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!

Statistics Update

I'm happy to report that I have self-taught myself--using many resources--statistical procedures and the interpretive meaning of cryptic results. Can I hear a whoot, whoot ?!

Only took me ALL month...but I can confidently say that I statistically rocked my paper. I'm taking a big sigh as I electronically "hand" in my paper....and await the results.

Now, it's time to switch gears and use this week to work on a 100 pt. paper on a nursing mid-range theory and design a power point presentation on heart failure readmissions....anyone care to join me?