AJ and Chelsea enjoy singing together quite often. I actually got them to let me record them singing a song they were both comfortable with! For those of you that don't know, Chelsea is like another child of ours! Although she is now 13 years old, she has been in my life since she was a year and a half, when I became her Nanny! She was also our flower girl when Joe and I got married! She is like a big sister to my kids and they all adore eachother, but still argue like siblings do!
Chelsea has always been a good singer and I have often tried to encourage her to come out of her shell and allow people to hear that voice! She seems to be getting a little more confident! When I heard AJ and Chelsea singing this song by Jason Mraz...I have to say, I was impressed! I had to share! Scroll all the way down and pause my playlist so you can hear them!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
TRANSITIONS
We are facing a lot of transitions at once! The biggest, and most important, transition is our decision to home school this year!
We are reminded several times a day that we have made the best decision for our family! Last school year there was a lot of stress, frustration, and anger that we had to try to deal with/re-direct. Joe was only able to spend an hour with the kids in the morning before taking them to school! That hour was spent trying to rush the kids out the door most mornings so that they could be to school by 7:45am! Joe would come home and spend the morning w/ me and the little ones, but then had to leave for work by 1pm. Once the kids came home from school we had our afternoon to stress over a ridiculous amount of homework, dinner, baths, karate, and meeting all other demands! Once everyone was in bed, Joe would come home while I was picking up the house! So, the kids were not seeing there dad much at all, except for a little bit on the weekends. When they were seeing him during the week, it was during karate and he was their instructor. As you can imagine, trying to get their dad's acknowledgement while he is trying to instruct an entire class, was very difficult! If he happened to correct them, it was devastating because that was just a little piece of interaction that they were able to get from their dad! Joe felt horrible about this and has REALLY been looking forward to homeschooling this year so he can have a lot more one on one time w/ the kids!
Joe and I are a fantastic team and the kids are doing so well! We love the flexibility, the closeness, and the opportunity to learn with the kids! Austin and Ansley are doing well with it all too! Ansley is learning her shapes, colors, and enjoys coloring, writing, and books! We have had so many incredible home schooled families reach out and offer advise and material! We also joined a large home school Co-op that includes over 360 families here in our county! We have the opportunity to go on awesome field trips a couple of times a month and we meet with several families every Thursday for 3 hours so that the kids can take advantage of enrichment classes! AJ is taking "Gross Anatomy" and "Culinary creations from around the world." Aleigh is taking "America Then and Now" and "Pottery." They have already made some great friends and LOVE going! Ansley and Austin even have their own class to go to! As parents, we have to either teach or assist and be present the entire time our kids are there. I am assisting w/ a friend of mine who is teaching a class on our Solar System. So we teach for the first hour and then we actually get to go and spend an hour with other moms (no kids) and have all of the food and drinks that we want! It's fabulous!!!
Ansley ready for her first day at "Voyagers" (our Thursday enrichment classes)
There is SO much out there to be used as a learning tool! We are amazed at the educational games that are out there! The kids are learning so much and were all having fun and learning together! For Social Studies we are studying presidents because AJ has taken a HUGE interest in learning about what each president believed and what America thought about that president! We are hoping that we can take a field trip to DC sometime next year! My cousin Anja has claimed to be an incredible tour guide, and I don't doubt that for a second! My cousin Andrea is out there as well, and I may have more family living out there by next year! We also have the "Little White House" here in Warm Springs, GA where we can go and learn all about FDR! We have been there and toured the little white house, but the kids were too young to retain the info. It's only 30 minutes from where we live!
Yes, we do have days when were all going nuts and nobody wants to pick up the books, learn/teach! So, we find something to read, a game to play or just pick a few light assignments to do OR put the books up all together for one day!
Joe is currently teaching the kids how to create a pinata (paper mache)
Aleigh, posing in her new Birthday outfit from Nana and Papa!
Austin is getting so big and standing on his own! He LOVES this box! He'll be walking in no time!
The other big transition we have been working with is me going back to work! I took a retail management position at Gymboree (so fun) and my hours are, by no means, consistent! At first I started to think i was going to have to quit my job all together because it didn't seem fair that my schedule was causing every one's schedule to be a little crazy! Then we realized, it doesn't hurt to teach our kids the importance of being flexible and understanding that the daily schedule can change! So, we have a big dry erase board where we write the daily schedule and their daily chores so they know what to expect each day and they follow it very well! They are also very good about checking the calendar and have been known to remind Joe and I about important events!
