Almost a month late, but here is Halloween with the Shark Tank!

The Fall season has become one of my favorites with the kids.  They absolutely love the pumpkin patches (and we have quite a few good ones in this area) and picking out the Halloween costume is always a fun time!

We started the season by going to our local favorite farm, Rombach's.  I waited until a late afternoon on a Sunday and it was a success.  The place had very few lines and parking was for once not insane!  We brought along one of my cousin's kiddos (Matthew's BFF) and they had a blast.  After seeing the animals, funnel cakes, fresh squeezed lemonade, picking out their pumpkin, playing tag in the "pick you own pumpkin field," and playing on the playground it was dark and time to go.  I always love bringing along a friend for the kids to make the pumpkin patch even more fun for them!  We also visited Pumpkins Galore with one of my in home daycare kiddos and we just may have found our new place for Fall.  Not only were they cheaper, but they still had a ton to do and was not too far from the house!

Matthew with his cousin!  They loved the firetruck this year!

Natalie was only content if she was pulling the wagon into the field towards the end of our time there.  Such an independent child!

This year it took Matthew three tips to Walmart to finally decide what he wanted to be for Halloween.  He went back and forth between a Transformer, to a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, to Captain America, and to a pirate.  He finally decided on a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, and it worked out well since his neighbor also chose to be one!  

We lucked out with Natalie this year.  She loves dressing up and all things sparkly (she is very into the princess theme these days), so when Mr. Sharktank's mom brought back an outfit from Turkey when they visited we knew she would love to wear it.  Covered in bells, gold, and bright pink, Natalie loved calling herself a "Tur Tur princess" on Halloween (we could not think of a name for her costume, so we told he should was going to be a Turkish Princess).  Almost everyone's door we arrived at that night called her a gypsy or a genie, but we didn't care because she looked cute and loved the costume!  

It was a bit rainy that night, but the kids enjoyed the time with the neighbors and Natalie's godmother.  Nothing like a great kid friendly holiday to spend time with friends and neighbors!

Going to end this post with our most recent family photo.  I have a friend from college who regularly takes our pictures and once again we had a great session. My kids love her, and so do we.  Happy holidays!

Busy family!

Yes, every family is busy!  How can you not be busy when you have a family?  I somehow let this blog slip my mind and the documenting of our lives stopped for a couple months.  I must make a mental note to do a better job!

The past couple months have been emotional, exciting, and full of energy.

As a couple, Mr. Sharktank and I have never had to deal with a death in the family until recently.  Our beloved Grandma Irene passed away August 22, and although it was expected, it was not any easier.  Mr. Sharktank's grandma was a fabulous cook, a great mom, loved her grandkids, and could always make a joke without even trying. I had the pleasure of knowing her for almost nine years and would not trade a moment of it.  The number of people who showed up at her funeral in such a small town showed what kind of woman she was!  Although she is gone and in a better place, we will make sure our kids never forget her name, what kind of person she was, and the legacy she has. "Amen!" (which is what she always said at church at the perfect moments lol).

We love you, Grandma!  Hope you are teaching everyone how to cook Cajun style in heaven!

We tried soccer with Matthew this Fall.  Things started off so great! He really loves to kick around the ball and can even bounce it on his head!  His first game he was thrown into the goalie position for the first time ever (without any practice) and only let one goal in!  A couple of weeks later he even scored a goal!  

After his first game!

He loves to play soccer on his own time, but practices and games put him into such an anxiety attack that he refused to practice or play in the games after a couple of sessions.  After over a month, we decided to pull him from the team.  He still loves the sport, but playing as a team is not for him right now.

Natalie is still our spitfire of the Sharktank clan.  I hate to say it, but her new favorite thing is to take her clothes and diaper off and run around naked.  God help me!  She is also very brave and it seems like nothing scares her.  Natalie has no problem opening any door and running outside.  I am about to lose my mind as a parent and daycare provider because of this, but we love her :)

In Decatur visiting K and K!  The kids had so much fun that weekend!

Mr. Sharktank and I took our official last vacation without the kids at the end of September.  Leave it to our family to have the Mr. puking the evening before hours before our flight to the Dominican Republic left.  I begged neighbors for Zofran (to help him stop throwing up), made multiple trips to the local Walmart for Sprite, anti nausea meds, Pepto Bismol, and anything else I could think of!  I ended up having to pack for him while he layed in bed trying to focus on what was needed for a trip for a week.  

The morning of he woke and pushed on, so that we could enjoy our trip with our great friends who just got married.  We boarded the plan with the new Peggs family and I prayed he would recover fast!  Not our luck... he got sick again and we ended up at a Dominican "farmacia" (pharmacy) hoping for help!  We got it and thank goodness!

