Brooks Family Update

WOW! Can we say whirlwind? Life has been both hectic and crazy yet fun all at the same time. So since we haven't talked to many lately here is what is going on.

Paul is still working like crazy - the plant is now on 24 hour shifts till the project is done - hence my poor husband is working 12-16 hour days right now. He still finds time to make it home on my school nights, complete homework with the kids and still help out around the house - how? I am not quite sure. One day he still envisions finishing the basement and putting in a band room with the bar, lighting and stage of his dreams - the whole family is excited. Yesterday the whole family pulled all of the dead weeds, raked the leaves and turned off all of the outside water to prepare for the winter. He really has grown a lot since we met almost two years ago. He has been an amazingly supportive and understanding husband and father and giving the situation that he was thrown into he will always be my hero. The kids and Paul have built this really amazing bond where Alexys would rather talk to dad than me. Let just say he over works, he cooks, he cleans, does homework with the kids and still makes time to help me study for my courses - some days I wonder how I found him and why it wasn't sooner.

Alexys and Chandler - those poor kids. We started of the school year pretty rocky with a new school that didn't have the same educational goals for our children as we did. On Tuesday Alexys and Chandler started a new school, Meadow Elementary - they are Mustangs now and this seems to be a much better fit for the both of them. Sadly they can no longer walk to and from school (which I am sure that they will appreciate come winter) and instead they ride "short" bus - no jokes about it around them - it is a sore subject.

Alexys' new teacher is Miss Hooker - Alexys loves her new school and her new 4th grade class. She now wants to earn money to start Karate with the neighbor girls. Since we have moved out here she has made a whole new slue of friends and often is gone playing with someone or having a sleep over at grandma's. We don't know what we would do without my mom lately as she has take the kids a lot! Alexys is happy as can be and can't wait to turn 10 in December - something about the double digits scares me.

Chandler's new teacher is Miss Franson, he has been moved to a small group teaching unit and after only two days has fit right in with his classmates and is doing well. We were blessed when we found Chandler's tutor Mary who comes to our home a couple of days a week to tutor him on his reading, writing and spelling. In just a couple of short months he has excelled so much, he is really starting to catch on. He is 8 and in 2nd grade this year and while still behind on reading and writing is excelling and interested in math - Paul and I really believe that he will do well. Poor kid has had overtime on education as he sits with Mary for 2-3 hours a week and then Paul and I also supplement his education with 6-8 hours of home reading, writing, spelling and math but he has done well with it.

I am still at my same old job with DWS attempting to save the world - all the while trying really hard to get through this semester of college. Anatomy & Physiology has been killing me. I really have enjoyed my Social Work class lately and am sure that this is the field I want to pursue for my adult career one day. Work has been hectic - we recently were all moved to new teams with new supervisors and cases. I have determined that I don't mind helping my new 300+ customers however I really liked and miss my old caseload of 300 customers - it is hard after building a bond with customers for two years trading caseloads with someone else. I guess I need to be positive and look at it as I have the opportunity to make a difference in my new customers lives just like I did with the others. But still... GRRR! LOL

All in all our family is still doing quite well, we have all had our ups and downs but that is also what keeps us all on our toes. We are planning and hoping to spend the Thanksgiving holidays with the Brooks Family in Richland, Oregon. The kids are begging for snow so they can go sledding. We are planning to have our first Christmas married in our new home this year - so that will be really exciting - now we will have to see if we can find time for Paul to hang the Christmas lights or put up the tree with his new work schedule.

We miss our family and friends and hope that they all understand that we have not forgotten them but have been building a family and a home. Time has just blown right by us. We wish everyone well and if we don't have a chance to see you have a safe and happy holiday season!!

The Brooks

one semester and 10 credits to go

I am super stoked - today I was doing a degree evaluation online and found out that after this semester that I only have 10 credits to go and then I can graduate with my AS in May!!! I knew that I had been going to school for a while - honestley I started Fall Semester 2005 and will finish Spring of 2008 but I was going part time for my first year and a half - I never thought that I would see the light at the end of the tunnel however today I have.

So here is my new game plan -
May 2008 graduate from SLCC with an AS in General Studies
May 2009 graduate from SLCC with an AA in Spanish and Social Work
and sometime between here and there I need to figure out which University I am going to go to so that I can continue on and get my BS & BA in Social Work & Spanish.

I am excited - school really is going to pay off - By 2010 I can go for my LCSW and work for a clinic to help young families and children in need - all my my life, career and educational goals are starting to pay off figuratiely not financially because I am simply not in it for the money.

