Summer Fun Fun Fun

Here at our home, The Melendez Academy, we are busy gearing up for yet another full year of home school.  So, although we haven't actually stopped working on math or reading, we are about to dive into a whole new routine by adding curriculum.  I have been busy in all my spare time (HA HA) thinking about our next semester.  Some people call this planning.  I am not afraid of planning.  I rather enjoy it.  I, um, like to be in control.  I just can't imagine starting day 1 without having a PLAN!

Let me go back and add that we are having a fun summer.  Katie just finished a week at horse camp.  My dear sweet Katie loves horses.  She's fascinated by them and just loves everything horses right now.

This is Fozzy.  Katie rode Fozzy all week.  He only tried to buck her off once.  OH boy.  Not what a mom wants to hear.  Fozzy behaved the rest of the time.  Other than the extreme heat, I think she had a great week. 

Someone got a hair cut AND......

Lost her 2 front teeth in the same week!

We have more fun scheduled for the next few weeks before school starts for us.  We are going to the Glazer's Children Museum, The Lowry Park Zoo,  the library, and a whole week at VBS.  

We will start school July 22nd.  I really enjoy having time off in December.  

That is why I start so early.  

I didn't forget Mr. Jacob.  AKA Monkey! He is growing up so fast!  It seems in the past month he has gone from baby to toddler.  He is such a fun kid.  Do I have to chase him everywhere? YES!  Do I have to lock everything? YES! Is he absolutely adorable and worth all the trouble? YES!  I just can't imagine our family without him.  Jacob is most certainly the missing piece that completes our family.  He makes us laugh.  He's our little comic relief.

He has had a blast playing with his sister and driving her crazy.  He just loves all her little pieces.  I never noticed how tiny all her toys were until Jacob came along.  He darts in her room if the door is left open.  He just knows he will find a treasure.  He is currently cutting molar #4.  Its fun.  NOT.  He's happy one minute then he bursts into tears.  He officially has 12 teeth.  Only.....8 to go.  But you know, the fun never stops.  By the time we get past teething we enter into potty-training-mode.  We'll save that for next time.

And 18 months later......

Meet Jacob! Oh boy, oh boy! Now during my last post I was 20 weeks pregnant.  He is 14 months old and I now feel like I can say I'm coming out of the "I just had a baby" fog.  Between starting kindergarten homeschool (while pregnant) and then meeting this little angel, life just hasn't been the same.  Life is surely sweeter (and I'm exhausted).  

This sweet little guy is into everything.  Everything! He has kept me on my toes since day one.  Good thing he's cute! And currently healthy!  I hate to even type that.... The moment I think the colds and flus will come to an end we get something new.  It's pretty sad that my pediatricians nurse knows me by name and remembered my sons birthday the last time I made an appointment.  I hope he's building up an amazing immune system.  Just trying to see the bright side.  

Sick or healthy I just love this little guy to pieces.  

KATIE!

Here's Katie!  She's 6 and A HALF.  She is very proud of the half.  According to her, she's almost 7.  She can't wait to be 7.  Katie's my silly yet shy girl.  It's so rewarding watching their personalities unfold.  Homeschooling truly lets you see the inner workings of your kid.  Six has been an interesting year for her.  Adjusting to being the big sister instead of the only child has been tricky, but I think she's coming around to it.  We have all adjusted to our new family of 4.  I thank God daily for blessing me with these two amazing kids.  

Katie is now in 1st grade.  We are starting to complete curriculums and I'm preparing for 2nd grade!  How did that happen?  She is just growing up too fast!  She loves to read.  Is she my kid?  Yes, she is!  I didn't like to read as a kid, but as adult I love to read.  Finding the time is a whole other story.  I can't say I read to her everyday or did something magical to produce a reader, but I did try to provide an environment that would grow a reader.  I remember from a homeschool convention speaker that its not how many books are on the shelf or even in your house, its about the ones they actually read.  It was so true for us that we had tons of books and hadn't read half of them.  I taught elementary school for 6 years.  I had accumulated quite the stash of books.  However, little by little she got curious about books, then wanted to read, then would sit still for read-alouds, and then BAM she learned some basic sight words and started reading.   She now is devouring chapter books.  She loves Magic Tree House and anything about horses. 

We are listening to Where the Red Fern Grows.  I must admit.... I never read this book.  But, I know it's a classic so when I saw it on CD at my local library I grabbed it.  We only listen to it in the car.  It makes those longer car rides in town much more interesting.  I've heard it's a sad story, but since I've never read it.... I'll be just as surprised and heartbroken as my kiddo.  It's good to let a book effect you, break your heart for a character, and grow you.  It gives us some character and depth.  I'm SO grateful that she likes to read because I know there is a wealth of knowledge readily available to readers.  

-Blessed

     Krista

Katie Turns 5!!!!