We spent the rest of the week taking a catamaran cruise to Saona Island for a day of fun, drinking, eating, and relaxing.  SLEEP was the most important part of the trip!  I do not think either couple stayed up past eleven eastern time.  We definitely left well rested and loved our time with the newlyweds.  What a great couple to go on a trip with.  We are close enough to spend lots of time with them, but had no problem when we all needed time alone!  Here are some pics from the "honeymoon" lol.

Matthew is in the middle of diagnostic testing at our school district's early childhood center these next two weeks.  We are hoping (and not hoping at the same time) that he qualifies for some services within their program.  If he qualifies for educational services he would get free bus transportation and education until kindergarten.  We are seeing what our tax dollars are paying for and we can honestly say that we are very impressed with the staff and educators that we have met thus far!  Matthew seems to enjoy the program he is trying, but we will find out later in November whether or not he is a candidate for services.  I just hope all this will help us and point us in the right direction for him and his future!  He is such a loving and smart child (I know that every parent says that, but he scares me with what he picks up on ha) and we only hope that he succeeds in his school years.

We have a lot of great things coming up... HOLIDAYS, so I am sure the blog posts will be more frequent!  Celebrating with kids is almost as exciting as being a kid yourself!

Big news in this house... no we are not pregnant!

Yesterday was a day we were waiting for!  On June 1 of this year (his birthday) Mr. Sharktank took the level three exam of the CFA.  He has been trying to reach his goal of becoming a CFA charter holder for seven years now.  I know in my heart that he could have passed the test one, two, three in a row if we did not get married, did not get pregnant, then decide to move to St. Louis, then decide to move again, and then get pregnant again.  All those life changes and moves do not provide a good environment with ample amounts of study time for someone taking these tests.

Every Winter and Spring, since Mr. Sharktank and I lived in Chicago, he would spend countless hours studying at work (or the library on the weekends).  During the Spring months it was rare if he would come home from work before 7:30 (and keep in mind he leaves for work at 5:45 am).  He also spent every Saturday at work and half of his Sundays at the library.  He had to pass on important weddings, events, birthday parties, family get togethers, and pretty much anything that did not focus on work or this test.

So, yesterday morning we both were a nervous wreck waiting for the results.  If anyone does not know about the CFA just google "CFA pass rates."  So many people give up, but not the man I married... he kept going.  No matter how frustrated or challenged he was, he knew he had to keep trying for his job, for us, and because he knew he wanted this charter!  Eight o'clock approached (when results are emailed to all test takers) and I turned my phone ringer on.

At 8:02 I got the call.  Not only did I interrupt a mom of a new toddler being dropped off at my house for the first time ever (in home daycare), but I almost started crying in front of her due to my overwhelming nerves.  I answered the phone knowing it was Mr. Sharktank and cannot remember what I said.  All I heard was, "I am done, I am so done," followed by a ton of yelling.  Not only did my heart sink, but my eyes filled with tears.  No!!!  Not another year of this exam!  My husband needs to enjoy life and not be glued to his books is what I kept saying to myself!

Well, then Mr. Sharktank was more clear with his words, "I passed!  I did it!"  Wait, what?  Yes, he passed!  In a matter of weeks (after all the formalities within the society are done) he will be a CFA charter holder!  All these years of struggle, effort, and faith paid off.  This will open so many doors for him and we could not be more proud of him!

We celebrated by taking the kids to our favorite family friendly restaurant for some terrible Mexican food and drinks.  For those of you in the area... El Maguey.  The waiters know us, know our drink orders before we speak, and recognize our kids, so of course it would be our dining spot of choice lol.

Things are looking up for us!  With so much heartache and sad things going on in the world and in our families' worlds right now this was news we needed to hear!  Congrats to Mr. Sharktank!  You have a ton of people very happy for you! We love you so much!

How is it already July?

We have been BUSY! Our calendar is so full these days that we passed through the month of June in the blink of an eye!  We attended two of the four weddings we have this summer and enjoyed every minute of them!  There is something so wonderful about watching two people who are meant to be together say "I do" in front of all of their loved ones!  Both weddings were beautiful and the brides looked gorgeous!  I also successfully gave my first (and probably only) maid of honor speech without bawling like a baby or passing out.  Congrats to both couples and we cannot wait to see what is in store for them... bring on the babies!

Congrats, Mr. and Mrs B!  Loved being a part of your special day!

Congrats, K and K!  Your wedding was beautiful!

Now that Natalie is bigger, we can go to the pool more often. As of today she finally put her entire body in the water!  It took her two years, but I think she has finally discovered that the pool is more fun if you get in the water (instead of sitting on the edge with your toes in the water).  Matthew just loves going and would go every day if we had the time!  Most of the kiddos that I watch are older these days, so I am able to do water days at the pool when my numbers are low!  I really enjoy loading up the wagon and letting the children have fun with each other in a new environment.  Watching them play reminds you of how long Summer used to last when you were little and how much you looked forward to it.

