Highlights-Lowlights

Highlights of 2010...

• Getting accepted to a master's program of nursing
• Paul's new job at Mercy, CMICU
• Daddy-Daughter Dance
• Going to Energy game with Connor
• I finished a run/walk- 2 miles in 22:23 minutes!
• Black-eyed Pea's concert with friends
• Connor's Little League
• Olivia's preschool/library visits
• My weekend with God in Minnesota; Pacem in Terris
• Connor Graduated from Tiger Scouts
• Baby Evan born in May
• My niece, Alex, graduated from High School
• Connor's birthday party with friends
• Connor's birthday party with family
• Olivia's tumbling
• Mom & Dad's Okoboji Anniversary Family Vacation
• Three baby nieces born in July!
• Grandma and Grandpa's swimming pool visits
• Connor passed Swimming lessons, on to stroke development!
• Connor living history farms camp
• Connor basketball camp
• Mercy Me concert with friends
• Cubs game with the kids
• Connor starting 2nd Grade
• Olivia's birthday party
• Olivia starting preschool
• I started college
• Olivia started dance classes
• Paul duck hunting and bringing home some ducks
• Pumpkin Patch visit
• Family get-togethers
• Watching Mary Poppins with friends
• Watching Cinderella with the girls
• Passing my first semester with a GPA 3.57!!

Low lights of 2010...

• Connor's concussion after a blow to the head with a bat on the way to the concession stand
• The episodes my back went out
• When the neighbor's tree fell in our yard and on our house
• Connor's high fever during Thanksgiving
• Barfy Christmas
• Unsuccessful weight-loss or exercise regimen

So all in all, the highlights definitely outnumber the low lights. Here's looking to a new year of highlights and low lights; the combo of the two provides a celebration of life.......

Looking forward to in 2011...

• Spring semester in college
• Spring semester of adjuncting for local college nursing students
• Connor's first reconciliation
• Olivia's spring preschool
• Connor's swim lessons
• Going to see James and the Giant Peach with Connor
• Connor's First Communion
• Olivia's dance recital
• Becky's wedding
• Connor's birthday
• Brett and Katie's wedding
• Trip to Chicago
• Vacation at Minnesota Washburn Lake
• Starting second year in college
• Connor starting 3rd grade
• Olivia's birthday
• Olivia starting second year of preschool
• Family get-togethers

Slip, Sliding Away!

Our snow angel!
Making a snowman at G&G Roberts' was a must per Olivia.
Poor Frosty didn't make it through the night, it was so warm outside!

Sledding down the hill with G. Roberts.

Big boy with his sled.

Going over the ramps!

Now the snow is melt, melting away!

Peace on Earth

Christmas eve day, the snow fell and accumulated on the ground--totaling to 5 inches. Paul and Olivia, drowsy and fatigued by their illness, laid in the master bed watching television. Connor and I played games and napped and I secretly worried who the next victim of the illness would be.

I held vigil by the telephone awaiting to see if I would be called off or into work. 2:20-don't need to come in, call and check in...5:20-stay home and Merry Christmas. After the first call, I decided to make a ham and a potato casserole for Connor and myself. Paul sauntered out for a taste of chicken noodle soup (our traditional post-illness soup from Dahl's) and he returned to bed with a reminder of his illness.

At one point in the evening, I let the dogs out and noticed the peacefulness the night offered. Sparkling snow flakes quietly, gently falling. A surreal sense of calm. I asked Connor if he wanted to walk in a winter wonderland and he just rolled his 7-year old eyes at me. So I made an excuse to go outside by taking the trash and recycling out. I sucked in the cool, crisp air and said a little prayer. What a magical night and a great celebration of our Lord, indeed! I stuck my head in the threshold and asked Connor to fetch the camera and then I took these pics.

Fresh-fallen snow on Christmas lights embellish the decor.
Love the sparkling snow, as if an angel scattered glitter on the snow.

Earlier that day, our front yard plants and bushes were blanketed with the snow.

A view from our front door, we live near a busy road but it was quiet and barren.

After dinner, Grandma and Grandpa Roberts came over to play games, but the game-playing was interrupted by Connor falling victim to the illness. We still worked our way through the traditional bed time stories read only on the night before Christmas. It was another sleepless night in the Roberts' household, interrupted with bouts of barfing.

The next morning, there was still excitement and joy but expressed in a volume 10 decibels lower than usual. I sat and looked around at my family, white as the snow, and decided this is Christmas 2010. I didn't take any pictures because I wanted to spare my poor family and plus, the flash would not reflect well off their poor, pallid faces.

