Catching Up

I promise I'll get back into weekly posts... just not yet. Things are just crazy! I always wait until I have pictures to post, then I forget we took pictures and I don't post for a month. When I finally get around to posting it is somewhere that doesn't have pictures loaded and I put it off longer.

Anyways, why have things been so hectic?

I have no idea. School, work, Brode, all of the above.

School is taking over. My schedule is crazy, there is barely any routine. I'm personal training two clients, have to work hours in the fitness center, and have to teach group exercise classes and the times change every week! I really only have two structured classes on top of those things, as well as two online classes. Somehow 16 credits come out of that.

Work has completely changed which is causing most of the chaos. The project I was working on at KC calmed down so my contract ended after 2 and 1/2 years. I quickly got a job at the YMCA working in the lifestyle center and personal training people. I'm currently job training for that which makes random hours all over the place ,also constantly changing. In addition to the YMCA a coordinator at the Student Rec on campus heard I was personal training and they have been looking for more people to work so I agreed to train 1 client there.

Brode has been great, when I actually see him. Between school, work, interviews for internships, and volunteering for the Shamrock Shuffle 5K we only get a few hours together a week and then on weekends. His independance has changed a bit recently and he is expanding greatly. He plays by himself much more, if you ask "Brode want to play some matching game?" he will reply "No thank you I'm playing train right now". He is also getting better at changing and costumes and such. He voluntarily has changed his winter hat to one he refused before, and loves putting on his chef outfit... this is huge! As usual he has been going to all of Matt's home hockey games and has gotten much better at cheering and watching the game. He also got a new baseball bat, ball, and batting gloves that he loves as well as a football tee for kicking so we have been playing a lot of sports.


We had one big event since my last post, Disney on Ice! We went in the middle of February and Brode loved it! He sat and watched the entire show, except the Little Mermaid part with Ursula. His two favorite parts were when the blow up crocodile ate hook, he looked at us as chomped his mouth, "Got 'em!" His other favorite part was the Zamboni at intermission,... of course.

We have been spending our weekends at Matt's hockey games when they are in town. If they have two games at home they usually take up our whole weekend as it completely changes Brode's nap/wake up/play time schedule. He sits through the entire game and picks up on every possible detail! Often the games include popcorn, skittles, chuck-a-bones, and pep talks with Daddy between periods, but he really does love the sport too!
That won't last much longer as Matt broke his foot in a game last weekend. The fracture on the foot was not going to heal in the proper position so he needed to have surgery to plate and pin the bone back in place. Hello 8 weeks on crutches. Matt happened to break his foot the game that had "Skate with the Ice Dogs" afterwards, so Brode went out on the ice with Petey. He was not happy he didn't have his own skates for this event!Other big news, I accepted an internship for the summer at Kimberly Clark Health Services! I was extremely happy to hear that I got it and quickly accepted. We have been talking about the projects I'm going to be doing, and although it is a lot, there is a large variety and it is one of the best opportunities I can get starting out in the field! It will open me up to many positions.

After securing my summer schedule with my internship we have been evaulating what we're going to do this summer. I graduate in May and my internship starts in July so we're left with about 6 weeks of just evening work shifts every other week. I have been thinking I would much rather love to spend these weeks with Brode by pulling him out of day care. I really do love his day care - he learns a lot, he has a perfect routine, he interacts with other kids and I don't want him to get rid of that but time for us together and some independent play time will be just as valuable! I have him signed up for soccer lessons/class/play and a Wiggles and Giggles class, I would really love to take him swimming more often again, and we could have fun daytime trips to the zoo, park, and museums. When my internship starts I would then put him back in his spot at his current day care! It sounds like a perfect summer to me. Getting a job at the Y has been wonderful as I am able to enroll him in classes and take him to open play times without paying an arm and a leg for a membership, it will definately keep us busy!


Our last major plans for the summer - Walt Disney World! We have planned a trip that I'm sure Brode does not understand, but we're all very excited! More on that later


This week is my Spring Break, and you want to know my large plans? Well.... I'm working on a group project and working all day tomorrow, I'm hoping to finish two 7 page research papers, and do some spring cleaning of my closet, my room, and my car! Yes I know, it is just so terribly exciting!