Off to study -

Saturday was Fishing

Saturday was fishing for the boys. We all woke up really early, Chandler was dressed and ready to go fishing with his dad! I fixed Chandler some breakfast and made both Paul and Chandler lunches with plenty of snacks. They took off headed to Strawberry Res. about six in the morning.

On the other hand, I enjoyed an empty house since Alexys was at my moms and Chandler and Paul were fishing. I watch some girly moview on Lifetime Moview Network, then I completed a couple of my homework assignments, then I was off to get pampered. I was really just going to get my nails filled however ended up getting a pedicure too. I felt really revived.

Okay so back to fishing, the boys came home early; about four. Paul said that he caught and released a couple of rainbow trout that were about 20 inches long, Chandler on the other hand decided that he was bored of fishing off of the boat and decided that he wanted to be the fish catcher and use the net to help Paul and his boss get the fish onto the boat. Chandler came home wet so I wondered if he had fallen off of the boat, Paul said that he let him jump in after they were all done, not from the boat though - he played in the water from the shore. I was shocked that Paul let Chandler ride home on his leather seats all wet but it sounds like they had some real good father son bonding time!!!

Chandler's 8th Birthday

Today was Chandler's 8th Birthday! I can't believe how big he has grown and how quick. Chandler is in second grade, a little behind however really coming along. He woke up this morning and said mom where's my case. I told him that he had his cake when we had his birthday part with his friends however that we were going to have ice cream and sing to him. He was content with this and went to school.

Today Chandler came home from school with a large purple envelope. Inside were birthday cards that all of his class mates had made for him today while in school. Chandler and I sat down and went through all of these. Several had pictures, several were from boys in his class saying how cool he was however half of them were from girls in his class that said that they really liked him and think he is cute. I thought that this was just the cutest thing ever.

Tonight we had Chinese Food for dinner as Chandler got to pick his favorite food for us to have. Unfortunately he had to do homework after dinner and before ice cream however still he was very content. Paul gave him a Play Station for his birthday and I really think that his made his day!

It is hard to believe that just eight years ago that this little man came into my world - tears... I remember those days and miss them dearly - I am glad that I am in a position that I have more time at home to really enjoy the rest of these years as my children grow up; and to think that each year that they grow I do too.

Saturday

Today Paul and I took Chandler to the Ranches to hit a bucket of balls. I attempted and missed quite a few shots. I also ended up getting some icky blisters on my thumbs - GRRR!

We also went to out Hakala Family Reunion - it was nice to see family members from my mom's side that I haven't seen in a while and I finally got them their thank you notes from the wedding gifts that they gave us. Found out that my brother Kam won his game today 37-0, I am so proud of him! Alexys was on the side lines cheering her little heart out and sending around the touch down can. Mom decided to take Alexys over night, then Grandma said that she wanted to take Chandler - bonus for Paul and me!!

Paul and I went to Best Buy and bought me a new PC for home/school so as my old was was becoming a dinosour or at least runnng like one.

All in all we had a pretty good weekend!!

My Class was GREAT!!!

Last night I went to my first class with SLCC. I am majoring in Social Work; last night was my first of my social work classes and was exciting. I was worried that the teacher would not be able to keep my interest and that I would be skipping classes since my class is on the Redwood Campus which is over an hour away. HOWEVER - I loved the class - the teacher is awesome and I will be making sure that I do not miss any of my classes -

Apparently being optimistic is imperative.

Happy trails to a new semester of classes.

GOOD SCHOOL DAY

Both kids made it home from school together without any issues. They didn't get lost on their way home or anything. LOL Only complaint was that they didn't make too many friends - I asked if they tried to make friends and both commented that they were too scared to talk to anyone. I am sure that with all things that this too shall pass and that they will have an armful of friends by the end of the week.

Now lets see if I can make it through my first day of school tomorrow night... EEK!

First Day of School

Today was Alexys and Chandler's first day of school. I thought for sure that Chandler going into second grade would have a harder time than Alexys who started fourth grade. It was so the opposite - Chandler sat down in his new desk and waved me on and asked that I didn't embarass him whereas Alexys totally freaked out when it was time for me to leave.

It is funny how you think that you have prepared your children physically and emotional for the start of school whereas it was yourself that you needed to be sure was emotionally prepared.

Soon they will be home - I have been lost today without them. The house was quiet and I got a lot of work done without anyone knocking on my office door - I miss them like crazy!