HAPPY 2008!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

When I was younger I often wondered why the big hoopla about resolutions and big celebrations when January 1st is no different than December 31st. The weather is the same, our routine is the same. What's the big deal? But as I get older (young older), it means much more to me. It's a symbolic time for new beginnings - leaving the ugly things from the previous year behind. A clean slate. Although I'm not a big resolution maker, I do subconsciously think about ways that I want to change or make amends. Here's a little (ahem) list I've got going

• stop yelling at the kids (yes, I sometimes yell - not scream, but yell - not good)
• stop with sarcastic remarks to the hubster (although he asks for it - it's still not nice)
• stop procrastinating (yes, I can be the queen of procastination)
• keep my car clean(er) (oiy vey, what you could find in my car - I could have a scavenger hunt in there)
• take the time for date nights with the hubs (baaaad, but we NEVER do it - our last date night was our 10th anniversary, and this year we'll be married 14 years - GASP!)
• get healthier (no need to explain how this should be done)
• turn 40 (nothing I can do about this, but it's hitting me like cold water - 40 is the new 30, right?)

And last, but NOT least - too huge for a 'bullet'....GRADUATE! (And pass the boards, of course) When I decided to go to nursing school (this is not my first go around at college) in 2004, 2008 seemed so far away - now it's finally here, and it feels great.

So what's on your list? Is it something you can share?

Hope 2008 is filled with wonderful suprises and a lifetime of good memories for you.

CHEERS!

"The BEST Christmas EVER!" ...

..."The BEST Christmas EVER!" - this is what my son said as he was going to bed last night. Seriously, could that be any sweeter? He says this every year. It makes me smile.

I've posted way too many pics from Christmas Day, but they say so much about our holiday. If you can't read the note left by Brent it reads "Santa, How old are you? From, Brent" - He decided to leave this note after he asked me how old Santa was & I told him I didn't know. Hmmm, he's starting to question.

Ahhhh, the excitement of coming down on Christmas morning. Brent, coming down the stairs patiently, waiting for his sister. Magical!

Yes, consumerism at its finest. What can I say?

How freaking cute? Rock on! Brent has an acoustic guitar, but has mentioned (pestered) for many months for an electric one. He wants lessons in the worst way. Soon, I guess. He has even taken to growing his hair longer. We're compromising on this one. No tattoos yet. Mommy gets one first. ;0)

Too cute not to share.

She's digging the cheerleading kit (video & accessories) - she shook these things all day. Even made everyone join in on the cheers. So damn funny. I'm so anti anything princess(ey) or too frilly - but I keep my opinions to myself, since I want her to develop her own sense of self. By the end of the day even I was getting into it? She's infectious. In the best way, of course.

This is more my speed. Go SCIENCE GIRL! Anyhoo, she always plays with my stethoscope, so she was THRILLED to get her own medical kit. I had to play 'patient' all day as she checked my blood pressure and listened to my heart - but after my 'check-up' she'd give me a 'shot' and then she'd take the 'bandage' scissors, tell me to "hold still" so she could cut my bangs. Freaking hilarious. I nearly pee'd laughing every time. A physical and a haircut. So funny. She even started saying, just before grabbing the 'bandage scissors', "now don't laugh Mom, I need to cut your hair."

Also, check out her face in this picture - there are pink streaks all over her right cheek (and her hands) - she fell asleep with her pom-poms and the color transferred onto her face.

We ended the night with snow cones made enthusiastically by Brent, with his new Snoopy snow cone machine. Yep, they still make these. I always wanted one as a kid & had my first ever homemade one last night. Having it made by my little man made it worth the wait.

Merry! Merry!

I know this sounds Christmas card-ish, but my favorite part of the holiday(s) is making time for family traditions - baking cookies and gingerbread houses, driving around and looking at lights, decorating the tree, popping popcorn and watching old classic holiday movies. Yes, we buy into the commercialism of Christmas (somewhat). I try not to go ape-crap with gifts, but I do love the kids' excitement about Santa, it's almost magical. But for me, the greatest gifts are the holiday traditions. Because, seriously, I could buy myself a pair of gloves...

