Pictures of Today

Tatum is getting a bit chunky, once it warms up...she and I have a pact in walking together to lose some of our chubbiness......She and I are in the Roberts Chub Club.
Olivia making cookies at her kitchen in her brother's shoes.....she has a big time love for shoes.....
Here's our sedentary dog, she has a big time sock fetish, she has Daddy's socks: her favorite!
Sweet Lil' girl
She has a hair pretty in, lasting for about 2 minutes.
Walking in her brother's shoes....she loves to hear herself clomping around.
Isn't she getting to be such a big girl? She still has baby look to her though.....thank goodness for that.
Ah, my handsome boy.
Olivia forcing her brother to drink her concoction.

Passion of Christ

Wow! This is a powerful movie. If you have not seen it, I highly recommend it.
I procrastinated for awhile because I was afraid to see the graphics. I studied up on the scriptures prior to watching it. Even though the language was in Hebrew, I knew exactly who was whom and the concept of what was being said. When I read the scriptures, never in my mind did I picture that much violence that Jesus endured. I don't think I had the capacity. The movie moved me, enough that I was sobbing. Now that is sacrifice! I believe that sacrifice shouldn't be used in any other matter (like sport's terms) Sacrifice should have only one meaning and that is Jesus. Sacrifice, Passion, and Love. Thank you Jesus for the salvation. Thank you for loving us so much!

So there's my plug. I think just like people watch classic films around Christmas time to get them in the mood and prepare for the season, this should be a film watched around Lent season; to prepare our hearts for the history of events that occured. One thing that I wish the movie would continue with is the story of Jesus' ressurection, meeting Mary in the garden, walking with his disciples, Pentecost, etc. That's where we get to celebrate Jesus' divine nature and the Holy Spirit that still moves through us today.

God Bless you and Peace to you.

My Little Angel

This morning Connor said something to me that inspired me....he said, "Mom, I'm going to be brave today because God is watching over me." He was a bit nervous about going to our friend's house (in which he ends up having fun when he's there.) At first he was sure that he would just sleep with Dad. Then, he was a bit hesitant and said that he would go. Then in confidence he said he'd be brave and go because God is watching over him.

Connor taught me a lesson for the day. I really didn't want to go to my last clinical. I was a bit nervous because the program chair was going to be there to evaluate the students and evaluate me. After Connor told me that he's going to be brave. I decided to tell him that I would be brave too today and go to clinical because God will be watching over me. He's my little Angel in disguise........sometimes a person just needs to hear those encouraging words......even if it comes from your four year old.

Class of 2021!

I can not believe I'm starting this process......getting Connor signed up for Kindergarten in the fall time. I looked on the website of the school and he will be graduating in 2021! We have a meeting in March, registration in April and somewhere, there will be Kindergarten round-up. WOW!

Playing Catch Up....

"Cheese" "Cheese" We hear these words a lot when Olivia gets hungry for a snack, she loves her cheese! We try to compensate the snack with fiber (if you know what I mean?)
Olivia insisted on going to bed for morning nap this morning with this book.......It's a Team Building Activities book for leaders...........maybe she's planning something fun for her baby dollies and stuffed animals.....
This is Olivia's favorite place to hang out, the dishwasher...here she is helping Daddy put away the clean dishes........Tatum looks on to see if she can help in any way too, she usually likes to help with the dirty dishes (ew! I still get sick to my stomach seeing her lick the dishes)
One afternoon, I thought Olivia was taking a super long nap....NOPE just tearing off the wallpaper border.............she has the knack for interior design I guess........next time we decorate the kids' room remember: no wallpaper!
Wii, Wii, Wii, all the way home! Here is Connor bowling with the new Wii. He always beats me in bowling....he's almost pro status........oh yeah, we'll take it to the real lanes and then see who'll win........it's fun to hear him talk himself up and be competitive, but still is a good winner or a good loser (rarely) Oh, this Wii is what Paul used our "bonus" money with from work.....guess what??? We haven't received any "bonus" money.......Guess he has a few extra hours to work to make up for the game..............that'll teach me to listen to him! !

I finally found some time to settle into the computer chair and blog....it's been a rather busy month...and I can't believe we just have one more week of it!

Tonight, I was sent home early from work, too many nurses, not enough patients ( we must be doing something right!) So, I decided of the unthinkable: going to the grocery store childless.......aaaaahhhhhh, it was so relaxing! I didn't mind writing that big fat check at the end of the shopping spree.

