Family

We Did Our Best To Stimulate The Economy

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 2 Comments

this weekend.  We had a weekend spending spree to rival all middle class spending sprees.  It was great. 

The weekend started early on Friday when we dropped the kids at the grandparents house at 5pm.  I was pleasantly pleased to find out that the kiddos would be spedning the night.  This was the first time that both kids had stayed at my dad and bonus mom’s house.  It has been just over 7 months since Zoë came home and since we had a night to ourselves completly.  It was the best Valentine’s day present ever. 

We don’t celebrate Valentine’s day per se.  We celebrate the 13th and I am happy to say that 10 years ago on the 13th of February my wonderful husband presented me with a beautiful dark sapphire and diamond ring and asked me to be his wife.  It was great and wonderful.  This year on the 13th, I was presented with beautiful sapphire encrusted hoop earrings.  We had a great dinner at one of our favorite restaurants–it’s a chain sad to say but still completely awesome. 

We slept in on Saturday–until nearly 9am.  I know crazy.  We then went to breakfast and shopping for a new bedroom set.  We found a great deal on a 3-piece bedroom set and also purchased 2 night stands and an additional dresser.  Then we went to the new Casino in town and ate lunch at the Burger Bar–where I had the best burger that I have had in a very long time–since I worked here in the 90’s. 

The spending did not stop there.  We had to buy new bed linens to match the first bedroom set either of us have ever owned.  We bought new curtains and we finished painting our bathroom.  It looks great.  I’ll have to post before and after pictures when we are completly finished.

Taking Stock

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 2 Comments

Making a decision about schooling for my children has forced hubby and I to think about our priorities and what is really important to us.  Private school is a huge expense and will require us to live a simpler life.  We live pretty simply now, but it takes off the table the possibility of moving out of our litte house anytime soon.  It takes off the table our hopes of buying new cars.  It takes off the table any aspirations and dreams we have of fabulous international travel or extravagant vacations to Hawaii, Belize, Costa Rica, Europe, etc. 

We had to ask ourselves if these were things we would be willing to live without.  We are.  Once these things are off the table it is easy to not think about them as possibilities.  Our kids are the most important things in our lives and we want them to have a great education and a fun education.  An education that teaches them not fact and figures (at some degree these are really erroneous things that simulate teaching and learning but don’t embody the essence of teaching and learning) but teaches them how to learn; how to explore; how to create and construct their own learning.  And most importantly an education that focuses on each child as an individual and allows and encourages each individual to learn who they are and to find their passion.  I know it’s a tall order and as you can clearly see explain why public school really isn’t an option for me to consider–regardless of how awesome a district we might live in some day. 

We have also begun to admit that diversity is really important to us and not just in the student body but also in the staff.  This is harder than one would think.  There are sadly, not a great deal of African American teachers in private schools–this is another issue that is larger than this post.  So many things to consider, but it is nice to have our priorities coming to the front of the line ad losing everything else. I feel a little lighter and a lot more hopeful that this will help us make the right decision.

A Christmas Whirlwind

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 2 Comments

Christmas has come and gone and after three days and five celebrations I am very happy it is over. The kids got spoiled by everyone and it was nice to get together with family. I am exhausted from it all. Here are some pics from the festivities. Hope everyone’s holiday was filled with happiness, joy and love.

So, Where Have You All Been?

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 4 Comments

Oh, wait it’s me who has been absent.  Well, things have been really spinning fast here and the days just haven’t been long enough for me to do anything that isn’t life or death.  My plate has been full for the past few weeks, but finally it is now a little on the less full side.  I can’t say it’s anywhere near empty, but I have a little time back to blog.  I have missed you all.  Sorry for the short hiatus–let’s be honest…I have written a post of any substance in a few weeks. 

Well school is done and I am happy to say that I managed to get an A in my stats class which is really nice and I am all but certain that I rocked an A in my curriculum course.  It’s nice to get straight A’s.  I know I am a super geek–but those three little letters behind my name are so worth being a geek for. 

Christmas is in full swing here at Chez Finley.  The tree is up and decorated.  The lights are up outside as are the atrocious inflatables that St. Nick delivered to us via my crazy mother–I love you mom.  I’m sorry if you love your inflatables–I love them too in someone else’s yard.  But now we have two huge ones in our yard.  I do have to say that the kids love them and we only have to put them up as long as we live in the same city as my mom–as she lives close enough to drive by and check it out.    St. Nick visited our house and brought the kids books–our new tradition.  Noah thought it was cool to wake up and find presents in his shoes.  It took him 20 minutes to open his presents–he ripped the paper off one little piece at a time.  Christmas morning might take a while–thank goodness Santa doesn’t wrap his presents this year. 

We finally went on a tour of what will hopefully be Noah’s school through 8th grade.  It blew my mind and I will work 2 jobs if I have to in order to pay for this for our kids.  I am in love with this school and everything that it stands behind and does.  There is nothing I don’t like about this school and I hope that Noah gets in.  There are only 16 kids in the 3/4 class.  There is one class at each grade and each class has only 24-26 except for the 3/4 and 4/5’s they have only 16 kids.  Each class has two teachers and there are no textbooks to be found.  It is really an absolutely amazing school.  They really want Noah–they strive for diversity, so as long as he has a good interview (observation) he should be in.  Now we just have to hope for financial aid–or maybe I could sell a kidney.  Just a thought.

I have eaten myself sick on Christmas cookies.  I made cookies this year and Noah did a great job helping me with the cookie press, sprinkles and rolling the snickerdoodles in the cin/sugar mixture.  I now remember why I haven’t made Christmas cookies in a long time.  I figure if I keep drinking wine, I won’t eat the cookies–so far not working.  Snickerdoodles and Syrah not a bad combo. 

I have been busy with photography clients.  I have done nearly one shoot a week every week for the past 6 weeks and that keeps me very busy with touch ups, etc.  One of my lenses broke–it is my go to lens.  I had to buy a new one and I wanted to get a good one.  So that should be here tomorrow and I am so excited as it is an awesome lens.  I bought it used–because new it is over $1500 and that is just insane to spend on a lens.  I got a decent deal one a used/like new one and can’t wait to check it out to make sure it is in good shape. 

I will go ahead and cut this off here.  I want thank those of you still reading.  I know this is a lot.  But, I did throw in a few pictures for you all.  I’ll be back tomorrow with regular posts and am officially off hiatus. 

It’s nice to be back.

A Time For Thanks

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / Leave a comment

It has been a very busy week here thus far at Chez Finley.  The kids, especially Noah, has kept Granny Sue very very busy.  It has been great and I am so thankful that she is willing and able to come and stay with us for a week to really get to bond and further develop relationships with her grandchildren. 

Granny Sue is the first peron Noah asked about every day.  It’s awesome.  On our way to family dinner then to visit family in Champaign.  Back later–I’ll be giving more in-depth thanks on Saturday.