A YEAR has come and gone....

My last post was Emalee's 3 year pictures and we were living in San Antonio, Texas. I am so sad that I let my blog slip so far behind. It's not that I don't enjoy doing it (if I could make a living doing it I would!), my issue is my time management.  So instead of overwhelming myself by trying to work backwards and cover all that I've missed, I will create a summary or "nut shell" of what has happened in the last year. Buckle-up, because here goes....

1.  We left Texas and moved to Reno, NV. Texas was NOT for me...it was hot, humid, busy, did I mention it was hot and humid? I am grateful for the experience, but I was ready to leave. While living there I did meet some great people, I took a stab at the retail world (NOT my forte!), and experienced a culture unlike any other!

2.  Tommy was hired with Atlas Contractors as a finish blade operator. Anyone who knows my husband, knows that he loves heavy equipment. For him they are like giant toys!

3.  I was blessed with a job with Washoe County School District. We are crazy and planned a move to Reno without jobs.  I was hired within a week of moving to Reno, after waiting on their hiring list for 2 years prior...everything just fell into place.

4.  Again we were blessed....when I found out I was pregnant a month after we moved to Reno.  Surprise, it's NOT the flu!

5.  Emalee started going to daycare and loved it! She is a social butterfly, loves her school (and so does Mommy) and has her teachers wrapped around her little finger. She excelled in all academic areas and developed a love for all things artsy crafty.  She loves to draw, paint, and create....she has such an imagination!

Emalee's 1st Day of "School"

 6.  My pregnancy went pretty well, other then the sickness which I did NOT experience with Emalee.  We found out in January that we are having a BOY!! Emalee cried at first and said "I want a sister!!!" but she eventually came around. She was very involved with every part of preparing for her brother. She helped pick out his room decor, she got to see him on ultrasound movies, and she talked to my belly nonstop!

7.   Emalee turned 4. I have no clue how that happened?! It feels like she was born yesterday.  She is such a ball of energy. She is growing into a little lady. She loves to go shopping, wear dresses, and have her hair done.  She is becoming more and more independent, many times wanting to do everything herself!  She loves to help in the kitchen, whether it's making lunch, or baking, she is right there with her stool to help you!

Happy Birthday Emmy!

8.  On May 29th, two weeks and 3 days after Emalee turned 4, Ethen Thomas was born.  He surprised us, he was ready to make his entrance into the world....June 12th was just to far away. :) He was born at 9:45 p.m. he weighed 5 lbs 13.5 oz and was 17.5 inches long.  He came out screaming, and has never stopped!

Sweet Boy

9.  My One-Year-Only contract with the school district landed me in the hiring pool with 300+ other teachers, and only 120+ positions to fill.  I was not picked back up for the 2012-2013 school year (feels like Deja Vu)!  It seems like every time I have a baby, I lose my job. Maybe someone is trying to tell me something?!

So there is the last year in a "nut shell."  The kids and I are spending some time in Pahrump with family, while Tommy continues to work in Reno.  The construction world up there is in good shape, and the economy is recovering quickly.

Actually sitting and thinking about, writing about, how busy the last year was makes me realize that I am one lucky girl. I have a husband who loves me unconditionally, he does anything and everything he has to do to support our family and make sure our kids are taken care of.  Emalee is a "big girl" with such a sweet personality.  She absolutely LOVES being a big sister! Ethen is 4 months old, has 2 teeth, is rolling over (tummy to back), and he loves to talk.  He is either really happy or really mad.  He NEVER stops moving...this little guy is going to give me a run for my money. I have so much to be thankful for. Not just my husband and my 2 amazing kids, but the love and support from all of my family and friends.  It is so easy to think about the things you are lacking, or the "failures", that I often overlook all the things I HAVE.  Reflection, it's a powerful thing!



Love these 2!

I will end with this with one of my favorite quotes....

"I think I've discovered the secret of life - you just hang around until you get used to it." ~Charles Schulz