I fasted and napped and watch the kids spring back to life by the end of the day, even their cheeks gradually pinked up. I ,on the other hand, felt the doom of being the next victim.

It's been four days and no signs, but I can't say if I'm confident that I dodged the barfing bullet. Hopefully, I was spared due to my recent jacked back...but like all things it's out of my control, so I'll just let it roll.

So my friends and family, this is my 2010 Christmas reality; I was still able to find some beauty out of our unlucky experience.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The Unexpected

This week has been unusual:

I laid flat on my back from Monday-Thursday because my back went out and I've narrowed the cause to going to Curves on Friday and working out 110%. It felt good at the time but boy did it bite me back hard!

Just when I thought things were going better, Paul comes home last night feeling sick and barfs all night long. By 0500 am, Olivia started where he left off. So now half of our family is down with the "barfies" and Connor and I are hoping not to get sick.

On the bright side, we have about 3 inches of snow outside and it's going to be a beautiful white Christmas!

AND, I'm supposed to work tonight at the hospital but we're down to 5 patients and I willl probably more than likely get low-census'd. We usually have just one nurse care for 5 patients! But I'm glad that people are well enough to be home with their families, it's no fun being in the hospital during the holidays.

SO, I hope to be home with my family tonight and tomorrow. I guess I won't be able to dodge sick people but at least it will be nice to be together laying around, sleeping, maybe catching some movies.

Our score for being sick on the past two holidays is 2 for 2, I sure hope we'll make it up north to Mom and Dad's for New Year's Eve.

Here's hoping for a healthy new year!

"Christmasing" with the Roberts Family

We decorated a gingerbread village; Olivia decorated the candy store.
Marin decorated the bakery.
Don't you love my chalet?

Connor decorated the toy shop.

Evan enjoyed his prunes--we called it his figgy pudding!

While Evan ate his figgy pudding, the rest of us enjoyed a delicious prime rib dinner (made by the one and only: Paul--just the prime rib) the rest of the credit goes to Grandma Michelle; baked potatoes, broccoli, rolls, and yummy candy cane pie.

The highlight of the Roberts Family Christmas was Marin's prayer:

Marin: I want to do the prayer. It's a different prayer. You say what I say.

All: okay.

Marin: Dear God.

All: Dear God.

Marin: Thank you.

All: Thank you.

Marin: For our friends and family.

All: For our friends and family.

Marin: Thank you for our teachers.

All: Thank you for our teachers.

Marin: and our food.

All: and our food.

Marin: and our Grandmas and Grandpas.

All: and our Grandmas and Grandpas.

Marin: our brothers and sisters.

All: our brothers and sisters.
Marin: but most of all.

All: but most of all.

Marin: We thank you for Jesus.

All: We thank you for Jesus.

Marin: In Jesus name we pray.

All: In Jesus name we pray.

Marin: AMEN!

All: AMEN!

(I had tears of laughter and sweetness during this prayer, what a sweetheart!)

then. . .

the games began. . .

While we played Christmas Bingo, Wii bowling, and watched Christmas movies the dogs had visions of sugar plums and dog bones in their heads.

Christmases wipe out Indy.

We stayed overnight at Grandma and Grandpa's house and the next morning. . .

the kids were up early watching t.v. and snuggling!

We ate a delicious breakfast and then opened up presents. . .

but first a snap shot of the kiddos

and some candids!

Evan knows what makes Marin tick!

"hmmm, I'll just grab her hair and look at those polka-dots!"

Evan is better off hanging out with his wing-man, Connor.

Happy First Christmas!

Olivia is in hog heaven; lip gloss and a Wiggles' CD!

Marin likes her Olivia house.

Evan loved all the commotion and skipped his nap so he wouldn't miss a thing!

The wrapping paper was one of his favorites!Connor has got the whole world in his hands!

One of his favorites!

Dear Grandma and Grandpa Roberts,

Thank you for a wonderful time at your house. We loved Christmasing at your house and hanging out with the family. We had lots of laughs and smiles. We loved playing games with everyone. Thank you for your gifts and all of your love!

Love,

The Roberts Family

p.s. John and Sarah and girls, we missed being with you at Christmas but understand it would be hard to travel. Thanks for the chocolate-covered fruit and the kids' gifts. Hope you have a very merry Christmas with your new joys of your world.

Let it Snow!

2nd Grade Winter Party

who: You're Invited

what: Winter Party

where: Mrs. M-H's 2nd grade classroom

when: Friday, Dec. 17th

why: Snow much Fun!

