Thursday, December 31, 2009

A New Year


Well, it has been a while since I have updated the blog. I find it much easier to post a quick comment on facebook and go. But that doesn't really give you all the information or emotions that are taking place in this house. So here we go.


This holiday season was one of the best we have had. My family went to candlelight service at a Baptist church and it was unbelievable. At the end they started on one side and everyone lit their candles and the light spread around the church as we sand silent night. The feel of that moment still overwhelms me.

We got to visit with lots of family over the holiday, but did not get to see many friends because we were busy with out of town family. So were are going to start our new year out by making our good friends a priority.


The kids have grown so much this year and in 2 short months will turn 8 years old. I AM NOT OK WITH THIS!!!!! I'm not really sure where the time has gone. I am really struggling with how fast they grow. In the middle of all the craziness I do get glimpses of how it will be when Caroline is older. The other night we were walking the dogs, just the 2 of us, and she looked up at me and said, "Mom I like it when it is just you and me, and we can talk and just enjoy ourselves." I know we will go through a rough season where I am not her favorite person or she might not even want to be in the same room with me, but I believe we will get back to the above comment soon. I love that girl.


I don't really have that type of story for Nick, but I can tell you that my boy has the biggest heart of anyone I know. It is even bigger than mine and I love, love, love that about him. He is always thinking of others and how he can help or what he can do special or just how he can make them smile. Ah the words can not even express how he makes my heart feel.


I'm really looking forward to this year....this time NEXT year I will embarking on student teaching and 15 weeks away from graduation! I can not wait!!!!! I know it will feel long and drawn out at some times and like it is flying by at others. I just can't wait to have this huge accomplishment behind me and be in the same classroom everyday with those sweet kids I know are out there.


I have a couple of resolution I am going to share with you and a couple I am not going to share with you. I don't want to put too much pressure on myself with a couple of them. But the ones I can tell you about include: 1. I'm going to be more creative. Creative is my word of the year for 2010. 2. 365 pic a day. I am going to do my best to take one picture everyday. Even when it is crazy and the picture really doesn't amount to anything I'm still going to try to take one. I love to look back at them. 3. I"m going to take more pictures with my big fancy camera and try to get better at it. I would also like to take a class on photography and photoshop (if you know of any let me know) It is something that I really enjoy and would love to continue to do.


God has blessed me greatly over the last 10 years and if I tried to list them I would leave someone or something out. You know who you are and if you are part of my life you know what they are. Thank you to my very good friends that are always there for me with a shoulder, an inspiring word, or just to be a good role model. You have been extremely helpful. I love you all very much.

I am also thankful for my family and how wonderful they are. We are not all perfect, but we are still trying and still loving each other.


HOpe you all have a wonderful new year and a great new year.

Monday, October 05, 2009


























































































































































Saturday, September 12, 2009

Sophie LaRue

Welcome to the Potts' Family Sophie LaRue Caroline's new puppy. Caroline did such a good job of taking care of Zander and she misses him so very badly we decided to replace him with a puppy. I didn't want another cat because of the cat hair so we found this cute little puggle (pug and beagle mix).


Look at that smile. She said yesterday was the best day of her life.
We took Sophie to the vet this morning and all checked out well. She weighs 2lbs.

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Back to school and new glasses

Lots has been going on here and I will try to fill you in on all of it. I am trying my hand at sewing. I have no idea what I was thinking. Girl Scouts are getting ready to start and sewing is a badge the girls can earn and that is how it started. Well then I found this cute dress pattern called the Caroline dress. So of course I had to try. Here is Caroline showing what I have completed so far. As you can see I have to finish the top and arms. She picked the material out herself and is very proud of it.




Most of you know about the testing and problems we had with Nick last year in school. well one of the diagnosis he received was dyslexia. After school started last month we noticed he was having more problems with it then before. After seeing the pediatrician she ask us to try these glasses for dyslexia. Doesn't he look so very cute? They are working so far.



Here are pics from the first day of school. I can't believe how much bigger they look this year. It was a hard transition for me this year, but not them. They love their teachers and school.




My very gorgeous daughter.




My humorous handsome man.


I am trying to sub this year but have not gotten any calls yet. This is very hard for me because I am home by myself every day and miss the kids terribly. I started back to school myself last Monday so that has helped a little.
Nick also started drum lessons last week. He is really enjoying them and likes the teacher who looks like Mic jager with long white hair. Caroline will resume piano next week. Then the next week Girl Scouts and Boy scouts start. Nick has wanted to join Boy scouts for 2 years and we finally got to it this year. He can't wait to shoot a beebee gun and participate in the pinewood derby and the regatta.
The kids are doing great and growing everyday. We are enjoying them very much. Hope you are all doing well.




Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Meet Bob and Spongebob!

Well my almost 2nd grader lost another tooth today. She is very excited to show off her new look and the tooth fairy coming. Isn't she gorgeous????This is Nick cleaning his bike. Please notice his seat is off bc "Mom, you can't clean your bike with your seat on." I don't know about that boy.
Please meet Bob and Spongebob. These are the kids new hamsters that attempted to replace the cat. They are brothers, but fight so they have their own cages.



This is Nick's spongebob.