We had planned to celebrate Katie's big 5 year old birthday by going to Disney.  So 6 months ago I made reservations for our celebration!  This was day one.  Katie was so excited to go to the Magic Kingdom and see princesses.  So we (Grammy, Pop Pop, Daddy, Katie and I) headed through the park.  Our first stop was to get a fast pass to visit the princesses later.  And not wait of course, my princess shouldn't have to wait!!  As we made our way to the Small World ride we passed a long line of glittery 3 foot princesses waiting in a long, I mean long line.....  Who could they be waiting for?  RAPUNZEL!!!  Katie wanted to get in line, but it was a LONG wait.  We figured we could come back later and have a better chance.  We had all day....right?  At magical Disney time flies!  We did go back to see Rapunzel and it was time for her to have lunch.  Hmm, okay she should eat.  So we moved on to visit the 'other' princesses which were now second rate since Rapunzel was there.   

But she was still very excited.....

Then we got there and she was scared.... just a little and then she warmed up.

She liked Belle a little more....

She really liked Cinderella.  But mom had to stay in the picture.  Oh well. 

Then guess what?? It started raining!  Yep, raining.  Now it didn't last very long.  Maybe for about 30 minutes it drizzled.  Then it stopped and we headed back to see Rapunzel.  Due to lightning she was sent back inside.  But many little princesses remained in line waiting for a chance to see her.  This includes my little princess.  Meanwhile we sent the guys to Space Mountain.  And then it happened.............

Rapunzel came back and made my girl smile!

Katie and Princess Rapunzel (No Mommy)

My brave girl posed with Rapunzel and loved it.  We even got her new Rapunzel shirt signed. 

Katie was so excited and that of course made me happy. 

My sweet girl had a birthday pin since her birthday was the day before.  Almost every Disney employee told Katie happy birthday.  A restaurant even sang to her.  She was so amazed that they knew it was her birthday.  Being 5 was off to a good start!

Then after a loooong day of walking around Disney we got to our amazing suite at

 the Animal Kingdom Lodge. 

This bathroom made me very happy. 

Yes, a tub with jets.....

A living room,

and a beautiful kitchen. 

We also had beds, but I didn't get pictures of that for some reason. 

Wait until you see the view from our balcony. 

And that's the end of day one....

Our Miracle Happened!!!

Our daughter Katie was our first miracle.  We hoped, tried, prayed, cried, and waited for 3 years to conceive her.  In December 2005, I promised my loving family members I would go back to my infertility doctor in January and take action.  We had already tried some non-invasive options, but were getting ready for serious testing and procedures after 3 years.  In January, I found out I was pregnant before ever calling the infertility doctor!!!!! By chance....nope!  It's all God's timing!  Katie was born in September of 2006 and has been a blessing in my life.  The suffering in our lives helps us to truly appreciate the blessings. 

This summer we had gone to a new infertility doctor in hopes of some answers because we had been trying for over 3 years to conceive baby #2. After our consultation the doctor had a plan. We were on board and ready to get pregnant..............

So you may think that these 2 pink lines appeared because we completed some sort of procedure or took an infertility drug but we didn't!!!!!  I waited to get my next cycle.  It didn't come.  The doctor gave me medicine to start my next cycle.  Still not happening!  Guess why?!?!?!? Because in God's perfect plan and timing

I WAS PREGNANT!!!

I was absolutely stunned by this revelation.  AND so incredibly grateful.  We serve a mighty God.  One who wants the world to know that HE is in charge and not us.  So often I felt unheard and pitiful about my unaswered prayers and the whole time my loving heavenly Father was trying to tell me just to hang on. 

Here's me....I was between 6-7 weeks pregnant here.

8 weeks pregnant

This little cutie pie is about to be a BIG SISTER!!!!

Here's our baby at 12 weeks...

This is me at 13 weeks....

and again at 17 weeks.

This is our baby at almost 20 weeks!

And it's a BOY!!!!

August was pretty much a whirlwind of happy emotions, catching up on life (after 2 months of feeling sick all day everyday), and making room for a baby in our house. 

September marks the beginning of Kindergarten Homeschool for Katie and she turns 5.  Which leads me right into my next blog post..........

Where's Krista?

Yes, my last blog post here was nearly 6 months ago.  That is quite unusual.  A lot has happened in the past 5 months.

I ran my FIRST 5K!!!!

We attended a fundraising Gala.

I celebrated my birthday.

Later I attended homeschool convention on Orlando.

Decided its too hot to run outside and need a treadmill!!!

And then a miracle happened!!!!!!!

Yes, 2 tests, because one was not enough to convice me!

Lots of prayer, hope, and trust in God! 

Thank you Lord for hearing the cry of my heart and blessing me with the desire of my heart.

Even had a vacation at the beach where I tried to relax......

That takes us up to June.......

June and July is when I spent 3/4 of every day on my couch.  The first trimester hit me hard and I didn't have the desire or energy for anything.  So I didn't do anything.  I could not wait for August!