So, I think I hit the finer points last blog, but I forgot to mention that last weekend was such a nice weekend.....Paula and Jaydin came to visit and hang out with us...Paula and I scrapped and chatted....probably more chatting than scrapping....Jaydin hung out with Connor, Olivia, and Paul.

Paul decided not to brave the subzero temperatures to hunt deer......I was happy that he wouldn't have to suffer any frost bite...

...later Saturday night, Rob came to stay overnight and hitch a flight out to Arizona. Paula, Jaydin, and Rob hung out with us Sunday and it was so nice just to hang out & buy some time with each other....sorry that Jeremey couldn't have been there, but sounds like he's a busy traveler these days....Washington D.C., and then St. Louis......Where will he go next????

I was glad to hear that Rob was able to go out to Arizona and be with his brother John and his wife who had just had twins about 5 weeks early.......Daisy Mae and Lilly Rose (sp?) They had a few bumps in the road to start out with......but it really is amazing how resilient neonates are........we are still praying for strength and stable health for the girls and strength and endurance for their three sisters, Mommy and Daddy, and the rest of the family.

Well, that about sums it up........I'm looking forward to my last set of papers to check tomorrow! I'm looking forward to the last day of clinical on Wednesday. Next Wednesday is eval. day... and they won't let me do it alone with the students whom are failing.......so I will have back up from the Head of the department....phew! I've had enough torture! Some of you ask....will I do it again.......well not this semester but I'll be ready for the fall season, you betcha! Those students didn't totally break me down and wear me out........they brought me one huge lesson in the world of teaching nursing students that's for sure.....and I didn't even have to pay for the education.........when I eventually get my Masters will be another thing..............someday, someday........

Sabbatical

I guess I've been on a blogger sabbatical and didn't even know it.....I'll try and get things caught up as soon as I have time........nothing too great going on.....Olivia is starting to say more words and talk to us, she's been doing some interior design in the house and relocation of items in the house.......I call it Hurricane Olivia has just hit the living room, or kitchen, or bedroom, or bathroom or.................... Connor has been enjoying his and Daddy's new toy the Wii.....okay, I have too....I swore I wouldn't touch it and now I'm addicted to Super Mario Bro. Galaxy.........spring needs to get here quickly so we can get outside and run and play off our extra energy and time! I have one more week with the students, each week the plot seems to thicken, I'll be so happy to be done for the semester. I have agreed to be a preceptor this spring but it will be 72 hours with one student..........I'll enjoy the one on one time! Besides the weather being so blasted cold, nothing else is too new.....we've just been idling through the weeks..........
stay warm everyone!

Bombarded!

First of all, I just want to let everyone know that I'm okay and I survived my scary Wednesday night with the students.

I did something that I've never done before.......I scolded four students for about 15 minutes...(seemed like 2hrs!) never in my life have I lectured and "reamed" multiple people in one setting.....this is really unlike me, only my children and husband know this side of me.........and yes, some people have seen my short temper and stubborn side too ( I have Irish and German blood!), but never have I done what I did Wednesday night..........I have mixed feelings about this.....

• #1 I developed courage and strength.
• #2 I gave up on my patience goal.
• #3 A big weight was lifted off my chest.
• #4 Was it a power trip?....I so don't want it to be that.
• #5 Did I get my point across? Oh yeah, lots of apologies after I was through talking.
• #6 I poured out my heart and soul and my thoughts that have building up through this semester and I was very honest.....and the truth was hurtful.
• #7 I didn't mean to hurt anyone, I wanted all to know my thoughts and get a perspective.

So anyway, I bombarded them with my thoughts, honest opinion of my disappointment and frustration that I've endured this past semester...............

Well, you've heard what comes around goes around?????? I'm not sure if this is a sign or just coincidence but on my way out to the car, I didn't have to worry about the students ganging up on me, but I did have to worry about the war zone of the crows!

I had my first experience of the crows at the hospital....I've heard stories how bad they are down town and how they shoot flares off to scare them away......well about 100 of them were hanging around the trees, hospital building, sky that night.....about 50 of them in the tree right above my car.....I could hear the droppings splatter on the ground as I approached my car.......Quickly I ducked for cover and jumped into my car....and the 50 crows flew out of the tree with many droppings.........I don't know what these birds eat, but I think they equivalent to New York's rats............Our city supplies them with the best of food! so here's a picture of my car that was a victim of the Crow war zone.....LUCKILY I didn't get any droppings on me!