For now, things seem to be going fairly well. I would love to find a different job that provides more consistency and a regular schedule, but I feel blessed to have a job that usually doesn't require me to work more than 4 hrs at a time. I rarely work during the day so by the time I go in, the school day is long over! I also have an amazing friend who takes care of my kids for me when i need her at a very friendly rate! My mom and dad have also been amazing at pitching in and helping! It's an incredible feeling to be able to get away for 4 hrs or so, work at a place that I really enjoy, and know that my kids are being loved and cared for so well!
We are reminded several times a day that we have made the best decision for our family! Last school year there was a lot of stress, frustration, and anger that we had to try to deal with/re-direct. Joe was only able to spend an hour with the kids in the morning before taking them to school! That hour was spent trying to rush the kids out the door most mornings so that they could be to school by 7:45am! Joe would come home and spend the morning w/ me and the little ones, but then had to leave for work by 1pm. Once the kids came home from school we had our afternoon to stress over a ridiculous amount of homework, dinner, baths, karate, and meeting all other demands! Once everyone was in bed, Joe would come home while I was picking up the house! So, the kids were not seeing there dad much at all, except for a little bit on the weekends. When they were seeing him during the week, it was during karate and he was their instructor. As you can imagine, trying to get their dad's acknowledgement while he is trying to instruct an entire class, was very difficult! If he happened to correct them, it was devastating because that was just a little piece of interaction that they were able to get from their dad! Joe felt horrible about this and has REALLY been looking forward to homeschooling this year so he can have a lot more one on one time w/ the kids!
Joe and I are a fantastic team and the kids are doing so well! We love the flexibility, the closeness, and the opportunity to learn with the kids! Austin and Ansley are doing well with it all too! Ansley is learning her shapes, colors, and enjoys coloring, writing, and books! We have had so many incredible home schooled families reach out and offer advise and material! We also joined a large home school Co-op that includes over 360 families here in our county! We have the opportunity to go on awesome field trips a couple of times a month and we meet with several families every Thursday for 3 hours so that the kids can take advantage of enrichment classes! AJ is taking "Gross Anatomy" and "Culinary creations from around the world." Aleigh is taking "America Then and Now" and "Pottery." They have already made some great friends and LOVE going! Ansley and Austin even have their own class to go to! As parents, we have to either teach or assist and be present the entire time our kids are there. I am assisting w/ a friend of mine who is teaching a class on our Solar System. So we teach for the first hour and then we actually get to go and spend an hour with other moms (no kids) and have all of the food and drinks that we want! It's fabulous!!!
Ansley ready for her first day at "Voyagers" (our Thursday enrichment classes)
There is SO much out there to be used as a learning tool! We are amazed at the educational games that are out there! The kids are learning so much and were all having fun and learning together! For Social Studies we are studying presidents because AJ has taken a HUGE interest in learning about what each president believed and what America thought about that president! We are hoping that we can take a field trip to DC sometime next year! My cousin Anja has claimed to be an incredible tour guide, and I don't doubt that for a second! My cousin Andrea is out there as well, and I may have more family living out there by next year! We also have the "Little White House" here in Warm Springs, GA where we can go and learn all about FDR! We have been there and toured the little white house, but the kids were too young to retain the info. It's only 30 minutes from where we live!
Yes, we do have days when were all going nuts and nobody wants to pick up the books, learn/teach! So, we find something to read, a game to play or just pick a few light assignments to do OR put the books up all together for one day!
Joe is currently teaching the kids how to create a pinata (paper mache)
Aleigh, posing in her new Birthday outfit from Nana and Papa!
Austin is getting so big and standing on his own! He LOVES this box! He'll be walking in no time!
The other big transition we have been working with is me going back to work! I took a retail management position at Gymboree (so fun) and my hours are, by no means, consistent! At first I started to think i was going to have to quit my job all together because it didn't seem fair that my schedule was causing every one's schedule to be a little crazy! Then we realized, it doesn't hurt to teach our kids the importance of being flexible and understanding that the daily schedule can change! So, we have a big dry erase board where we write the daily schedule and their daily chores so they know what to expect each day and they follow it very well! They are also very good about checking the calendar and have been known to remind Joe and I about important events!
For now, things seem to be going fairly well. I would love to find a different job that provides more consistency and a regular schedule, but I feel blessed to have a job that usually doesn't require me to work more than 4 hrs at a time. I rarely work during the day so by the time I go in, the school day is long over! I also have an amazing friend who takes care of my kids for me when i need her at a very friendly rate! My mom and dad have also been amazing at pitching in and helping! It's an incredible feeling to be able to get away for 4 hrs or so, work at a place that I really enjoy, and know that my kids are being loved and cared for so well!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
HAPPY 7th BIRTHDAY to our Sweet Aleigh!!!
