our first swim of the year. Everyone had a great time. Mason was a little unsure at first but once he got adjusted to the water he didn't want to quit. I finally had to make him get out and go inside for a nap.

Awww, summertime!!