Time is speeding by and some days I would like it to go in slow motion, especially the times I get to spend with Gwyn. The one huge advantage of my new job and work arrangements is that I get to spend more time with Gwyn. Even if I work probably about the same amount of hours as I did last year between teaching, office hours, preparing tests and lessons, and working for the Stallings, my jobs are extremely flexible. I usually come home for lunch when I can and can do a lot of my school work during naps on Sunday or in the evenings during the week.
Update on Me – The semester is almost over and I can’t hardly believe it. I’m down to my last chapter and only one more full week before Thanksgiving. Next semester, I teach 2 classes of Financial and 2 classes of Managerial Accounting. The one down side to next semester is that they have me teaching 3 out of the 4 classes in Brewster which is an older building with limited smart classrooms and of course my classroom is not equipped with a projector. So I will toting around a projector if I can get one everyday! Other than this small down side, I’m looking forward to my next semester!
I got back into running but am sad to say that with the rain and sheer laziness on my part that I haven’t ran in about 2 weeks. I hope to get out some this week. I finished a 5k (3.1 miles) under 30 minutes a couple weeks ago which is pretty good for me since I usually run a 10 minute mile. I came 6 out of 20 in my age group. I’m running another 5k on December 6th so I need to start preparing again.
Update on Brian – Brian is waiting to get into Substitute Orientation for Pitt County. He is going to the offices tomorrow because numerous calls has led no where. We can probably get Gwyn daily care if needed between now and January. In January, we may be able to get Gwyn back in daycare while a mother pulls her child out since she is having a baby. I’m still hoping for good things! In the mean time, Brian is selling more stuff on Ebay and we are thankful that we seem to sell everything we put up whether we have to list it twice or not.
Other than job hunting, Brian is staying home with Gwyn and they are learning lots of new things. We are working on colors, more animal recognition and sounds, more body parts and features, and pretend play.
Update on Gwyn – Gwyn turned 2 on November 1st! So hard to believe that two years has gone by so quickly! We had a party on Halloween for her birthday. It was extremely low key which is what we wanted. We had pizza, chips & dip, and some applies with caramel dip. When I said really low key, I meant it! We had cake and ice cream for dessert. It really was just family and close family friends!
Later on that evening, we went to Ashley and Sunny’s new house for a Halloween party and trick or treating. I made Gwyn’s costume again this year. She was a lion while Layla was Dorothy. We were to have a tin man and scarecrow but that didn’t happen. At any rate, Gwyn was not happy at first about her costume but I can’t say I blame her. It was 70 plus degrees still at 6 pm and she is hot natured anyway. But once we got the costume on her, she was happy to wear it; however, she doesn’t look very happy in any of the pictures we took that evening!
Gwyn is learning so much every day. She loves to read so we are always looking for a good deal on books. She talked grandma into reading for 45 minutes one evening when she put Gwyn to bed! Secret is that she talks me into almost every day! She just loves to sit and look at the pictures and she is starting to remember the books. Aunt Bonnie bought her some books last year that are short and easy for Gwyn to carry around. The one is about an elephant that sneezes at the end and she remembers that the elephant goes “Aa-a-atchoo” at the end and says it now when she looks at that page.
Gwyn is still in gymnastics and loves it! She loves to roll and jump. She is getting to be such a good jumper now that she isn’t scared and is even learning to do seat drops on the trampoline. She also mastered the ladder this month. She used to step over the rungs onto the floor until she couldn’t reach anymore then I would lift her up. Now she knows to use the side for her hands and the rungs for her feet to get to the top.
Here are some pictures from Gwyn’s birthday and more of Halloween! Hope you enjoy until next time.
And my favorite… “Cheese!!” (from Brian)