Hope your holiday is filled with good friends, good times and good health.

A book worth reading

Have you read Khaled Hoss*ini's The Kite Runner? If not, it's worth reading - absolutely fabulous book, one that stays with you long after you've finished reading it. I just finished his second book A Thousand Splendid Suns last night (up until 2am) and it's just as fabulous. The lives of the main characters were disturbing - a real reminder of how great it is to live in America. I won't bother trying to describe the book, since I wouldn't do it justice and I'd probably give too much away - but click the link if you're interested in finding out more.

If you've read either book, what did you think?

Woohoo, I passed

Grades came in this week from school and I passed. What a relief. I passed with a B+ (yes, the plus "+" matters to me, since I worked my ass off for that "+" - an "A" would have been nice, but really, a C=RN). So, I get to go back in 4 weeks for my LAST SEMESTER. I'll be done in May and I'm smelling a job. I'm smelling a check with my name on it (and not with "Happy Birthday" in the memo section).

big purchases and midnight vomit

Warning: whiney post....

Just need to vent a little. Tis the season.. Like most folks, this time of year hits us hard in the wallet. But, on top of the usual expensive holiday hoopla, we decided to buy the little lady a "big girl bed" last weekend, since she's the monkey queen who climbs out of her crib EVERY NIGHT and climbs into her brother's bed. She has refused to sleep in the crib. She was well over due for a bed, but we were trying to hold off a little longer. At any rate, we bought the lady a bed so her brother could get some rest. Well, what broke yesterday - THE WASHING MACHINE. Great timing. OUCH! We could call a repair man, but the washer is a 15 yr old top loader that we bought in our first apartment before we were married (yes, we lived in sin). No repair person was called - a front loader is the way to go. Holy crap those suckers are expensive. Such bad timing. Bad, bad timing. But, our home now septic and well and the front loader is the wisest choice. Again, ouch on the price!

OK, we've settled on the washer and it's coming tomorrow - but what happened last night.... the boy had a case of MAJOR barfs (barfs - I'm using my medical terminology here). Oh my glory, we had vomit on...well, it would be easier to say where the vomit wasn't. Oiy vey! And of course, the hubster was working - so I was solo in my efforts to decontaminate the upstairs hall, bathroom, bedroom, boy and buckets. So why the vomit and big purchase post connection? Well, I have bags of barfed on stuff and no way to wash it - unless I want to haul the load to the creek, or worse, the laundromat. Mmmm, those items should be ripe by tomorrow when the washer comes in.

Crossing my fingers that this fun barf bug doesn't make its way into the rest of the family. Good times!

Ahhhh, I can smell the holidays

Finally! The semester is OVER. OVER. Did I say that the semester is OVER? And did I mention that I only have ONE (yep, ONE) semester to go? Woohoooo, I'm so flipping excited. I've had my books and notes so far up my arse for the last week while studying, I think I need a laxative (OK, sick nursing humor). Right now, I'm ready to enjoy the holidays because my final (all four freaking hours of it) yesterday has left me feeling like a wet dish rag - and I've had headache for two days to top things off. But enough complaining, I'm ready to decorate and bake and catch up on blogs and dive into a good book (thanks to my bud, Stephanie (Written Word, Forks..) I've got a little list going of what to read next).

Here are a few pics of my little bakers from last week. Yes, the gingerbread cookies were made from scratch. Pictures to prove it.

Interesting article

Ok, I took a short break from studying to check my email - here's an article worth posting (nothing earth shattering, but interesting nonetheless):

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22045640/

The article notes - "143 million orphans worldwide." That number sits like a brick in the pit of my stomach. Seriously, I try not to live with my head up my arse. I've adopted internationally. I'm aware that there are far too many orphaned children in this world. BUT, that number is sobering. Could that be right? One. Hundred. Forty. Three. Million. Children. Without. Families.