Connor and his classmates watch the powder magically turn into snow with the touch of water. "Snow in Seconds," check out www.snowinseconds.com if you are interested in getting some for yourself, was well worth the party money used for Connor's class. (If I didn't link you to the correct place, then just google it) The kids loved it and could play for hours with it. The texture is awesome, it gets cool to touch after awhile and you can re-use it. . . so we sacked up snow and sent it home with the kids to play with.

If the kids weren't playing in the snow, they were making their own snowmen.
Love this picture of Connor's classmates.

One of Connor's buddies, making his snowman.

It was fun to see the kids' faces light up with surprise and awe when the transformation occured!

We also gave them some juice and snack-cakes and the Winter Party was a hit!

If the Mood Strikes Me.....

The thought of making goodies always sounds better than the process.....BUT Livie and I had fun doing some simple pretzel stick dipping and candy making....Christmas cookies will have to wait until I feel another mood strike me.....anyways, I bake them and then who eats them? ME!

Not so cool....these sticks and candies are going to teachers, neighbors, and friends......I've decided to elf some of my neighbors: the new ones, the ones the kids love playing with, the ones across the street. Not too shabby for knowing three of our neighbors in the suburbans.....

of course in tiny town, I would have been making batches and batches of goodies......I think I can still go down main street and name the people who "used" to live in the houses....isn't that crazy?!?!

Anyways, I vowed not to get involved in the throes of the craziness of Christmas...it's become so commercialized......When Dean Martin sang his Jolly Good Feeling songs where every one's happy I wonder if they were pressured during that time to fulfill so many high expectations of society?

I'm a simple woman with simple needs and the hope that Jesus gets the notoriety that he deserves during this season. I really don't need a tree, present, Christmas lights, goodies....I just want my family (all of us snug in our bed watching a movie, eating popcorn that Paul pops on the stove top) I want fun board games which get everyone rolling with laughter, I just want TIME for Christmas.....to be with my loved ones.......I want TIME with my Lord, to thank him for all the wonders he has given us. Thank God for the best gift of all........for all the superficial things will not come with me when I die, but the deeds I have done, the memories I have made for my loved ones will be my legend......

3 gifts that Jesus received = 3 gifts that our children receive from us: A little gold, frankincense and Muir [sp]. I want my kids to know the symbols of Christmas: the tree's branches point up to heaven.....The angel on the tree is Gabriel who talked to Mary and Joseph...Our Jesse Tree honoring Jesus' ancestry...the advent candles lit for preparation of Jesus' birth....there is so much inward transformation to do this month and commercialism just dilutes the real meaning. I cram and stuff and pry all the great meaning of Jesus into my kids' brains so they know there is more to Christmas than new toys and if you would ask them, they would still answer this after all the stuffing and cramming and prying....but, I'll keep doing what I'm doing for they will know the mysterious miracles of Christmas and know that Jesus is the core, center, nucleus of it all.

Here's wishing you a concentrated Christmas of Jesus....and if the mood strikes you do what you wish but enjoy your family and kids, their laughs, smiles, and create those memories that are seeding in their brains for years to come. Toys come and go; memories stay in the heart.

Singing Christmas Cheer!

We ate at Fazoli's on Tuesday and low and behold the Big guy was there with the love of his life!

Olivia practically jumped on his lap, surprisingly!

Evan took a look at Santa and pouted the biggest pout, but Mrs. Claus knows how to handle the babes.

Marin was hesitant, but really wanted a candy-cane.

Connor didn't want to have anything to do with it, but later on he talked with Santa when the ol'

guy mingled with the tables of families and kiddos.

The highlight of the evening: Olivia and Marin sang "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer" to the jolly couple and other kids and families chimed in!

Holly Joliday!

We went to see the Jolly Holiday Lights that supports the "Make-a-wish" Foundation. Super cool and fun display of lights and a lot of oooohhhing and aaaahing in the truck!

Another fresh layer of snow coming down and the kids can't keep their hands off of it!

Mission Accomplished!

I'm wrapping up my first semester and I feel such a great sense of accomplishment. I've taken it day by day and one project at a time. I can't believe that I have balanced my life and work with school. It is possible.

I had to shift some priorities around such as cleaning but I'm so grateful for my dear husband who has picked up the slack and the vacuum and has done the dishes, laundry, and sweeping! God has blessed me with a good man!

Working part-time and studying full-time has been helpful for me too, but it has been a nice break of reality to work and get my head out of the books and away from the computer screen.