7 years ago today Joe and I walked into the hospital feeling great, w/ smiles on our faces and loads of excitement! We told the lady at the front desk "Were here to have our baby!" Aleigh was waiting patiently to make her debut into the world as scheduled! She was born via c-section w/out a single complication and as sweet and pleasant as she could possibly be! She has continued to be patient, understanding, loving, and just a SWEET little girl who is becoming a remarkable young lady! We are so proud of her and she continues to amaze us daily!
Today, for her birthday, we gave her the party she wanted! She invited 4 of her closest friends to come celebrate with a sleepover. My mom brought all of her stuff to give the girls pedicures and I did manicures w/ a little help from Robin (madrina)! The girls LOVED IT! We also did a craft that Aleigh picked out - door hangers! Joe drew all of the girls names in big bubble font on poster board and cut them out so that the girls could decorate their names! Aleigh picked out a red velvet zebra print cake that was SO YUMMY! We ate pizza, chicken fingers, and fruit! Then later in the evening the girls had chocolate covered strawberries! All of this at Aleigh's request! We had a WONDERFUL time! Me, my mom, Robin (madrina), and Liz (Bryson's girlfriend)even gave ourselves manicures and pedicures! We planned to take the girls swimming as well, but it was a very rainy day today, so that didn't happen...not sure when we would have fit that in anyway!
It is now 1am and I am listening to the girls as they watch a movie in Aleigh's room, giggle, and play polly pockets! Aleigh has such a funny and great group of girlfriends! About an hour ago AJ was crashed out on the couch and they were putting makeup on his face! He woke up and figured out what they were doing! LOL! That was all it took for him to go to his own bed! Hahahaha!
Here are some photos of Aleigh's party:
Friday, July 30, 2010
Unexpected Travels
Unfortunately my husband recieved some very sad news about an old student of his from El Paso a couple of days ago! A guy named Raul, who was in his late 20's, took his own life on Monday night! Joe saw this guy as a little brother to him for several years. Unfortunately they had lost touch but both continued to hold eachother in hight regard! We don't know the extent of what might have driven Raul to take his own life at this point. All we know is that it happened and the services are going to take place in El Paso within in the next few days.
Well, to Joe's surprise, the news has hit him pretty hard! He has gone back and forth about traveling home for the past couple of days. The fact of the matter is, we just can't afford to travel! I know my husband, and I know that for his own closure, he needs to go! SO... we were able to cash in a buddy pass for both he and AJ to go out there. The frustrating part is that we can't go together and that I won't be able to be there for Joe! He doesn't like this at all! To make things more light hearted and easier on both of us, he was planning on taking Ansley with him...then we found out she is no longer considered a lap child so we would have to purchase another buddy pass for her ($182)!
These are the moments when we want to just pack up our things and move out West so that we can at least be half way closer to El Paso! Then we could actually get in the car and drive out there together as a family! The discovery of a money tree certainly wouldn't hurt either!!!
On a lighter note, I have started a new job working as a manager at the new local Gymboree!!! We just opened last Wednesday and I am LOVING it! I wish they paid more, but I will take what I can get! It's nice to have a job to go to for at least a few hours to make a contribution to the household income and get a little break away! ;) The discount is pretty decent too! The part where I actually make a paycheck and bring it home is going to be the HARDEST part! The clothes in there are SO CUTE..not to mention all of the matching accessories!!! I have been really good...SO FAR! :) We have been able to work out our schedules pretty well! I have hired my good friend Robin Dimmig to come in and watch my kids for me on an as needed basis. So far we have only needed her once! My mom has been helping out a little and Joe has been able to work his schedule around mine a little bit! Hopefully it will continue to work out!
Well, to Joe's surprise, the news has hit him pretty hard! He has gone back and forth about traveling home for the past couple of days. The fact of the matter is, we just can't afford to travel! I know my husband, and I know that for his own closure, he needs to go! SO... we were able to cash in a buddy pass for both he and AJ to go out there. The frustrating part is that we can't go together and that I won't be able to be there for Joe! He doesn't like this at all! To make things more light hearted and easier on both of us, he was planning on taking Ansley with him...then we found out she is no longer considered a lap child so we would have to purchase another buddy pass for her ($182)!
These are the moments when we want to just pack up our things and move out West so that we can at least be half way closer to El Paso! Then we could actually get in the car and drive out there together as a family! The discovery of a money tree certainly wouldn't hurt either!!!
