Hello again!

Hello everyone! Sorry it has been forever since I have blogged. Like all of you, I have been so busy. I can't seem to find time to do anything except take care of the girls, the house, grade papers and sleep. I am working on my National Board Certification, and I have yet to find time to get much, if any, of the work done! I hope I can get it together by the end of March!

We have had our share of sickness lately. Please keep Jenna in your prayers. We had to take her to Children's Hospital today because she got a high fever, sore throat, etc...I called the doctor, and she had us take Jenna to the hospital for a strep and urine test. Long story short-Jenna has been fighting a Urinary Tract infection. She has been on an antibiotic, and she had to go to Children's last Wednesday for an ultrasound and another test. The ultrasound was normal, but they couldn't do the other test because of other issues. She has to use a cream, and then in 10-14 days we will have to go back for the other test. I hope everything will turn out alright, and the doctor doesn't seem too concerned that it is anything serious, so that is a relief! Alyssa was sick last week with a virus and a fever of 105.3, but thankfully she is over that!

We did manage, in between sicknesses, to get the girls' Christmas pictures taken. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Hopefully Jenna and Alyssa can stay healthy for the 24th because we will be going to Sesame Street Live :) and celebrating my birthday...with actual cake this year! This will be Alyssa's first Sesame Street live show so we are excited!

Jenna's First Field Trip

We had so much fun at Circle S Farms yesterday for Jenna's first preschool field trip. She had fun, and I had a blast, too! It was so much fun to see Jenna play with all of her new preschool friends. She is just growing up so much! I hope you enjoy the pictures!

I have to give Carleta and Kim a lot of respect. I can see how hard it would be to teach a class of 17 toddlers. I really wanted to get a class picture, but it was never possible to get everyone together!!! :) You're great teachers!

Hello again!

Hello everyone! I have to say I have missed all of you and the blogging world. I know how we are all very busy, and I am just having trouble keeping up with everything. I took a new position at work as part-time literacy specialist. I am leading this book study for 15 teachers, and I am still teaching all day long. On top of that, I am trying to work on my National Board Certification for teaching, coach soccer, maintain things at home, deepen my relationship with God and raise two wonderful little girls!

I am sorry to complain...well, I try to look at it as not complaining, just being a little overwhelmed. I think about everything I have to do, but I think how I wouldn't change it for the world. We all get stressed and overwhelmed and feel like we just want to quit, but I hope we can all look at the bright things and realize how life could be life totally different. When I think about laundry to do and sippy cups to wash, I stop and thank God that I have two beautiful, healthy children who are here to use those cups. What else would I do at night after the girls fall asleep? I guess when I have papers to grade, I should look at it from the viewpoint that I have a great job. Sometimes I really do just stop and thank God for giving me the ability to do so much...not that I think I do everything great, but somehow I do seem to manage and get most things done. I don't know what I would do if God hadn't blessed me with some organization skills! I hope you can all stop and think about how great life is...even when we do just need a break now and then! :)

I hope you are all doing well! I hate to admit it that I am so excited that Jenna has her first preschool field trip tomorrow. John is so tired of me talking about it, but I am so excited to see Jenna's room tomorrow and watch her with her little friends...and of course, take a picture of Jenna with her wonderful teachers! I hope I have some time to post the pictures!!! Ah...You know I will! Take care!

First Day of Preschool!

Jenna at preschool showing her beautiful dress and new Princess backpack!
Jenna with her wonderful teacher Ms. Carleta!

Jenna hard at work coloring!

Jenna showing her stamp for being good at preschool...and of course having an after school snack!

I still can't believe Jenna has started preschool! She had such a great first day, and she wanted to go back today so badly that she woke up at 6:15 a.m.-an hour earlier than she had to! She is definitely ready for tomorrow. She said she did "stories, songs, snack and playground!" She had to tell me about the "bad" kids throwing rocks in the house, and the little boy who cried for his mom. She told me she was a "good listening!" Jenna has already learned her first memory verse~I am so proud of her! I have to say a huge thanks to her wonderful teachers who read this blog-Carleta and Stephanie! Thank you so much for helping make Jenna's day fun and special. I know she is in good hands with you two there, and she definitely likes Ms. Kim, too!

