Where Have We Been?!

I am so sorry that I haven't updated our blog in almost 2 months! I feel horrible, however, life has just been so crazy busy. So, here's an update on what's been happening with the Saros Family 4. Ashlyn has been doing wonderful at school. She's been maturing much more over the past two months and is learning how to use her words to communicate with her friends. Speech has helped her so much. On May 7th, Ashlyn, Grandma & I shared a great day at her school together. The kids made some very beautiful terracota pots with flowers in them. They handpainted their own masterpiece for each mom. In addition, we received a set of our child's handprints and a cute little poem. To top it off, we got to share time with each other at an ice cream social in the morning. What could be better than that!

As for Aubrey, she has had a series of terrific accomplishments in school and dance. This is Aubrey's 5th year of dance, so she will receive a trophy at her recital this year. She also will receive a medal for being in the accelerated studies program, which means she takes 3 classes per week and includes ballet in her studies. If that weren't enough, Aubrey will also be receiving an award for most improved in jazz, as voted on by not only her teacher, but her peers as well. In school, we've also had some VERY IMPRESSIVE test scores come in the past month. Each student has a target they need to reach on their testing scores for the year and Aubrey not only met these targets, but she literally blew them out of the water. In math, she needed to score a 191 and she scored a 204. In reading, she needed to score a 190 and she scored a 214 and in language, she needed to score a 193 and she scored a 209. We are so proud of all she's done to focus on her education this entire school year. Shawn, myself and grandma & papa will be taking her on her own special celebration night as soon as school is out. We are planning to go to her favorite restaurant, Hana Yori and then bowling!

Shawn and I have just been busy trying to keep up with work, PTA and the kids. I just finished coming off teacher appreciation week, which was a very busy week for me. It was definitely well received by all the staff and we got so many wonderful thank you letters in appreciation of our hard work. We are still trying to finish up the loose ends on what seems to be a never-ending house project, in addition to the building project we have out back for the business. It is our goal to have everything finished up by the end of June, so please...wish us luck! Shawn has been extremely busy with DJ work this month. In the past 3 weeks, he's done 9 events and this is only on Friday & Saturday! He's had 2 events per Saturday for the last three weeks. Things slow down to the normal busy wedding season (1 wedding per Saturday) starting next week, so that will come with a big welcome. We ALL MISS DADDY!

Let's see, other than that...not much general news to report. I will be posting later on an exciting addition to the family, a visit from Grandma Jackie & the fantastic Mother's Day we had!

Talk to you all soon:)

Meet Our Newest Family Member...Junie B. Jones

So, Aubrey (2nd Grade) had a book project due today. She's been working on it for just about a week and had to come up with everything from deciding what book to read, what to say, how to present her project, props to select and then fit it all into a bag, that, yes...she had to make too!

Anyway, today was the big day! At 10:10 a.m. she presented her project and this time, we sent daddy along. Sometimes mommy can make the nerves too overwhelming (something about the perfectionist in both Aubrey and I...imagine that!).

We hope you enjoy the show as much as her classmates and teacher did. Her teacher was so impressed with Aubrey's project that she's asked for it to be a project she uses for years to come as her display on how to present a project. We are so proud!

Tomorrow, Aubrey will present her project for a group of 1st Grade Students:) Fun! Fun! Fun!

As they say in Hawaii, Aloha! (in our world, goodbye and goodnight!)

Proud Daddy!

Just thought you'd all like to hear the first performance of the next American Idol! Aubrey performed on the fly, at her school dance. It was a Father-Daughter dance and she looked absolutely gorgeous! Shawn looked very handsome as well (see picture to right). Shawn wanted me to note that, NO he did not gain 45 lbs., it's just the camera angle. He feels like he's storing nuts in his cheeks...maybe it's just that good ole Indiana weather!

Anyway, back to Aubrey and the whole reason we wanted to post this. No nerves in this girl...she sang in front of over 200 of her peers and their parents. YOU GO GIRL!

The Week In A Nutshell

Well, overall it was a busy week for us. It started with Aubrey bringing home 11 pages of homework in one day, which after 3 hours of completing the work and turning it in the next day; I wrote a note to her teacher explaining how I felt that was an extensive amount of work for a 2nd grade student to do in one day, even though Aubrey is doing Enrichment! Come to find out, little miss brought home a packet that they were supposed to be working on in class for two weeks. She got confused and we were very tired after a long night!

Ashlyn brought lots of laughs this week! It was 10:30 a.m. on Thursday and Ashlyn wanted me to make her a PBJ, so I did. She was eating naked on a sheet in my room (imagine that!)...she had a bath and just wasn't ready to get dressed. I had taken a shower as well, so I thought while she ate her PBJ, I'd just dry my hair. Well, as I dried my hair, Ashlyn came over and said, "here mommy." I didn't look at what she was handing me, figuring it was the crust from her PBJ, however, when I closed my hand I realized it didn't feel like PBJ crust. I said, "Ashlyn, what did you give mommy?" She excitedly said, "POOPY!" I couldn't believe it as I looked and sure enough, not only was I holding poop in my hand, but she had a piece in her hand too! I quickly grabbed the CLOROX wipes and began sanitizing us, the entire room and threw away the PBJ. I know LOL!

Our week ended with a bang, literally! While volunteering to do the school display at Aubrey's school, Shawn fell off the indoor roof in the school's foyer. He is okay, just a sprained ankle and lots of bumps and bruises, but it could have been much worse. He fell nearly 12 feet and luckily, thanks to our great friend Sherry, missed the ladder that was in the way. She shoved it in the opposite direction, so that he wouldn't get tangled up in that. Shawn is resting comfortably with his air cast, lots of ice, a bandaged finger (from cutting a nice chunk out of it on the metal roofing) and his trusty nurse Jessica!

We're hoping for more of a relaxing week next week:) Hope all is well with everyone!

Thank GOD for nurses!

Well, it's been a very scary week for our family. On Tuesday, while helping me file at Aubrey's school, Ashlyn began choking on a piece of hard candy that she was given by our school principal. Every time we go in, he gives her this same candy and normally, she's perfectly fine. This was not the case Tuesday. We were walking through the IMR when I heard Ashlyn cough, when I turned around to ask her if she was okay, she was bent over and gasping for air. I immediately picked her up and sprinted to the nurses office with her. The nurse ended up being able to get the candy to go down, instead of out, with the thrusts! It was the scariest day of my life as a parent thus far. The nurse likely saved Ashlyn's life that day! I thank GOD and all Ashlyn's guardian angels for watching out for us that day!

So, Wednesday we took a little thank you gift and note into the school nurse along with cards for the secretaries (who kept me so calm) and of course, the principal for keeping me calm as well. We also took in a little container of new candies for Ashlyn to enjoy on her next visit. FUNNY THING...the principal had already gone out that same night and bought new candy too (miniature Reese's Peanut Butter Cups)! He said, I was never going to let something like that happen again! Clearly this was merely a fluke accident and there's no one to blame. The most important thing is that Ashlyn is 110% and back to her business of keeping me busy!

On the same day as the choking incident, she took my copy stamp and stamped her hands and nose! I think that says it all:)

Have a wonderful day and thank GOD for nurses!

Our First Entry

Happy President's Day everyone! Today is the first day of our new blog. I am very excited about setting this up because I think it will be a wonderful way to share our family's important thoughts, events and fun stuff! I'm looking forward to posting pictures, achievements and milestones of the kids. I hope you enjoy reading and keeping updated on our family.

Have a wonderful day!