OK... so I haven't posted anything for almost 3 months. HEY! They were 3 really busy months!
My personal time has freed up a bit, so let me catch you all up to date on all things Hailey and beyond.
First of all, Nathan got a new job... well... kind of a new job. Same company, just a 'forced, lateral job shift'. So, this past summer/fall have been a little tense. We really didn't know what was coming. While we were pretty confident he would keep his job...we didn't know for sure. Life is now on firmer ground. The whole family is still getting used to a new schedule, but things are less chaotic and we are finding our rhythm again.
For myself... things have been moving along much as they ever have. I worked with my former high school's marching band again this fall, but I have signed off on doing winter guard for them permanently. Last year was just too stressful. I have decided to start taking better care of myself and (with Nathan's job change) I need to be home more for my family. A quick back problem and short prescription for physical therapy confirmed that I need to focus a little more on my health for my family and myself.
In other news.....Nathan and I hosted our first official 'family holiday' at our home. In the past, we have had guests over for birthday parties and pumpkin carvings. However, this was the first time that we fed more than just a few people in a traditional sit down meal. Being the fearless souls that we are, our first try at a holiday meal was....*drumroll*... Thanksgiving! All of the Yosts were there, the meal was good, the company was great and I think a tradition may have been born. I did learn a few things..
#1. Having the timer for the turkey go off and no one has arrived yet is very stressful (i.e. put the turkey in an hour later).
#2. While olives are not a big hit with the Yost family, mixed nuts are.
#3. Hailey loves canned cranberry jelly.
Speaking of my little Hailey Bug...
When I last left you, Hailey was headed off to pre-school for the first time...you may be wondering how that is coming along. I can honestly say that I am very happy with the choice we made, and I have certainly made peace with my baby moving on to a more structured school environment.
We all still miss Jamie a lot, but earlier this month, she gave birth to her own baby girl. Now she has a little 'Lizzy Bug' of her own!! We couldn't be happier for her and Seth, no couple deserves a family more, they are going to be great parents.
Back to Hailey...
I'd like to say she is thriving at pre-school, but that wouldn't be 100% honest. What I can say is that she is definitely growing and learning. She can now write the first letter in her name, and I have seen her attempting the second one. At home, we have been trying to support what she is learning at school. We work with her pen/pencil skills by doing mazes with her at night.
Her memory is improving as well - she can recall her day with much more clarity and with a larger vocabulary. The problems we had with her colors are a thing of the past... plus she has learned so much about the world around her (the other day she announced that her favorite dinosaur was a 'ceretops' - and that it had 'bunny ears').
School has been teaching her so much more than just her ABC's. It has been wonderful to read about the things she has learned and to see it reflected in her behaviours. She gets music classes, she is keeping a journal...and...we just signed her up for ballet classes that take place during her school day (which, much to her mother's happiness, she is enjoying).
However, Hailey is having her struggles as well...socially. I just had my very first parent/teacher conference (no...I did not get called in specifically) and my little girl has issues she needs to sort out. I will discuss this topic further in my next blog entry...my feelings are too lengthy to tack on to this already long post. All I will say is that even at the age of 4, we are now fully immersed in the 'girl social culture' that I fear we will be caught in for a long...long...time.
There...you are pretty much caught up with all the 'goings-on' of the past several months in my household. Now you will be better prepared for the upcoming topics of parent/teacher talks, dinosaur ballerinas and anti-vampire tacos.
I bet you can't wait.....
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