Right now life is good.  Mr. Sharktank is not studying as much, and he has more time to spend with us.  The summer may be flying by, but I am pretty sure we are enjoying it as much as we can.  We are looking forward to the weekend, as it is the Fourth of July and we will be spending with our neighbors ("The A Team" and "The Bushwacks").  Our kids will surely have a good time together and we cannot beat temperatures in the low 80's for Missouri weather this time of year!

Natalie is 2!

Our precious baby, Natalie, turned two on the 25th!  These past two years have flown by!  I feel like I was just in the hospital recovering from my c-section and getting to know our little girl, but here she is growing up right before our eyes!

Our first family picture two hours after she was born.  She was born at 9:41 am on May 25, 2011 and weighed 8 lbs. 8 oz.

Adding Natalie to our family has been exciting, exhausting, and so very enjoyable!  She has been feisty from day one and has always kept us on our toes (especially since she did not consistently sleep through the night until 15 months, no matter what we tried).  She is very stubborn and always wants her way, yet can manage to be so lovable and turn on her smile when she knows we need it.

We spent her birthday weekend attending a family baptism, which is always fun in our family, since the kiddos can all play together.  The next night I took the kids to meet some new children their age and to have some fun outside and by staying up late.  Overall, the weekend did not consist of any extravagant parties, but I know both kids had fun together and enjoyed the holiday weekend, which is all the matters.

Natalie is becoming a little lady these days (unless she is being her tomboy self ha).  She loves to take care of her baby dolls by feeding them, changing their diapers, walking them in her strollers, and putting them to bed.  Natalie also loves to help me with whatever I am doing.  She helps me clean, unload the dishwasher, fold unfold the laundry, and take care of the babies I watch on a daily basis.  Our little girl is quite the animal watcher.  She will sit and stare out our windows looking for the "Bushwack's" dog, Winston, squirrels, birds, and bunnies.  If Natalie is ever upset we know that taking her to look for animals will make her happy no matter what.





I cannot believe our baby of the family is already two.  She has changed our lives in more ways than we can count, and we cannot wait to see what she grows up to be like.

Oops... I neglected the blog! Happy Mother's Day!

Well, here we are well into Spring.  I think we are finally getting into the warmer days of this season and will be permanently seeing warmer temperatures (thank goodness)!  We are halfway through Spring and I feel like we haven't even been able to enjoy it that much.  Guess we better get ready for the hotness of Missouri Summers soon!

Things have been super busy here these days and the weekends have been packed with activities!  My two best friends are getting married in June, so there have been showers, parties, and so on!  Not only is one of my best friends getting married, but she is marrying one of my other dearest friends.  I do have to say that I played a vital role in them getting together and could not be happier for the both of them.  I am looking forward to their special day and am honored that I will be standing up there with them as they profess their love in front of family, friends, and God. The weekend after that my maid of honor from our wedding is getting married to a wonderful man and their wedding will be beautiful and exciting as well.  June is going to be a great month filled with lots of love!

Future Bride and her Maid of Honor 

Me and my Maid of Honor

Here at the Sharktank we are winding down with Matthew's first official year in preschool.  He has loved every minute of it!  The social aspect of it has been wonderful for our first born and we have seen him grow so much thanks to the part time program he attended. The teachers always made sure to recognize important holidays, like Mother's Day.  Matthew came home with this project today.

I could not be more proud of him lol.  He got my age correct (thankful he didn't say I was 70) and I do love pizza, apples, and olives.  I have been on a cupcake making binge lately for parties and showers (and I am loving it), so I am assuming that is why he thinks I like them so much.  And... we do go to Walmart ALOT!  I hate to say it, but we go there at least three times a week.  I could not run my own business and have two kids if it was not for that store!

Being a mom has been one of the most rewarding, yet challenging jobs I've ever had.  There are some days I cry tears of joy by watching them discover, learn, and grow, but I am not going to lie... I have cried a lot tears of frustration (I mean who doesn't as a parent?).  Like I said in this previous post, parents are not given a manual at birth and making decisions, disciplining, and getting judged by others can brutal.  But, all of it is so worth it.  The smiles, hugs, "I love you"s, and experiences with my children can never be replaced.  I always say I used to think I knew what love was, until I had my children.  Having a child of my own taught me what unconditional love really is.  I know Mr. Sharktank and I would do anything for our kids.  They are our life and we are complete because of them.

