Employed!

Monday I had a job interview. This opportunity came out of no where for me. I have to admit when I first got the call on Friday to see if I was interested, I was really skeptical about it. The job is to teach Begindergarten. Which is preschool- the age group right before Kindergarten. I have to admit I have never seen myself as a preschool teacher. Then again I have never seen myself as a high school teacher either. Not that there is something wrong with preschool teachers or high school teachers- I just never saw myself teaching those grades. So when I got the call I thought "yeah right". But I checked it out anyway- no harm in that right? And I have to admit I FELL IN LOVE! It is at the Omaha Hearing School. I will not be teaching deaf or other hearing impaired children. I am not qualified for that. My class will be regular ed. I toured the school and it is awesome! State of the art I tell ya. The lights don't hum. The walls angle in so sound doesn't echo. (ALL classrooms should be like that!) There is this fantastic garden in the back. It is truly set up to help parents with hearing impaired kids. It's amazing!! It's a private school so I am still trying to wrap my head around what a board of directors really means, but I am sure I will learn.

One of the things that really impressed me is that the school is all about literacy and language. Which is right up my newly acquired masters degree's alley! The school follows the school calendar that my boys are going to. So all our days off are the same. It's part time. It pays well. And here is what clinched the deal for me- I get my own OFFICE!! Not a cubical people an honest to goodness office- with a door and everything. Why that excites me so much I have no clue, but it does. I accepted the job and am now in overwhelmed mode. I haven't taught in 6 years and I have never taught kids this little. I LOVE this age group- but playing with them is one thing, teaching them is a whole different ballgame. But I am super excited!!

After my job interview, I went to the OPS headquarters- a.k.a. TAC building- and signed my boys up for kindergarten. That was an emotional experience. I filled out all the paperwork- times three. Each packet I had to fill out was about 10 pages long! I had hand cramps when I was done. And a slight headache. But they are signed up and ready to go. Now I just need to let them go.

Wow...looking back, Monday was a big day for me. I had a job interview AND I signed the boys up for Kindergarten. I still can't believe that they are going to start school this year. And I have to admit there are a few moments where I think "I am just going to home school them." I am going to clear things up right now- NO I do NOT really want to home school them. That is not for me. We have a fantastic school system here why mess that up? With that said, I am not anti-home schooling. If I lived in certain areas of our country I would most definitely consider home schooling. My thoughts are more along the lines of "I am not ready to have them gone all day." Ya know? We have been together daily for six years straight. I am not quite ready for that to end. So here we are starting another chapter in our lives. Work for me. School for the boys. All in less that two weeks- holy cow I got a lot of fun to cram in before that!! *panic* :)

HOT and HUMID!! -But Can Still be Fun

About a week or so ago, Bethany and Annalie were in town again. So we invited them over to hang out for an afternoon. The day they came over was SO HOT and SO HUMID I think we all melted!! I am talking CRAZY hot and humid! Like a million degrees out and you feel like you are melting. What better to do on a humid day? Iced lattes and slip n slides, of course!!

Yep...I wasn't kidding about the humidity. My camera fogged up immediately-as did my glasses- when first stepping out the door. It wasn't pleasant.

The kids had fun outside. Us adults started to melt so we went back inside and watched through the kitchen door.


They had fun- and that is what really matters right?. Later that afternoon, Bethany and I decided that ice cream for the kids and more iced lattes for us sounded like a good idea. I didn't get any pictures of that though. By then my brain wasn't working anymore! So hot!! Before they left, we made everyone go outside to get group pictures. The kids were good sports about it. And looking at these pictures really crack me up! Their expressions are priceless!

Josh, Annalie, Alex, Zach

Bethany, Josh, Annalie, Alex, Zach, Katrina

Alex, Annalie, Debbie, Zach, Josh

As you can see from these picture, they were DONE with this heat. As were we all!

One last photo to throw in. The night before Bethany and I got pedicures and went out to dinner at Olive Garden WITHOUT kids!! We haven't done that since before the kids came!! It was wonderful!! We actually got to finish a conversation without interruptions! :) We decided that it will be another tradition we will do....along with dottery and Starbucks of course!

New Family Rule?

A few months ago, we went into the Cox Communications Store to check out the new 3D tvs. While we were there Cox was having a Mother's Day contest. I think we just entered it and didn't really even know what it was. Almost a year ago I blogged about winning a TV. If you want to read or re-read about that fun experience click HERE. That was one crazy experience!! :) Anyway after that winning experience, Matt and I have been entering a few more contests. Not in a crazy obsessive way. More along the lines of if we see one we will enter it.

Well, a few weeks ago, we got a call saying Matt won the Mother's Day grand prize from Cox communications. YIPPPEEEEE!! It wasn't as dramatic as my story. Neither Matt nor I continued to hang up on the nice lady. But still very cool none the less. What did Matt win- you may be asking yourself? He won a brand new 52" TV, a blue ray player, a $50 gift certificate to Hallmark AND a years worth of cable TV! WOOOOO HOOOOO!!! We are all very excited about this!!

picture take by Josh

However after winning another TV we have a new family rule- no more entering contests that involve TVs. :) I think we have enough now. Hee hee

Denver Delight!!

This past weekend I went to visit one of my dearest friends Meg. In case you want to know more about how we met and how we know each other click HERE. Anyway, this weekend I was lucky enough to go out to Denver and visit her.

A year ago, Meg bought her very first home. This was the first chance that I got to see it. It is really cute!! It's a perfect house for Meg. It's very Meg!

