Hello!!!

Hi All!

I know it's been a while! I've already been in school for 3 weeks now. The homework has been piling, I am trrying so hard to be on top of it since tying to settle down in a new house takes a lot of time. We already feel at home, There are a few things left to do, like set up the office and put curtains and pictures up. Hopefully we can tackle that soon!

I am doing pretty well in my classes, I have quizzes every week in both my English and Computer Information Systems classes, and I do well. I am not as stressed as I was last semester with that stupid English teacher. I love my teacher now... He makes it fun and makes you responsible for your learning and treats us like adults. I love my kickboxing class! My teacher has been kicking our butts! (literally!) I was unable to walk normally yesterday or today! I'm still taking Physical Fitness, but the teacher sure likes to talk and leaves us with like 40 minutes to workout, so I don't feel like I'm getting my full excercise in. Hopefully she'll be quiet soon!

I am truly busier than I have been in a long time. I havent been able to sit on my sore bottom (thanks to Karen! my kickboxing instructor) and watch t.v.! haha

Well... Just an posting to let ya'll know we're still alive and kicking! (I am barely!) And we're happy... getting back into our routines of reading together as a family... and dinner time.. I am so grateful to have such an understanding husband who knows what homework is like and his understanding and patience, I dont know if I did the same thing when he was going to school.. I guess I see all the hard work he has had to do, with going to school and working 40 plus hours a week and have 3 little children. I am very proud of him for accomplishing everything he has done... I hope I can make him proud and do the best I can. Although he says he was happy with a "C" grade, where for me, a "C" means failure..I think I get too serious with my school work because I want that "A", which I do get, but then and again, I do miss out with my kids. I hope that I can find that perfect balance that will work for me.

Emma is going to be 9 years old on Sunday the 9th... She's growing up so fast! I remember her beautiful birth and how she was born as the sun was rising. I have yet done anything for her birthday, so I hope I can get something together either tomorrow or Saturday. Hope everyone is doing well!

First Day of School!

Hi All!

It's the first day of the Spring Semester for me. I'm up early, trying to get a headstart. I'm taking 9 units this semester. I'm taking English, the same one that I dropped out of last semester, CSI 1A (Computer Information Systems). I'm also taking kickboxing and Physical Fitness. So, we'll see how that goes!

For those of you that don't know, we are moving in a few days to a different house. We've been packing and taking stuff over to the new house. A family friend moved to Massasschutts and couldn't find a buyer for her home, so she came to us and asked us if we could move into her house. It's a 3700 sq feet home with 6 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. I'm thinking.. what are we going to do with all that space! I'm used to a 950 sqfoot apartment, and more currently a 2600 sqfeet house. Sooo... we'll see. Just wanted to let you all know, and sort of make sorry excuses as to why I have not been blogging! Once we're all done and settled, and internet hooked up, I'll start again. Time to get going! Wish me luck!

Just some pictures for ya'll to look at!

The view outside my window! I love it! There are dark grey clouds on the bottom of the mountains. This is Mt. Baldy.

Love this actor!!!! Have to blame my good ole' father for getting me hooked to the classics! "Singing in the Rain" and "White Christmas" among others.

Don't know if you can see, but kids are with Darth Vader in Hollywood.

"Luke, I am your Father........"

Children's Discovery Museum in Temecula. Kids had a blast there! It was only 3 bucks a pop!! Whoo whoo!

Tigger under the Christmas tree!!

I'M BAAACKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!

Hello All!

