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".