So, I have one more test and have to respond to my classmates' theory papers and my first semester will be complete. I'm a little lost to know where my grade status is.....I'm not being a perfectionist and expecting A's, as I once did. I'm settling for average. I guess I've done my part and I need to wait for my instructors to give out my final grades. I feel 90% confident that I passed, we'll see.......

Now, here's a journal of photos of how I survived the semester and the survival tools I relied on...

First and foremost..prayer. Lots and lots of prayer. Prayer for balance, patience, peace of mind, and to relax. I've squeezed, rubbed, kissed and stared at this rock....while praying, especially the big projects.

My cute, corky, and funny kids have helped me understand the reality in my life. They have provided much comic relief. Their free spirit-running-around-the-house-naked-singing Christmas songs at the top of their lungs (okay this is mostly Olivia) have entertained me during the stressful times.

Legos, Legos, everywhere! That is alright with me, they have entertained the kids forever and ever, stirred their creative minds, stimulated their imaginations, and enabled them to work together....we love Legos!

These two have been some great friends of mine for my tension headaches, back pain, neck stiffness; here's hoping I won't have too much liver and kidney damage!

Now, this one I have a love-hate relationship with; I love the caffeine rush it gives me, the bubbly goodness and I hate the sugar content and empty calories! UGH!

The best purchase of our lives....well that's because my school life depends on this netbook. I've participated in my class discussions, written my papers, and electronically "handed" in my papers using this blessed device. Now some day I'll maybe write about how I hate technology but this is one of the examples that technology is good to me.

These books helped me through my last paper; along with 17 journal articles retrieved from the ever-so popular ebsco-host. I have my list ready for next semester and need to start shopping around for the cheapest textbook. (Another plus from technology!) I only had one option to buying books when I was an actual college student (not a non-traditional student), now the Internet provides many options for comparison, LOVE IT!

So, my first semester mission is accomplished...only three more missions to go! (and a summer class, and any other classes I may not pass.)

Thank yous to all of your support; much needed lunch breaks and catch-ups (K. we need more!), telephone calls (Mom and MIL), facebook shout outs, and for the laundry/dish fairy that seemed to fly in when it backed up on Paul (you know who you are!).

Now, I'm going to take one big fat nap and be one with Christmas break! Care to join me?

Laugh. Dance. Olivia.

The little ones watching the big girls do their tumbling and acrobatic moves...

Admiration!
Can you tell I'm an Ellen fan? It was observation time at dance last night and it was fun to watch Olivia dance and sing all the words to the songs. She still tells me she doesn't dance, but she does and loves it!

Wolf Scout Field Trip!

Target Practice anyone? This was Connor's favorite part.
Police Dog on duty.

Checking out the cell.

The Christmas Spirit is in Full Bloom

We picked out another "real" tree at the Boy scouts' lot.
Reindeer decoration for Olivia's friends and teachers at preschool.

Olivia's preschool "concert"
The little guy on the far left was posed like that the whole time, so cute!
The kids sang Christmas songs the last 15 minutes of their class time for their families.

"We Wish You a Merry Christmas!"

Olivia's drawing of a reindeer!

When you walk into our house, you're able to feel the kids' energy and their excitement about Christmas. It first happened shortly before Thanksgiving, when the kids requested to watch the movie "Elf." Then it increased gradually after Thanksgiving, watching the ads and daily Christmas shows on "ABC Family." Now it's in full bloom! Our tree is up and decorated, the Jesse tree is up, the advent candles are burning, and the shelves are decked out in greens, reds, silvers, and golds.

It is so fun to experience the spirit of Christmas through the kids' eyes...with no prompting, Connor started taking his toys and wrapping them with paper and setting them under the tree (To: Olivia/From: Connor). Olivia reciprocated and wrapped up her prized possessions and set them under the tree! I remember doing this as a child and it was so fun to watch them do it too!

The day we decorated the Christmas tree I declared it a present day; they were able to unwrap each other's gifts. You would have thought it was actually Christmas! They were excited and thankful and exclaimed they've always wanted their gift! Too Cute!

Other highlights from this weekend:

• I went to see Mary Poppins with my nurse friends!
• We decorated the tree and had many ornaments left over, so the kids might decorate another tree in the basement.
• Connor went to visit the police station for Wolf Scouts
• I just finished my last research paper!
• I have a theory paper to go, one test, and I have to grade four classmates' PowerPoint presentations and I can call it a semester!

Now, that my house is decorated (outside still needs lights), I should start decking my blog!

Merry Spirit Everyone!