Catching up

Well, I am not good at this blogging thing yet. I haven't figured out when to do it that is convenient or how set it up with all the cute stuff that everyone else has. That aside I am going to make a renewed effort since I first set it up in Dec! So first things first I have to catch up on what I we have been doing for the past 6 months. Well, Ariana turned 5 in January ( oh was she ever excited because she thought that meant that next day she got to start kindergarten and go to the ever anticipated Mrs. Baker's class--what a sad moment when she learned she had to wait for another 8 months).
Carissa turned eight and was baptized, how special that was for her. She is such a special little girl with an amazing desire to do what is right. I am so proud of her.
Daniel turned seven and has to test his limits all the time or maybe it's me he is testing to see if I will follow through. I am notorious for threatening to take away a privilege if the children aren't obedient. And it certainly stinks when I have to follow through. Like when I kept asking for a week for Daniel to clean up his room. Finally I didn't know what else to do to motivate him so I thought if I threatened him with no birthday presents and no birthday celebration with the family that he would rush to get it done. WRONG!! (we celebrate as a family on the actual day of the birthday and have a party with friends on the weekend of the birthday) I think I was more heartbroken that I had to follow through than he was, after all I had a nice evening planned and had presents I was excited to give him, but I had to be true to my word. But I tell you what when I asked him the next day to pick up his room or he was in danger of missing out on having a celebration with his friends he got his room cleaned. But that lesson has not been a lasting one, because we have to repeat the losing of privileges. Also I have been trying to potty train Austin and he is by far the most difficult of all of my children. My girls it was a matter of 1-2 weeks and Daniel took about a month before there were no accidents but Austin will do great for a couple of weeks and then decide he doesn't want to do it any more and will throw fits about sitting on the toilet. I have to admit it is getting better, meaning that he is more consistent about going and I battle maybe one day here and there. But I am going on 4 months now that I have been consistent with him and well he runs the show. And I thought I would be done with this toilet training business. (My girls were two and Daniel was two and a half and Austin is 2 and 9 months--Experience isn't always the greatest teacher!)

As far as activities go, Carissa had her dance recital. She was in two dance classes, ballet and rhythmic gymnastics. Ariana had her "Stepping up" ceremony from preschool and we had piano recitals for Daniel and Carissa. Our family went camping when school ended for the kids and Keith and we have taken trips to the children's museum and the wildlife museum and gone swimming. So I believe that will catch me up to the present. Now hopefully I can update more regularly and consistently.

The start of something new

Keith started as a full-time student in January. He has just completed his CNA and PCT classes and has received his certification. He began working at Tucson Medical Center in April. He will begin taking summer classes at the U of A in preparation to begin the nursing program in the Spring of 2009. We are officially on the journey of Keith to a new career in the medical field. At the moment Keith has ambitions he will become a doctor. That is a long way off. I am thinking that stopping at a nurse is okay with me or even a nurse practitioner. New journeys can often be scary and this one seems to carry it fair share of fear,at least for me.

The History

Well, the Mair family now resides in the Tucson area and will be here awhile. We had been in Mesa since 1998 where Keith and I met. We bought our first home after a year of marriage and lived in it for five years where we brought into the world 3 darling children, Carissa, Daniel, and Ariana. It was shortly after Ariana was born Keith was deployed to Iraq. We were very lucky his tour was only 6 months. He served in the Marine Corp 9 years and after his contract was up did not re-enlist. It is a relief knowing he won't be deployed again. We then bought a new home in Queen Creek to be closer to Keith's job. It was a huge 2 story right off a golf course, in the very neighborhood Keith was working. Keith worked in residential construction as a supervisor. However we were there only 8 months when Keith got a better job offer in Tucson. We moved to Tucson and have a home not much different from our first house, but on a much bigger lot. The bigger lot is a plus. There is lots of room for the 2 dogs and the 4 kids. Our fourth, Austin, arrived 5 months after moving to Tucson.
Keith is now in commercial construction as a project manager and will be going back to school in January. He is planning on getting his degree in mechanical engineering and then going on to medical school.
Charity is a full time mom (which includes cook, chauffeur, referee, personal shopper, maid, nurse, cheerleader, and of course a great hugger) and is finally going to finish her degree online through BYU Bachelor of General Studies Program. (About time!)
Carissa is in second grade and loves learning. She also enjoys dancing and learning the piano. She has been dancing since she was 3.
Daniel is in the 1st grade. He is enjoying trying out the different sports. He has tried baseball, soccer, basketball, and football. He likes football and basketball the best. He also wants to learn the guitar but mom says he has to learn the piano first.
Ariana is in preschool. She is pretty smart. She wants to do everything her older siblings do, so we are working on reading. I am pretty amazed at how well she has caught on to all the those rule exceptions. Kindergarten may be a little boring, but then again she is a socialite.
Austin is all boy! He is the biggest sports fanatic I know. He absolutely loves balls. He is 2 going on 10. He has to be the most self-sufficient child ever. If he were potty trained he wouldn't need me.