Summer

Summer vacation is here and I'm finally updating our blog. But really for me, I don't have much time these days. A week after school was out, I started teaching summer school. It really has been great so far. In our school district, Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten ESL students are offered summer school. At the school I am at, we have 15 kindergarten classes! But I've been lucky enough to only have 11 kids, which is so nice! We basically have the same schedule as my normal routine and we are just reviewing the major points of kindergarten. We only go Monday through Thursday and I love the three day weekend! I will be done July 7, and the very next day we are leaving to drive to Iowa. I am very excited to spend a few weeks at my dad's and also enjoy catching up with lots of family and friends. Between fire in Texas and flooding in Missouri and Iowa, it could be an interesting trip. But we are just praying things won't be so bad in a few weeks. Speaking of flooding, please pray for my family in North Dakota. Two of my aunts and uncles have had to leave their homes and it is predicted they could have 7 or more feet of water in them. So scarry. They are staying in their campers at one of my cousins. Be thinking of all the flooding that will be happening there and further down the river into Iowa also. We have enjoyed walks in the evenings and time at the park. Jerimiah has been had the lucky job of babysitting the two kiddos and it seems to be going alright.

Family Friday

I'm not even going to start by saying that it has been awhile, because we all know after a long vacation from blogging I always say I'm going to get better and all that jazz. Let's just skip it this time. We are down to a week and a half left of school and tonight, Jerimiah and I wanted more then to come home and be with our family and not do anything or have to go anywhere. Well besides the trip to Whataburger for dinner, we have spent the night watching cartoons, playing, drumming and just being a family. I am more then ready for this year to be over and move on to summer. Even though I am working summer school, I'm still just looking forward to times with my family and friends. We have been blessed to be part of a wonderful small group this past year from our Sunday School class at church and I know I speak for myself but I'm sure Jerimiah can say the same. I finally feel, after 5 years of living in Texas, I have found the place where I fit in and just another reason for why God brought me to Houston. So many friendships have been made, which I am so grateful for. Not only can we share our moments of kids, families, etc. but we can be open and real about the struggles of life and know that they will uphold each other in prayer. I feel so blessed! So thank you Northside Bible Study friends, you are more then friends to me, you have become my Texas family!

My New Toy

I decided to try out Carlie in her bouncy chair while I was getting ready. She was being fussy and I thought maybe if she could be sitting up and see me it might help. So I put her in as tight as it could go and she seemed to like it. I now have batteries in it so next time she will get to hear music and it will vibrate. Thanks Kristy and Katrina for the gift at the baby shower, she loves it!

Mom's Helper

I decided to keep Cohen home with me today and tomorrow. We decided to bake dad some cookies for when he gets home. Hopefully they turned out okay!

2 Weeks Old

Carlie is doing great! We have been staying busy and on the go and that is good because it keeps me from going stir crazy in the house. Don't take me wrong, I love being home with my daughter, as I did when Cohen was born, but I know that God has not called me to be a stay at home mom. I need to have some kind of routine or else all I want to do is shop! Haha. I'm sure when I go back to school in a few weeks I will wish I was home or the end of the year was near, but I am excited to get back in the routine and see my kiddos again.

My Aunt Brolene (see last picture) and my cousin Ben were in town last week as they were passing through on their way to visit a college that Ben is interested in in north Texas. We spent the day with them and it was great to catch up. We will get to see them again in a few weeks as I will be going to Iowa for my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary. All the Bensema side of the family will be home, it will be great! Even my sister from Thailand is coming home for a few weeks and we will also be traveling to North Dakota to see my mom's side of the family, as long as the weather holds up!

Carlie is sleeping well also, people seem to ask that question alot so I'll just go ahead and address it. If she is fed around 11 or so..she will sleep until 5-5:30...which is a nice stretch. She is a snuggler so some times just to get her back to sleep she is in the bed with me, but I'm trying my hardest not too, we struggled with Cohen sleeping in his crib and don't want that to happen again.

Even in our busyness with 2 kids under 2, God has blessed us so much. I feel so extremely lucky to be mom to these two beautiful children. I can't wait to see them grow up together, Cohen already is very concerned with her when she is fussing, I'm sure it won't always be that way, but he loves her so already.

First Bath with GiGi

GiGi (Jerimiah's mom) was again in Alaska when Carlie was born, as she was when Cohen was born. She had planned on taking five weeks off and came home the week after Carlie was born. Had I had gone to my due date, she would have been here. But again, it just happened to be that she was there at the time of their arrival. This time though, we had Skype and it was only a week before she came back in and will be here until February. She likes to give the grandkids their first baths, so of course we waited for her to give Carlie a real bath. Let's just say Carlie was not a big fan of it!! Too cold for her liking, she was better after she was all dressed and done. She, as her brother, needed her binkie in the tub. Silly kids! Then to calm her down during the lotion time and getting jammies on, she needed her bottle also.

Carlie Ann Kindrick

Okay, sorry people who actually read this, I hopefully will be back at this better. I know I have said that before, but really, I'm going to try my best to do it. Being off of work will hopefully help and I have two darlings that I could blog so much about now.

Miss Carlie Ann joined us last Thursday, January 6. She is an angel. She is really a good baby so far, which we are so thankful for. I was induced at 38 weeks simply because I was ready to be done and the dr. agreed! I had been dilated since 35 weeks and it was so close anyway. When I had an ultrasound the week of Christmas, she was measuring almost 7 pounds already so the my dr. told me she would not stop labor any time after 37 weeks. I went exactly the same amount as Cohen and she was born the same day of the week also. My water br0ke with Cohen and he was born exactly at 38 weeks also. She weighed in at 7 pounds 15 ounces and 20.5 inches long. She was a pound bigger and 2 inches longer then her brother. I believe she has alot of traits of my mom, so obviously looks like me a little I guess :) She for sure has my mom's hands and feet which come from the Schuler side. Her hair is a brownish reddish and has beautiful blue eyes just like her brothers.

I will be off of work until February 14 and am excited to spend it with her. Also, I will get to make a trip to Iowa with her and see all my Bensema side family as my grandparents will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on February 12. My sister will be coming home also and we will be able to visit our family in North Dakota as well. I'll end with some pictures and I promise people, I will be back soon!