finally, photos, fun and a dilemma

Finally, some snow!

Yesterday we went hunting for our Christmas Tree. And darn it if I can't figure out how blogger downloads so these are backwards......

ooooh, can anyone say 'child labor laws?'



The mighty warriors have conquered their prey





Jason, going in for the kill





seriously, can't figure out how these got in the order they did, it's not how I downloaded them...any way...a new use for a bike rack...it actually worked really well...Love my engineer husband.

This is the one...after an hour of trudging around

Nothing to do with trees or Christmas, but the tree farm was also home to a bunch of Alpacas...oh my gosh they're cute...

The finished product...hmmmm, looked less crooked in the forest of trees...and what's with that bald spot..oh well, we had fun picking it out, bringing it home and decorating it

Now for my dilemma......Every year I give an ornament exchange party. This year I've been so stressed about school that I was thinking of forgoing this one festivity. But then our tree went up and I got a bit melancholy about not doing it....so I said to Jason, "maybe I will do it" he answered, "only if you're not going to drive yourself crazy". So here's the deal, I can do electronic invites (did that last year, no one scoffed) I can do pre-made platters from the deli and bakery....this is out of my comfort zone, because one of the things I can do well is put on a spread of homemade goodies and I soooo enjoy hearing the ooohs and aaaahs....cooking for me is an expression of love (probably a major cause of my current weight issue but that's another post)...so it would be difficult to give that up...but having the pre-made stuff will cut my work down by a million percent and it really is about the gathering of friends....I can do the spread next year when I'm less stressed.....

So, should I do it? Should I throw the party minimal style and ask my guests to forgive the meager store bought offerings? Aimee posted pictures of last years festivities here should you need more information to help me with my decision.....

oh hello there! miss me?

and you better say, 'yes'.

So what have I been doing?
1. School is kicking my behind! There is some good news on that front recently...because I've been using my blogging time to actually study, I got an 85 on my cardio test....which doesn't seem that great but it was the highest in the class (and yes, Blaire, I know I'm a b#*ch---but you did great with half the studying). And for this I'm very thankful (do you like how I worked that in). I also got a 100 on my pharm test. Now that, was truly a miracle, because I was so busy studying for the cardio test I only read half the chapters in pharm....I seriously prayed before during and after that test...so I should say, God pretty much got the 100 but I'm very thankful it's on my grade book. I have only two more tests and I'm done for about a month...WOO HOO.

2. I finally got caught up on reading all your wonderful blogs...I feel like such a slacker and I really have been thinking about reading all your wonderful, touching, funny stories (all of which I love to read and for which I am thankful)....but it's like cookies, I can't just read one, so I haven't been reading any. Today I took a few hours -- because Thanksgiving is at my sister-in-law's -- for which, by the way, I am soooo thankful----and I took the much needed time to read and read and it was so good to hear what has been happening to you all.

3. My clinicals are awesome. The people I'm meeting are amazing. I'm learning so much about the ins and outs of being a nurse, not the book learning thing, but the real people stuff. And I love it, and seem to be pretty good at it....at least the people stuff. I am so thankful for that experience and for the ability to be able to talk to just about anyone....finally all those reports that came home throughout my school career about being a 'great kid but talks to much' is finally something that is to be cherished and not something to 'work on'.

4. I spent the day with the boys yesterday, I took them and my niece to the movie Bolt,then to Cold Stone , it was fun. When Jason asked how the movie was, I told him I cried. His response, "You cried at a cartoon" to which I answered, "Shut Up" and he just raised his eyebrows at me....oh pulease, did he just not hear me say shut up? Does he not know that raising eyebrows is akin to SHOUTING......he chuckled then hugged me, I laughed. I'm thankful for 16 and half years of marriage and for knowing this man for over half my life and appreciating that he can laugh at me, I can laugh at him and we both laugh at our kiddos.

5. The boys are healthy, joyful, polite, and wild and just as they should be. It amazing how well they do, even with the poor mothering they've received lately...oh who am I kidding, most of the time....I am truly thankful for the boys they are.

