Hi, Have We Met?

Nothing like almost a year passing for me to start blogging again.  I get behind, then get overwhelmed, and have no idea where to start to catch up.  So big changes at the Garcia household in the last 9 months...  I quit my job (at SolArc) of 11 years, 2 months and 4 days in August.  It was definitely bittersweet.  I had put my heart and soul into that job for 11 years, and I was good at it.  I had some of the best, brightest, most creative co-workers out there.  I felt stupid around these people on a daily basis, and felt so blessed to be in such company (seriously, how did I manage to land a job with such intelligent people?)  I loved the people, and I loved the challenge of my job each day.  However, it had gotten to the point where my kids needed me more.  And I knew they had to come first and it was time to move on.  Very hard to leave.  VERY.  But also very nice to be home more and much lower stress levels for me.  Happy Mama = Happy Family.  :)

So 6 days after quitting, I became a preschool teacher - which has been my dream for, well, ever.  It doesn't pay much (seriously.  peanuts.), but it's so rewarding.  Great kids, great families, great school.  I really enjoy my fellow teachers as well - so funny and such sweet ladies!  And Leyton is there - can't beat that!  I've had a couple friends ask me recently if looking back now I'm glad I left.  And the answer is yes, I am.  I'm happier because my kids are happier.  I miss my old SolArc friends terribly (although I have some great new friends at the preschool!).  I miss the ridiculously dry humor, the daily brain benders, and some of the stupid little things I didn't think I would ever miss, but I LOVE being a two-year-old preschool teacher.  I love getting to pick both boys up from school every day.  I love that I don't have to work in the middle of the night and the second I get home from each day.

So here's a few fun pics from the last nine months.  This so doesn't do it justice, and I'll try to throw out a few every now and then to catch up...

One of my last efforts as a SolArc'er was to organize a team for the Mud Run last August.  We had SO MUCH FUN.  And I might add - came in as the 2nd place team overall!  Can't beat that (I came to realize in 11 years all SolArc'ers are highly competitive), especially when it was 108 degrees at the time we ran!  And I came in 2nd place in my age group - that was pretty exciting as well!  :)

Tina, Wanor, Danny, me, and Jeph

And did I mention sweet little BK did the kids' Mud Run?  SO proud of him!  He kicked hiney in his first race!  One of the younger kids out there, and he beat most of the big kids!  (they had to kick him off the course after he ran it THREE times!)

He's near the top of the slide, in the middle in the blue t-shirt.

Muddy ditch - note how much bigger the kids are than him?!?

Post-race!  He LOVED it and is already begging to do it again, although this year he wants to do the adult course!  Not sure Mommy is ready for that...

Next came fall, and first days of school.  BK started FIRST grade.  Seriously.  I know, I can't believe it either.  Leyton is in the three-year-old class and thinks he's pretty big stuff.  So proud of both kiddos!  And not my favorite picture, but they think they are sooooooooooooo funny. 

Then we had a big moment at church.  Britton's first grade Bible presentation!

All the first graders:

I promise to be better about posting...  More to come!  :)