Annoying Neighbor

This young woman has set up residence at the back of our property.  Not only is she destroying our rock wall by expanding her home but she is RAISING HER FAMILY there as well!  We have 4 groundhogs living in our yard.  Heaven help our garden this year!  As Disco contemplates his assault on our furry neighbors I hear the voice of Kenny Loggins singing "I'm alright, nobody worry 'bout me. Why you got to gimme a fight? Can't you just let it be?"

Transitions

So . . .  our house has been in full on "transition mode" as we ALL adjust to mommy's new job.  I'm feeling much better at this point and the constant worry and tears (mostly after hours) have subsided.  I don't think I was prepared for the "culture shock" I would experience.  Uprooting after 14 years really was a bigger change than I anticipated.  But I love the new folks I work with and I am starting to enjoy some of the work I do.  Progress :)

People ask me all the time "how do you do it?"  Either in regards to trying to balance school/work/family or more recently in my current work/part time work/family.  I don't have a good explanation.  Because a lot of times it is difficult and I have to accept not being able to do everything to the best of my ability.  Which is actually pretty hard for me because I like to do my best.  When it boils down to it I don't do this alone - I have a GREAT support system.  Disco has really been a BIG support and taken on extra household duties and roles with the kiddos to make this work.  And of course our family has stepped up time and time again to listen, support, and truly be the extended family our kiddos need right now. 

One positive out of all of this transition is that I have stepped back and watched Disco be the sweetest dad.  He has taken on the responsibility of picking up little man for soccer - we all go to the practice/games but Disco has the tedious job of getting those darn soccer socks on little man!  Disco also took some very special pictures for big sis' room.  She is going to LOVE these when we print them for her walls.  So I'm feeling pretty lucky these days to have a partner and best friend like Disco to be there during the ups and downs of job transitions and family life!  :)

Disco's pictures for big sis' room:

A Wonderful Father

He would spend every day reading "Green Eggs and Ham" to our kiddos if they would let him :)

Happy Father's Day Disco!

The Empire Strikes Breakfast

We usually take extra time for big breakfast adventures on the weekend.  And this is the latest addition to our whole grain pancake making process.   May the force be with your morning rituals this weekend!

Upgrade

Disco added cupholders to his daddy daycare "boxcar" or as he calls it "the movie theater". Surround sound may be next . . . and if he buys a popcorn machine I know this is a permanent fixture in the house!

Disco Dyn-o-mite!

I'm very proud to announce that Disco's picture of little man won third place in a local cutest kids photo contest! He works as hard on his craft as a full time working father of two kiddos can. There are permanent photography fixtures scattered throughout our house - I find cords, photos, lenses, tripods, lights, and memory cards everywhere. Since our rascals have come along Disco's photography subjects have switched from bugs and leaves to babies - one of these days we will get those kiddos out in the bugs and leaves again. But here is the "uncropped" version of his fabulous indoor shot that placed third (sorry, I don't have a copy of the submitted version):

Congratulations Disco!

A Late Graduation Post

Congratulations Disco! After 6 years (which included a long hiatus due to the birth and sleepless nights caused by two kiddos) he has completed his MPH. We are all very proud of daddy around here! And I think he is proud too since he is already using statements like "in a family with a PhD and a MASTERS we should be able to do or figure out or fix" blank. Little does he know that my degree means I might know a lot about one thing but HANDY I am not (I could if I really tried, and I do love using my hands in the lab and in the garden but who needs to do any "fix-it" projects with Disco around to figure it out). It just means Disco has household fix-it man/problem solver job security!

Disco and His Proud Parents as Convocation