I'm Baaaaack......

I am so excited to be back in the game!

Wow! It has been over a year since I blogged. At the time I was learning how to balance being a wife and mother, searching for a church home, coaching high school cheerleading, teaching a new grade, and taking graduate classes. At the time life was crazy and I loved it but something had to give and blogging was really the only thing I could give up at that time.

Fast forward a year (plus a lil) and my how things have changed! I am still learning how to balance being a wife, mom, and running a household (I think I will be a life long learning at these things). We have found an amazing church home that I am sure you will here about from time to time on here. It is so nice to feel settled in a church home! I love being challenged each and every Sunday while worshiping God! We are getting ready to start working in our children's and youth ministry which I am SO excited about!

I am no longer coaching cheerleading. I coached for seven years and loved each and every moment and girl that went through my program. However, when I became a mom something changed. I became lax in my focus on coaching and wasn't as driven as I once was. I always said either when a.) cheering becomes all about winning competitions at any cost b.) I couldn't do it the way I did it when I first started or c.) I couldn't devote my time to the girls and the sport the way I once did and/or d.) I truly didn't love it anymore then it would be time for me to step aside. All of those occurred except A, it was never about racking up trophies and accolades. Don't get me wrong, I loved seeing my girls hard work pay off but it was always about getting them ready to for the real world and learning how to be a lady. So I know it was time for me to step aside. At the time it was an easy choice because they would be fine with a new coach but Nolan only has one mommy. Easy Choice. But I miss my girls SO much!

I still teach, however, I am now teaching kindergarten! I am in love with kindergarten. This is my second year and I couldn't be more happy. I feel like I have found my niche. Don't get me wrong this has been a VERY challenging year. I have a young class and out of 23 only 8 went to preschool. I think this is probably my most challenging year to date but I am determined this will be one of the most rewarding. I am sure you will hear stories of my precious children from time to time as well!

I am also still taking graduate classes however this will change December 18th because I will be graduating from WKU...again! I am getting my masters in school counseling and am so exciting about the possibilities this degree affords me. I would love to work with the high school age group. When I went to school my counselor only focused on the honors track students. Well, neither of my parents went to college and I was so lost. My goal is to help each student decide what path is right for them whether it be the armed forces, tech school, community college, a state college, or Harvard. Each of them deserve my time and help.

Enough about me.

My husband is a detective and has a work ethic and drive that I hope our children obtain. His job gets to him from time to time but he is determined to make this world a better place for our kiddos.

Nolan is now 2 years old! It is such a bittersweet time for us. He is just growing, talking, and changing everyday. We are currently making plans to make his nursery into a toddler room. I always thought this would be such a sad thing but at the time it just seems natural. He is still my cuddle bug and my "gentle giant" as I like to call him. He is all boy but the sweetest and most affectionate boy I know. He just turned 2 and is 37 inches long and 33 pounds, the size of an average 3 year old according to his doctor. He is our world and we are so blessed to call him ours.

These days life is still crazy but I am content. I feel that I am better able to balance the things that mean the most to me. Blogging has drifted in and out of my consciousness for the last month but it always seems to end up back on my mind or to-do list. I feel that God is leading me to write this either for others or just for myself down the road. This time I will not put the pressure on myself like I did last time to blog everyday and be a rockstar blogger like some of the bloggers I admire so much, comment back on every comment, or always be grammatically correct (not my strongest area). It is just an outlet for me to look back on one day and smile.

I hope you are ready to join on us on our journey...again :)

Day of Silence for Baby Cohen

On The Road Again

Somedays it is nice to do something besides just stay at home. So the other day we decided to head to Evansville for the day.

Evansville, IN is about 40 minutes north of Owensboro. From Hartford, it takes a little over an hour. Nolan used the drive to take a much needed nap and I got a chance to listen to a wonderful worship cd my sweet niece Allie made me. It was so refreshing and made for such an uplifting drive.

I packed Nolan around with me all day. We went to some of my favorite spots: Marshalls, BBB, Eastland Mall, Stein Mart, BRU, TJ Maxx, and Target. We definetly made a day of it!

