Ok so, I had my complaining session on Facebook and I'm ready to move on.  I've been whining because Jeff's school is going to be substantially more expensive than we were planning but I am thankful he found something he'll enjoy and we'll figure it out somehow.  Worst case scenario, I'll get a job. I'm not super fond of the idea because I would HAVE to be full-time. I can't handle missing that much precious time in my kids' lives that I'll never get back. If I get the pay I had at my last job, minus daycare costs... all in all, I'd be bringing home a whopping four to six bucks an hour.  Leaving my children, paying someone else to raise them, and still barely making anything... not super keen on that idea. I want to raise my kids my way, and I certainly don't want to have anyone else do it for me.  It broke my heart every time I had to leave a crying child who just wanted her mom, and I don't want to go back to that if I can avoid it.  I loved my job, I did, but I love my kids more.

Jeff is always optimistic--though he doesn't pretend the situation hasn't been frustrating--he doesn't think it'll come to me having to figure out daycare and a job, so I think I'll stay optimistic with him.

Other than that nasty financial news, things have been great. I'm loving my time at home with my kiddos.  Seriously, I'm living my dream being there for my kids all the time.  I'm relishing this precious time I have been given to be a mother. We are having a blast... but I think my husband and I are due for a night out soon.  I have been a little more irritable with the kids lately, poor girls. I had some time without the kids back in Sept, I think but... I'm due soon.  My girls are paying for my stir-craziness, it's probably made worse by the fact that poor Jeff has had test after test and we don't see much of him (often he's here... but not really here because he has to study). 

 I think he averages like 3-4 major exams a week.  Let me tell you this doctorate level stuff is no picnic.  People mistake when they seem surprised he's not working also.  This is not a "go at your own pace," masters level degree it's not an online thing at all, and its not a master's degree.  Physical Therapy schools are moving to doctorate programs rather than masters programs.

 So this being a doctorate program, (again not a masters, which is still difficult but not the same thing)  no less than 17 credits of difficult classes each semester. He'll have over 133 credits in DPT school when he's done.  He goes straight through the summer, seven (or 8, can't remember) semesters straight.  He tells me BYU's undergraduate stuff was kindergarten compared to this program. It's not one of those programs where you can work and go to school.  All the DPT students are strongly advised against being employed while attending their school.  Seriously if Jeff worked also (apart from his military stuff which he does), I don't think sleeping would be an option for him. His monthly drills are hard enough to squeeze in, I can't even imagine what would happen if he got a job. No one in his program has a job, excepting 4 and ALL of those go under 16 hours a week (most much less and doing something where they can study at work).  They are specifically told not to work.

  Anyway, he's been busy and I've been getting cranky but I figure if I get out quarterly, which is about as much as I can seem to pull off, it keeps me pleasant.

Kylee has been saying a few more words, which is fun.  She has even started to mimic prayers when it's her turn for family prayer (the cutest thing EVER, but I feel weird about getting a prayer on film, so I don't). My main concern with her is she WILL NOT let me read her books.  This is super frustrating because I feel like if she'd let me she would like it and maybe even pick up some more vocabulary.  I won't push her though, I don't want her to hate it.  I just wish she would enjoy letting me look at books with her.  That's something she would rather do on her own.  Katie on the other hand, gets PLENTY of book time. We still go to the library twice a week so I don't get sick of reading the same things over and over.  We are WELL on track to hit over 1000 books before kindergarten.

Occasionally when catalogs or ads come in the mail Katie and I will sit down and look through them together, not that I ever purchase anything from a catalog... it's just fun to look and dream.

 Last month we got some ads from Seagull Book & Tape (is it weird that it's one of my favorite stores?), and I pointed out a cute skirt and top to her.  She smiled and told me it was "totally coo" (she always leaves off the 'L' in "cool", its cute how she says it).

Anyway, I didn't really think about it after that, as I never do.  New things are not in the cards for us... at least not yet. We went to visit my in-laws just after my birthday.  They decided to take Katie to a fun place with those air bouncy toys but it was going to be right during Kylee's nap so I stayed behind (I'm a stickler for naps, I know but she just sleeps SO much better at night if we don't skip that nap).  They had a blast, didn't get any pictures though :(  My sweet mother-in-law asked for help to pick out a gift for my birthday, so my all-knowing husband took her to Seagull Book & Tape to look for something.  They were looking at some of the cute clothes they have there and my sweet little Kate pointed out exactly--to inlcude color-- what I had pointed out to her in a catalog.  Smart girl.  They didn't have my size so Jeff and Tina settled on something else equally as cute. As soon as Katie walked through the door she jumped in my lap and sighed and told me.  "It wasn't the one you wanted, I told them, but it wasn't the right one." 

I had NO idea what she was talking about, I looked to Jeff for some clarification but he just shrugged and distracted her with something else. A few minutes later Tina (Jeff's mom) came out with a gift bag, I opened it and inside was the exact shirt I had pointed out to Katie, and a very very cute skirt.  (THANK YOU! I LOVE THEM!! SERIOUSLY LOVE) and then it all made sense.  I am just AMAZED that Katie was able to remember that, it was just something I pointed out one time, and it wasn't even relevant if she was paying attention, I was more pointing it out to myself than to her.  Impressive little girl.

Alright and now for the picture segment.

My little girls LOVE to play together, but they are also partners in crime.  Here is just one of the examples of the mischeif they get into when left for just a short time (long enough for me to make a restroom run).

One of Kylee's favorite pass-times

Poor Jeff

Finger painting fun

I can't believe Kylee has learned how to swipe and unlock my iPhone

Crazy kid who constantly makes me smile

Blanket fort :)

Every single day... at least once she must attack her daddy

Jeff was a good sport for our treat-or-treating inside grandma Bennett's house