Thanksgiving

There has been a lot that has happened in this last year and I am so thankful for all of it. Without my experiences and challenges I would not be who and where I am today.

I am thankful for my husband and best friend. We have gone through so much together and just keep growing stronger not apart. I am so proud of him for making some tough choices this year that will better him and our family. In December it will be 8 months pill free and he will finish his first semester back to school to go into nursing.

We completed our  family with the addition of our sweet baby Kendyl Rose! She is already strong willed and knows what she wants. She has a smile that will melt your heart and her siblings love and take care of her so well.

I have 2 kids in school now!! Caden is in 2nd grade and played his first season of flag football and loved it!! Karson is in kindergarten and is still my most challenging and yet rewarding child!

I decided it was time for me to be home with the kids again. That was a hard decision just because I loved my job but now I wouldn't change being home for anything! I started my blog which has been so fun and I am working on a new business idea to hopefully start this next year.

I love all my family and friends! You have all helped make this a year to be thankful for. I hope you all had a great thanksgiving where ever you may be!

Thanksgiving 2015 from 3 to 4.

Homework

So I am going to rant just a little!! Now remember I use to work in the education system and have also been going to school to get my teaching degree so I get it! I get that there is so much you are expected to teach without the time and resources. I get that parent involvement is important. So as an educator I understand why you have to send homework home but as a parent I HATE it!!!

My boys are in kindergarten and 2nd grade and I hate fighting with them to make them do their homework. To be honestly most of the time I don't MAKE them do it. Now when Caden was in kindergarten he had a monthly homework calander. Everyday there was something he had to do and then turn it in at the end of the month. I was working at the time and most of the time we were scrambling to get if finished by the day before it was due. The thing with kindergarten is usually you have to have the parent sit down and help them in order to get it done. So I would try and help him while working on dinner or multitasking folding laundry or something else. I was never good at giving him my full attention with his homework.

Now when Caden was in 1st grade it was a weekly homework packet. That was better but still we would be up Thursday night or Friday morning trying to finish.

This year is better for Caden because I think it's easier. He just has spelling to do everyday. Also he can do it on his own but we still don't always get it all done.
I just feel like after spending all day at school its hard to get them to sit down and continue more work. They already have less recesse then we used to. Kids just don't get the free/play time that I remember having. So I understand them not wanting to sit and do homework.

Then there is the nightly reading we are suppose to do. I know how important it is to read to your kids but at the end of the day when they are getting in bed most nights I just want them to go to sleep so I can go to bed. It's selfish but my days are long staying home with kids that at night I don't want to freak with it anymore.

With that all being said I know I need to work on reading more with my boys and I need them to know it's important to be a good student so I guess I better step it up and help them get their homework done!!! So there is my rant and resolution to be a better parent and make sure they get it done!!!

Jack

I am so so sad today!! Our dog that we rescued from the shelter about 2 yrs ago is going back. When we got Jack he was a loving dog. He followed the boys around everywhere. We would never go far from us. CarLee could sit on him and he would do nothing. About 2 weeks after having him CarLee came up behind him and scared him. She was at his level and he bit her. We were a little nervous it happened one more time after but he was not attacking her just a quick reaction nip.
We started being more cautions. And thing were good. He would sleep with the boys every night. Then a while later like months he started to growl at strangers if they came to the house. He even nipped at my aunt. So we started to put him in his kennel when people came over.

One day the kids had a friend over and Jack got out. Everything was OK then the friend got to close to his face and he reacted. I felt horrible!!! The bite was reported and he had to serve 10 days in our home in quarantine. Since then we always had him put away when people came over. He was good with family my parents, siblings their kids but just didn't do other people.

About 5 days ago someone knocked on the door. My brother thought it was me so he opened the door and the dogs ran out. Jack bit the lady at the door. Since my brother has some disabilities we are unaware of the details. No one was home. The lady was doing census stuff and was able to ask him her questions. When I got home he told me about it but she didn't leave any info so I had no way to check and see what happened.

Well fast forward to today we get a knock on the door and its animal control. The bite was reported and now Jack needs to go to quarantine. Because he was not updated on his registration he had to serve his quarantine at the shelter. I have been battling what the best choice is. It cost $30 a day to quarantine, $29 registration and $35 rabies shot. That's almost over $200!!! He had been getting worst and growling at anyone that comes over. I hate that he had to stay in a room when others come over and we can't take him anywhere. He still sleeps with my boys every night and is a great dog at home with our family!!

This is when we first got Jack

Update

We decided to keep him and work with him at home. I talked to a dog trainer and she was so kind to take time out and give me some advice. She made me feel like there is hope and we can get him back to how he was at the start. So now we have some things in place to help him and us. I want to do some training with him but it will have to be after the holidays since it is costly.

I know for some it would be a deal breaker but I feel like we made a commitment to be dog owners and we rescued him so we should try everything to keep him. I was not ready to break my kids hearts!! Now I feel even more determined to make it work!!

Ha-ha one more thing to add to the crazy journey from 3-4!!