My slow, steady, constant mess and my active, loyal, learner.

Miss Evie lately.

Evie is my slow, steady, constant mess. She has little patience. She's a fifty-fifty combination of self reliant and needy. I never know which fifty percent I'm going to get. She'll dress her self, pick out her clothes, and then is spoon fed. Meal times have never been her strong suit. It's a constant battle to get her to eat. (unless it's a carbohydrate or sugar!) She is dumper.

She. Is. Stubborn. Boy! Is she stubborn. Shirts can't have yellow in them. She must have three blankets to sleep. Her teeth are brushed and THEN she'll go the potty. She won't pee if the toilet makes a noise. She cannot sleep under her comforter. She cannot sleep on top of her comforter. It usually ends up in a pile at the foot of her bed each night. She has to have pick on how she does her hair. I have yet to find her "currency". What really drives her. It's not competition. It's not rewards. It's not removal of toys. I need to soon or that poor girl and I will explode!

She's my snuggler! I will rock that little girl until dawn til dusk if she asked me. She curls up into the crook of my arm and just lays there. It's my favorite part of the day. And her hugs at the end of the day are the BEST hugs.

She is artistic! She will paint, and paint, and paint, until the cows came home! Mixing colors, gluing until the bottle was gone, String beads, molding play-dough, you name it.

She likes to pretend and is starting to play more and more with dolls. She hasn't really gotten into them until recently. She likes poly pockets, barbies and is very particular about modesty. She likes real babies and loves to "hug" our dog. Good thing Piper is such a good sport.

She's also a loner. Not ever really interested in making friends in public places and is more interested in digging in the dirt. If someone came to her, she would engage, but she rarely goes beyond herself to invite someone to play with her. I think she would like a friend, but isn't quite sure how to just, "join in".

 Mr Joel lately:

Joel enjoys playing with Lego's, action figures, dress up, and is constantly moving! Soccer! Somersaults! Jumping! Basketball! Karate! You name it, he loves it. Recently he took Jared and Evie outside to play kick the can.  He's starting a karate class next week and Soccer this summer.

He's a creator, and dreamer, and learner. He has taught himself simple math, most of his letter sounds, and is constantly asking, "why?" or "how?". He loves to paint, mix pour, cook, bake, and tell time!

He's sensitive and energetic. He likes to be in control and has a hard time out of it. He likes a schedule and to know what's coming next. He's very friendly and loyal friend and brother.Recently a group of boys at the park were making fun and spitting at Evie. He loudly and boldly told them to, "LEAVE MY SISTER OUT OF THIS!" He is also extremely loyal and is heart broken when the friendship is not mutual.

 Joel is constantly eating! I cannot keep him full. He will eat (in one sitting) three full size pancakes, sausage and an egg. Seriously. He's a Joke-teller! Always cracking jokes. Making up funny words

I love seeing who this kid is. I love seeing him teach himself and learn. I love his sensitivity. I love his loyalty. He's awesome!

2013: A Year in Review

Dear Friends and Family,

     What a year for our little family! So much has happened! In early spring, Jared graduated from Indiana University with honors with a degree in Biology. He then was accepted in to the Doctor of Pharmacy program at the University of Tennessee Memphis Health and Science Center. We moved to Memphis, Tennessee  July 1st, and we've enjoyed it thus far! There's a children's museum,  a great zoo, and a really cool park we go to often. After living in a tiny apartment for about five months, Jared had the idea of buying a house! So, in a matter of a month, we found, purchased, and moved into our first home! It was a wild, and huge choice, but we are loving it. So what's been going on with our family?

     Jared? Well! He's been one busy guy! He graduated from IU and is so busy being a student at UTHSC. He usually is gone about 12 hours a day with school and studying. He recently rushed with the Phi Delta Chi fraternity and will pledge in January. Something out of his comfort zone, but so good for him. He also joined the Association of Student Pharmacists. He's been very involved with school, and is enjoying it... Most of the time. : )

    Joel is being such a boy. He's growing up very very fast lately! This year, he enjoyed playing with Elijah (a friend from South Bend), learning to tell time, learning how to be a friend to his sister, moving to a big house, learning how to cook with mom, baking, learning responsibility with feeding the animals, and running in our back yard. He loves to play dress up and cars. Recently, he's been very interested how the human body works. What is a digestive system? What does a brain do? Why do we need skin? Questions like these happen all the time! He's a very curious little guy. He still says Grady is his best friend.

     Evie is still little miss spunk. She's into everything. Dumps everything out. She's such a sneak about it! Evie has really enjoyed the Zoo, finding a new friend everywhere she goes, shopping with mommy, painting and drawing. She's also into coloring and drawing. She carries a note pad around and "takes notes". She's not a physical kid. Mostly snuggling, and playing indoors. She sings CONSTANTLY! She's not into baby dolls, but is into stuffed animals. She continues to say Kate is her best friend.

     I'm FINALLY a stay at home mom again. It was a long year working! I was so sad to have to quit my job I had before we moved, but I'm loving being with my babies. I recently finished my testing to become a  Nationally Certified Child Development Associate. It took a year in the making, and a three separate tests, but it's done! I now am working on our playroom (with the help of Jared) to have our house be state licensed so i can stay home with my kids, and work with kids as well. I'm excited. I also have been called as PRIMARY PRESIDENT! What the heck is that all about!? This is going to be a crazy calling.

     I'd like to say that WE got a dog, but she's really mine. Piper is an American Dingo and she is MY dog. She follows me around the house. She's really great with the kids and has never been aggressive toward them. Even when Evie dresses her up in dress up clothes! She is seriously the best dog ever!

