Saturday, October 15, 2011

Tried to make it short



(Sorry for the poor quality of this picture. I was hurrying to take it.)  We finally got some much needed rain!  It has been so hot and dry.  Everyday our high is somewhere in the low to mid 80's and we are tired of having to use our air conditioning!  One night Kevin opened the back door to find this little Rat Snake slithering across our patio.  The kids were fascinated!  Kenzie even stepped right up to it. Personally it gives me the creeps to know that something like that lives near my home.  Thank goodness they are not poisonous! And double thank goodness it was slithering away from our house, not towards it.  Do you remember when we found one in our attic? Serious heebie jeebies!


I think my parents are the only ones who check my blog regularly--thanks Mom and Dad!  Sorry that I haven't posted in a while.  Every day has been so jam packed lately.  I usually crawl into bed between 11pm and midnight only to wake up at 5:15 am to do it all over again.  I just haven't made time for blogging lately--once again, sorry.


So, for the few of you that actually read this blog, here is a quick update:


Kenzie:  Busy loving life!  Her vocabulary surprises me everyday.  Many people comment that she talks well for her age and I can't help but think that it is because she has to keep up with all of her siblings who have the gift of gab.  Lately the phrase that she's been saying a lot is, "I don't appreciate that!"


Kate:  Loving, loving, loving school.  To me it's such a magical moment when the light bulb comes on and your children really start reading.  Last year she new how to read and could do it, but it seemed like I was trying to pull her teeth out when I would ask her to read something.  This year, it's like she can't read enough.  Hallelujah!  She loves her school teacher and comes home everyday excited about something new that she learned that day.  I feel grateful to have happy children.


Kevin: Ran for school treasurer and sadly did not get elected.  We all knew it's just a big popularity contest and he kept saying that it would be a miracle if he won.  Thankfully, he's mature enough to understand and he was o.k. with not winning.  We were so proud of him for persevering and for giving a speech in front of the whole school!
  He's also getting ready for a big 3 day, 2 night science and nature camp trip with his whole grade.  Usually this trip happens in the spring, but for some reason this year they've decided to go in November.  I feel caught off guard and wish I had more time to prepare myself.  I know that he will be just fine away from home, but I still feel nervous about it. He's totally excited and I think overall it will be a great experience for him.


Kelly: A light bulb has gone off for her this year too.  She has transformed into such a responsible young woman.  We worried about her last year and wondered if she would ever figure it out.  Don't get me wrong, she is still a teenager and has her moments, but she is definitely more mature than last year.  Again--Hallelujah!
  She is as tall I as am, which throws me off a little.  I predict by the end of this school year she will be taller than me.  She is confident and just loving life.  She is busy preparing for the school musical and I am trying to decide if I should make her costume or just buy it.  She has to wear a very formal dress--think prom or bridesmaid.  Ugh.  I don't want to spend the money to buy one, but I'm not sure if I'm up for making one either.  I will post some pictures once we have her costume completed.


Justin:  Has not been traveling as much which has been wonderful!!  The company he works for has recently purchased a new building and will be moving in the near future.  The place where they are moving to used to be a corporate YMCA building and was left with all kinds of free weights and rubber flooring, etc.  So tapping into his J. Mark Randall  thriftiness, he came home the other day with several hundred pounds of weights and a couple dozen rubber floor tiles.  It inspired him to clean out the garage--Hurray!!  That's what I call a win-win.


Janet:  Busy trying to keep up with everyone else.  I'm doing my best to make it through this school year.  Actually, there has been a lot of changes where I work and it's made Justin and I re-evaluate a lot of things.  We're trying to make a plan so that I can give my notice and be done working full time at the end of this semester.  Hurray again! I'm looking into renewing some of my fitness certifications and seeing what I can do to get back into that field.  No matter how desirable a teacher's schedule is, i.e. summer's off.  I could not convince myself that that is what I really wanted to do.  Thankfully Justin is so supportive and together I feel like we will make a plan that is much better for our family.


So much for my quick update!  That's about all.  Thanks for reading this post.

8 comments:

Paul Reese said...

thanks janet, i love you and the updates, and yes, i do read it and check regularly. love dad

Delia said...

I read your blog! Jared does too but doesn't comment much.

A lot is going on for your guys. We are so proud of Kevin for running for treasurer. Whether you win or not, that takes guts. Good job!

I can't believe Kelly is so tall. How fun!

Good luck with all the changes happening with you this year too.

How Sweet It Is-A lifestyle blog said...

I read your blog too. And I just found out you are my new VT!! Hurrray!!! I'm soo excited. And yeah, I know what you mean about being so busy you are so exhausted by the end of the day. We are re-evaluating things around here too. Can't wait to visit with you soon.
It was fun seeing little Kenzie's fingers behind me at church today :)

Mom Teresa said...

And I read your blog too but you don't comment back and I guess I need to know that you're reading MY posts as well -- lol -- so I just haven't been leaving comments!! Good luck with Kevin's camp out and Kelly's need for a prom dress!! Having your kids grow up is a mixed blessing!! But I REALLY CAN'T believe that Kelly is as tall as YOU!! YIKES!! I feel like the incredible shrinking woman!!!

Unknown said...

I read, I read! You are doing an amazing job! Good luck with everything that is going on and I can't wait to read your next posts!

Nick said...

I always read! I know it sometimes feels like no one does for me too. Carter talks a TON too! Gotta love having older siblings to get them conversing. I will be so sad when Spence is as tall as me. He's not that far away though. Good luck with the job thing. I admire you for working and being a mom-both hard jobs.

pianogal said...

Hey, I read! :) It's good to catch up with the Randalls on your blog. Good luck with everything - I hope things work out for you to do something you really enjoy. Glad to hear all your kiddos are doing well! We love your family! Let's get together soon! (Our kids are already talking about Thanksgiving....)

Jessica said...

Janet you are so awesome! You work so hard and do so much. I don't know how you keep going working full time on top of everything. I work from home and try so hard not to complain because I am blessed with a job that I can sit in my pajamas and do!! Good luck with everything! I hope it all works out so you can do more fitness related stuff. That would be fun!! :)