Friday, January 29, 2010

Grades are In

Earlier this week we got the kids' report cards. They were great! Once again Naomi got straight A's. She was even put in an advanced Math class midway through the semester and still got an A-. She has been learning a lot about the planets and moon in school this month and she is LOVING it. I may have an astronomer on my hands. =) She already has plans to visit Grandpa when it gets a little warmer out side and use his telescope to see if she can see some other planets. You are now warned Grandpa. Naomi has had one of her best friends move away recently so that was a pretty difficult transition. She has however called her a couple of times and it seem to make Naomi happy. Naomi has also recently gotten a cell phone. We were reluctant at first because we were trying to hold off as long as possible, but it was time. It has actually come in very handy expecially after school the other day I told the kids that I would pick them up at Naomi's side of the school and of coarse I forgot I said that and was at the boys side of the school and Naomi called me to ask where I was. It was very nice let me tell you. Noah, is doing wonderful in school also. He has added an O for outstanding to this terms grades. He went from an S+ in reading to an O- way to go Noah. His Language grade went from an S to S+. The rest are all O's I am so happy that he is excelling in school. Since he and Naomi are such different personalities I was not sure how he would handle school but he proved his mom wrong. He just needs to work on his neatness when he is writing words. He does still seem to like to challenge me in the attitude department. I suppose that is to be expected. He has learned recently though that if he does not listen and obey his parents that he gets things taken away and no fun can come from no toys. I keep getting reports from his teacher that he is very polite and has great work ethics. Maybe he puts all he has into school and doesn't want to at home. I am proud that I am raising a boy that is respectful to his teachers and others even if we have some trouble here sometimes, no one is perfect. Nathanael is doing great also. His teacher said that he is doing great and he is sweet and kind to others. That is a wonderful thing to hear. Nathanael has been working on keeping his pants dry in school since he has a lot of accidents when he is there. I am happy to report this month is already much better then December and he has even gone every day this week w/ dry pants. YIPEEEE Nathanael. Nathanael's principal wrote a note on the bottom of his report card and spelled his name wrong. Thought that was pretty funny. =) His teacher gets it right though. His social skills and math skills are great. He just has days when he really doesn't want to be in school. So we will see how another year goes and if he is really struggling w/ school (which he is not now) we will probably look at the prospect of homeschooling him. That is a non issue right now. Naarah is doing well right now. She continues to love to listen and say her abc's, she is counting w/ us to 20 and she will count backwards from 10 with us. She loves books so I am thinking I have another book worm girl on my hands. She continues to have a nice strong personality and likes to get her way but doesn't always get it and wow she is a good temper tantrum thrower. She beats all three of the other ones put together. She must have more red hair then we thought. Chris and I are doing fine. We have been busy with work and house stuff and church stuff and all the fun of being parents and adults. Chris is getting ready for a trip to see his brother and sister in Oklahoma in about 1 week. He is going by himself and well deserved time away for him. Just a refresher for him and time to enjoy his brother. Hopefully the weather will not be in the teens when he gets there. I will be off work with the kids and have some fun activities planed for them. One day I will be taking them out of school so we can enjoy the day together and possibly go swimming and chucke cheeses. So hopefully I will remember my camera wherever we go and I will have some pictures to post soon.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Saying Goodbye

Naomi and her friend Anna at scrapbooking day. Anna one of Naomi's best friends just moved to Reno at the begining of Jan. It was a hard day for Naomi to say goodbye to such a great friend.
Naarah in her new birthday jammies from Miss Lydia. They are of coase monkey's
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Thursday, January 07, 2010

