6462 Summit Cove-Leaving Sure Steel And Yard Changes

 I have been unhappy with Matt working for Sure Steel for quite a while. The promise of a family friendly company had become far from that with the unsaid requirement of working 60 to 80 hours a week as the expectation from Daniel. Matt and I would have frequent conversations about keeping balance and the constant battle to have family time. Matt would come home from work but his head would still be in work mode there were very few times that I feel like he could really just come home and relax. It all changed when Matt was contacted by a head hunter for a position in California. Initially I didn't think much about it since he had been contacted by several of them before but this time was different. After everything happened with Liam I think Matt really had to address whether our lives and his time were in order of our priorities. The further we got down the road the more nervous yet hopeful I felt. Matt decided to tell Daniel he was considering this new position despite my urges to not. As expected it didn't go over well and basically there was no attempt by Sure Steel to get Matt to stay(no pay increase, no offer for better balance) and constant nagging for him to decide if he was in or out. The new job came with similar benefits but working from home, traveling less, and almost double in pay. It seemed like a no brainer to me but I was still nervous to make the switch but we decided to go for it.  Matt put a start date in with Conxtec(the California company) the middle of June with the plan to stay 2-4 weeks with Sure Steel so there could be a smooth transition and hand off for all Matt's jobs and projects. I had to work but Matt wanted to let Daniel know(I thought this was a terrible idea after how he reacted before) so Matt called to let him know and it went worse than I ever imagined. Daniel in a way lost it and told Matt that he was no longer a employee of Sure Steel after that day and that he would need to bring in his lap top and cellphone by the end of the day. Matt was hurt he had given this company 7 years of his life and in one conversation it was over. I felt like Daniel handled it terribly and was panicked because we needed insurance until it picked up with the new company. On top of that it was our first month to make our mortgage payment. That night when I got home from work Matt and I tried to put together a plan. Matt had called and was unable to start earlier with Conxtec but they were able to start our insurance a month earlier so we then shifted Liam's scans a couple days so they would be covered. But then there was the matter of money. We had savings we could use but we didn't really want to do that. The hospital was busy so I called my manager and asked if I could work full time for the next 2 weeks until Matt started his job and she said they'd love to have me. It worked out great although it was a little crazy figuring it all out and I never want to have to go back to working full time long term ever again.

Another bonus of this is it gave Matt extra time to work on the yard and being in the equipment gave him some time to think about everything that he hadn't had time for in a long time. Liam initially was so nervous about riding on the equipment but after the first week we could hardly get him off of it.

Matt also got some other house projects started that he just hasn't had time for.

I taught Hallie how to run the weed eater. She of coarse was super excited although Im sure that wont last forever.

Stacking rocks for our fire pit

The raised playground area

Liam is loving this dirt area at the bottom of the slide. It stays in the shade majority of the day I can see him out the back door.

Gravel and a hole for the trampoline and sidewalk around the house

Although change is hard and scary I have come to believe as long as we are all together and healthy we can all be happy and we will figure it out.

Gluten Free Cooking Classes

 There is a chef that I found thru a gluten free facebook page that went to La Cordon Bleu in France and had started cooking gluten free for her sister years ago. She recently started doing gluten free classes both in person and virtually. I am so excited to learn more and become a better gluten free baker. One of the first classes was cinnamon rolls so while Matt and Hallie were at a Jazz game Gracie and I enjoyed baking and sampling them. 

Liam Gets Sick

 I don't do great when Liam get sick or even act slightly off. On this particular night we had had dinner and right after Liam started to act like he didn't feel good. I immediately started to panic and make myself sick to my stomach and then I had to run to the bathroom a couple times but Liam wouldn't let me put him down so while I was on the toilet he hatred throwing up. I called for Matt and he came to help. Poor kid...but luckily I had got most of it in the tub. We got him in the tub and changed his clothes then I headed to shower as well. Shortly after this poor little guy fell asleep. 

After he fell asleep he seemed fine. He slept all night and woke up feeling fine in the morning. I am definitely working on my PTSD. Its hard I feel like some days everything is a trigger. I am doing everything my therapist has suggested and trying to take care of myself but it is a slow process. Im so grateful for this healthy little guy and his rock of a daddy who always know what to say to help me thru the moments.

Gracie's Reading Ice Cream Party

 The school does a program for reading that the kids can earn an ice cream sundae party. Each level they reach they earn a different layer for their sundae. This was one of the first activities they allowed parents to come and volunteer for and I couldn't wait. Emy and Liam got to join me as well and they weren't sad about it.

Gracie's Patriotic Program

 Near the end of the year each grade does a specific program and the 3rd grade does the patriotic program. I have always loved this program. I think it gives the kids an easy way to learn about our country and the principals it is based on. This was no exception. With covid last year so many things were lost it felt so good to ba back and to hear the kids sing about our wonderful country in a time of uncertainty. 

6462 Summit Cove-Landscape

 After finishing the house we knew that we didn't want to spend the summer finishing the yard but with everyone booked up Matt worked on the rough grading while we got bids to finish it up(basically do it all). Kade was able to order us some tree and shrubs but we were far from being ready for them so we put them in the shadiest place we had and planned to water them until we were ready to plant them. 

Liam was mostly in it for the soda

Hallie & Gracie Piano Recital

Hallie and Grace have been taking piano lesson from Joy since Covid started. I really like it because they usually don't get to see her regularly and this way they get to spend individual time with her weekly and have something in common with her. Its also fun that it becomes a family event because Brit's kids take from her as well.