Nolan was a champ! He only had one major meltdown in Old Navy towards the end of our mall excursion. He was wanting out of his stroller so bad. So I decided to try a couple of things on and let him out. So we headed to the dressing rooms so I could cry at the sight of my pastyness and thighs and so he could play for awhile. Ironic: his crying stopped and mine began. I hate dressing room lighting. Could they be any worse?


Mid-meltdown


Yes, my son is sitting on the dressing room floor, shoeless, and playing with a piece of a tag that he found on the floor. Geez, I must have been desperate because I usually have a little bit of dignity. Let's face it, sometimes you do whatever works. And this worked for about 5 minutes. :)

Our last stops were to TJ Maxx and Target. I parked between them so I didn't have to drag him in and out of the car so much. Have I mentioned he weighs 24 lbs? That's a whole other post. Anyways, this was on our way to Target. To avoid another meltdown he took over the puffs and kept himself entertained. Disaster averted!


We headed home after those stores put made a quick pitstop at my parents. I decided they could visit and I could feed him supper and change his diaper. A win-win situation! Gammy loved on her little man and rested for a minute. Then I grabbed some dinner at The Big Dipper, which also deserves its own post as well. And we headed home for bathtime and bedtime!



I can say we were both tuckered out after a long day! I think we will both sleep well tonight!

And so sorry for the poor picture quality I have 2 wonderful cameras that my laptop refuses to recognize so you are left with iPhone pics. Crappy pics are better than no pics!

Jump on it

Someone I know has got reaquainted with thier old friend the jumparoo! They had thier issues for a while put praise jesus they have ironed out everything and are bffs again!





This is one happy kiddo and one productive momma!

Happy Monday!

Summer vacation

School has been out for a couple of weeks and I have got a lot done but still have so much to do!
I have:
Cleaned our bedroom
Organized our hall closet
Cleaned Nolans room and closet
Finished 2 masters classes
Cleaned our living room
Nolans 9 month pictures
Visited matts family in Louisville

However

I still need to:

Clean and oraganize the kitchen
Clean and organize classroom
Learn to sew
Make classroom and living room
curtains
Order cheer stuff
Take Nolan to the zoo and a reds game
Learn how to use my cricut
Catch up on scrapbooks

As you can see I have done some but still have a lot to accomplish. It may seem like a lot, and it is. However, a list keeps me on track, accountable, and organized. I keep lists everywhere my head, scrap paper aka a random reciept found at the bottom of my purse, on my calendar, on our refrigerator.

Do lists help keep you on track?


This is proof that I cleaned out nolans closet. And these are only 6-9 month clothes. The boy has more clothes than matt and I put together!

Happy DaDa Day!

Today was another first! I love first's. Today we celebrated Matt's first fathers day!

I am so lucky to be married to a man who sets such a good example for Nolan. He is honest, hard working, hilarious, and Godly man. He has always put his family as his first priority. I'll never forget when Matt saw Nolan for the first time or the pride he had the first time Nolan said "dada". I fell in love all over again with Matt when I watched him become a father.

Nolan is blessed to have such a loving and protective "dada" that loves him without end. I can see them in a few years fishing, playing catch, and watching sports together. Nolan has a wonderful example of what a man and father should be!

Nolan and I are truly blessed!

P.S. To my 2 readers who read this...my summer school is over and I am back from my hiatus. Lots to catch you up on!

Prominating

I have to take a minute to brag on my girls! Last night was their prom and they looked ahhhhmazing! I was so impressed with how well they looked and acted. They looked so classy and acted the part too!

Every year I try to make it to prom to see the girls and grab a couple of pictures. This year was no different! I didn't make it to the actual prom but I made it to see them and snap some pics! I am always so excited to see their dresses, hair, flowers, dates, and jewelry that I have heard about for so long.

This year did not disappoint! They looked FABULOUS!!!

I love how each of thier dresses perfectly match their personalities!

It was a masquerede them so each girl had a gorgeous mask that matched their dress!

Some of the girls on the river front. What a beautiful crew with a beautiful background!

I had to still these off of facebook since my camera and computer are still not getting along. I still haven't seen all the girls pictures yet but when I do I will add them on here too!

Any girl can get dolled up in a beautiful dress, heels, and make-up but to be truely beautiful they have to have the personality and character to back it up. I am so honored to work with such a beautiful, talented, motivated, christian, and classy ladies!