Spring

Spring is slipping by so quickly. I've hardly had time to get out there and enjoy it. I'm in the last two weeks of my semester and it's rather hectic. I did get to head into the city with kids over Spring Break. We had a full and fun day. We saw Dan's new office down in the Wall St. area. went to the Central Park Zoo, walked around the park, and went to the Met. I love Central Park. We even ended up in a Occupy Wall Street march on accident.

I'm getting ready to go on my medical mission trip to Costa Rica in a few weeks! I'm so excited to go. I have to take a gift to my homestay family and I'm not sure what to bring them. This is going to be such an incredible experience. Hopefully, one I can repeat again.

Maybe once I'm back I can squeeze a few projects in around my summer extern program.

God, I'm already looking at grad schools... Sometimes, even it the midst of the constant chaos, it feels like things are coming together just fine.

highlights

Time flies by and I forget to update so here are some highlights from the last month-ish.

Seth had an awesome 6th birthday party. He cut his cake with a sword. He loved it.

Hannah placed 3rd at State on bars. (That's not her score in the picture.)

I had some friends come to visit for a weekend. I feel loved and had a wonderful time.

Simon's FPS team went to state. They didn't make it to Internationals... maybe next year. Simon also moved from Cub Scouts up to Boy Scouts.

Dan has a new job up in the city. It's a huge adjustment for us all now that he has a big commute like this. He likes the new job, so hopefully all the traveling back and forth to the city will be worth the adjustments.

My semester is cruising along. I registered for next semester already. I can't believe I only have two more semesters to go after this one! Getting my BSN seemed so far away for so long and now it's just around the corner.

update

Poor little neglected blog. Things are a bit chaotic around here, but that's normal, right. The semester is in full swing. I am taking 17 credits this spring. So, what's everyone else up to?

Braces. Again.

She refers to them as medieval torture devices. Can you argue with that? And, she's doing fantastic with gymnastics. She's going to States again this year!

Simon is about to move up from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts.

And, he's doing FPS like Hannah did. His team came in first place, so they are going to States. It seems to be a theme around here. Maybe he'll get to go to International like Hannah did in 5th grade.

The big chaos around here is Dan was let go from his job. They reorganized and it put him out. So, he's looking. Hopefully it won't take long to find new employment. I'll continue to trudge my way through school. If I get to see this view every morning when I have clinical it'll be just that much easier...

Gettin' crafty

Sewing makes me happy. Since my little break started I've managed to do a bit of sewing and hope to do some more. I got the throw size quilt basted, quilted, and bound.

I made myself a new bag! I got the pattern and fabric on my trip to NYC with Amy and Monica Back in November.

And, I made some more coffee cup cozies for friends.

I think they're adorable. Hopefully others think so too. What do yo think?

mini vacation

December was a whirlwind of semester finals, Simon's 11th birthday, Christmas, and my mom coming to visit.

Now, I am on winter break until the 23rd of Jan. Nothing could sound sweeter to me. I do have things to do for school while on break like apply for a nurse extern position, order books for next semester, and try to get the house in order before I can't keep up. Once the spring semester gets under way I can't seem to get anything done around here.

Simon is 11 now. I am always amazed at how quickly they are growing. We had a nice little party here at home with some of his friends. He asked for a drawing tablet as a birthday/Christmas present. I try to make sure he feels like his birthday is a separate thing and doesn't get mixed into the holiday. He has figured out that if he wants something big he can ask for it as a gift for both. As long as it's his choice.

This year my mom and little (littlest) brother came out from the 25th-31st. It was a great visit. We were pretty mellow and didn't do a ton of touristy stuff. We went to the Statue of Liberty and walked around Princeton one day as well. Ellis Island is really fascinating. It was freezing when we were on Liberty Island to see the statue. Cold + water + wind = damn cold.

Rebuilding Ground Zero.

Seth didn't appreciate Ellis Island like we did. Think he might be a wee bit bored?

Close sleeping quarters in the dormitory on Ellis Island.

Three little popsicles.

There she is, in all her glory.

Hannah and her Uncle Paul. She loves him, he hates having his picture taken.

Hot chocolate was just what we needed after walking around the statue... and freezing.

Enjoying the ferry ride back to Liberty State Park.

I am planning on enjoying my little mini vacation from school. I still have to get up every morning and get the kids off to school, but then I can mostly do what I want. I already devoured read the Hunger Games books. I've sewn. I've watched movies. I could get used to this...

birds

I've been slowly working on the bird ornaments. They are super cute, no?

And I made a reversible coffee cup cozy.

Finals are almost over. I took my first HESI exam yesterday. Holy crap that was a hard ass test. You think you know things and then you take a test like that. I only got a 79% on it. Not a stellar grade and if they were basing it on the points I don't know if I passed or not. Crazy. Is nursing school over yet? Another semester down, 3 more to go!

faces

I'm a bit biased, but I think this is awesome sauce right here.

Sad face

Mad face

Happy face

"I love Mommy" face

I think the last one is my favorite "face" by far.