Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

We are so thankful for the year we have had and all we have learned and look forward to a wonderful 2011!!

Snow....well, ICE Day! No School!

I find myself a little sad when school is canceled, not because the kids will be home and it will be more hectic. Not because I have to scramble to find daycare but because I miss hearing about their day. Especially now that Ava is also enrolled I am still not over how cute she looks as she bounces out of the car with her little red backpack!
I absolutely love hearing about their day at school and looking through their folder at graded papers and school work. Even Ava has picked up on my excitement. When we would pick Jenna up and I would immediately look in her binder at the paperwork she would bring home, and now when I pick Ava up she excitedly says "Mommy, do you want to see my folder".
The idea of raising my kids and allowing them to grow up is quite frightening most times but watching them go to school and learn and develop is so rewarding. Being a parent can be one of the most challenging jobs but it is definitely the most rewarding!

New Pictures....

Just posted TONS and I do mean tons of new pictures on our Shutterfly site! Click Family Pictures to go visit! I just uploaded every picture saved on my phone. Warning: some are not great quality as they are all taken with my Blackberry...my camera broke mid year:( but wanted to save them. There are almost 800 photos on there so beware!!!

Christmas Lights

There is a House in Godfrey that has the area buzzing! It is the Lights on Paris Dr and it is truly amazing! They have their lights synchronized with a radio station for the display. We took the kids by last night and we could sit there for hours! The video doesn't do it justice since it is with my phone but had to share a bit for those of you that are out of town...typical you can hear the question master (Jenna) in the background chatting away:)

Homeowner Jason Adams estimates there are between 90,000 and 100,000 lights on display. Over the past four years, the holiday arrangement has expanded and now extends partially into his neighbor's yard.

You can't see in the videos but in their front window Santa was in gathering presents and walking around and waving. Ava kept waving and giggling and Cole kept saying "It's Ha Ha" (he says Ha Ha instead of Ho Ho)

Ava has completed her first full week of school and did amazing! She is so proud of herself and is enjoying every minute. Mommy got to spend some time with her Thursday to help her make a Gingerbread House at school. She had so much fun and Mommy enjoyed getting to help in another kiddo's classroom! The kids are adorable and they did some games and story time while parents were there, I love getting to see into some of their typical daily activities and the kids are so excited to show off too:)

Jenna had her Birthday Party recently with some friends from school. They all had a blast and was so fun to watch them all together. My Aunt planned a fun party fit for Jenna with crafts, lip glosses, nail polishes and even included a note from a ghost (Jenna has a ghost club at school).

Jenna is now also enrolled in Cheer-leading. She is officially a Cheer Katz. She was hooked after the first practice and is so excited to do an event! She is just learning the basics at this point but they do some parades and events so there will more to follow!
We are busily getting ready for the Holidays and preparing for me to return to work. Eric is still home and will be the stay at home Daddy while I am training so it will be great to have one parent home still for that month. We are still looking at school programs and there is a restaurant that he has been in talks with to join their team when their third property is confirmed. We are excited for our 2011 to begin...Great things to come!

Ava's First Day

Ava had her first day of preschool yesterday and absolutely loved it! She was ready to board the bus with Jenna and burst into tears when she couldn't. Ava attends the Pre-K program at Midway Elementary where Jenna is a 1st grader. She goes 4-5 days a week half days in the afternoons.
So there she sat with her backpack on from 8:30 until we left at 12:40. My typical picky eater that has no time for food ate an entire plate full of lunch to make her strong for school:)
She was absolutely giddy as we parked the car and walked to the school lobby where we met her teacher, Ms. Christy. Ava was able to tour her classroom the day before and met her teacher privately so she could prepare for her first day. She was very quiet and shy as she usually is when she is in a new environment. On her first day Ava was all smiles! Still very quiet and observant but just huge smiles! She quickly started making friends as the kids were walking in and getting excited for a new student:) Ava has two neighbors in her class, one of which is a close neighbor that the kids play with often.
Picking her up from her first day I was so anxious to hear how she did! She was beaming as she walked down the hall with her class! She talked about painting a Christmas Tree and playing with her new friends! She is so excited to return back today!
We will be posting next week after Jenna's first Cheer and Dance practice with Cheer Katz!