An update on the Hionis Family

Hello All,


2009 was sure a learning year for Chris and I. We started by me going to work 5 days a week (toward the end of 08). That meant Chris had to get up early every morning to get the kids ready for school since he works 2nd shift that is not easy. It was something necessary in our quest to try to get our finances in order and work our way out of debt before it is to late. We are continually working on it but we have become closer the more we rely on each other. Also my work started a wellness program and last year I lost a total of 25lbs. Am hoping for about 30 more this year. I didn't try to hard last year so this year is going to be a year of change in our house and eating healthier and living a better lifestyle. We are excited to start this new adventure.
Also we took a family trip to the Dells last winter/spring (it was April), with a couple other families we are good friends with. It was a great time and for once Naomi had girls to hang out with instead of the boys all the time. Naarah loved it. Once she got used to the water she was unstoppable. Then we went to our annual Tony Stewart Race at Madison International Speedway. LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!! This was I believe our 4th year going and we really enjoy that time as family. This year was the first year that It was not like 90 degrees. It was a great summer. Then we also took a family trip to Great America in which it was cool enough this year that we didn't get to go to the water park part and cool off. That was ok w/ me a lot less hassle but the kids were a little disappointed. Then for my birthday Chris and I decided that I could get a plane ticket to visit my sister and nephew in Texas at the beg. of August for his first birthday. It was really amazing. I loved every minute, didn't even mind Texas in August. Just sad that it was only 5 days.
Chris is still working at TDS telecom which we are thankful for him still having a job in this market, I celebrated my 10 yr anniversary at the dental office in March. Naomi was invited to be part of the dance line this year for her dance academy in which she will get to go to competition this year (it is being held at the Kalahari in Wisc. Dells) which we are excited about another water park trip. She is very excited. Noah has been playing soccer now for a few years and this year is on the U10 league where they have refs and play real games which he is very excited about. He really enjoys it. Also he is going to be starting basketball for the first time next week which should be interesting and exciting. Nathanael is playing soccer again this year and started kindergarten. He loves both very much. He is really enjoying kindergarten just not getting up in the morning. Naarah I think enjoys her personal time with mom and dad very much. She has an amazing vocabulary and is still a stinker. All the kids took swimming lessons in Oregon in Nov/Dec. they learned way more than I thought possible. It was great and when it was cold outside they were indoors swimming.
We survived our Christmas and New Years even though we were all sick at one point or another over the 2 weeks. The kids enjoyed their time off school and Naomi and Nathanael decided to stay with Grandma and Grandpa for a couple extra days after Christmas in which one of those days Grandma was lucky enough to get sick.
Right before Christmas our van decided to take a nose dive and we had to replace the alternator-AGAIN- we just put on in June of 08. Thankfully now we have a friend who works at a car part store and could get us one cheaper. Mom and dad came to help us out for a couple of days while we had no van. Chris and my dad got the van put back together just in time to head north for xmas.
The kids are now back in school and trying to get back in the swing of things.
It has been a pretty sad week for Naomi and I this week as one of her best friends she has know since kindergarten (her mom who I am friends with) Their family moved to Reno Nevada. Actually they were to fly out today in this beautiful snowy weather. We are praying they made it safely. Naomi cried a lot yesterday and I just hugged her and cried with her. Let her know it would be ok. So she asked if Naarah could sleep in her room with her last night so I let her.
Tomorrow Chris and I will be attending my Christmas party for work and the kids will be staying at our friends house overnight. We decided to do our grocery shopping after the party. Should be lots of fun. That should sum up our lives for a year. =) now enjoy the pictures below.

Christmas program at church

Naomi and Naarah all dressed up getting ready to go to the church for their Christmas program
All the kids looking GREAT!!!!!!!
From this picture on please don't mind the scary eye kids. I can't get this camera to take good pictures at the church. The lighting must be funny somehow.
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Christmas Day

This is Naarah on Christmas Day having her temper tantrum. I got a great video of it so we are going to really figure out how to post a video on this blog. Can you believe the computer geek hasn't figured that out yet. =)
This is Naomi on Christmas Day, She was the lucky one to be sick on the day. She did not puke like the others but she did sleep for 2 1/2 hours after opening gifts and this is when the head ache set in. She was pretty much not getting up even w/ tylenol. It was bad.
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Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa's



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Christmas

Chris found these hats online and wanted one for Christmas. I so lovingly knowing how funny but warm my honey would look in such a crazy hat got it for him for Christmas from the boys. He loves it. He wears it all the time. Has been able to do a great job breaking it in with the snow lately.
The kids got the game of Operation for christmas and dad and the kids played it for quite a while. We did our Christmas on Christmas Eve morning since we were going to be at Grandma and Grandpa's on Christmas day.
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