Huge news and of course some vacation pics!

Boys r us wrote: Well I had this whole long post done explaining every fine detail and Braedon came over to eat some of my grapes i had here beside me at the computer desk and he hit the keyboard and somehow erased the entire post I had typed out..lol
so this one will be much more general as far as the details go!

But today is rick's last day at his job...his really stable job that he loves at GE over the IT department there. B/c out of the blue a recruiter contacted him after she found his resume on monster.com and after many layers of interviews and extensive background checks on Rick and I and BOTH of our families(we're talking 37 pages worth of information filled out about everyone on both sides of our families) he was given a Federal Goverment security clearance and was hired by the Department of Defense! I'm of course nervous aboout him leaving a job that loved him and that he loved as well...but this job was a no brainer b/c it is a MASSSSSSIVE INCREASE in salary..I mean MASSIVE! But it also means that he has to travel an hour to his office each day. Which means he won't be able to continue taking care of the kids in the morning and getting them ready for school/daycare/babysitter given that I usually go into work at 4am-ish so that the younger kids only have to be in daycare 1/2 day and aren't stuck there all day long. I have the flexibility with my job to work whatever hours I want as long as I get my 40 hours in. But his new job means I wouldn't be able to get to work until after 8am once school starts back and that would have me getting off of work at almost 5pm..which won't work b/c we don't want the kids in daycare beofre or after school..it's just not fair to them. So..guess who is quitting? Me.
I'm gonna be a SAHM which I'm terrified of. I freely admit I am in no way, shape or form SAHM material. I need social interaction with adults and a mental break from my kids and I need my own money that I can spend without having to explain to anyone where or why I spent $100 at the store..kwim? not that Rick is like that...but I guess that is the way I have it in my head that it could be. I don't know...I just have always been so financially independent that it scares me to have to fully rely on Rick for my wants and expenses.
But in the end my kids are more important that any hang-ups I may have on being a SAHM and giving up my career that I worked so hard for(lol..can you tell I'm a little bitter..lol). I mean up until now it has worked great....b/c with the kids only in daycare half days, I don't feel like I'm sacraficing their time with me..it was a win win..we all got what we wanted. but With Rick's new hours...it just won't work that way. Braedon goes to kindergarten this school year(aug 21st) and his school starts at 8:10 and gets out at 2:10. So..obviously I can't get my 8 hours/day of work in during that time farame and Rick will leave the house at 6am each morning and be home about 4;30 in the evening. So getting the kids to school..home from school will be all me. no way around it..I have to quit. but it does meant hat little miss alliebelle and I will get to spend all day together...which will be fun. It's just going to take some serious getting used to!
I will also have all the time in the world to hang out with you girls...like the good old days!!!! ))) August 17th is my last day of work. and they're slamming me with work too...it's been crazy ever since I told my boss I was quitting, omg..I'm covered in work! not a second to breathe!
So everyone cross your fingers, pray ..whatever...that this all goes well!


Okay...vacation pics...we just got back from 10 days at the beach..it was fabulous!
I took 500 + pics on vacation..so it's going ot be hard to choose!

Alliebelle with her new purse:


Allie playing on the beach...loving every second of it:


Braedon at the Aquarium...I said, "smile for a picture" and he said,"Why do you keep doing this to me mommy?" LOL


Tanner, he made a "bed" on the balcony of our condo for him to hang out on and be on the computer AWAY FROM ALL OF US...lol..cuz you kow how uncool your parents are when you're 11 yrs old...lol


More icecream please mom


Mmmm...the food in this place smells great:


Really..I'm not up to anything..why would you ask


mmmm Pina colada(One day he's understand that WE drink those for reasons other than for the fruit on a "sword")






continued...

Boys r us replied: playing in the sand


in the hottub with grandaddy


Love'n the hard rock


life is hard being so cute

Boys r us replied:

Chocolate face

MyBabeMaddie replied: OM freaking Gosh! SHE IS THE CUTEST BABY! Looks like you guys had a great time! Great pics!!!!!

lisar replied: Your family is so cute. Love the pics. I am glad you get to be a SAHM. You will do just fine. And congrats to your dh for the new job.

luvbug00 replied: SOOO cute! i love how you can see her tan getting darker with each pic! love her suits too! . Everyone looks soo happy and I'm glad you had fun

gr33n3y3z replied: Those pics are great Nichole I cant get over how big the kids are getting

Maybe you can work parttime at the bank? then this way you can work and the kids can do their half day

Boys r us replied: I tried to go part time when I got pg with Alexandra and they said no, they needed me full time. So it is what it is...and now they can replace a 10 year employee with someone new who needs to be trained and doesn't know the ropes.

Sam & Abby's Mom replied: Wow ! Awesome pics. Your baby girl has the most beautiful blue eyes. Seriously.
Your whole family is beautiful. Looks like you guys had a blast, too.

Good luck on the career change --to both you and your hubby. I hope it works out for all of you. I'm sure it will.

Mommy2BAK replied: YAY!!! You get to visit us and hang out more often!!!!

The kids are as cute as ever! Looks like vaca was fun!!!

gr33n3y3z replied:
that sucks
Guess what their loss right?

