Halloween 2012

We returned from Disney World the day before Halloween.  So, that Wednesday, the kids had Singing Coyotes practice, swim lessons, and Ally's piano lesson.  On top of all of this, we still had to carve pumpkins before going trick or treating.  But in our awesomeness we got it all done.

Ryan was had chosen to be Darth Maul from Star Wars for Halloween.  We had bought his costume a few weeks before leaving for Disney World.  However, in Disney World he rode the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and became infatuated with Jack Sparrow.  So after much begging, we bought him a Jack Sparrow costume, which he chose to wear for Halloween.  Ally was Robin from Teen Titans.  I made her costume for her.  My nephew Daniel came over to our house to go trick or treating with us.  He was a baby monster, like he was last year.  A different type of monster though.

Here are the kids last Halloween.  You can see that Daniel was a  different type of monster.

The kids had a fun time trick or treating through the neighborhood.  Although I am always amazed, or shocked, how quickly my kids putter out on trick or treating.  Ryan usually quits after about 12 houses and Ally quits after about 15 houses.  Baby Daniel quit after his first Tootsie Pop.  These kids sure can't trick or treat like we did back when ;)

How is the MS?

Well, it depends the day you ask me.  I have actually been planning to write this post for some time. Some days I was going to title it "MS Sucks".  Other days I was going to title it "In God's hands".  It just depended on my attitude that specific day.

So, if you did not know by now, I am no longer working.  I took a year off for the 2010-2011 school year (one year after being diagnosed with MS).  I went back to work, full-time, for the 2011-2012 school year.  Within a month of working I started to realize that my fatigue was really impacting my job and home life.  So, I asked my principal if I could work part-time starting in the Spring semester.  I found even with working part-time I was hurting.  Not just with the fatigue, but actually physically hurting.  I had such terrible nerve pain.   In March I had to give my letter of intent for the upcoming school year.  I prayed asking God for guidance.  I enjoyed working.  I enjoyed teaching.  I enjoyed the students.  But, my family life was being negatively impacted.  And in that I got my answer.  There were times I had to actually tell Ally and Ryan not to touch me because the pain would radiate to wherever they were putting pressure on me.  So I put my resignation letter in, finished the school year, and became a stay at home mom.

Staying home this time is different from when I took the year off because it seems so permanent.  But, I am fortune that I do not need to work.  Henry's job provides nicely for our family.  So how is the MS?  Well, I definitely do not have as much energy.  I tire out very easily.  Some days are harder than others.  I try to go for a walk, around the neighborhood a few times of the week.  But there have been a few days here and there where I walk about half a block and have to turn around because my body is exhausted (even though I woke up just 2 hours earlier).  I take a nap almost everyday.  My new neurologist has prescribe something for the nerve pain, which is definitely helping.  But, I just constantly feel like I can not accomplish as much as I want to.  And my memory and thought process  just seems so cloudy.

But like I said, I am fortunate that I can stay home.  I am fortunate that my MS is not as bad as it could be.  I can still drive (which a friend of mine with MS can not).  I volunteer at the kids school to stay busy. I am still volunteering with AWANA.  And I have such caring and loving friends and family.  Blessed.

I just need to remember the lyrics to one of my favorite songs, My Savior, My God, whenever I am struggling.

I am not skilled to understand
What God has willed, what God has planned

I only know at His right hand, Stands one who is my Savior 

Disney World 2012

Henry, the kids and I went to Disney World at the end of October.  This was our second time vacationing at Disney World.  I tell people that we messed up on our Disney trips by going to Disney World in 2009 then Disneyland in 2011.  The reason I say we "messed up" is because Magic Kingdom at Disney World is an exact replica of Disneyland.  So, when we went to Disneyland after Disney World, it had a feeling as if we had all ready been there before.  So why return to Disney World?  Only because it has 4 major theme parks plus Downtown Disney!  In 2009 my favorite theme park was Epcot.  But this time my favorite park was Magic Kingdom.  When we went in 2009 my parents went with us.  So we had built in baby-sitting.  This time it was just the four of us.  The first time we went to Disney World Ryan rode all the roller coasters with Henry (he was only 4 years old!)  But this time, Ryan would not get anywhere near a coaster.  But now, Ally rode all the roller coasters with Henry.  It was neat to see how their interests and our interests had changed.  Also, the first time we went to Disney World we took tons of pictures.  In fact, I just looked at my blog posts from Disney World 2009 and saw that I blogged a different post for each theme park.  Not this time.  We did not take as many pictures.  Also, all of Disney World 2012 will be blogged on one post ;)

So without further adieu, here is our Disney World 2012.