The size of her yard is amazing!! Her house is on a double lot and has tons of space to entertain!! We spent a lot of time out on her patios...and, yes, I meant that to be plural. She has a couple of patio areas. One with a table and chairs and another area with a gliding seat. Both are equally wonderful and we used them both often.

Recently, she put up a hammock and I spent every relaxing chance I got in it. It was an awesome place to relax, swing, read, facebook/twitter from my phone, and/or listen to her neighbor's rooster.

The night I got in we went out for pizza and chatted away. Friday we went to a movie. We saw Eclipse. We both love the Twilight series books. We saw the first one together in Arizona and thought it would be appropriate to see this one together, too. After the movie, we went out for sushi- my new food obsession. Meg has been waiting years for me to join the sushi fan club.

Meg, Beth, Katrina
(picture taken by Beth)

Later that afternoon we met one of Meg's good friends (Beth)at a bar for drinks and appetizers. Meg loves this drink called a michelada. It sounded good...but in my opinion it tastes like a margarita gone bad. I can just FEEL Meg's eyes rolling at me as she reads this! :) Beth was delightful and was as wonderful as Meg had described. I was really glad I got the chance to meet her.

That evening we went back to Meg's to hang out on her patio and another one of her friends (Sole) came over for juice. JUCIE!!! And by juice I mean coconut rum with passion fruit juice. That drink was delicious!! As we were sitting there, Meg's version of the ding ding man walked by. I think they are called Paleteros. It's this cart that is pushed by someone who sells paletas. I have never had one before so I was excited to try it!! It was good.

The next day I got my haircut by Marie- a hairdresser God!!! She is fantastic. If you are ever in Denver and need a haircut I would highly recommend her!! I often joke that I want to fly out to Denver every time I need a hair cut! :) After my haircut, Marie joined us for a late lunchat a Jewish diner that I can't rmember the name of. Next door to the diner was a cupcake store called The Big Fat Cupcake. So of course after lunch we had to go there! HOLY COW- that was THE BEST cupcake I have EVER had!! Marie and I split one and I have been thinking about it ever sense. So delicious!! In the store they had this sign:

I need this sign in my house. Or it would be cool as a t-shirt too I think.

After our lunch and heavenly cupcake, Meg and I did some shopping. It was really hot that day and since Meg doesn't have air conditioning we thought strolling around stores sounded good. Surprisingly enough- neither one of us bought a thing!! Wait I take that back. Meg took me to a store called The Container Store. It is an organizers DREAM!! I was in heaven!! I wanted to buy everything in sight, but sadly or luckily (depending on who you talk to) most things wouldn't fit into my carry on so I only bought a couple of small items.

That evening we made quesadillas and ate dinner out on her patio and chatted the evening away- like best friends do. This was my last evening here so we had to make the most of it right?

Meg and Marie

The next morning we met Marie for a chai. When Marie found out how in love I am with chi tea lattes she told me I HAD to try this.

HOLY COW!! It's my new favorite drink!! I am SO IN LOVE!! I took a picture of it so I could find it here in Omaha!! :) We all chatted for a while before I needed to be dropped off at the air port.

Katrina, Marie, Meg

I had such a great time! It was filled with lots of good talks, delicious food, relaxing in hammocks, meeting some of Meg's good friends and a little shopping. I was so happy to see and be a part of Meg's world for the weekend!! I can't wait til I get to go back again!!

Alex, Josh and Zach's 6 Birthday Party

Last Saturday (the 10th) was the boys 6 birthday party. We invited some family and framily (friends that are like family) to help us celebrate. The night before I made their cakes. I asked each kid what they wanted their cake to be like. Alex wanted a Batman cake.

Josh wanted a Little Big Planet (a play station game) cake.

Zach.....well Zach couldn't make up his mind. At first, he wanted Spongebob again. So I got stuff for that. Then he changed his mind to dots. Then he wanted Little Big Planet, too. Then he wanted money. So I decided we would go to the party store together and exchange the Spongebob stuff for what he wanted. Then made it VERY CLEAR that once things are exchanged that's what he gets. He was fine with that and he chose race cars.

We had everyone over for lunch. I ordered sandwiches from Mr. Goodcents and made a few salads and bought some chips. I tried to keep things simple but nice and I think I achieved that. The guests arrived and I think we all had a nice time.



I have to say one of the overwhelming things about having triplets is the present opening part. It seems like there are SO MANY GIFTS!!

We are blessed to have wonderful family and friends who are so generous. Looking at the gift pile....you think holy smokes!!

But I suppose when I stop to think about it- if you took 2/3 of those gifts away- opening presents it would be normal. Its just another one of those things where when you times it by three it its overwhelming.

The boys got some really awesome things!! Like I said we have some awesome family and friends!! Even the a-hem "big" kids had fun playing with the toys.

After presents we did the normal cake thing. We all sang to the boys...

then ate cake and ice cream.

As the party came to an end, I handed out the treat bags.

Normally, I probably wouldn't blog about the treat bags, but I am bragging here. I made these really cute little aliens- for the under 2 year olds...

and Little Big Planet Sack-puppets for the older kids.

They were really fun to make and I was happy with how they turned out!!

That evening Zach hid notes around the house. Here are a few that we found:

That was one of the best parts of the day!!

Overall, it was a wonderfully-overwhelming day!! :) I had some really awesome help before and during the party. Thank you again!! We had some out of town guests come!! Always wonderful!! It was really perfect!! The best part of all- which was really my only goal- was that it made my boys happy! Mission accomplished! :) I look forward to doing it all again next year!!