Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Ode to our Tax Return

Our van is paid off!

We have a new couch!

Bum ba dum bum bum. What a relief :)

There is nothing more I can possibly say.

Call the papers - A DECISION HAS BEEN MADE!

So people know I have had a lot of conflict and issues with picking a major... I then completed the Myers-Briggs assessment and felt really confident in the letter combination it produced.
THEN
Three of the big career/major options I was considering ended up in the "least attractive" category for my personality type!!! (Nursing, Artistic and Elementary/Secondary Education)

No wonder I've felt so conflicted. But now I'm bummed because I can't ignite a passion in something new just because it will match my personality type. Marketing was one I was considering a lot lately as well, luckily that one is a close match. However, the plan was to get my degree now just to HAVE it, but we want me to be able to be a stay at home mom for a while, especially while kids are at home. Then when I go back into the workforce, what good will a degree in Marketing do me when I haven't been gaining work experience and the info is rusty?

SO

I'm cashing in, baby. I have math left and then I have an Associate's degree! It's not nearly as big of a deal as a bachelor's - and I still aspire to have one in the future. But it's something that represents the work I've done up to this point. Something I AM passionate about and would love to do while the kids are young is Child birth education classes! That's right - I'm going to become Lamaze certified! I'm not big into forcing people into doing as I do and go without an epidural, but I am EXTREMELY passionate about educating women to be prepared for what labor, delivery and breastfeeding are actually like. I've heard way too many stories for women that express sadness or frustration for things ending differently than they expected... but then they share some details that I knew they could have been prepared for if they had taken some type of birthing class. Not only will I have the education, but I have three very different birthing experiences to draw from.

Total costs for becoming Lamaze certified is going to come close to $1000... obviously there's no pell grant for this, so I'm saving up. I'm using photography and other odd things to help out. Matthew is supportive of me and I'm really excited about it. This is the first time I've really been excited and passionate about my path choice! That doesn't mean it will be this way forever, but I feel like I am on the right path for life right now!

WOO HOO!!!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

SCHOOL

So, we gotta get Stephen into preschool, he's going crazy and needs some focus and learning time...
suggestions for Utah county?

For Patrick, we're considering a language immersion class at a different school. I'm thinking French, Matthew wants Chinese.
Your vote?


Updates:
Stephen is more mature than Patrick for the last two weeks. And that's not saying much for Stephen, a lot for Patrick - NAUGHTY. Stephen is now in Primary, for friends of other faiths, he basically moved from the "play class" with treats and toys to the "sit still class" ... having a hard time adjusting. Poor. thing.
Patrick's enjoying hockey still, I wish he had more friends his age playing, but he'll get more as he advances. He still likes school and really doesn't like math - oh no, like mom and dad.
William STILL refuses to walk. He's been standing solid for 3 months now, can walk 5 steps... he doesn't even let himself fall, he always bends his knees when he decides he doesn't want to walk anymore. booger :(

Matthew's still enjoying his job, he's had a couple projects he gets to work on, so that's fun! It's crazy how much life can change direction in such a short time.

Since we're taking suggestions, I have four days off in a row next week and no money. So I decided I would mentally check out and take a vacation. Where to? Jamaica, Rome or Antarctica (not cold, because it's all in me head)?