3 Fears

So way back in February I had a post about 30 things I want my kids to know about me and I had set a goal for myself to complete it by the end of 2013. I don't think that is a reality, but I still want to do it, so I am going to answer the 2nd question now.

The second question or statement is to list your 3 legitimate fears and why they are fears.

1. I have a fear of my loved ones dying unexpectedly.. I think this became a fear for me when my grandma died when I was 7. She passed away in her sleep and after that happened I thought every old person was going to die in their sleep. It took me a long time to get over and then my grandpa and uncle passed away with in 6 weeks of each other unexpectedly and so my fear of loved ones dying unexpectedly has continued.

2. I have a fear of failure. I am not sure where this comes from or why, but I always want to be the best and I do not want to fail at pretty much anything. I guess that goes with why I have anxiety and like to be in control and what not.

3. My third fear is of needles or my blood being drawn. I always get light headed and feel like fainting. It doesn't matter if it is a flu shot or what, but ugh, it makes me squirm just thinking about it.

Happy Halloween 2013

"It's time for a checkup"! Yes, Nora and Stella were themed again this year and their theme was from a show called DocMcstuffins. It is a really cute show on Disney Jr. and the little girl plays doctor to her stuffed animals and they come alive. So Nora was the doc and Stella was her favorite stuffed animal, Lambie. Unfortunately it was a very rainy and yucky night here in St. Louis ;( And Jalen scared Stella when he put his whole costume on and she cried the whole time she tried to trick or treat (which was for only 5 houses). Poor baby!! So daddy took her back and Nora and I continued on with the bigger kids. Nora lasted about 3 blocks and then wanted to go back and play with the Kountzman's play house that they have at their house. She was not all about getting candy. I was completely fine with that. We didn't see Jalen the rest of the night. We left before he came back, so I am sure he made a haul!!! Overall, we had another fun Halloween!

Stella update and Pumpkin carving

So Stella went to the doctor today for her 2 year check up. She is doing great!! No concerns, she is doing everything she is supposed to be doing and is talking and everything a 2 year old should be doing. (So why do I worry?!) She got two shots, poor baby. Stella weighed in at 28 lbs even and is 2' 10.5" tall, which puts her in the 70th%ile for both height and weight. Stella is talking up a storm and I just love it and she now is saying 'I love you'. That is the best ever!!!

Now on to pumpkin carving. We decided to carve pumpkins last night since this week is so crazy. So Jalen and grandma came over to help and so Jalen could carve as well. We only had Nora and Stella carve this year. Normally all four of us carve, but it was just too much last night. We had fun and Nora was all about the carving and picking out the picture to carve. She wanted a 'scary' pumpkin, which cracks me up. And of course Peter did Stella's 'peter style'. We cannot wait for Halloween! Hope it doesn't rain too much.

Happy 2nd Birthday Stella

Today is Stella's 2nd birthday! I cannot believe she is already two, but I cannot remember life without her anymore. She has been such a blessing to our family. She makes me smile constantly and she is full of so much energy and love.
We decided to do something a little different for her party this year. We did a pancake and pajama birthday party. We actually did it this morning at 10:00 am. I decorated the basement and we changed our table into a bed for 'breakfast in bed'. Everyone wore their pajamas and we had pancakes with different toppings!!! The kiddos made fruit loop necklaces and got to take home a blanket as their thank you. We had a lot of fun and it was so simple to do.
Stella got a bitty baby from us this year and she hasn't put it down, which makes it well worth every penny spent on it and it has renewed Nora's interest in her bitty baby ;) She also got a little princess couch in which both girls haven't quit playing with either. We are so blessed to have such great friends and family!
Here are some pics from this morning. I will post her yearly update tomorrow after we visit the doctor!

Soccer

Nora is playing soccer this year. She is playing in the CYC league through the catholic church. This is the same league I grew up playing in. Our team is St. Catherine Laboure (SCL). She plays for 8 weeks and so far is really liking it. The coach is good and we actually work in the same district and his wife is our pediatrician. What a small world! Anyway....It is just so funny to see her all geared up in her soccer stuff and playing. She does really well at practices, games.....she is learning. She likes to watch the ball and she kept putting her hand on other players backs to guide them to the right spot. She was pretty funny, but she would not get in the action. I know, I know, she is only in kindergarten. But I love that she is getting involved in sports!!

Eckerts Fun

Last week went spent Labor Day at Eckerts Farm. It is a pretty neat place and we have taken Nora there before, but Stella had not been. Throughout the year they have strawberries, apples, peaches, blackberries, tomatoes, peppers, pumpkins and other fruits and veggies too. When we went we hit the peak of honeycrisp apple season and the very tail end of peach season. The girls were really excited and Nora brought her friend Ally with her.
When we got there we walked around and saw some of the farm animals they have and had lunch. The big girls were really excited to have corn dogs (it cracks me up). After that we got on the tractor and headed out into the orchard. We let the big girls pick 5 apples each and they had so much fun doing it. They ate some apples while we were out too. After the apples we hit the peaches and they were nice and ripe. Stella ate a whole peach and wanted more. We were both covered in peach juice by the time we left. So much fun!

School Days

School days, that is for sure. And these school days are pertaining to me. I was accepted into St. Louis University as a doctoral student in the Educational Leadership and Administration program. Holy moly, what did I get myself into?! As many of you know I have always wanted that title behind my name and now I am going after it. I decided, with help from Peter, that now was the time to do it while the girls are still little and not into too many activities.
I went to orientation a few weeks ago and found out that the program has changed a little bit. Instead of it being a weekly Thursday night class it is 2 Saturday's a month. Each class will be held on 4 Saturdays from 9am to 5pm and that is for real. I went to my first class this past Saturday and actually got out at 5:10 to be exact. It was a very LONG day, but in the end will be worth it.
I chose SLU because they are one of the few programs out there that is a true cohort program and also because you can enter the program without having a specialist degree. The program is designed to encompass a specialist degree as well, but in the end you will have an Educational Doctorate. The program itself is a 38 hour program (7 semesters long). So by hopefully by the end of 2016 I will be done. I will be doing my dissertation with two other people in the program and that is determined by our advisor.
It will be an interesting journey, but an exciting one. I am excited to take the next step in my education and in my career. After this school year I will be actively looking for a principalship. By the time I am done with this program I will be able to eventually be a superintendent, but we will see about that. Not sure I will head that way or not. I need to become a principal first and go from there ;)