Also, Alyssa deserves our congratulations and praises! She is finally walking on her own! John blames me...and I guess I have to accept the blame for her being such a late walker because I held her 24-7 when she was a baby. Oh well, at least she is walking now! :)

I LOVE FALL!!!

Fall is definitely my favorite season. Here are the top ten reasons why...
1. Pumpkin Show...Swiss Fried Cheese, Steak on a Stick, Fries, Pumpkin Brownies, Watching Jenna ride the rides...what is not to love?
2. Circle S Farms...This year will be so exciting...Jenna's first preschool field trip!
3. Bonfires...I love weiner roasts and Smores!
4. A new school year...I love starting in a fresh new classroom!
5. Football Season...Go Bucks!
6.Fall decorations...Mums, pumpkins, scarecrows, gourds...All of my favorites!
7. Leaves changing colors
8.Playing in the park in the fall
9.Wearing new "school" clothes...I like wearing new pants and long sleeves.
10. A little cooler temperatures...I love when fall comes, but I hate the thought of winter!


I apologize it has been so long since I have blogged! Things are going great, but I am so busy being back to work. It was a great first three days of school. I have a pretty good class so far! Alyssa cried some when I dropped her off at the sitter's house, but she was fine after that initial separation. Jenna starts preschool on Tuesday. I can't believe it! She is growing up so fast! Where does the time go?

Here it goes...

Here are the things that put me in a BAD mood....
1. Smoking...I absolutely can't stand people smoking anywhere around me! I especially can't stand when they will light up right beside my girls! I don't know why some smokers are so rude and light up right in front of the door where you have to walk.

2. People not using their turn signals in their car...Is it really that hard?

3. Other kids being mean to Jenna....I know I am so protective, but I have to bite my tongue if another kid is mean to her. I know it is part of life, but I don't want Jenna or Alyssa to be treated badly.

4. Impatience...I don't know why some people can't be more patient.

5. Students not turning in their homework...It makes more work for me, and I really hate to give up my lunch time to stay in with them at recess!!! (Confessions of a teacher!)

6. Gaining Weight

Here are things that put me in a GOOD mood...
1. Jenna and Alyssa...especially when I see them smile and hear them laugh!

2. John...that is, when he is in a good mood!

3. Going shopping and having money to actually buy things

4. Coaching soccer...especially when the kids are listening

5. Teaching...again, especially when teh kids are listening and willing to work!

6. Losing Weight

In It To Win!!!

Yesterday we enjoyed the beautiful day, and we played putt-putt for the first time in Lancaster. We had so much fun! Jenna was so cute with her little putter, and she did a great job putting! Alyssa had a tiny plastic golf club and she clutched her little pink golf ball the entire time...that is, until she lost it at one of the holes! Well, John and I are pretty competitive! It started off great for me, and I was ahead of John by 2 or 3 strokes. Needless to say, he was not in a great mood and he kept saying how stressful it was to putt-putt with the girls. Yeah, he tried to blame his own daughters! On the 16th hole, I lost my lead! I messed up a hole, and I couldn't recover. John ended up beating me 59 to 60. I can't believe I lost by 1 stroke! Oh well, it was a fun day! I have some adorable pictures that hopefully I can post soon!

While I'm talking about being "in it to win," I will confess that John and I got a little competitive playing Sesame Street Chutes and Ladders with Jenna for the first time. It is really pothetic when John even cheated to try to beat me. I have to say that he did finally admit that he went the wrong way on the board, but he still tried to cheat! We are really bad! Now I know why Jenna always wants to win!!!

Our first soccer game is this Sunday! We don't really keep score, but you know I do! Hopefully Team Burn can start the season out with a "win!"