February Antics-Part 2-Skiing at Yosemite!

See, I told you there would be a Part 2. This month, although a short one, has been pretty busy! I am starting to work more and more and am beginning to finally figure it all out. I am happy to be working and am excited about what the future holds with this company. Although, I have a new job and am working, we had a ski weekend planned, so off we went to the cabin. We left on Thursday evening, only to be met by a serious accident on the 5 North in Gorman. The freeway was closed and it was literally a parking lot. Have you ever had to put your car in park and turn it off on the Freeway?? It is a crazy feeling...but an hour and a half later, we were on our way. Then we got to the fog...and slowly made our way to the cabin. We made it and after about 4 hours of sleep we were up and off to hit the slopes!!
We headed to Badger Pass in Yosemite. This is the 3rd year we've gone and are excited that it is becoming a tradition. Friday we skied and skied! Leah was in ski school and very excited about learning to become a skier. Of course, she had her sights set on the biggest hill there! The benefit of ski school is that it allows Michael and me to get some of our own skiing in. Friday started out sunny and by the end of the day is was pretty cloudy and starting to rain at our cabin about 40 miles away. You know what rain equals!!! SNOW!!! On Saturday morning, we met the mountain with a few inches of fresh powder and snow in the trees! The weather stayed cloudy and eventually it began to snow on the mountain. We left a bit early, because of white-out conditions!! It was such a good time for us to get 2 days of skiing in, and we look forward to continuing the tradition next year. Here are some pictures to enjoy!!

Leah, going down the hill!!

Me and the hubby on the chair lift!!


Day 2--the Snow in the Trees!!

Our Snow Bunny, showing off her skills!

The Snowy Weather

February Antics-Part 1

This is a jam packed month of "stuff" so that is why there is a "Part 1"...look in a few weeks for another post about our upcoming ski trip...

Anyway, I have now worked 2 weeks at my new job as a tutor for Autistic kids. It is a LOT of work, but I am already in love with the kiddos I work with. Each kid brings a new set of challenges, but I look foward to the progess they will make with me...it will be very rewarding. We are adjusting at our house to our new schedule and I think it will work...Leah gets more time with Michael and I get a chance to make a difference in the lives of the families in our community!

Even though I've been busy with work, we managed to take a mini-trip to Huntington Beach for the Surf City Marathon and 5K this weekend. We went down on Saturday and in between rain storms we went to healty life Expo at the beach to pick up our packets...including our new shirts and bib numbers!! We then had a nice evening with dinner with Aunt Diana and Wii playing!! Leah is in love with Wii and couldn't get enough of it!! I managed a few games myself and Michael showed us how to Wakeboard and Jet Ski with a Wii!!

On Sunday morning, we were up before the sun to go to the Surf City Marathon and 5K. Michael did the half marathon and I did my very first 5K. I finished with my best time ever...which is still pretty slow, but I am proud of myself and look forward to the next time we get to race. Michael did well on his half marthon and even shaved off 15 minutes from his last 1/2 marathon time just 3 months ago. Leah got to do a kid run and ran a mile in just about 12 minutes. She is a trooper, and very patient waiting for all of us to finish our runs! My parents were great to watch Leah and be our paparazzi documenting the day!! After the race we had a great lunch at Buca Di Peppo...or whatever it's called! We even brought out doggies and they got to play with Charlie...they are way too funny to watch! Here are a few photos of the run:

Here I am heading to the finish line...seeing my family gave me the boost to finish strong!!

Me, Michael and Leah after all of our runs!!

Leah's race, with me encouraging her to "keep on going, you're almost there!"

Yep, It's True...

I HAVE A JOB!!! A real live job that I get to go to and that will pay me!!!! I will be working as a Tutor for Autistic children in the Santa Clarita Valley. During my training I was astounded at what I learned about Autism. Did you know that it effects 1 in 90 children? It is a neurological disorder that has no cure and is life long. I cannot imagine what it would be like for a parent to have a normally functioning baby only to have your child regress and slowly end up in their own world. While there are no known cures for Autism, I will be working as an "interventionist" and teaching these children skills they can use to communicate with a program called Applied Behavior Analysis. This is the process of using positive reinforcement to have a child complete a desired task. That sounds really easy, but during the 3 days of training I had proved that it will be a challenge in that each child learns differently. I understand that it will be a challenging job but also equally rewarding. It may take 100 times asking the clients I teach to touch the cup, but the 1 time they do it will be soooo exciting! I officially start next week shadowing already employed Tutor's and hopefully the following week I'll start working with my own clients. The best part is that because I have a Master's Degree and experience as the Director of Education at Sylvan, I have the skills and education to potentially get promoted to Program Manager, which would be more of a coordinator position between parents, students and tutors. That's the job I originally applied for.

I am excited for the opportunity and looking forward to the challenge. I have been going quite awhile without work and while it will make for some different dynamics at home, both Michael and Leah are excited!! I am sure I'll have some crazy stories and some unique experiences!! God has blessed us and as usual, His timing is perfect!!

Christmas Highlights!

This Christmas seems like it was one of the best and here are some of the reasons, in no particular order:

--Our annual baking day with Mom, Emily, Grandma, Uncle Paul, and Leah.

--Making a gingerbread house with Leah, a new tradition.

--Taking Leah to see Christmas lights, it really gets us in the Holiday Spirit

--Having Leah spend Christmas Eve with us this year (we usually only have her on Christmas morn)

--Seeing the love my family has for Leah, and knowing how lucky she is to have them, and we are to have her.

--Staying in my PJ's and watching my hubby and his brother play with his "new toys" for Christmas.

--Having a Rock Band (a video game) reunion with Michael and his brother.

--A mini-Haugen family reunion, at mom's and dad's.