You will do fine at home with the kids Just make Nichole days for yourself

jcc64 replied: Big changes, but it sounds very promising for Rick! I'm happy for you guys. Kwym about being a SAHM- hats off to those who do it so well. I do start to feel like I'm climbing the walls if I spend too much un-interrupted time with the shorties, but there's always a flip side to that, right?
I know you'll find a way to make it work, and how lucky you are to be able to spend so much time with that glorious little baby!

Mommy2BAK replied: Did I mention that I'm so happy to hear from you?? I think about you guys all the time. I'm really excited that you will be able to hang out with us more pretty soon! I hope the rest of work goes by pretty quickly and I know the kids are gonna love having you with them so much!

Oh~ and WAY TO GO RICK!!!!

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: You will be FINE my friend! Believe me. I know that I have not been a working mom, so I can't speak from experience on that end. But I had a good paying career once, one that was hard to leave. But I figured I can always go back to it when the kids are older. A little extra money all your own, yeah, I miss that. Its hard to believe I don't really bring in a dime. But like you said, Rick won't complain about what you spend. My DH doesn't either as long as I stick to our budget. We also don't use credit cards. Yeah, I shop at Walmart instead of Whole Foods most of the time, but you make it work. Minor changes really. As far as social interaction...No problem. You know I always talk about mom's club and playgroup. Yeah, its not adult conversation, but we plan mom's night out and mom's game night for this reason. Go to the park or zoo during the week, you'll have PLENTY of social interaction! Also, join a gym with a daycare. Put Ali in there and get some alone time in if that's what you need - I know I do. Pickup any local "family" guides and sign-up for anything and everything that is free during the week. Your kids will love it and you'll love getting out. I'm really excited for you!!! I figure give it a shot and if you completely hate it, go back to work. Its great that you have that option. CONGRATS to Rick by the way!!! Awesome!

Great pics too!

Hillbilly Housewife replied: Oh GOod for you guys! Happy to hear!!

Haivng been a working mom who left a good paying long term job to stay home with the kids and have my husband become the bigger breadwinner, or rather sole breadwinner.... it's hard on the ego. You might slowly have some resentment towards Rick... I know I did for my dh, although in my mind I knew it was the best decision for us.

Take some time for yourself, and lots of it, whenever you can. What ppl around you have to realize is that you're used to spending only a few hours a day with your kids in the afternoons\evenings... so going from a few hours to ALL THE TIME is a big change and it will wear you out. So take care of yourself. You'll be FINE!

Love the sunglasses.

Calimama replied: Congratulations on the new job, I hope he loves it. The picture's are adorable!

A&A'smommy replied: WOW Nichole I CANNOT believe how big the kids are getting, remember when you first joined and Braedon was SOOO little!!!! SO anyway good luck with being a SAHM you will do fine, you just HAVE to find some outlets can't stay stuck in the House or around the house Lol. Congratulations to Rick on the new fabulous new job Good luck to all of you it will be great!!!! BTW its great to hear from you and the kids are BEAUTIFUL!!!!

ediep replied: WOW!!! awesome pics!!!! Allie is just too darn cute!! I love all her hair! i wish Emma had some hair.

Congrats to Rick on the new job, you'll be a great SAHM, it is hard, but so worth it

holley79 replied: Those are just SO precious!!!! I love them!! Where did you find that float? I want one of those. Looks like you all had a wonderful time. I miss those toothless smiles!

Maddie&EthansMom replied: YAY you're joining the ranks of those of us who want to pull our hair out on a daily basis (sometimes hourly), but atleast you know you'll have some company when that happens (and it will......)

You'll no longer wonder why the lady in the grocery store (at 9 p.m.) with 2 kids in tow has lost her patience and as a result has started snapping at her children b/c of a really long day. You won't give her dirty looks b/c of it...but you'll give her the knowing eye. Something along the lines of "I will not judge you since this is probably your 3rd trip to said store in ONE day b/c you keep forgetting what you came after with all of the I wants and the crying and fighting of 2 said kids....how could one possibly concentrate on what they need or went to the grocery store for in the first place????"

You'll be a GREAT SAHM!!

I'm glad you'll be around more. It looks like you guys had a good time on vaca. I can't believe how big Alliebelle is getting!

MoonMama replied: You will be just fine girl! But I know its hard it was VERY hard for me, I have always worked. It does take some time but you'll adjust. Like Lisa said be sure to take Nichole days for yourself.

Looks like you all had a blast such handsome boys, and little miss Alliebelle is getting so big and cuter and cuter.

Boys r us replied: Holley we found the float at Sam's club for $18 bucks I think. not bad! She likes it!

and Aimee..what the heck are you talking about? I already make 3 trips a day to the grocery store..LOL

CantWait replied: Oh wow that's BIG news. Congrats to DH, it sounds like a great opportunity for the both of you. Sorry it means quitting your job, I'm sure you'll do great at home though.

The kids are absolutely gorgeous. Nice vacation pics. That little girl is going to be a heartbreaker some day, she's so PRETTY.

Maddie&EthansMom replied:
I had a really bad day the other day as a SAHM. It's been a really LOOOOOOONNNNNNGGGGGGG summer.

3xsthefun replied: Great pics! You have a beautiful family!

Congrats on the new job! I'm sure you be just fine!

MotherForever2043 replied: Congrats on being a SAHM! The family is beautiful...I love those blue eyes