On a lighter note, I have started a new job working as a manager at the new local Gymboree!!! We just opened last Wednesday and I am LOVING it! I wish they paid more, but I will take what I can get! It's nice to have a job to go to for at least a few hours to make a contribution to the household income and get a little break away! ;) The discount is pretty decent too! The part where I actually make a paycheck and bring it home is going to be the HARDEST part! The clothes in there are SO CUTE..not to mention all of the matching accessories!!! I have been really good...SO FAR! :) We have been able to work out our schedules pretty well! I have hired my good friend Robin Dimmig to come in and watch my kids for me on an as needed basis. So far we have only needed her once! My mom has been helping out a little and Joe has been able to work his schedule around mine a little bit! Hopefully it will continue to work out!
Monday, July 12, 2010
SUMMER 2010
I can't believe that the new school year is about to start and I haven't blogged all summer! It sure has gone by quick! We have made the best of the summer w/ the pool just down the street and our Y memberships! The kids get to go swimming a lot and that has made them feel like their having a pretty good summer! Thank god for the pool! Here are a few photos of our summer so far...unfortunately I haven't been taking my camera to the pool!
JUST HANGING OUT AT HOME
FRIENDS AND FAMILY
THE 4TH OF JULY
We kept things pretty simple for the 4th! We had a cookout w/ my parents, Bryson, and Liz on Sunday then spent the rest of the evening playing pictionary and "Things" (a very fun game)! The fun lasted until midnight! We had a blast! Since the Peachtree City Fireworks were on Saturday (th 3rd) we celebrated that day by going to a friends house on the lake. In Peachtree City they shoot the fireworks right over the lake, so it's like having front row seats! They invite tons of people and everyone brings a dish, so there is a ton of food, people, and fun! They kids played ball, blew bubbles, and swam in the lake! They LOVED it!
JUST HANGING OUT AT HOME
FRIENDS AND FAMILY
THE 4TH OF JULY
We kept things pretty simple for the 4th! We had a cookout w/ my parents, Bryson, and Liz on Sunday then spent the rest of the evening playing pictionary and "Things" (a very fun game)! The fun lasted until midnight! We had a blast! Since the Peachtree City Fireworks were on Saturday (th 3rd) we celebrated that day by going to a friends house on the lake. In Peachtree City they shoot the fireworks right over the lake, so it's like having front row seats! They invite tons of people and everyone brings a dish, so there is a ton of food, people, and fun! They kids played ball, blew bubbles, and swam in the lake! They LOVED it!
Friday, June 18, 2010
My New Blog
So I started a new blog where I can vent my daily trials and experiences as a mom to 4 kids! Although this is a very rewarding job it's also very challenging. Because I am someone who wears my life on my sleeve, I wanted to start blogging about it and sharing my experiences w/ anyone who cares to read! :)
Just click on the link to the right titled "Learning as I go"
Just click on the link to the right titled "Learning as I go"
Sunday, June 13, 2010
A BUSY SPRING
I can't believe I haven't blogged in over 2 months! Never a dull moment in the Rojas house...obviously!!! We have been busy! Now that summer is here, we will be even busier! I can't say that i love losing my husband to karate camp all summer long, but it's part of his job so...we deal!
I really don't want to write a novel...and believe me I could! Instead here are some photos to show what we have been up to!
EASTER IN EL PASO!
We drove to El Paso, TX for the kids' Spring Break and Easter! Joe was so excited, he drove the whole way and we made it there in 26 hrs w/out stopping! I KNOW I KNOW...he's crazy! He might be 36 yrs old, but when he is excited, he has the energy of a little boy! Of course we took a few short breaks, but getting to our destination in 26 hrs when it's supposed to take 24 hrs is pretty good timing! Now coming home...that was a different story! We stopped in Grapevine, TX and had a great 24 hr break!
We had a BLAST in El Paso visiting family and friends! Easter was so incredibly fun! The kids came home w/ about 9 baskets EACH full of gifts and candy! The Easter Egg hunt and confetti eggs were super fun...and messy! I don't know that we will ever be able to live up to Easter in El Paso! We just might have to go back every year @ Easter!
Filling Confetti Eggs at Grandma's house!
AJ and his cousin Julian - such cool little dudes! :)
Pizza night with cousins and friends!
Two 2 year olds trying to hide under the table = TROUBLE!
Ansley loves Uncle Chuck! She often says "Wanna see Chuck! Chuck funny mommy! hahahaha!"
The girl cousins in their Easter dresses
Aleigh and Abby! Can you tell their related?! They had no idea they were standing the same way!
