Updates

Well all it's been awhile since I've just done a general family update. I apologize for the lack of pictures to make up for the wordiness as our camera is still broken and we still have not replaced it. (It's only money right.) So, here we go!

Mason is still doing wonderful in school, or at least as far as we know. There haven't been any complaints so to speak. He's still loves to read, play on the computer and play video games. Most of those things he greatly prefers to do instead of heading outside to run around. Speaking of running around outside, he's playing soccer and doing as well as last year. Last month we got him a new bike as he outgrew last years; he still has yet to try his new bike out. Goal for summer: ride a bike. I cut his hair last week and trimmed things a little to short in the back and his colick area is sticking straight up. Oh well, in a couple of weeks it'll be the perfect haircut. =) Also, I've noticed that his tastes for vegetables has changed. Sadly there are a lot less that he "likes" now; I think we're down to green bean, peas and corn.

Colby is growing like a weed and I think is just going to skip over a size 3. Potty training ended up being a success. It's been a long time since we've had an accident during the day. She still does pull-ups at night; occassionaly she'll wake up dry, but not often. Currently we are letting her pick what she wears for nap time. Yesterday she actually napped and ended up getting woken up because she peed in bed. Most days though she doesn't nap anymore and is good about getting up to use the potty. Her computer skills are taking off. Unlike her brother, I find that she would rather go outside and play. She likes to "practice" soccer a lot and tells me that when she gets big she's going to play volleyball just like me. =) Cute, but I'm hoping that she plays a lot better than me and we can get a cushy full ride scholarship. I'm also thinking that she'll have this bike thing down before her brother.

As for me, I found out last Thursday that I did not get the RN job in UM's ED. Sadly I seem to have lost my interview skills. Even though I've worked in the department for the last 6yrs, they based their entire canidate picking on the interview. I have an appt to talk with the manager tomorrow to discuss things a little further. It's sad that the ED doesn't take care of their own and that instead of picking someone who has a clue, they are opting for 7 external people that they have no clue what kind of skills they have. Maybe they lied in the interview... Yeah, I'm still a little bitter. At any rate, I have a lot of applications in for places around the area and some emails out to people that I hope can help with job finding. I'm not sure what I'll do in the end. Ideally it would be nice to stay within the UM system as my seniority will carry over, but I'm not sure what other department as I don't really want to be a regular floor nurse. I also would like to go to Wayne State for a master's in medical sciences but that takes money and we're really trying to pay off stuff so we can get out from under our house. We'll see what happens in the end.

I'll have to let Kevin tell you about any excitement in his life. =)

Soccer starts

This year both kids are in soccer. I was at work for their first practice so alas, I am unable to tell you too much about how it went. BUT... we did steal pics from Dick and Glynda's camera. Let the season begin!!
The kids in their garb, ready to go:


Some action shots:


The goalie gene has been passed.

Memaw and Grandpa will be helping Kevin out on Saturdays to get the kids to and from games as it seems they are on different fields and less than an hour between start times. Thanks guys!!

This is just super cute. Everyone now, Awwww!


In other news. I have officially passed my NCLEX and have an interview in the ED on Wednesday. I'll let you all know how that goes. I have also applied in the SICU, TBIC and on 7C. In the very near future I will also put an application in at SJMH as they seem to have some good openings right now as well.

Dresden Files

I just want to take a moment to let you all know how sad I still am that they canceled the show Dresden Files. This was, what I felt anyway, a wonderful program that so nicely filled the void of Charmed calling it quits. Yes, I know this program ended in 2007, but I just rewatched the series as I studied for the NCLEX (yeah, took that today. We'll see how that turns out later). So again, I am reminded that the show was wonderful and is still no longer on the air. I think those of you that were/are Firefly fans can understand how I feel. And for those of you that don't care and have no idea what I"m talking about... here are some cute random pics.

Art Day

Today was art museum day. The kids were ok with it all though I don't think it was totally their idea of great fun in DC. =) We started out at the Smithsonian Art Museum, had lunch at a McDonald's cart and then finished at the Museum of Modern Art. I find that I tend to prefer the modern art, though I don't understand how a bunch of yarn hanging from the ceiling to the floor constitutes art... but well, I guess it's a matter of perspective. Caleb also enjoys the modern art better, though he was very good about pointing out different things in the individual art pieces. I think that it's his art classes showing through. (Lindsey's money at work right there!)

Colby and her new BFF who I think she has wrapped around her little finger. She spent a lot time in Uncle Jon's arms instead of walking. =)


The kids at the start of the day on the steps to the Smithsonian Art Museum.

Day 2 (or 3)

Today Jon and I went for an AM run down Holmes Run. The run would have gone a bit better for me had we not ended with a hill. OUCH! I'm still feeling it. From there were headed into DC to check out the Cherry Blossom Festival. The trees were wonderful looking, though I'm not so sure how much the kids got out of it. We also walked around a bunch and checked out both the Washington and Jefferson Memorials. Mason and Caleb picked out a souvenir at the Washington Memorial; Caleb got a bookmark of the memorial and Mason bought a National Geographic National Park book. As we (well, the adults anyway) were a little tired out, when then took the Metro back to the apartment and watched a movie before dinner. After dinner the kids pretty much put themselves to bed. =) I would love to show you pics of the day, but Jon left his SD card at the apartment and my camera is non-functional still. However, here are few pics of the kids and their sleeping arrangements! Uncle Jon was the preferred reader this eve.

DC trip Day 1

Well, I guess that it's technically day 2. Day one was spent driving. Overall the driving part of things went well up until the last 20m when Colby announced that she needed to potty right about the time that we had no good places to stop. A couple minutes later she then starting puking. Yeah... I was REALLY glad that Caleb had an Easter bucket. Upon arrival to U. Jon's she was fine, running around like normal. Or course, with her car seat destroyed we had to walk to dinner. This would not have been so bad if the restaurant hadn't sucked. Let's just say that we got our meal for free, that was how bad it was. The evening sleeping arrangements were interesting, but seemed to work.

Now, on to the topic I originally came to discuss... Today was great. The kids woke up and came out to find that the Easter bunny had indeed found them at U. Jon's house. They all really seemed to enjoy their baskets. Mason pretty much played with his new game thingy all day. A couple of AM basket pics for you....


After basket time we went to church. I would really like to post some pics of how cute the kids looked in their Easter outfits, but the battery died and then the kids took off their clothes shortly after arriving back to Jon's place so they could play tennis with U. Jon. (Ahhh... that short time of peace and quiet was nice. Thanks Jon!!!) Then there was dinner and quiet time, which yes, was actually quiet. There wasn't much sleeping, but it was quiet at least.

From there we packed a picnic lunch and headed out to the falls. I think that I'm getting old as all I could think about was how easily one could crack a head open if they fell. But, we all had a great time climbing and checking out the falls. There were even a couple of kayakers trying to go upstream; amazing to watch them go. By the end of our time there even Colby was climbing without help. The hardest part was trying to explain to the kids why they needed to stay behind the railings even though there were a lot of people on the other side. The "7 people a year drown" sign helped with my motivation! (See, like I said, I'm getting old.)


(The rocks were way more perilous than they look there, this is just the "slide" the kids found in one of the middle areas.)

So, most of those last pictures are from Jon. My camera started doing this, which is not soo good for capturing memories.

Obsessively Stitching: Tent Week

After looking at some of these, I'm in the mood to make a tent!

Obsessively Stitching: Tent Week