The Kaufman Klan

I can't believe it has been so long since I've written. So much is different. Well I graduated with my masters but was having a really hard time finding a job (this is a super competitive area) so in a moment of weakness I accepted a position in Idaho. We were all set to move up there too (as in all of our stuff was in storage in Jerome) when I got offered a position here. So I work at a virtual school as a high school counselor.It has been an interesting experience, to be sure, but I am so grateful to be working in my field.

Damon does support for a web hosting company but may be moving to a new company soon. We will see. AJ is almost finished at Job Corps. He already has all of his certifications as a diesel mechanic but he gets a pretty sweet tool allowance if he stays for Engines II, so May 15th (I think) is his last day. Oh and he's engaged. He thinks that I don't like her but really it's that I don't like her work ethic (or serious lack thereof). I am just concerned that everything is going to fall on his shoulders and that's hardly a partnership. I could be wrong and honestly I hope I am because in the end I just want him to be happy.

Ian is a junior at PG high. He works part time at Subway. He has been making some really questionable decisions lately but I hope that is kind of out of his system. He is so smart and there is so much he could do with his life that it will seriously break my heart if he chooses to do nothing. This is when I need to just sit back and let him make his own decisions and take responsibility for those decisions but it's hard to watch someone you love fail.

Shiloh is in second grade and loving every minute of it. I love her parent-teacher conferences because it's nothing but praise! I am so proud of this little girl. She is still testing at the top of her class (which is pretty awesome considering the charter school she is in is a full year more advanced than the public school she was in last year) and her teacher warned me we may not see a ton of gain this year because of that, but already she's improved on her early scores. She has taken up horseback riding and is fully addicted! I am trying to find a good piano teacher for her as well but I don't want to involve her in so many activities that she doesn't have a chance to just be a kid.

So it has been over a year since I have posted..crazy right! It seems like so much has changed but also so much has not changed enough (if that even makes sense).
Shiloh just started 1st grade and loves it! She swears it's the best grade ever.
Ian is at PG High and so far (knock on wood) is having a good time.
AJ is up at Job Corp and (hopefully) will be joining the service soon (if his girlfriend doesn't make him change his mind that is). Yep AJ has a girlfriend..like I said..lots of changes.
So million dollar question..what do I think of my sons first official girlfriend? Whatever makes him happy (I know that is a cop out answer but this is a public blog so cut me some slack).
Damon is with Bluehost now and loving it. He's not going to school anymore but he wasn't as excited about that as I was hoping he would be. Oh well.
I am 290 days away from graduation (but who's counting) and very excited to put grad school behind me. I start my fieldwork in October and I will be at Vista Heights Junior High, Timp High School, and Sage Creek Elementary. I'm really look forward to everything except the not getting paid part. Working full time in the schools and part time at work is going to suck a little (ok a lot) but you do what you have to right?

So I haven't posted in a while because it's been crazy busy around here, but I had to say a little something about Shiloh's first day.

Shiloh is very outgoing so I knew she would be just fine but I was a bit surprised by my reaction. I actually cried after I dropped her off. She's been going to preschool for two years so I never could have anticipated tears. There is just something so final about starting school. She's not my baby anymore. She's officially a big girl and honestly I want my baby back.

But on to the cute stuff. First day of school I get home from work and ask her day went. Here is an excerpt of our conversation.
Me: How was your day?
Shiloh: Great..I have a boyfriend.
Me: A boyfriend already? What's his name?
Shiloh: His name is Eric and we're in love.
Me: Really? What makes you think that you're in love?
Shiloh: Because he thinks I'm hot!

So cute right? Well the next day she came home and she was sad. Here's that conversation.

Me: You look sad today. Did something happen at school?
Shiloh: Eric said he wants wait until he grows up to decide who he wants to marry.
(I had the hardest time not laughing at that)
Me: Well that is how it should be. You can't make a big decision like that in kindergarten.
Shiloh: I guess

She's such a sweetie with a tender little heart.

Ian started a new school too. He is now at Lincoln Academy instead of Quail Run and likes it so much better. He is taking German and sign language at the same time. Yep that's my little overachiever. He plans to go to UCAS and graduate from high school with his A.S. then he'll get his B.S. then it's off to MIT. He has his whole life planned out. It's kind of funny. He's determined enough to do it to. 

AJ is still waiting to hear back from job corp. He's supposedly in as soon as they have a bed available. He plans to attend the Clearfield one until he can transfer to San Diego to do homeland security. I hope it happens soon because he's getting really anxious and a little hard to deal with. I know he's excited to get started and I'm excited for him.

So we went to Camera Shy on Saturday to have family pictures and Shiloh's 5 year old birthday pictures done. They did such a great job that we will definitely be going back!