I love this photo! Joe isn't too good for nothin! Such a good daddy!
Most of the cousins before hunting for Easter/Confetti Eggs!
CONFETTI TIME! I love this tradition! They save egg shells throughout the year, clean them out, color them, fill them w/ confetti, glue tissue paper at the opening, and hide them! Once the eggs are all found, the cracking begins! SO FUN!
Kids opening all of their baskets! It's like Christmas!!!
Uncle Adam with his little guy, Aden and Austin
Emma (our goddaughter), Aden, Ansley and Austin
Grandma had ansley in stitches! She was just giggling and lovin on her grandma!
Ale and Ansley - Two Peas in A Pod!
Emma and Aleigh playing dress up!
Grandma and Austin
Ansley and her sweet cousin Isaac!
These 2 little cuties are already trying to be sneaky! Always hiding under the table!
On our way back from El Paso we stopped in Grapevine, TX (right outside of Dallas Ft. Worth)and stayed at the Gaylord Texan Resort! What an amazing place!!! All of the photos were taken INSIDE the resort! It was amazing! The food, the pool, the shops, and the service was incredible! We hope to make that stop when we go back next year! Across the street they had another resort with an indoor water park...maybe we'll try that one! The key is to go in the middle of the week when it's half the price!
AJ'S 9th BIRTHDAY
AJ got Roller Blades from Nana and Papa for his birthday! He is slowly getting used to them! At his request, I made him a triple chocolate chunk Brownie cake w/ homemade chocolate frosting! Talk about death by chocolate! I can't believe our first born is 9 already! He is such a blessing! We love him so so much and are so proud of him!
I really don't want to write a novel...and believe me I could! Instead here are some photos to show what we have been up to!
EASTER IN EL PASO!
We drove to El Paso, TX for the kids' Spring Break and Easter! Joe was so excited, he drove the whole way and we made it there in 26 hrs w/out stopping! I KNOW I KNOW...he's crazy! He might be 36 yrs old, but when he is excited, he has the energy of a little boy! Of course we took a few short breaks, but getting to our destination in 26 hrs when it's supposed to take 24 hrs is pretty good timing! Now coming home...that was a different story! We stopped in Grapevine, TX and had a great 24 hr break!
We had a BLAST in El Paso visiting family and friends! Easter was so incredibly fun! The kids came home w/ about 9 baskets EACH full of gifts and candy! The Easter Egg hunt and confetti eggs were super fun...and messy! I don't know that we will ever be able to live up to Easter in El Paso! We just might have to go back every year @ Easter!
Filling Confetti Eggs at Grandma's house!
AJ and his cousin Julian - such cool little dudes! :)
Pizza night with cousins and friends!
Two 2 year olds trying to hide under the table = TROUBLE!
Ansley loves Uncle Chuck! She often says "Wanna see Chuck! Chuck funny mommy! hahahaha!"
The girl cousins in their Easter dresses
Aleigh and Abby! Can you tell their related?! They had no idea they were standing the same way!
I love this photo! Joe isn't too good for nothin! Such a good daddy!
Most of the cousins before hunting for Easter/Confetti Eggs!
CONFETTI TIME! I love this tradition! They save egg shells throughout the year, clean them out, color them, fill them w/ confetti, glue tissue paper at the opening, and hide them! Once the eggs are all found, the cracking begins! SO FUN!
Kids opening all of their baskets! It's like Christmas!!!
Uncle Adam with his little guy, Aden and Austin
Emma (our goddaughter), Aden, Ansley and Austin
Grandma had ansley in stitches! She was just giggling and lovin on her grandma!
Ale and Ansley - Two Peas in A Pod!
Emma and Aleigh playing dress up!
Grandma and Austin
Ansley and her sweet cousin Isaac!
These 2 little cuties are already trying to be sneaky! Always hiding under the table!
On our way back from El Paso we stopped in Grapevine, TX (right outside of Dallas Ft. Worth)and stayed at the Gaylord Texan Resort! What an amazing place!!! All of the photos were taken INSIDE the resort! It was amazing! The food, the pool, the shops, and the service was incredible! We hope to make that stop when we go back next year! Across the street they had another resort with an indoor water park...maybe we'll try that one! The key is to go in the middle of the week when it's half the price!
AJ'S 9th BIRTHDAY
AJ got Roller Blades from Nana and Papa for his birthday! He is slowly getting used to them! At his request, I made him a triple chocolate chunk Brownie cake w/ homemade chocolate frosting! Talk about death by chocolate! I can't believe our first born is 9 already! He is such a blessing! We love him so so much and are so proud of him!
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