Our first night at Disney World, at the Laua.

At Hollywood Studios.

At Epcot.

At Animal Kingdom.

At Magic Kingdom.

I love this pic.  These 2 so rarely hug each other.

 

Me and my very own Jack Sparrow.

The funny part of this picture and the previous 2 is we had no idea who these characters are.  We were hungry and stopped by a restaurant which was geared toward pre-school children.  My kids are so past this stage (Disney Jr.).

Picking Mr. Potato Head's nose.  Of course Henry set-up this picture.

At the princess' luncheon.

The best part of the princess lunch for Ryan.

Can you tell Ryan did not want to take a picture with a princess?

Let us out.

Whoooooa!!!!

The Pumpkin Patch

I know.  I am way behind on blogging.  I go through these phases where I have no desire to blog for months.  Guess I'm finishing one of these phases now.  Hopefully  :)

Well, in the middle of October Henry and I took the kids to the pumpkin patch in Moriarty.  We have been going to this specific pumpkin patch since Ally was just a little over a year old.

We went when Ally was 2, but not when she was 3, because we had 4-month old Baby Ryan and Baby Ryan hated being in his car seat.  There was no way we were going to attempt the drive to Moriarty.  We did go when Ryan was 16 months old.  In fact, we spent the night in a hotel in Moriarty. That is how much we love this pumpkin patch.

We have missed a year here or there for various reasons.  But, we did go this year.

Ally turns 10!

Ahhh, my daughter has moved into double digits in her age.  A decade?  Really?  That's how long ago I gave birth to this beautiful girl?  Wow.  They weren't lying when they said time will fly.

So Ally is now officially a "tween".  And is she living up to that label.  She has gotten into all the tween shows on the Disney Channel and Nickeloden.  She talks in her "Valley Girl" accent.  And she is getting sarcastic.  The other day she was really pushing the limits and I sternly said "Alexandra!"  She know when I use her full name that she is pushing it.  Usually, she would stop whatever she was doing to require a her full first name.  Not this time.  As I finished "Alexandra", she said, "Katie Monroy". Yes, she just completed her whole name without a blink of an eye.  I guess she is just prepping me for the soon to be here teen years.

Ally is now in 4th grade.  She is an excellent student who tries her hardest to do well in school.  She is still in AWANA and we are in the process of setting up piano lessons for her.  She has such a funny, giggly personality.  I see her becoming more confident in who she is.  Even though I see the "teen" in here, she is still very much a little girl.  She still loves baby dolls and her American Girl dolls.  She loves to draw.  She has many drawing kits and books.  I hope this is an interest of hers that continues to grow.  She has begun to sew and is trying to learn to knit.

Even at 10 years old she continues to sleep walk (at least once a week).  In the morning we will find her in our bed and when asked when or why she came to our bed, she doesn't remember.  When she is stressed (which she can still obsess regarding change), her sleep walking is as frequent as 5 times per week.  Sometimes Henry and I will be watching TV in the living room and Ally will sleep walk into the room, say something random, then lie on the couch and go back to sleep.  Every morning she climbs into bed with me (Henry is all ready at work) and cuddles with me.  Oh, I just hope she doesn't get too old for this.

Happy Birthday my sweet, beautiful little girl.  I love you to the moon and back.

First Day of School 2012

Well, my Ally has started 4th grade and Ryan is now in 2nd grade.  They are growing up way too fast.

The classic standing in front of the house "First Day of School" photo in front of the house.

And the picture in front of the school.

I was too slow getting a picture of Ryan and his friend hugging.  

Since I didn't post a picture of Ryan hugging his friend it is only right that I don't post the picture of Ally and her friend hugging.  So here they are with big 4th grade thumbs up.

Daniel is One!

My baby Daniel has turned one!  He had a Mickey Mouse birthday party with family.  I'm not saying he's spoiled, but. . .  Oh never mind.  I spoil the heck out of that kid, we all do.

Look, my mom made me a cake shaped like Mickey's Clubhouse.

Yum, Mickey's ear tastes good.

Wow, now my own chocolate cake!

Opening gifts with my aunt Katie.

My family on my dad's side came all the way from Taos to see me.

And so did my grandma, grandpa and great grandma.

And this is what I looked like one year ago.