--Michael taking 2 weeks off work, and getting to spend some quality time with him.

--Moses (the dog) and his new shoes.

Here are some pictures of the highlights: (most are also on Facebook!!)

Leah with Grandma Carol:

and with Grandpa Dan:

Mom and Grandma, ohhing and ahhing over their annual calendar gift:

Sisters!!:

Grandma loving her new slippers:

Leah "performing" for the Family on Christmas Eve:

Mom, with her family: Uncle Paul and Grandma:

Moses and his new shoes:

Leah's gingerbread house:

Merry Christmas!!

Michael and I finished up the Christmas shopping yesterday and I have vowed that next year I will do my shopping online! But while spending the day together, we were able to reflect a little bit on the past year and we are so thankful that even though it doesn't seem like it in the day to day, God has been really working in our lives! I still do not have a full time job that I can call mine, but I have hope for the new year, and will continue to sub as I get called. My schedule has allowed me to be there for Leah in times of need and in the fun times. One of the latest fun times was a Holiday Concert and Class Party at school.

Here she is getting ready to decorate some cookies with her class. She had a blast introducing me to her friends. The look of joy she had when I walked into the class just warmed my heart. She is just the sweetest kid I know! The next picture, she is just belting out the Christmas Carols!! It was way too cute!!




Here she is doing a "book exchange" with her classmates. They each got a book and while listening to a story they had to pass the book clockwise when the heard the word "bear" and "snow". I love her very genuine smile!! She is becoming such a great reader, so it was awesome to get a new book!!

Here is our Christmas tree. It is such a highlight for me to get the house decked out. I also love the feeling of knowing that all the shopping is done and all the gifts are wrapped. Now, I just get to relax!!

Michael has about 2 weeks off too, so we have the days ahead to relax and enjoy the season and each other and with Leah. She has been very, very interested in wanting to hang out with us and do what we're doing, and while sometimes it gets a little old we've committed to making the most of our time with the munchkin. We know that all too soon she'll be totally uninterested in doing anything with her family.

We pray that you and your family have a joyous Christmas season and take time to fully enjoy the season. We also pray that you have a healthy and prosperous New Year. Can you believe that it is 2010?? WOW!! We love each and every one of you!

Fall Highlights...so far!

Can you believe it is already November?? It has been a long time since I have posted, and we have been busy with living life. Leah has been doing well in school, Michael has been traveling all around the country and I have been recovering from sinus surgery and waiting for a new job to start. Not insurance...like I posted before. I had begun studying for the Life and Health Insurance Exam and getting ready to work for Aflac as a sales person, when I got a phone call from a school I applied to over a year ago. I interviewed the following day and was offered a teaching job...that I am still waiting to start. It is with California Virtual Academy, an online public charter school for all ages. I am responsible for teaching and managing about 20-3o students...all through the internet while working from home. It is a little "out of the box" but sound like it will be a good mix of my teaching experience and my experience as an administrator at Sylvan Learning Center. The hold up is waiting for enough students in my area to enroll. It could be that I start tomorrow or in a few months. In the meantime, I will continue to substitute teach in my area and get my Insurance Liscense. I am more than half way through the course, and it's good for 2 years, so why not? Right?? It could be something to do on the side for extra income. Pray that the waiting for the teaching job comes to an end!!

But in the meantime we've enjoyed Halloween, and 1/2 marathon for Michael and getting ready for the approaching holiday season!! Here are some photos of the marathon and Halloween!! Enjoy!!

The "after" photo of Michael and Leah

Leah showing off her medal from her Kid K

Leah running her Kid K


Waiting for the Kid K to start...a little bit bored, can you tell??

Michael getting ready to start his 13.1 mile race!! (he's so handsome!!)

In February, we're going to do the Surf City Marathon in Huntington Beach. And when I say we, I mean my mom and I are going to do a 5K, Michael is going to do the half-marathon, and Leah is going to do the Kid K...I need to start training ASAP!!

Halloween Highlights!

Our Kitty Cat, with her Loot

She's soooo cute!!

The "Surgeon" and the Kitty Cat, ready to go...I stayed home and passed out candy!

Anxiously waiting to go with our pumpkins!!

Our pumpkins!

Ch Ch Ch Changes...

Hi Everyone...it's time to update you all on what's happenin' with the Koontz Clan. Not much is going on with Michael and Leah, just work and school for them, but for me there is a major change going on. I have decided to make a huge career change and I took a job as an independent insurance agent at Aflac. You know, the company with the duck!! I am beginning to study for the CA State Life and Health Insurance Exam and am super excited about the potential this job will have for success. I have never really sold anything, but I am a people person who can use my life experience and stories about people I know to get people thinking about a need for supplemental insurance. Aflac is not your everyday medical insurance. It is for "extras". One thing they do is pay you while you're recovering from a hospital stay...then you can use that money to pay your bills, buy groceries, put gas in your, etc. We mainly sell to smaller businesses who can't afford the best of the best health insurance. As I embark on this new career adventure, I am asking you to pray for success and that this new path comes easily. Also, if you are a small business employee (or large business) or if you know of anyone that may need some "extra", please send them my way, or let me know and I can contact them. It would be easier to start out with people I know.
Another prayer request for me is that October 14th, I'm going in for surgery on my nose. I've lacked a sense of smell for quite sometime and it turns out I have a deviated septum, and a thick mucus wall (ewww, I know!) in my nose, so I'm going to have it "roto-rootered". I am asking you to pray that it is an easy process and heals quickly. Lots is going on for me at the moment. I am excited and nervous and freaking out internally, but I know that this is what I need to do for our family. I have not given up teaching completely...just for now to see what else I can do. The Special Ed credential is on hold but hopefully I can continue on that journey a little later. I'd love to know what the rest of you are up to...
Happy Fall!!