I look forward to spending Mother's Day this year with the kiddos and soaking up the beautiful weather (as I cross my fingers that the forecast stays the same).  We have so many fantastic mothers in our lives!  We would not be where we are today if it were not for my mom, Mr. Sharktank's mom, and the other motherly influences we have.  I am lucky to have so many friends who are fabulous mothers as well.  I can honestly say that most of the moms we know are caring, loving, responsible, and provide their children with wonderful environments.  We take pride in keeping positive influences in our lives and I think it shows with the circle of friends we have who are also good parents.  So, Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!  I hope you enjoy your special day with your babies no matter how old they are!

Judgement

I try not to let this blog be a source of venting for me, but well, sometimes I need to write out my thoughts to make myself feel better.  I have been working on this post for a while now, but never had the guts to make it public.  Well, I guess I am considering myself brave now.

I always wanted to be a parent.  I knew it was something I needed to do.  Whether I had my own children, adopted, or fostered children I knew I needed kids in my home.  My degree in child development helped me with the psychology of children, how they learn, creating an educational environment, and keeping them healthy, but it did not prepare me for the choices I would have to make as a parent and the judgement from others.

When I got pregnant with Matthew it was a surprise, but I felt I was ready.  I mean I had a background in child development and educating children, so I was excited and ready for him to arrive.  Whoah!  I was not prepared for the rollercoaster of emotions I would go through.

The moment he was born I knew he was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.  He arrived perfectly with amazing eyes, glowing skin, and a head full of dark hair.  I knew he was mine and I had to do anything to protect him.  Although I knew I loved him with everything of my being, my emotions were a mess and my anxiety did not subside.  Every choice I made was agonizing and I worried if I was making the right decision for him.  It was like I almost resented him and wanted my old life back because of how I felt (I wondered, "How can I feel like this with such a perfect child in my life now?").  Quite often, people would tell me how wonderful my life was and I needed to chill out.  Suggestions were to take a bath, have a glass of wine, or eat some chocolate... ummm okay?  Clearly, those people never had to deal with the anxiety I was experiencing.  Needless to say, I could barely function and I had to call my doctor.  I am thankful we live in an age where postpartum depression and anxiety is not hid under a rug, but doctors are willing to treat and help their patients who suffer from it.

When I became pregnant with Natalie I was worried about going through the same thing with her after her birth.  I am on medication daily to help me with my anxiety and it has helped me tremendously.  I was warned that if I stayed on the medication Natalie could be a little slow to start taking her first breaths at her birth.  That freaked me out, so I got off the medication.  Well, that was a horrible choice.  Within two weeks I was not sleeping, my worrying was through the roof, and I was on edge all the time.  I made the decision with my doctor to get back on my medication and be prepared at her birth with a pediatric nurse in the room. Making this decision was hard for me, but what made it harder was when people would ask why I chose to put my child at a risk like that.  I was assured by my doctor that it was safe and would put less stress on Natalie in the womb if I stayed on my meds, but it still bothered me that others would judge my decision.

Fast forward to a little while after Natalie was born.  We had to really focus on Mathew and control his behavior. See this previous blog post.  We looked into many reasons for why he had such horrible anxiety and particular tendencies.  After lots of discussions with his doctor we came up with a plan of action and she prescribed a medication for him.  Yes, I said medication.  It is not the only thing we are doing to help him, but we felt it was important to try several things to help get over this hurdle.  We had to inform the people close to him about our plan, so that everyone could be on board with us and help him.  Well, a handful of people were shocked and quite upset that we put him on medicine.  I am still getting comments about the choice we made and how we need to look into other options.  No one lives in our house, except for our family of four, therefore no one saw the daily struggle of living with a child with severe anxiety.  Our poor three (almost four) year old could barely even go to the bathroom alone without freaking out.

Being a mom is one of the hardest and most rewarding jobs I have ever had.  I look back at when I was a preschool and daycare teacher and am appalled at the way I judged some of the parents.  Not all of the kids were easy to control, some of the parents were distant and uninvolved, and I sometimes felt certain parents did not understand how to discipline their children.  I had no right to judge their parenting style or skills.  No one is given a manual or a handbook on how to handle every situation when it comes to their child.  We dive into it blindly and try to go with our gut instincts and hope pray we are doing a good job.

There are so many parents out there and we all need to support each other.  Everyone may have different parenting styles, but what is important is what works for their family.  As of now, I desperately try to keep my judgements at bay.  Whether it comes to the parent of the child who is running around hitting kids at the playground, or the parent who is ignoring their toddler throwing a massive tantrum at a restaurant, I will try to not assume anything.  I have no idea what they are going through or what kind of day they had.  I think it would be so much better if we all just respected each others choices we make for our kids and support each other when we need it.  Our job would be so much better and may even be a little less scary.

Matthew's Fourth Birthday Celebration! 

Easter Weekend... Mr. Sharktank is taking the picture.