Season of Change!

July of this year marked the three year anniversary since I have been a stay at home Mommy. I have worked several positions part time either from home or in the restaurant or selling our Cheesecakes but for the first time I am venturing back into the full time world since having more than one child. I am thrilled. I am nervous. I am anxious. I am very excited to start this chapter of my life but I have enjoyed my time home with my kiddos. Three small children is a ton of work, very rewarding but a TON of work. I am so thankful to find a position that will have some flexibility as I will be working from home! So hopefully I will still be able to attend field trips and such. I accepted the offer from Enterprise Holdings as a Reservation Specialist November 19th...on Jenna's Birthday:) I start January 3rd. I will train for 5 weeks in their corporate office and then will resume my schedule at home in my home office. My title is a Reservation Specialist and I will will handle inbound calls from across the US and Canada, assisting customers with reservation sales and various customer inquiries.

Ava also went to her preschool screening which the team of teachers and child advocacy team said she is developing beautifully and age appropriate. She is entering the Pre-K program at Midway Elementary and will be going to "big school" with Jenna. They are both thrilled...I only wish they would take Cole too:) She will attend half days and will be getting all prepared for Kindergarten.

Eric has is final and "working" interview with Bella Milano, a restaurant in Edwardsville on Friday after Thanksgiving. We are so thankful for the opportunities coming our way in the recent months! Eric would really love to return to school and leave the restaurants business entirely, his time home with the kids has made him really want to be available more than the restaurant industry allows. Bella Milano contacted him and really they seem to be a great fit and offer an opportunity that is so close to home and considerably less hours than a typical Executive Chef position, so we excited about this too! This will hopefully allow Eric to work and still be able to fulfill his goal of returning to school.

So much change is happening for us and in such a good way! I am so nervous about going back to work but so thankful that it is a position that will allow some flexibility. We are looking into babysitters and childcare in the neighborhood and we have some great possibilities. The kids will get a chance to socialize and interact with kids and Mommy will get some productive time away to focus back in career mode where I spent those years at Truman State preparing.

Stay tuned for more announcements and progress on my return:)

Ann Marie's Cheesecake Co.

If you are following our family blog, which I have been awful about updating, you should check out our business blog...www.annmariescheesecakes.blogspot.com
We are getting super busy for the Holiday Season! We have all of our updates and events we are attending on the blog so go check it out:) We are also on Facebook and you can become a FAN and watch for FREE give-a-ways!!

Never a dull moment!

I have forgotten what quiet is like in a house full kids! Throwing Cole, a 17 month old active boy, into the mix of our already talkative and inquisitive 7 year old and our sassy three year old really has shaken things up! If they aren't screaming at each other they are screaming at us. They are full of opinions and spunk and are both the source of so much joy and frustration in our lives.

Cole is very physical these days, I assume because he doesn't quite have the ability to express his feelings through words yet. So he pinches, bites, hits and pulls hair. I am convinced that Ava is going bald from the numerous times a day that I remove her hair from Cole's hand as he is attacking her! The poor child has scratch marks and bruises from pinches and bite marks. Sometimes it is a game and other times he is trying to get whatever toy or interesting object she has in her hands.

Screaming and fighting is a constant noise in the Walker home and time outs are dished out daily. They are so quick to protect each other though. It is amazing the forgiveness they give. I love watching them interact and play together.

Yesterday Ava and Cole were eating lunch. Cole, as usual, was trying to eat from Ava's plate too. Ava turned her back to Cole to shield her lunch. With her back turned, Cole took a huge bite out of her back instead. And by huge I mean broke skin and left a huge welt mark. Ava immediately let out a painful scream and burst into tears. Usually Ava is dramatic but as we lifted her shirt we see...




And after cuddles and medicine Ava starts to think her injury is "cool" because it is in the shape of an "A".

Jenna wants her own website but we figured this was a good start:)

Hi it s jenna this is my fist time on here. school has ben so fun. I have a fairy club and a unicorn club. I like both of them.

Guess it's been awhile, eh?

