Aaron's first week and other updates

Two posts in one week...I'm sure everyone is so excited!

As most of you know Aaron started kindergarten this week. Despite 2 years of preschool I was a very nervous mom, especially about letting him ride the bus and being at a big elementary school for full day kindergarten. But he wasn't scared or nervous at all and had a great time. I did follow the bus to school the first day and parents are allowed to walk their kids to class the first 3 days of school so I happily went to ease all my fears. He seems to have a great teacher and even has a friend from church in his class. Here's some pictures of him before, then after school.

That's a sign language "K" to show he's in kindergarten

He later told me I didn't need to come Tuesday or Wednesday, because he already knows what to do and doesn't need any help. That gives me conflicting emotions. I'm proud I've raised such a smart independent son, but he should ALWAYS need me!

Brian had his 3 yr old check up today and did great. He impressed the doctor by reading all the signs posted around the room and was his funny giggly self. He was in the 75th percentile for height and the 90th percentile for weight. He weighs the same as Aaron despite the 2.5 yr age difference, but the doctor didn't seem too concerned about it. Both my boys are growing up so fast!

Lastly, today I got a haircut. I had been growing my hair out for over a year and am planning on sending my hair to the Locks of Love Foundation. I'm loving my new haircut and while I know it will take some getting used to, (I've never had it this short before) I'm very happy for the change. Here's some before and after photos of my hair. (including a belly shot for those who have been asking for it!)



That's it for now. Hopefully now that school has started I'll find a little more time to keep this updated, but with the baby coming in November who knows how crazy life will be.

Summer 2009 Update

I thought about doing an update for June, one for July and one for August, but decided to just lump it all into one. Sorry if it's long!

June began with Aaron finishing preschool and us taking a weekend trip to Lake Conroe. We had a lot of fun on the boat and got some work done and had a great trip. Then we went to Hawaii, but we already blogged about that. The end of June Aaron and Brian took some swimming lessons at a local high school and that continued into July.

For Independence Day we were up at the lake and had fun watching the fireworks over the lake. It can be so relaxing and peaceful there. On the 4th, Brian refused to take a nap and then fell asleep during dinner, still eating his corn on the cob. I tried to post the video we took of it, but couldn't get it to work. It really was hillarious!

In July our youth group also had an activity where they spread mulch at Mom Fuller's house then had a swim party. It was a lot of work, but also a lot of fun.




Also in July, the Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Circus was in town and we took the boys with another family. Brian tolerated it, Aaron enjoyed it and Jen and Paul loved it. It really was amazing some of the things they could do, from the trapeze artists, to the motorcycles to the trained elephants. It was quite impressive.



At the end of July we were lucky enough to spend a Saturday in Kemah, TX with Aunt Nancy and Uncle Tom and their boats. It was beautiful water, beautiful weather and fabulous company.

The only thing that marred our excursion was Brian falling and getting a black eye. He cried for a while then took a nap, but it never bothered him after that. He was happy to tell people he had a "shiner" and that he "fell on a boat." I had to document it though!

The first weekend of August we spent at Lake Conroe again having fun. Saturday Paul and one of my Dad's friends helped repair the deck at the house and worked really hard but it looks great and we won't have to worry about it falling apart any more.

The first week of August Paul started his MBA program at Rice University with his week of Immersion as described in the blog Paul wrote last week. The boys and I missed him, but we survived with help from my mom and some great friends. The next week though I was off to our church's girls camp with my mom watching the boys and Paul sleeping at her house at night. Camping in Houston in August while over 6 months pregnant wasn't fun, but I had a great time with the girls and other leaders and I'm glad I went.



I got back just in time for Brian's 3rd Birthday and I can't believe how big he's getting. He actually seemed older after I was gone for a week. He got lots of great presents and loved his grasshopper pie.

Aaron will start kindergarten on Monday so I promise to post next week about how that all turns out. He's totally excited and I'm a nervous Mom. I'm sure he'll do great and have a great time though. That's it for now. Sorry for having not blogged in a while, but as you can see, life was pretty busy this summer. I'm sure we will all have to adjust to a different way of life now that school's starting. Wish us luck!

Back to school

I decided it was the right time in my ‘career’ to go back to school and get a new perspective. I have spent most of my time at ExxonMobil working in some way with the internet and eBusiness, whether it be running servers, helping design, develop and support various business related internet applications, or running projects, my view of ExxonMobil's various businesses hasn’t been very broad. So, in an attempt to open more doors of opportunity – likely within ExxonMobil, but possibly elsewhere – I am going back to school.

McNair hall - home of the Jesse H. Jones School of Business

I was accepted to Rice University’s Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business. The program I am in is a 22 month program that would have me graduating in June 2011 with an MBA. Classes are generally in the evenings on Mondays, Wednesdays, and occasionally on the weekend. School officially started for me on August 3, in what they call ‘Immersion Week.’ Last week I was at school at 7:30AM each day with classes ending between 5:30 – 7:00PM depending on the day. And I was there until 9:30PM or so each night doing homework with my ‘team.’ Although there were a couple of nights we were there until midnight writing up our case analysis for our Competitive Strategy class. Then I’d come home and attempt to do the reading for the next day’s class, sometimes staying up until … really late.

Rice Owls

What surprised me the most was how engaging classes were and how much I really enjoyed the whole experience. I remember having some degree of dread in regards to class, and generally thinking it was a waste of time. But, so far, I am having an entirely different experience. Previously, if I had only had 4 -5 hours of sleep, it could be assumed that I would sleep through some portion of class. But, not once did I dose. Not that I didn’t like school before, but I think I am going to like school a little more this time around.

McNair hall - home of the Jesse H. Jones School of Business

One of the other elements of going back to school that has surprised me is how much fun I have had meeting my other classmates. For the last 8 years in Houston my circles have primarily consisted of people I know from church, with whom we share a common belief system, and people from work who are all ExxonMobil IT people. But the students that I work with in my team as well as those in my class come from varied countries, backgrounds, industries, belief systems, and experiences. I very much enjoyed interacting with all of them last week and look forward to the friendships and network that I will create in the next two years.

The patio where we party, hence PARTIO

So life is going to certainly be crazy over the next couple of years. Work is still there and, as always, will keep me very busy. Add in school. Then baby boy #3 is coming in November. I am grateful that my sweet wife is super supportive, and that she has great family and friends who will give her support through this fun part of our life.