First Day of School and Family Updates...Finally....

Its been a while since I have posted, and oh, how I miss my blog.  The kids keep us busy.  Life keeps us busy, so much so that sometimes I forget about me. 

I will start off with a few pictures from the first day of school.  If you take a second to look at my post from 2010, you will be shocked at just how much they have changed in a year.  They aged years in just one, very short, year. 

B's first day of school

M's first day of school

M's second day of school (notice the outfit - some things just aren't worth arguing about)

Over the last couple of weeks, we have been celebrating M's b-day.  Yes, you read it correctly.  This kid has had the birthday that just won't quit.  Party, after party, after party.....he is a simple boy.  He would have been happy with cake and ice-cream, but when you throw gifts into the mix, it makes for one happy, albeit slightly overwhelmed little boy!

A few months ago, I blogged about all of the changes going on in our lives.  So, a quick update:

House

Still "For Sale," although I have been strongly considering taking it off the market until after the holidays.  We haven't had many showings, and other than one crazy lady who has seen it 3 times now, not a whole lot of interest.  Its not our house, but it is very much about the town that we live in.  Bummer.  Back in 2003, I sold my first place all by myself.  No realtor, no 3rd parties, just a simple transaction between me and another young couple.  With technology, I wonder how much need there really is for a realtor to get involved (sorry for all the realtors in blogland....please don't take offense).  The bottom line is that the vast majority of buyers are searching MLS on the internet first, and are then making the decision to see, or not see, any given house.  I can do this for $98...a far cry from ten thousand plus dollars any one of us would be paying to their agent.  The second part of this equation is figuring out where we want to be.  I am completely and utterly torn between diversity and a good school system.  Is it possible to have both?  Absolutely, but in Massachusetts, you are going to pay for it.  Unfortunately, the good, diverse school systems (with a 4 bedroom home, 2 car garage and yard) are well out of our price range (like Town N, Town M, and Town B).  The area that we have grown to love has the good schools, but not so much diversity.  Umph.

Work

I don't love my job.  I knew I was taking a risk when I went back to Company A, where I was employed for 5 years back in 2000.  However, I came back.  Its close to my house (30 minutes), and, my travel schedule is almost non-existant, and this is the primary reason why I changed jobs to begin with.  Last month, the current manager of my previous job hunted me down and has since recruited me to join his team.  Although its not the best career move, I happily obliged and will be starting my new job, within the same company, on November 1st.

Adoption

I haven't talked a whole lot about adoption #2 for child #3.  Its not that I am not excited about it, it is that my life is so busy right now, that I don't think about it morning, noon, and night.  This is good for my mental health.  With all of the changes going on in Ethiopia right now, there are way too many critics, and I don't want to be targeted for a personal decision.  I believe International Adoption can work.  Hell, I know it does work.  No matter what the program, no matter what agency, there are faults.  I wish I could say otherwise.  Our children have validated their story, but, as a parent to two children who I love dearly, I still have questions.....for them, and for us.  When adoption #2 happens, we are planning to visit their birth family (with M & B), to gather more information and ask more questions.

Yes, we are on the wait list.  Its been a couple months now.  I don't expect a referral until next summer, at the earliest.

The dreaded 4-letter "D" word: Diet

Husband and I continue to diet.  Its been 46 days, not that I am counting or anything.  We haven't been as strict as we were for the first 4 weeks; however, I have cut my portions significantly.  I have pretty much eliminated bread and pasta (I have cheated, but its few and far between).  No more soda.  Very few sweet treats (it didn't help that M has had 3 parties this month).  And, I have started to exercise.  One decent walk in the morning with Ellie-dog, and then, if I eat more than I should (like twice this weekend), a second walk on the treadmill.  Husband is down about 22 pounds.  Last I checked (maybe a week ago), I was down 15.5 pounds.  Still have a ways to go though....

As I said before, life has been busy, but it has been good too!