Haak Family Blog: Jan 15....

Sunday night, no school tomorrow...Jonathan's team took 3rd in a tournament this weekend..probably should have been first, but choked on the previous game and gave up a 3-1 lead for a 4-3 loss. Jonathan scored 2x today and had fun winning 5-0 for 3rd place. His team is #1 in the District. Jaclyn's team is on the bottom of the rung, but she is doing her best. Katya is doing well at school and has finals next week. She's a little "off" these past 2 weeks, not sure if it's the finals, or Christmas let down or what. We had fun at Jaclyn's tournament a few weeks ago, when Katya had a fake baby (up at night and all of it!). Christmas and New Years were great, so I'm going to blame her funk on finals and holiday let down. Maybe it's because I've beaten her a few times at checkers. Sophia gives me a hard time at school, and it brings me to tears most days. I think I'll have Chris "relieve" me this week by checking her work instead of me. Natasha has been trying hard lately to be kind and loving. She is also working really hard at skating. Sometimes all it takes is know one child really needs you and things go alot better. Andre is scoring every chance he can get in hockey, and is a very helpful, smiley boy. He helped Daddy today take down the Christmas tree and said, "Now when I'm 43 or 62 I'll know how to take down the Christmas tree, thanks, Dad.." Made me smile and even cry a bit! James is learning how to read, and is getting better every day.

I freaked out recently over some things Sophia was doing, yelled at her and some of her friends and then apologized later. They don't want to have anything to do with our family - I don't blame them, I feel the same way some times too! I'm over it now..just one day at time is all I can do. People just really don't understand the day in day out, disrespect, sassing, unsatisfied, issues that go on, not to mention blatant lying, and other really unhealthy behaviors. We try, but we just get plain worn out. It's hard to find the support we need.

Chris puts up with me, THANK-GOD! We're the only ones who understand us. And it can be kind of lonely here, so we hold on to each other. We've implemented 7pm quiet time, 8pm lights out, and that has helped a lot, and we're just trying to spend more time together whether it's at a hockey game or chilling on the couch with our laptops.

We're considering contacting the county for some aid, but can't quite decide on that yet. Seems so hard to get away for a weekend even and we really need that. We have a few friends that have been encouraging us with kind words and prayers, but what we really need is a break away, just the 2 of us....

Have a great New Year...sometimes I just cry about missing Dad...and other time just remember the good times...

Love Alesia & Chris

Just a few photos of our decorated home for Christmas...I couldn't bring myself to taking family photos this Christmas...(oh..and we were banned from Chris' family Christmas gathering..that was a downer as well)...hope we have a better 2012!