This is Caroline's Bob!
We have been very busy this summer and can't believe it is almost over. Saturday we have our back to school picnic at school and go back on Aug 13. The kids are not ready and I don't blame them. It seems like our summer has been very short.
What have we been busy doing?
1. swimming and sitting by the pool.
2. Nick has been playing tennis (which is his new favorite sport)
3. Caroline has been swimming. She wants to go to stroke school in the fall.
4. I have been going to school and it has been a very busy 6 weeks.
5. Going to the drive in.
6. Going to the park and riding bikes.
7. SLEEPING LATE EVERYDAY!!!! WHOO HOO!
Lately,
Nick has been into:
taking things apart, building with legos, watching tv, NOT SWIMMING, playing tennis on the court and in the street, reading, and playing games with caroline.
Caroline has been into:
reading, swimming, riding her bike, building legos with Nick, playing games with Nick, playing with Mollie, very into clothes, eating (she has grown alot this summer), watching movies.
That is about all I have to report. I'm on my way out to school. Enjoy!




Sunday, June 28, 2009

In Loving Memory of Zander!



Yesterday the Potts' Family had to say good bye to Zander (Caroline's beloved Cat). It was a very sad day for her. Had a little bit of time with him before we went to the pool. Yes she was given the choice of staying home or going and she wanted to go. So she went in and laid with him for a while and told him she loved him with all her heart and would forever. So very sweet. Zander had a very good life with CAroline. She took great care of him, he slept with her, she read to him every night and called herself mommy to him.

He will be greatly missed around our house. It is awful for me to see her so sad, but I know God will protect her and she will make it through this.
Here are a few of our favorite pics of Zander:



Z-bo we will miss you very much. You were a great cat.



Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Piano Recital!



Caroline had her piano recital tonight and she did great. She played Yankee Doodle and had no mistakes. She also looked gorgeous in her dress. I didn't think about having her try it on before tonight (never thought it might not fit.) so when I put it on her I could barely get it zipped in the back. Then we put on her shoes which were 2 sizes to small. Poor thing had to wear them anyway. She was walking funny too! We will never forget this recital.




Saturday, June 13, 2009

End of school and beginning of summer

Welcome back! We have started the summer off by cleaning the house out. I mean basement, garage, cabinets, and drawers. It is big trash pick up here so we have had a deadline of Monday. I'm almost finished...thank goodness. But we have had some fun in there too. We got to meet Baby Charlie (the newest Potts' Family member.) We played at the park, we have been swimming, we have been reading and doing some school work, and all that in one week. The kids spent the first 2 days of summer break at Grandma's while I finished up my job at St. Matthews. The last day was very sad as it came to an end. But summer break here we are.


Today Caroline had a playdate with Lily. They went swimming and played at Lily's house. Here she is before she left looking so cute. She had the best time and can't wait to go back. Her and Lily have really become good friends since meeting last year in Kindergarten.


Nick played his last baseball game today. In the car on the way home he said, "I really like playing ball I don't want it to be over." I was afraid I wasn't going to hear those words this year and they were so sweet to my ears. He has started a little tennis clinic at the pool so that will fill his time nicely until fall ball. (these pictures are in order backwards)

Here is Nick with his statue after the game. Check out that smile.


Here he is up at bat for the 1st time of today's game. He hit it the first time in the outfield.
Here he is in the ceremonial photo shoot that he hates before we left the house. He is so not into getting his picture made right now. I'm showing the best shots.

I like this one. Yes he wears his sunglasses when playing the field because the sun hurts his eye.

Now to the end of school. The kids were both very sad to say goodbye to their teachers this year. Caroline cried herself to sleep for several days before school was over bc she isn't going to be with Mrs. A again next year.. Mrs. A made up for it by asking her if she would come back and help her set up her room before school starts. Caroline stayed after class everyday to help set up for the next day and whatever else Mrs. Armstrong needed done. They got very close this year.

This is Nick and Mrs. Speevack. This woman was my lifesaver this year. I don't know what I would have done without her and I am very sad Nick is not going to have her next year too. She hates to have her pic made, but she told Nick she would do anything for him. I truly believe she would too. For those of you that don't know it was a very tough year for Nick being diagnosed with dyslexia, add/adhd and Central Auditory Processing disorder. We would not have survived 1st grade if Nick had not had Mrs. Speevack to help him in class and out. She played a big role in the services Nick received and was a true advocate for my son. I can't put my emotions into words when it comes to this situation.

For the kids in my class I wanted to make something special they could always keep and that would remind them of a special day. I thought back to when my kids were in Kindergarten and what my most fond memory was...It hands down is the awards ceremony they have that honors each and every student for their strengths. So I decided to make picture frames with their picture in it receiving their awards and shaking Mr. Leffert's hand. They turned out so cool and I had many very thankful mom's. The kids liked them too, but they liked more that I got teary when I gave them to them and told the story that went with it. They liked my stories and I would tell one everyday.
Here are Nick and Caroline after they received their awards.

Here is Nick receiving his awards from Mrs. Beard the guidance counselor. He received a math, science, improved reader and junior achiever awards.
Here is Caroline receiving hers from Mrs. Beard. She received the academic excellence honor(the biggie), Accelerated REader, and the friend one (we can't remember the exact name of it)

I am so proud of both of them. They changed so much during 1st grade. Caroline has developed such a love for reading (just like her mother) and Nick had so much improvement in reading and writing I'm amazed. It was a hard year, but good one.
I think that is about all I have for you. I will try not to wait so long before posting again. I haven't taken many pictures yet this summer because we have been so busy cleaning. Now that it is finished I will.