Well, we are still here:) We have had a HUGE year!! So much going on and so many changes! The kids are growing like crazy and Jenna just started 1st Grade!?! Amazing! I can't believe she is in 1st grade, it honestly seems like yesterday she was toddling around and now we have three little Walkers running our house!
I am not sure where to even start to update?!
Jenna had a great time in kindergarten and wanted to go to summer school because she would miss her teacher:) She made a lot of friends and we had some summer play dates but she is so happy to be back in school. She loves her teacher and seems to be thriving in class! She is an amazing reader and never is far from a book or pen and paper writing her own book. They are starting an Accelerated Reader program and Writing Workshop which thrills her.
Ava takes on the big sister role while Jenna is in school and does pretty well. The two little ones fight and there is never a dull or quiet moment in the house! Ava is ready for preschool but she won't start until the Spring. The little ones love their books too and both pretend to read just like Jenna.
We found a Church Home! Trinity Lutheran in Edwardsville. The kids were all baptized and I was confirmed in August.l They did great, Jenna was so proud! Cole had to entertain and while standing in front of the congregation he attempted to attack Ava and did actually get a handful of hair before Eric and I could intercede. Guess he had to through some entertainment into the sacrament to keep it lively.
I have also started a new position as an Executive Assistant/Sales Manager with Lezli A. Custom Designer Jewelry. I am enjoying every second! It is a local designer in the St. Louis Metro area who is also originally from Alton. She has been building her company for almost 4 years and I am so excited to be apart of taking it further. We have had a blast with trunk shows, private shows and festivals and are working with a St. Louis charity, Marygrove, for abused children. We donate a portion of all proceeds to this organization. We took a tour of the campus and it is truly amazing! They take all kids in and some of the stories that they shared about residents were heart-wrenching and we are on a mission to make a difference for these kids!
We have many things planned for the rest of the year and I'm sure a very busy 2011! Busy is usually the norm with three kids around:) We'll have lots to share and update!




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Sneaking up on my little ones

Found Ava smothering her brother in yogurt...he didn't seem to mind



While waiting for Jenna to get out of school...

Is it Spring yet?!

I am tired of the cold and snow and miss the sun terribly! This year has still handed us some obstacles but we are even more determined that the obstacles are out of the way in the beginning and we are going to have a great year!


The kids are doing great! Cole is on the move and very active! He is pulling up and crawling everywhere!

Eric's restaurant is open for business next week! He has been training in a couple the the company's other restaurants in St. Louis since December and went to Florida a couple weeks ago to train at the Primebar store in Tampa. I got to go in for a tour during construction and can't wait to try it out! So stay tuned for the reviews:)






Eric's home away from home...his brand new kitchen...

Happy New Year!!!!

I love the New Year and the feeling of a fresh start and new adventures! I am especially loving this year with so many wonderful things to celebrate and look forward to. While going through trials and challenges of a difficult year it is hard to appreciate the good around you but hindsight is beautiful! When you keep moving forward and seeking the good it is all worth it to look back and see how far you have come and grown!

2009 was also filled with many wonderful blessings, such as my sweet little man's birth! Cole has been such a wonderful addition to our family and fits right in as God's plan. He has brought so much joy to all of us and the girls are head over heels! Jenna started kindergarten and absolutely loves it! She is doing really well in school and amazes me everyday! Ava, my little ladybug, is so full of personality and keeps us on our toes. Our family would not be the same without her. she wants to do everything that sissy does!



2010 is sure to bring many more blessings. Eric is in his second month of a new job. He is really happy and is learning some new areas of restaurant management on more of a corporate scale. He is working with Restaurants-America. They own several restaurants and a new concept they started in 2009, Primebar opened in Denver and Tampa. Eric is the Kitchen Manager of the new location in St. Louis, in the West County Center. Very excited to get it opened! My goal is still to start back to school in the fall. After much deliberation I have decided to complete the requirements for my Education degree and teaching certificate. I am contemplating between the Early Childhood Development or Elementary Education and plan to immediately follow with my Masters in Education while teaching. I have volunteered in Jenna's classroom as well as field trips and could absolutely envision myself as the teacher and loving it!

Apple Farm Field Trip and Halloween Party at School




Christmas Party at School...Jenna with the class elf, Elvin.


This year our little man will also be turning one!





We wish everyone a healthy and happy New Year and many blessings! We will be sure to post as new adventures come our way and our little ones grow!