The Staloch Family: Update

So I know I have not been great on the blog the last few months. I think if I look back every year at this time of year is the same story. Chris is in his busy travel season, we are crazy busy, and we are cooped up inside waiting for spring so we can go outside (hence not much to take photos of). Of course this year we are waiting extra long to get outside :( So here is the update on what we have been up to......

1) Chris traveling every other week. I can't even keep track of where he is these days. From my memory he has been to California (I think twice) Monterey, and San Fran, and maybe Sacramento too? Fort Lauderdale, Colorado I think but maybe that was just a layover and he had a lunch with someone, Salt Lake City, and I think Seattle too or maybe that was the one trip he canceled because he was too busy to go! He has been working on this "big deal" at work with Nic since before Thanksgiving and this "deal" was starting to become a major "deal breaker" for me. I think the president of this company Chris was working with talked to him more often than I did. Thankfully the deal is finally DONE!! Hopefully after Chris gets back from DC this week we can have a little break from the travel and crazy work schedule!

2) I had a little accident at the gym one day and ended up with a bloody nose and a trauma to my eye. (It was just a dumb accident with an exercise band). Went straight to the eye doctor as my vision was blurry. The doctor sent me straight to a specialist because he thought my retina was torn and thought I was going to have to have surgery that same day. Luckily it was not torn, but a few doctors visits later (and a second opinion from another retina specialist) and my vision is still not 100%. Initially we thought it would be better in a few weeks but sounds more like months and possibly some permanent. I still see 20/20 I just have some murky/grayed out area in my peripheral vision. I have finally noticed some good improvement in the last few weeks!

3) We started shopping for a swing set! Then a few days later, big snowstorm. Then we made a decision and purchased a swing set. Then few days later, another big snowstorm. We told the guy we would call and let him know when we are ready for them to come out and install it :) Can't wait to get outside with the kids! They still haven't had their bikes out yet!

4) Ben had conferences last week. Great comments from his teacher. She said she has really seen the "light come on" in the last month. She said prior to that he would only do the minimum the teachers asked him to do but now example: she asked him to trace 3 letters of the alphabet and he did all 26!! He recognizes his numbers to 10 and all the letters, write his name, understands patterning. He is working on the sounds the letters make. The teachers described him as easy going and gentle and said he is a good listener! Good to hear, wish he was a better listener at home!

5) Summer plans: Ben just passed his swimming class so he will be advancing to Little Level 3 starting in June. Soccer is suppose to start next Tuesday and go until the end of May. In June t-ball starts. This year we signed him up in the Victoria league and they play right down the street at Lions Park on Monday nights. Ben has summer school one week in June and one week in July. He is also going to be going to a park program two afternoons a week as well....and that is just Ben's activities not including the family trips, Chris's golfing weekend, weddings etc. When the girls start activities we will really be busy!

6) Spring sickness: I had a cold for a few weeks, all the kids have had colds and coughs on and off since March. I had to take Samantha into urgent care one weekend for pink eye. Luckily no one else got it.

7) More fun stuff: We had a friends 40th birthday party, I had some days with the scrapbooking ladies finally working on the girls baby albums, and we are taking Ben to see Mary Poppins in Minneapolis this weekend!