The Life Inside a Goodchild

I never thought having children would be as difficult as it is. And trust me they are putting me through the ringer. But the love that they share with me is so unpredictable and the BEST thing that could happen.
With us going through a divorce there is a lot of drama and anxiety with the girls. I knew it was going to happen I just didn't realize how big of an impact it really would be for them. I figured that they were pretty used to dad not being around. He was gone every weekend and a lot of week nights with training.
But the fact is, that they knew that he was still a part of our family. That he lived here. If they needed him his personal belongings were in our house. Now they juggle with the fact that they are going to his place every other weekend. They see him maybe once or twice a week. CHANGES are being made. Things are BIG. Don't let the LITTLE things get you down.
Now when I say a BIG change in me I didn't know that getting a job, juggling activities and maintaining a relationship with the girls would change me....but it has.
I have lost 20 pounds, am exercising more, eating better, started the application process for school and am in a generally better mood. I am happier than I have been in a long time. So this change is GOOD. For all of us.

We had our first week of school this last week. Ashlynn started Tuesday 4th grade! It has been so cold in the mornings! She was very excited for school. Very unexpected.





And of course you always have to have a new pair of shoes on the first day of school!



She came home excited and ready to go back the next day! I asked what did you do and she said we ate M&M's for math. lol


Brooklyn started on Wednesday in 5K. She was also very excited. For 5K they take 1/2 the class one day and the other 1/2 the next day. This way they can do a little more 1 on 1 with them and go through the full day process.






And of course new shoes!



She had a full day and by 4pm this is how I found her.



Kaylin starts 4K next Wednesday and they do the same thing with 1/2 one day 1/2 the next but we got to have a small one on one with her teacher so she wanted her picture taken with her backpack (Spiderman of course) since we had to drop off school supplies.

Look how excited she is!





And again new shoes......



So the girls have off Thursday and Friday due to the county fair and then back on Tuesday for A and B and Wednesday for K. I hope that they continue to keep their cheery moods about school and we can transition easily.

School doesn't start until the 1st of September but the girls and Riley and I all headed out today to pick up some of the supplies they needed. Having 3 kids in school now it seems like we need 10 times more supplies. Whew!

Ashlynn has the most of course since she is going into 4th grade. You know what 4th grade means. HOMEWORK. Yes she is so uberly excited for that. (rolling eyes)



Brooklyn is headed to 5K she is excited since her teacher is a old neighbor mine when growing up. We had to buy a rest mat and all. She is is very excited.



Kaylin is probably the most excited of them all! She got the same teacher that Brooklyn had for 4k last year. Man, if she had not gotten her I don't know what would have happened. She was determined to have her and didn't think that there was anybody else.



I am trying to get more into blogging and taking pictures again. Hopefully, I can get more time and get them posted. (Yeah right I say that everytime)haha

See you around!

This blog is going to be used for my "Amateur photos. I little place that I would love to recieve some good constructive criticism. Take a peek!

http://playingaroundwithmycamera.blogspot.com

I am here! Just a few updates on our part. We really have not been doing much. School is out and the girls are antsy at all times. There is never a moment when I don't hear, "Can I go to_______'s house?", "Can we go swimming?", "I am bored."

In return you will also hear me saying, "If you are bored I can find plenty for you to do." That will usually shut them up immediately.

So a few things we have done over the last couple of weeks.

We went down to the lakefront and walked about 3 miles. The girls were tired after it all but I got some great pictures of them down by the Art Museum downtown.

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THen this last weeek we went to A Big Cat rescue thing that travels around. We were able to get our pictures taken with a Lynx, Coatimundi and a Wallaby. They had tigers, a panther and a snake there as well. At first we were told that we could pet the tigers but we got there and were informed that the tigers were not bottle fed anymore and you could not pet them. Bummer that would have been so cool!

We have also been to the zoo a couple of times. We like to try and go every other week or so. It seems to never get boring. We learn something new everytime.

We are planning on going to my parents for the 4th. Would love to get some fishing in and get some great pictures of the girls with their fishes.

Until then......

Wow it has been a while since I have been on here. A lot has been going on. But let's just keep it at that and move on.


The girls are almost done with school, YAY! Wait maybe not yay. That means more fighting over things and hearing "Mom I'm bored." Over and over and over. (I am sure there will be a post in the future about an episode of boredom. :)

Ashlynn is doing great in school. She is getting prepared for the annual talent show. Her and 3 of her friends are going to jump rope. I amnot sure if they are going to have some sort of routine or what but I hope that I am invited to watch.

Brooklyn has done well in school. She has made many new friends and is looking forward to going all day next year.

Kaylin is well Kaylin. She thinks that she is going to school like tomorrow and cannot wait. We even bought her a new backpack already. (Well I can't disagree with buying a new backpack when they are on sale for $3.99)


I got a part time job at a resort in a local town. It is very small and caters to more of the upper class. I like the atomosphere. Randy and I switch from working every other weekend. That gives him a break from working so much too.

I am hoping to get the garden started soon. I was hoping to get it started this afternoon but now it is raining. We have a busy weekend ahead of us. I have to work Thursday thru Saturday and then Sunday is mom's birthday. We are taking her to a Ladies Luncheon sponsored by my preschool group, MOPS. It will be me, mom, Gwen and my girls. Dad and Randy are taking the boys for the day. I don't know what they will be up to.

I hope to continue this with more updates sooner than later. Until then.....luvs and hugs.

Today was Miss Princess Brooklyn's birthday! She turned 5.


(Picture is color due to Ashlynn and her friend decided to paint Brooklyn and Kaylins face with makeup!)


We had her little girl friends from school over and had a Princess party. Now I must be nuts to think that I wanted to have lots of little 4 and 5 year olds running around the house. And yes I am a little nuts. But it turned out really good.

I made cupcake cones and had the girls decorate them.



Here is one decorated:



I also attempted to make my first decorated cake. It is definately not the best at all but it did its job and there is not a crumb left to it! (If you can't tell it is a castle) lol



But hey compared to the cakes I made last week this was far better than that!



Here is the princess with her cake!



They made princess crowns to wear:





And opened presents and had lots of princess fun!