6. I have come down with a cold...so I'm headachy, sneezy and a bit miserable, and I am thankful it happened AFTER the cardio test. And even though it's not serious, I've decided to 'rest' and it gave me the opportunity to play on the computer (oooh and along with catching up on blogging, I got my sister's, mother's, sister in law's and other sister in law's Christmas gifts ordered, and the boys Christmas pajama's....woo hoo).

I hope that this day finds you (even those of you across seas who don't celebrate this day) thankful for what you have in your life.

Happy Thanksgiving

update

1. Failed the test (74---yes that's failing)...arggg, could not have studied more....got a couple phone calls and I'm not alone! I don't even CARE right now as long as I'm still passing the class --well barely, I'm at a 78 and yes, that's barely passing, a 77 is the cut off for failing.

2. Spoke with Jake today, we had some alone time and I asked him what he felt when he was getting together the plates...he said, he just read it and did what the letter told him too and didn't think much else about it. I asked him if his feelings are hurt or he feels sad that I'm back at school and not spending as much time at home. He said, no, we still do fun things and he does things with dad. Then, and get this, he's such a great kid, he asks ME if I'm liking school and I tell him very much and he says that he's glad that I'm happy DON'T YOU JUST LOVE HIM! I DO. He said he hopes he has fun in college too and wondered if there was a college where you could just learn baseball......and then the conversation disintegrated to discussing bodily functions...he is a boy after all.

3. Went to the movies with my family and had a nice dinner with them....test be damned, I wanted to spend time with my family! Glad I did. We saw The City of Ember, it was actually pretty interesting. And very visually interesting.

I'm gonna whine!

I need to study, I have a test tonight and I'm so unmotivated, this class is unfairly hard especially for a 2 credit class. I don't know what to expect on the test. I've failed two tests and did well on two already and I can't find a pattern to my success or failure. I'm not alone in that, most of the class is grumbling. So instead of being motivated to do well, I feel at a loss right now. I hate that. I'm tired, I miss my family, my family misses me. I just want to clean and bake and do something creative and artsy.

ugggg, sigh, poor pathetic me....

okay on to my other boo hoo moment...

Ms. Martha, is the room mom for Jake's class. And she's been very supportive in letting me do things like just bring paper plates instead of some fun home baked contribution. A couple weeks before, I emailed her with my request so I wouldn't have to compete with any of the other moms with the easy peasy contribution. I got her the plates late Thursday night after a twelve hour clinical shift at the hospital. Meanwhile, Jake read the letter that he was supposed to bring plates and he, in a self-sufficient moment, got some paper plates out of the cupboard and brought them to class (which according to Ms. Martha saved the day because there was a lack of serving plates). Here's where I'm torn...I love that he took the initiative, he read the directions, he figured out what to do and he did it. But was it because he didn't have faith that his mom would do it? Is he feeling a burden of making up grown-up decisions because I'm not as available. Is nine too young for this type of independence? Am I just driving myself crazy over nothingness and just really feeling sad because he's growing up? Does anyone else drive themselves this crazy over something seemingly so benign?

It's these things that make parenting so hard for me...wondering if my decisions will help or hurt the boys emotionally. Hopefully when they grow up they'll know that they were loved.

well, okay, I'm going to take a hot shower and hope that I can get rid of this headache (oh yeah, another thing to whine about, I feel a bit illish) and hit the books!

oh, thanks for the suggestions....I went with buying a whole bunch of snacky foods and then a 10 dollar gift certificate to Wallymart, so if they feel the need, they can buy more food or she can get something fun for herself....About half the people brought a small gift for the birthday girl along with the contributions so it all felt very comfortable.

In lieu of

Jake and Isaac got an invitation to a birthday party this weekend. It's with a family I don't know, which isn't a big deal because the party is at one of those fun party bounce houses (ANOTHER business I wish I had thought of...but I digress). Here's my issue. They're requesting that instead of a gift we bring a food donation to their favorite charity. I think the charity thing is a great idea, what a wonderful gift and a great lesson for a child who probably has enough anyway (I'm assuming -- since we live in the burbs in a middle class neighborhood).

Here's my dilemma -- should I still give a gift to the little party girl? I was thinking a birthday card and a gift certificate to one of those girly boutiques where they sell glittery, pink stuff...a good excuse for me to go into one of those stores...since I live in a testosterone dominated house...but would the parents find that offensive? I'll bring a ton of dried food for the charity, but I also want to acknowledge the girl's birthday

arggggg
so here's my question to you all...how set in concrete are the 'in lieu' of's in a kid's birthday invite?