It's been a while, going on 5 months since I last posted!!!! Time flies when you're busy! I got an "A" in my algebra class! I'm happy about it! I was very determined to get a good grade. I dropped out of my English class, because the teacher was unbelievably horrible! I had to deal with discrimination from her, so half way through the semester with lots of hours and homework and essays under my belt, I had to bow out. I was so, so sick physically for 3 full months, going to class so sick and coughing blood. Once I dropped out, I started getting better, and one day in November my interpreter for my Algebra class noticed that I wasn't coughing anymore. I was amazed at myself, I used to think I was a wimp, but now, I know better. I did not miss one single class through all this, (until I dropped out of Eng. of course)

I have been thinking about my future, about what I want to do. I know most of you know I have wanted to be a nurse for so long, a labor and delivery nurse. I have been fighting with some people who don't think I can do it. I realize now, after looking through the prereqisite for becoming an RN, and the demanding school schedule, that it is not right thing for me to do right now. I have a WONDERFUL school counselor who is so positive and thinks that I can do anything! She suggested that I look into the possibility of going the LVN route. (Licensed Vocational Nurse) So....after talking about it.. it seemed right. I can go to school part time, and if I am able to get certified. Maybe work part time, until my kids are older, then I can consider going back to school and get my RN degree.

Just last week I had an appt. with my counselor about classes that I would need before I can apply for the nursing program. She was able to look at my old transcript from SRJC, and apply it to my current transcript. and said that I would only need 5 more classes before I can get into the nursing program. I was sooo shocked and so thrilled! 5 more classes?? That's all??? Soooo,this coming semester I'm enrolled in a computer class and the same English class that I dropped out of, but with a BETTER teacher! I did some research this time. I found that the teacher I had last semester was the worst ranked teacher in the whole college!!!! Anyway, the 5 classes I need are : English, Anatomy,Psych 9, Speech 9, CIS 1A (computer class). That's it!

I can apply for the nursing program next Feb. I would have to take a nursing class next summer, before the actual program starts next fall. So... Wish me luck! I am so excited beyond words. I feel like I have grown to like myself more as a person. I have fought through all the sickness, and I am proud that I was able to have the courage to get through my 1st semester back at school.

I am currently taking a physical fitness class at school, during the winter semester. It's everyday Mondays thru Thursdays for 2 and half hours. I work on weight training and work on cardio machines. After 4 classes, I didn't lose any weight, I actually gained one pound, but I lost 3 % body fat. So that says something! This class lasts for 6 weeks, I have 4 more weeks to endure! I have been feeling so much better about myself and have a lot more adrenaline. So, I decided to take 2 more PE classes in the Spring. I'm taking Kickboxing and Physical Fitness (same one as I am in now). I feel like I need to continue my exercise, or else I would just go nuts after going 6 weeks with full blown exercising. Hope I can survive! :-)

Anyway, the children are doing very well in school. they are looking forward to having February off! I hope to be able to take them to the beach more, and for walks, now that i have all this energy! Ashley has gotten taller and more mature. Emma is the same old girl with her bankie (blankie) up her nose! Luke is really having a growth spurt!

I'll post some pictures.... I'll have to commit to start blogging again!

Anyway, that's all for now folks!!

Enjoy some pictures!

Here are the kids with the Simmon Kids, (the Simmons came to stay with us for a few days and went trick and treating with us! FUN!)

Arent my kids CUTE? (I'm biased I know!)

Thanksgiving Dinner with our special friend Patty! She's our adopted aunt or grandma! We LOVE her!

We went to the La Brea Tar Pits. It was awesome to see all the fossils of the animals from prehistoric times! Saber tooth cats, huge mammoths etc..

We went to Hollywood, and looked around, walked on the Hollywood walk of fame. whatever thats called! I saw Doris Day, and immediately thought of my dad, and the movie "An Affair to Remember" Andrew and I watched that movie the first day we met at my house! Memories!!!

What a Crazy Week!

I don't have pictures this time, sorry! I thought I'd keep you posted on life in the Clawson household. This past week has been ridiculously busy! Ever since I started going back to school, seems like I have hours and hours of homework and am overwhelmed with trying to juggle everything. Andrew has been such a good sport about coming home to hungry kids and making dinners.. ( I have also been sick with a bad sinus infection!) I literally spent all day yesterday doing homework. I'm thinking.. when will this ever end?! I'm going through a rough patch trying to figure out how to balance my time with the children, homework, housework, being a wife, a soccer mom, my calling, and now as a student.

