It has been too long....

6 months to be more accurate! I am a blogging failure! Life has been running away with our family. So much has happened over the last 6 months. Here is a brief run down of the main events thus far....

The majority for the fall brought about a new adventure for our family. I could say an adventure for me but really I could not have done it without the support of my family, and my teaching buddies at work. On November 7th I had gastric by pass surgery. That whole story of how and why and then the preparation could fill a bunch of blogs. Ask me sometime if you want to hear the story. Anyway I was out of work for 3 1/2 weeks and then life continued to move on. So far I am down around 80 pounds. Some of that weight was pre-surgery. I feel good and learn new things about my self and my journey all the time. And no...I am not ready to post before and after picture. Maybe with more time. :)

Kailyn is now about 1/2 way through her first year of Kindergarten. We have decided that she is going to repeat next year but will move to public school. She is academically and probably social ready to move on to 1st grade but she is so small and would still be 5 until April. Some kids start 1st grade at 6 almost 7. It does not make sense to have her always be 1 or 2 years younger than her classmates.

In December Kailyn was able to be a part of the large church Christmas production. She got to sing and dance along with a group of kids. Aunt Kelly, Uncle Ben, and Mimi (my mom) were also in the play. She looked like a cross between Shirley Temple and Laura Ingalls Wilder. She earned the "show stealer" award.

December continued to be an exiting month for our whole family. We were happy to celebrate the birth of Emmaline Elizabeth on December 28th. Kelly and Ben had their first child. I have enjoyed reliving the early days with an infant through my new niece. I think I can safely say that I have the most beautiful niece. One of the most wonderful experiences is watching Kailyn with Emmy. She is so proud and not jealous at all. She does not want to let Emmy out of her site. When it was time to return to school after Christmas break she begged me to let her stay with Kelly and Emmy. She promised not to bother anyone and said she would be really helpful to Kelly. She would hold Emmy so Kelly could get a shower. She cried when I said she had to go to school. Enjoy some photos of the new loving relationship between cousins.

The first time Kailyn and Emmy met.

Still in love!

Kailyn 4 3/4 with Emmy 3 weeks

Her latest passion is tap dancing. She started classes in January and can not be more thrilled. Her goal in life is to be the next "Annie". It is very fun to see eight 4-6 year olds try to tap all together without knocking each other over.

She takes her tap very seriously! Her teacher is amazing and has such patience!

There are many other things I could mention...Great Wolf Lodge at Thanksgiving, Christmas Tree hunting, my brother Ronnie's return from Afganistan and then visit to Oregon, numberous school programs for Kailyn, a very successful auction fundraiser for our Outdoor School Program, the stress of state testing for all teachers, the joys of having a great student teacher, new bikes and great biking adventures, surprise trip to the beach and finding a glass globe in the foam filled surf, and more.

Here's to the rest of 2010!

I will try to update before another six months pass. Really....I mean it. :)