     We've been really blessed this year. A great school, great kids, great house, great family! Maybe in the next year we'll have an announcement for ya. :) but not yet!

The Toney Family
Jared
Emily
Joel
Evie

My Story

Yesterday marked my final day as a working mother. Although I may not know if I'll have to work again in the near future, this past year has taught me so much. I'll start first with "My Story".

In January of 2012, Jared and I had a long talk about whether or not I should go back to work. We were struggling financially, borrowing a lot of money from my parents and were plain, just not making it. I called around to the only place I really knew. A local chain called Growing Kids Learning Center. I interviewed and accepted a position as an Infants teacher. I trained in a room with two women. One of whom i would be replacing, and the other my soon to be co-teacher. I jumped in with two feet. I knew the company and most of it's policies (I had worked for Growing Kids at a different location after high school while pregnant with Joel.) and i may or may not have been a bit of a "know it all". I did not come in as humble as i should have.  After one week, a large group of staff decided to stop talking to me. My soon to be co-teacher was among them. The Friday finalizing my last training day, my future co-teacher refused to be in the room with me. I was told by the women i was replacing that no one liked me and they were going to get me "out". I basically had to pull up my big girl panties and say, "I'm not here for you. I'm hear to support my family." I hated going to work everyday. My one saving grace is i loved those babies in my room like they were my own. I wanted to go to work to be with them. Not the women i worked with.

 Shortly into my work year, the company provided an opportunity for it's staff to take a course to become a Child Development Associate or CDA. I wanted to be a part of expanding my knowledge in early childhood so i signed up for the course. There I met Beckey Thompson. I had no idea how this woman would change my life. She loved our small group of women that met together weekly. She was inspirational, she was loving, she was understanding, and she was the example of "if you don't help them, no one will". She helped me culitvate my love of working with infants. I grew such a respect for her that i trusted her with information regarding my employment. I shared the good and bad. She was one of my inspirations to rise above the utter crap

Because i shared my experiences with Beckey, she knew i was unhappy in my work place. I went to her crying about a situation and she told me, "Get out of that place. Your family deserves better." And that moment I knew something had to change. Lucky for me, it happened to fall in my lap. Beckey had a friend who was opening a new infant and toddler center. I interviewed for the job and to my surprise, i got it!

In December of 2012,  i began my journey at Discoveries Infant and Toddler Center with Jennifer Long. She gave up her life savings to do her dream of opening a childcare after losing her job. Jennifer had just had a baby and wanted to build the best environment for her child so she created a small, infant and toddler only, childcare program. After working with Jennifer for only a short time, i grew an immense amount of respect for the knowledge and passion she had working with children. Everything Jennifer does at Discoveries is for the benefit of the children and staff. Childcare is her passion and she encourages and supports her staff to feel the same. Miss Cynthia was hired as the toddler teacher  and i could not have asked for a better co worker. She worked with Evie in the toddler room and Cynthia treated her with respect and love. I can speak no ill of Cynthia.

Now we come to the present. Now we come to where my work journey ends. I submitted my resignation. I quit the only job I would be happy to stay in for the rest of  my days. I know there was a reason I had to work for Growing Kids. As terrible of and experience it was emotionally, I had to in order to meet Beckey. I had to meet Beckey, so i could meet Jennifer. I had to meet Jennifer to continue to inspire my knowledge and passion for working with infants. I had to do this to become thankful for my family.

Now, this is only the cliffs notes. This is only the logistics of my story. I have so many more successes and trials mixed in here. But i guess those are for me. Those are for my growth. I just needed to write down what happened so i can remember.

I can't forget.

Emily

Joel Fell Out of Bed

So, I went to go check on the kids, and this is what I found. 

I'm not sure if Joel feel out or if he fell asleep this way. Either way. This is awesome. 

OH, my GASH! She's so sweet.

"I'm Te-ew"

Baby girl turned 2 October 7, 2012. I would have more pictures but all the other ones we have you can see up my skirt! It's terrible! Those will not be posted. 

This Evie's princess dress. She got it from Grandma Toney. She loves it!

Likes: Everything is a princess. She loves dresses, shoes, doing the dishes, puppies, chasing the cat, going to school, reading, pony's, books, singing, doing what ever her brother is doing, stealing things from Joel.

Dislikes: Eating dinner.... that's about it. It is ALWAYS a fight. 

She can: sing, count to 5, walk up the stairs one at a time, twirl, jump on one foot, 

She has the funniest way of talking. She over extends her tongue from time to time and it's so funny! Especially words with double "L". Like balloon, yellow, watermelon... It's so fun to watch. 

 Sometimes, when she's getting real serious, she points at you while she's talking. As if to remind you who's in charge! 

She picks on Joel allllll the time! Joel hardly bothers her, but boy does she get him. 

She's getting old enough to where she's starting to actually play. She feeds, rocks, and sings to her baby dolls. She loves playing with cars/trucks (she is a little sister after all). 

Evelean Ruth Toney, we love you and we are so happy you are in our family! 

November 5, 2012

So, while sitting on the potty, and while I was getting ready, I reached over Joel to grab a "feminine product". I proceeded to go about my duties, and I hear Joel whimpering in the bathroom. He's going on about saying "I need something to protect my bum..." Jared and I usually tell him that wearing underwear protects your bum. We kept talking to him reassuring him that it would continue to do the same. He was insistant that underwear was not enough, and he needed something else. So, i finally went into the bathroom and talked to him and he said, "I just need something like you have to protect your bum." I about DIED laughing realizing that he wanted a pantie liner in his underwear! He's so funny!

Grandparents Day

 At school, the kids had grand parents day. Grandpa Toney went to visit Evie's class and Grandma Toney visited Joel's class.