I've been a BAD blogger!

And, I can come up with a million reasons why! So here are a few of the reasons why I haven't taken the opportunity to record our life happenings since July(gasp!)

• We are busy, like legitimately busy! 
• My husband hogs the computer! Not for entertainment purposes but because he uses it for work. He is working from home half of the week and uses the computer for all of his at home work.
• My son is a gamer :-/ We have no gaming systems in our house so he has taken a liking to computer games and iPhone apps. 

• We got new photo editing software, that I don't know how to use :( I could just throw unedited pics on here, but I just don't wanna!

All excuses aside, I really miss my blog and am putting it in writing that I promise from this day forward to be a better blogger. I want this blog to be something that my kiddos can look at years from now and see what our daily goings on were like. So, here is a little update on the 4 of us and whats been going on since July!

Casey
My husband is a hard worker. He has been doing real estate appraisal for a little over a year now. It's had its ups and downs and we've all adjusted to his commuting to the greater Seattle area several days a week, as well as him working from home. He sometimes works really long hours but has a somewhat flexible schedule which has been nice with school starting for the kids. The best part about this job is that he is much happier doing it than he has been with any other job in the past :) He will be going back to school to take some classes for real estate appraisal certification soon. He also has gotten back into a good routine at the gym and is shaping up mighty nicely if I do say so myself ;) He is a patient daddy, especially when it comes to Norah's homework, which is not a quality that I posses. So, he does most of her homework with her and I am thankful!

Me
Right now I am really, really loving the amazing fall weather we are having her in the PNW. Fall is my fave season and this weather is a welcomed bonus. Casey and I celebrated our 9th wedding anny last week. We had a lovely sushi dinner date followed by drinks and good conversation! I got a pretty little necklace, that I am in love with too. I've also gotten back into a little better gym routine and will be trying to shed those few extra pounds that I gained over the summer from all the yummy food and drinks that I consumed ;) Work at the NICU has been extremely busy. Last year we had a very long period of low census that was scary and frustrating. Now we are in a staffing crisis. Not a single work stretch has gone by in the past 2 months where I haven't done at least some overtime. Its nice for the bank account but really does take a physical toll. Especially working nights! There have been times when I've worked 56 hours in 4 nights, yikes!

Norah 
My big girl started 2nd grade. I couldn't be prouder of her and she already got her name published in the weekly newsletter for being a responsible student. She loves her teacher and rumor has it that she will be looping and teaching 3rd grade next year, which means we get a wonderful teacher 2 years in a row. She also started swimming lessons again, and at first didn't want but after one lesson she is glad to be back in the pool. She also wants to take back up ballet so we are waiting for the next session to start up. She got a sassy new short haircut and is growing up way to fast!

Nolan
And last but not least my little man stated Pre-K! NOOOOOO, momma's not ready for my baby to be in Pre-K, cause that only means that full time school is getting that much closer.  He is doing so well in school, he loves his new teacher Miss Vera, and I think she's pretty lovely. He is learning his alphabet and comes home and tells me about the new letter he learned and about all the things that start with that letter, it's so cute. He is rambunctious and such a boy. He is a little obsessed with Sonic the hedgehog and has declared that he will be sonic for Halloween. He even does this weird little Sonic inspired run. He also restarted swim lessons and is showing off his newly acquired swimming skills for his teacher!

October is shaping up to be another busy month! We have a wedding, a visit to the in-laws, Halloween planning/parties and Casey has one last climbing trip planned before the weather gets too bad and before his best bud and climbing partner moves :( Other than that the rest of our time will be filled with school, work, gym time and kids activities as well as spending as much time as we can with our very best friends before they move in 2 short months to Hawaii :(:(