Here is what has been happening in our lives within the last month or so.

Mike has started school again. He is taking applied calculus, managerial accounting, international business, and an executive lecture series. He is busy going to classes every night, doing homework, and working hard at work and even pulling overtime hours on fridays sometimes. And he is still trying to manage fitting in a little fun and family time. He took Tyson on a little "date" to Trafalga and to lunch and took Ty to watch the superbowl.

Chari is busy being a "single" mom. Mike is gone from five in the morning to eight or night at night with work and school so that leaves me home with the kids as a single mom. I am loving being a stay at home mom and wouldn't have it any other way even though it is hard and I don't feel like I have a minute to myself during the day. I am having fun helping with Ty's school. I have done the taxes and am pleased with the amount we are getting refunded. I am having fun trying new recipes for dinner. Love pinterest for that. Have got some really great recipes from there. I am trying to spend more time with my kids throughout the day teaching and playing with them instead of doing other things which are much less important. I have learned that by keeping my house clean I just have to maintain it little by little instead of it getting so disasterous that I can't get ahead of it. This is also giving me more time with my children. I am trying to have patience and control my outbursts at the kids and a clean house helps that because it limits my stress. When I have a messy house I get really stressed and then my bad attitude rubs off onto Mike and the kids. I found this great challenge which has helped me put some things in perspective and helped me see what is important. My family-my children. One night when I was having a really hard night with the kids I found this challenge. I had put the kids to bed and was browsing through pinterest and saw this 30 Day Mom Challenge (http://imom.com/pages/30-day-mom-challenge/) I encourage you to read it and post it somewhere in your house. I have it posted on my fridge. So that is what is going on with me. I am just trying to better myself and be a better mom and wife and do everything that goes along with it.

Tyson is just as busy as ever. This past week he went to his first dentist appointment. They showed him all the tools and he even let the doctor take a little peek at his teeth. He has stopped taking naps as well. He was having a hard time falling asleep at night and so I tried cutting out his naps and it has done wonders. Instead of putting him to bed at 8:30 and him not falling asleep till 9:30 or 10, I put him in bed between 7 and 7:30 and he is out within 10 minutes. I was really worrried about cutting out his naps because him and Eliza were taking naps at the same time so it gave me an hour or two of me time. But it hasn't been too bad. For quiet time I put on a movie for him and still am able to take advantage of me time. Whether it is taking a short nap or some computer time or reading or whatever. So it is working out quite well. Tyson is loving going to school with his friends and we are involved in playgroup as well and we love going to storytime at the library. Also on the nice afternoons I have taken Ty out and he has been practicing on his bike and can now pedal really well.

Eliza is just growing up too fast and it is hard for me that my baby is growing up. I don't remember having this hard of time with Tyson but I am with her for some reason. Walking is now her form of getting around. She is starting to pull herself up to things, at least she can climb up on Tyson's toddler bed. She can't quite get up on the couches and chairs yet (I think Ty was doing this since he could move...well before he was a year). Thank goodness. She is learning new things everyday and getting into more and more things. She is as picky as ever with her eating so it was suggested we put her on pediasure to help her out a little. She communicates to us but screaming for what she wants and squeezing her hand at what she wants but doesn't say much other than mama yet. I am loving seeing her grow up and learn new things and just getting smarter everyday even though it does make me a little sad.

We are enjoying the somewhat good weather and have also done lots of playing inside with toys. The kids play quite well together most of the time but even that is getting better. Here are a few more pics.