Now, it's hard to get the real picture of this, but it was nasty........yesterday, I took the car into the car wash and it got most of the droppings, but I think the crows might be eating glue for there are still droppings that remain on the car......anyone know any fancy ingredients to get it off???????

So, I have no idea if there is any relation to the bombardment of words to the students and bombardment of poop on my car.....but I won't let it go too easily..........

This Weekend!

Zoom, zoom, zoom....that's what these past three weeks have felt like...I can't catch up..I've been bumper skiing on each and every day. This past weekend, we stayed at Paula and Rob's house.....enjoyed a fun game Sat. eve. of Apples to Apples.....I recommend playing it, it is a good time! It was fun playing with the kids too.....Jeremey and Jaydin are at that age now to play some of those fun filled games..........Then the next morning, we had a nice pancake breakfast prior to going to church to witness Jaydin's First Holy Communion. I was honored to represent the three Baptismal Sponsors that she has to dedicate her day to her. Not only am I a sponsor but so is Aunt Jolyn and Uncle John Burley....they were unable to make it due to having babies any time soon!!! (John's wife is having twins) and living in K.C. and Arizona is a bit tricky too.
I can't believe Jaydin is almost 9 years old! I'm so proud of her to make this step into her Faith journey and making the decision to take Holy Communion and to accept Jesus Christ as her Savior! I told her that as she grows older she will learn so many depths and meanings to the Holy Communion and what Jesus has done for her........she just has the basics, she will some day be able to go so deep with it, I pray that she will get there!
Paula made a nice Chicken Lasagna Lunch and then it was off to the Big Hill in their back yard, the park's hill was icy, wet, and muddy....... Connor is trying out his new sled. He and Jaydin had a blast, swooshing down the hill.....
The snow was perfect for snowman making and so Jaydin, Jeremey and Connor worked together making a cute little snowman. Jeremey did the hefty work....Connor threw snow balls at the photographers and Jaydin carefully placed raisins for a mouth, cranberries for eyes, and Acorns? for buttons?
The rest of us stayed in side where it was a bit warmer. Here is Olivia rubbing nosies with Grandma Mehmen. She was a hoot! Jibber-jabbering away, and making B-lines to the stairs that was guarded by the Ottoman.....

We thank the Burley family for their accommodations for the weekend, Thanks Jeremey for letting us all three sleep in the bottom bunk of your bed, Connor may brave the top bunk next time??? we'll see...

Yesterday, I finally put Christmas away.......and still experiencing post holiday confusion because I was supposed to work a 3-11pm shift but thought in my head I was working 7-11pm....so I'm reading my RCIA books and relaxing, the boys were on their Best Buy shopping spree, Olivia napping and I get a call from work......yeah, I was supposed to be there and I couldn't take my baby with me........but I showed up at 7pm like I thought I was supposed too..........see that's what bumper skiing at the tail-end of the holidays will do to ya..............

So now the Snowmen are up and there is no more snow on the ground....I'm cheering on for some more snow......especially if we could have blizzards the next four Wednesdays.....oh pleeeease! Yes, Clinical is back into session starting tomorrow......two of the students are officially failing and I get to break the news! As a people-pleaser this is very challenging for me...........so I'm praying for confidence and safety, as the Instructor that I work for recommends that I get a security escort out to my car after clinical tomorrow night........

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! We brought in year 2008 at 6pm so the kids were awake to enjoy it and Paul was still at home to enjoy it too. We used silly string and cheered when it hit 6pm.
Connor and Mommy made the hats for the "party"
Olivia didn't want the hat, it was cramping her style.
One more minute and then the countdown begins!
Connor took this photo of Paul and me....not too shabby!

After 6 bells, Paul headed off to work, Connor played Super Mario Bros. Olivia and I played for awhile. Then by 7:30, Olivia was ready for bed and Connor and I watched Evan Almighty.....movie and the bonus features.
The last time I saw the clock was 1138pm, I had a small notion of calling Paul and wishing him another Happy New Year before I fell asleep....but I fell asleep instead.....sounds like that it was okay because that was the time that he was coding someone and attempting to save someone's life. Glad I didn't interrupt that process!
So, I am getting old, it's a fact.....I didn't make it to midnight for New Year's...