August 21, 2026

Back to work for me :)

It's a big year for us; a transitional year with a long story.  I'll try to keep it short...Ben and I have talked for years about starting the ball rolling on my next career when the boys got to high school, in hopes that when Colin graduates, I'll already have something in the works and not be completely aimless.  I haven't known/still don't know exactly what my next career will be, but I'm thankful for the opportunity to get the ball rolling.  I spent the summer researching, working on my resume and praying.  I knocked on several doors that I thought were for sure the answer, but all doors closed.  Then, a fellow Chaplain wife, shared with me that the school she works at, was looking for an 'Educational Assistant'.  It seemed like it could be a good fit for me; part-time, Christian curriculum and working with kiddos one-on-one.  So I applied to Tri-City Christian school and after a 3 hour interview with the Early Childhood Education director, I was hired.  The funny part is, we talked for hours about challenges she was seeing in kids and how I could help address them, but I was never really given a job description.  I'm learning that this is common in new jobs.

Here are the teachers I am working with:


Everyone is lovely and been so great to work with.  The school sent us to a conference in Orange county and we pulled up to the most beautiful church.  Somehow I got I paid to spend the evening here.


I am primarily helping Mrs. Schillinger's class and I spent a few weeks helping her set up her classroom.  She was in need of a white board and I was able to donate the one Ben made for me years ago.  It makes me so happy to see it go to good use.


I'm learning a lot about being back in the workforce and adjusting to having 2 jobs.  I am loving working with kiddos and being able to help teachers, but I am still thankful every single moment that I homeschool my own kids.

And my amazing kids (and Ben too) are the reason that I can do this.  They have jumped in with helping cook dinners, run errands and clean up the house, while also starting school and going to jobs.


Alison made us dinner one night from her new Trader Joe's cookbook.



One teacher asked me, "So your boys are okay being home by themselves?" and I said, "Of course!" because they really are!  The don't fight or get into trouble and are able to take care of themselves.  They get their work done without me nagging them and obey quickly when I need to remind them to do something.  However, it did make me laugh that after she asked that, they decided to spend their afternoon building "go-carts".  They may not start a fire in the house, but they might break an arm playing this game.



First Day of School!


Can you believe it?!?!  Both boys are in high school!!!


They both did an amazing job jumping back into work.  They get extra points for school right now because it's hot and humid and our house is sticky and not the most comfortable to be sitting and writing...and that's an example of a poor run on sentence, but they are doing great!


 

August 2, 2026

Alison's 19th birthday





Ben made Alison this hilarious portrait of Maya for her some-day apartment. 




I got her a cute butter dish :)
And big news, Alison is switching jobs this week and begins work at Target.  Ben got her this sweater for her new job.



We had a family, plus Aaliyah, dinner of hawaiian kabobs and then funfetti cake.



Happy Birthday Alison!  We love you!

 

August 1, 2026

Maya at the dog beach


We have been talking about taking Maya back to the dog beach for years and somehow haven't made it happen.  We even had to rearrange some plans just to make this evening happen, but it was all worth it.  It was a perfect evening and so great to have some time with all of us together.








And we quickly remembered why we don't take Maya to things like this.  She might be an old lady now, but she is still so awkward.  She has a certain cry that she only does when her pack is in water.  She made this sound the entire time we were there!

July 18, 2026

Flower picking


Alison came with me to a Chaplain's wives meet up at the flower field.  They said kids were welcome...so I brought my kid :)


It was a perfect day for flower picking and fun to find this farm.  It's only 10 minutes from our house but I had no idea it was here.



One of the ladies in our group just had her first baby and she brought her for us all to meet.  It's pretty great day when you get to sit and hold a baby in a flower field!


 

Eli's first job!

This is my only documentation...I caught him on his way out the door for work.


Mr. LaRusso, from our church, has hired Eli to help him with construction on their house.  He's been going over several days a week to help tear down walls, move concrete, remove flooring and dig a trench.  Basically Eli is his secondhand man to help in some heavy duty work.  It's a great job for a teen boy and I'm so proud of him for jumping in and learning new skills.


 

July 3, 2026

Yuma visit

The White's left a few things at our house when they came to visit, so the boys and I took up the excuse to make a little trip over.  First stop, Chili Peppers!  We stocked up on burritos to take back home.

          

I got a hotel room with some points we had and the boys spent the afternoon in the pool.


It was "only" 100, but the boys still spent the rest of the day playing inside.  Only in Yuma do you play corn hole inside.




Laurel and I went out to dinner, while the boys partied with some pizza and Apples to Apples.





 

June 28, 2026

Life lately

Ben had surgery on his ankle and has been resting at home for the last few weeks.  Recovery is going well and we're looking forward to his full recovery.


Eli has started to join Alison and I on our thrifting adventures.  He's been flipping Legos and made a pretty good little business out of it.  This day Alison also enlightened him to dirty soda. 


Evening jam sessions have been a thing and I absolutely love it.


Summer is for Minecraft and the boys have been playing a lot virtually with their friends.  Also, the story of Colin's life continues and we are constantly trying to get more meat on his bones.


 

June 17, 2026

Colin's Birthday, pt 2

Happy 14th Birthday!!!

It's not so fun having a birthday on Sunday and you have to spend the morning at church, but James came home with us and we had a fun afternoon!  Ben had smoked pork ready to go for lunch.


Then, we went to play mini golf.




For dinner, Colin requested chicken piccata and then we opened presents.


Sour Patch kids have become a household favorite :)
Ben got Colin a box full of new clothes and he got the biggest hug.



Then we had the rest of the cake.


And that face he's making...I see that face a lot.  Perhaps some day I'll understand why.