I had a breakdown earlier today crying and complaining to Andrew how hard it is. I have a very strict English teacher who flip flops all over the place and is not clear about what she wants. It's frustrating!!!! She likes to give out lots of homework!!! I feel like the homework takes away from my family time. So.. we'll see how it goes.

Andrew was able to calm me down and get me started. He was such a big help today, critiquing my work, and making lunch and dinner for us today. He even cleaned up! I have such a good husband don't I? I am so grateful to have him! Anyway- enough of that!!!

The kids had soccer games today. Luke is still learning the rules of soccer.. Emma is pretty darn good at it! She is pretty aggressive!!!! I can't believe how well she plays! Her team won, with 6 players!!! The other team had 8 players! We are very proud of the kids!

Only 2 weeks left of school for the kids, then they're out for a month! Time flies!

Hopefully I'll be able to relax tomorrow and not think about homework and just focus on my family! Hope you are all doing well!

Soccer!!

Emma and Luke in their soccer garb! They did such a good job at their games!

Disneyland!!!

Space Mountain was our first ride of the day! We had so much fun! (ahem! except for Luke!) It was also our last ride of the day, and it became Luke's favorite! :-)

Minnie Mouse!!! Aren't the kiddos cute or what?!

In Toon Town lounging on a car! Sorry folks! No getting your driver's license until you're 25 years old!

Everyone knows these famous Teacups! The kids had a blast spinning their teacup.. I was forbidden to spin the one Andrew and I were on, otherwise he would have puked on me!! Yech!

This picture was taken after the day was over, in the parking garage. I wanted a picture of the kiddos in their new Disney garb!

Well! If you want to read a story... be prepared not to get up for a while! A friend of mine from Santa Rosa's mother sent us 2 free tickets to Disneyland. I started looking online for tickets for the children. We were broke and couldn't afford to buy tickets for them...Tickets for the kids would have cost $172!!!! NO WAY!! Anyway, while looking for cheap tickets, a name popped up in my head many times. The name was "Queenie", she's a mom of Luke's classmate from kindergarten. Anyway, the name kept popping in my head and, so I decided to give her a call, and basically said to her," I don't know why I'm calling you, but your name kept popping in my head. Do you know of how or where I can get cheap tickets to Disneyland?" She responded and said,"oh! I work there! I can only let 3 people in not your whole family." I'm like..."oh really!? I only need 3 tickets for my kids!" So we proceeded to plan on a day and time to meet.

I decided that I would surprise the kids. They have wanted to go to Disneyland eversince before we moved here, and they stopped asking to go, I guess they figured that we would never go.

Andrew told the kids the night before, not to be surprised that he would be home the next day. He told them that he had errands to do with me. (he never takes days off!)

He told the kids to get their backpacks in the car and we would drop them off at school (ok, ok!! so we lied a bit!) The kids got really confused when we passed the school. I preteneded to get "frustrated" with Andrew... heehee! I told the kids that since he had never taken them to school, that he was just confused! They accepted that! Then we kept going and they were so worried that they would get a "pink" slip for being tardy. So I calmed the kids down by telling them, "oh I'll explain to the office, don't worry! We'll take care of it!" Well needless to say they accepted that!

We got on the freeway, and school had already started and we told them, "ohh!, I guess you'll have to go on the errands with us!" the kids were not excited at that prospect.

Andrew and I had a hard time trying not to laugh! When we finally pulled into Disneyland, they didn't realize it until I rolled down my window and paid for parking, and the attendant said " Welcome to Disneyland! Have a wonderful day!" I immediately looked back at the kids to see their expressions. I wish I snapped a few pictures! It was unforgetable! They did not believe that we were actually there!

Emma told us, while we were waiting at the gate for Queenie to let us in, " I am in shock!"

What an unforgetable experience for us! We had the time of our lives there! I know people think- oh Disneyland.. everyone's been there already! But for my children, it really meant a lot to them. I am so happy that we had the opportunity to do this, and for free!

We came on the best possible day! We basically were able to go on all the rides. A day we will not soon forget!

Now you can get up! Smile!