I am so PROUD to be from Military family.

My Dad's headstone

His ashes are buried in Jacksonville National Cemetery, this past weekend my sister was able to go there and take this picture for me.  How appropriate it happened to be Memorial Day weekend.

My Grandpa (Mom's Dad) was a World War II Vet.  He stormed Normandy and survived.  We knew his brother died that fateful day and is buried there but we had no idea Grandpa was there too.   My Mom took my Grandpa to a traveling WWII exhibit and he told her he was there too.  He had never told any of us.  He was the strong silent type.   He only told me he loved me once but I never doubted it for one minute EVER! 

Who said she could be in 2nd grade already?

Meet Parker Elizabeth ... our pretty baby girl

(prior to surgery so I know this picture was before 10 weeks old)

Parker's last day of kindergarten 05/21/2009 with her teacher

(side note: her teachers husband is now my director)

Parker's last day of 1st grade 5/28/2010 with her teacher

Yesterday was Parker's last day of 1st grade!  She is very excited to be a rising 2nd grader, we are not as sure about that!   Look how much she has grown up since the last day of kindergarten?  WOW!  2nd grade is a big year for Catholic kids, they make First Reconciliation and First Communion. 

Because we are two parent working household, Parker will attend a summer day camp.  This will be her 4th year and she is super excited about seeing her "summer friends".   In August, Grant will join his sister at 'big kid' school in the pre-school program.   We couldn't be more excited to have our kids at the same place again, not too mention, no more daycare tuition.  Yes, Catholic school tuition is significantly less than daycare. 

I posted twice in the same week.  Who knew? 

I survived Managerial Accounting!

As I've mentioned, I returned to college life to finish my MBA degree.   The format works for me, my family and my employer.  It's a co-hort format, each class is 4 hours, one night a week for 8 weeks.  Way back in 1998 I started a MBA program but I failed to finish because it was interfering with my social schedule and wedding planning!   So for fun, I waited 11 years to return .. this time with a husband, 2 active kids and a career in tow because, you know, I have so much spare time on my hands.  :-)   Okay, maybe not but it's working out for us either way.  

Managerial Accounting is was not a new concept to me.  My undergrad degree is in business.   Our professor was not exactly what I would call "friendly" but somehow I managed to not only survive the class but I actually got an A.   This class was my be-all end-all though, I worked on accounting just about every night and went to tutoring 1-2 times a week.   I honestly believe everything I learned was from the adjunct tutor, she was awesome!

I've been an absentee everything through the last 8 weeks as I struggled to learn from the class.   I almost gave up facebook and certainly this blog.   We've had a 3 week break before the next class starts but I'm not worried about Finance in the least.   Surely, I will remember something from undergrad, after all it was my major!

1st grade to MBA?

Last year for Parker's Spring Break, we went to Florida.   It was a multi-purpose trip, we buried Dad's ashes and took the kids to Disney World for the first time. (I just realized I've never blogged about Disney.  I will, I promise.)   This year, we did things a little backwards ... my Mother (who lives in Florida) came to us!  Seriously poor planning?  Not at all, it was intentional.  My Mother wanted to spend time with her Mother who is 80 years old and not in the best health.   I started my MBA program in October and I don't get a Spring Break so this worked for everyone.

I have taken a few vacation days while my Mother (yes, I really call her Mother -- not Mom or Momma) is here.  On Tuesday, I had an appointment in the morning and took her to my Grandma's house after lunch - it's an hour drive.   Due the timing of when we arrived, I didn't have enough time to get Parker back to Brandon before my prep class for Managerial Accounting.  She attended her 1st college class!

We stopped at WalGreen's and loaded up on snacks, drinks and a Hello Kitty activity book to keep her busy.  Not too mention, she also had her Leapster 2 and DS with headphones.  She was a model child, only once did I have to remind her to be quiet.  She was playing Mario Kart with her headphones on and said "Missed me, missed me!" out loud.  I even got an email the next day from a classmate about how well behaved she was.  A proud Mommy moment ... OH YEAH!

How is your Spring Break?  I guess we get to relive them (tamer versions, of course) with our kids.  I am only working 2 days this week.  Yippee!

The rest of the story

In November, I wrote this post about our ordeal with Grant's speech issues.  He had surgery on December 1st.  Our ENT said he had so much fluid, medicine would never have cleared it, the only solution was to surgically suction it out.   On surgery day, Grant also had his adenoids removed. Within days (DAYS!), his speech was greatly improved.   People who saw him on Thanksgiving could not beleive the difference by Christmas. 

Thank goodness for parent's intuition!  What if we had gone the speech therapy route?  I am so grateful we second guessed the all powerful school for the deaf!  Our little boy is a changed child.  In the days following surgery he asked us "What dat noise?" over and over to sounds you and I take for granted ... a toilet flusing, the water running to the ice maker, rain hitting the steel of my car.   He started singing along to the radio and it's adorable.