Congratulations, and Stay-cation

Congratulations to Rob! He just finished his coursework, and has obtained a bachelors degree in accounting. It's been over a year of rigorous coursework, met with long hours at work...especially in the last few months, but as of Friday, he is officially done with the coursework for his degree.

Because of Rob's school and work, and because we're going to Maui in five months (yahoo!) we have decided to stay very local this summer. In fact, we don't have one single vacation planned. I was really itching for a vacation earlier this summer, but now as the summer seems to be dwindling away very quickly, I have no desire to leave home. The kids and I have been enjoying a very simple life lately. We mostly just hang around the house, go for a walk here, head to a friend's or sister's house there...just wait for Rob to get home so we can enjoy the time we have with him. Even though there's a strong part of me that wants to pack up the car and head on another road trip, I have finally come to terms with the fact that it's not the summer to do so. Good thing we have a wonderful trip coming up in a few short months. I can't wait go to Maui with Rob and the kids!

I have been neglecting my camera lately, but here's a cute little photo of Jovie and her friend Emerson taking a movie break while us adults and older kids were outside having a 4-square tournament in the alley.

We Love Summer

What a life! This kid knows how to relax, and is so happy we are less on the go these days.

Happy Independence Day!

Ta-Da! Whimsical and full of it lately!

Wine with friends! This is the evidence of a really, really fun night...even if we did both pay for it the next morning. Sydney, there is nothing like your company. Thank you so much for the impromptu visit! We love you and miss you guys so much!

You'd think that since it's summer break, life would be settling down a little...quite the contrary. Rob has recently been "blessed" with a promotion at work. I say "blessed" because while this is a great opportunity for him, and a blessing for our family, it's made for an interesting last couple months. Rob is trying to finish the last 3 courses of his accounting degree, in addition to his new demands at work. He often gets home between 7-8pm, and then has hours of accounting to do. I don't share this to make anyone feel sorry for him or us. This was a choice he made a year and half ago, and quite honestly, he never complains...I do! However, his course work will be done in less than three weeks, which means at the end of July he'll have finished a second bachelor's degree in accounting!

The most recent change in my life is that at the end of August I won't be going back to work at Mount Vernon High School. I left my teaching position there for a position at Nooksack Valley High School. I have had a lot of mixed feelings about this change in my life. I've been at MVHS for 4 1/2 years. I was just about to start my 5th successful year of teaching there. My coworkers have been amazing, my students have been so important to me, yet it was never supposed to be a long-term placement. I mean really, how much longer could I have handled that commute? Driving 2 hours a day with two young children at home and school has been challenging to say the least. When the position came open at Nooksack, (the school is 6 minutes away from my house) I had to apply. My interview went great, and obviously they liked me because they offered the job to me right away. Even though I was slightly hesitant, I knew it would be the best thing for me, my career, and my family. Now my "relaxed" summer has turned into a summer of cleaning out my office/rooms at MV, moving into NV, and preparing for all new classes, new students, new faculty & colleagues! I'm nervous, but very excited. I can't imagine what it's going to be like to be home when Jack gets off the bus, get an extra 45 minutes of sleep, and just be more invested in my community!

For now, I am soaking up every moment of time with the kids. We enjoy our lazy days around home. We don't have any family vacations planned until winter, so we will be very homebound...probably exactly what we need.