Jake's turn....yes, still studying

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I've been studying and Jason's been bored

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Isaac's Debut

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Booing the neighborhood

Our neighborhood has a fun tradition every year around Halloween. We "boo" each other with a bag of goodies. The deal is, you put together a a couple of gift bags of candy, a couple little fun things and a copy of the directions and a ghost...I added a candle, some glow in the dark sticks and Halloween sprinkles. Then you make a copy of a little 'boo' poem with directions (will add full poem below) then you go to houses that don't have a ghost on their windows (to show that they've already been 'booed' and leave the bag of goodies on their porch then ring and run....it's seriously fun for the kiddos....really it's all about the kiddos, I had no fun at all.
Here's the poem:

You have been "Boo'd" !!!!
The air is cool, the season fall.
Soon Halloween will come to all.
Ghosts and goblins, spooks, galore...
Tricky witches at your door.

The spooks are after things to do.
A spook, in fact, brought this "BOO" to you!!!

The excitement comes when friends like you, copy
this note and make it two.
We'll all have smiles upon our faces.
No one will know who has "BOO"ed
whose places!

Just two short days to work your spell.
Keep in secret, hide it well.
Please join the fun, the season's here
So spread the "Boo's" and
Halloween cheer.

Oh and an update on my test...88 woo hoo...seriously I'm going with a B is the new A...hahaha.

trying not to hyperventilate.....

and this time it's not about my 401K statements.

Test at 1pm today (mountain standard time) so if you have a minute....pray, wish good thoughts, rub buddah's belly...whatever floats your boat...I need all the help I can get to pass my first test in med-surg (medical surgical nursing)....it's on fluid and electrolytes, acid base balances, hematology and immunology....

fun stuff

you are sooo jealous, I know.

Isaac Isaac, what am I ever going to do with you?

My second child is so impulsive, I'm not sure if it's the age (just turned 6), his personality (his father's) being a boy? Jake, Isaac and I are just sitting there watching some TV, waiting for the Chinese food to arrive (I was studying all day yesterday, did like 5 million loads of laundry, some dishes and made beds....I WAS NOT GOING TO COOK TOO), and Jason was at the store buying a mouse trap....don't ask. Isaac got up off the couch, went up to his brother and slapped him on the face. (I am such a horrible mother, I'm laughing now, just even thinking of the expressions on both their faces) Jake looked at me with a 'what the heck' expression as I was trying to blurt out Isaac's name in a voice of authority and reprimand (but couldn't because I was laughing too hard). Isaac turned to me with a "I have no idea what I just did face" and all three of us rolled around the floor laughing. Between my giggles I tired to impart that even though I was laughing I was in no way condoning his behavior.

I think he got the message.
Probably not the right one though.

Sigh, parenting is hard, even if it is very very entertaining at times.

Jason's so funny sometimes

Let me share:
As some of you know, Jason and I sit on the opposite side of the political fence....which is funny because on most issues we agree, I think we just can't agree on how to get there....anyhow, we were having dinner and were talking about church and politics and how I pretty much keep my mouth shut when we're at church because my political leanings are very much in the minority at the church we attend. Then I said to Jason, "I can tell that I must be doing pretty well keeping my opinions to myself (well at church, not so much here on MY blog) because most people at church assume I'm Republican"

here's where it gets funny:
Jason: Well you look like a Republican?
Me: Uh, I do? How?
Jason: Beautiful and intelligent.

bwahahahaha, made me laugh as much as when he introduced us to other Republicans as "I'm Republican and my wife is just wrong"

It's a good thing I'm a Democrat with a sense of good ol' fashioned self-depreciating humor.

OH MY GAW----GOSH

Holy moly, quarterly reports are coming out and did anyone else almost pass out when they got their 401k statements.....oh wait I have to go hyperventilate in a bag again....I'll be right back.

OK, back,
Thank goodness there's still Social Security....

yeah, I crack myself up too...

Conversation with the school nurse

and I wish I was kidding:

Ring Ring
Me: Hello.
School Nurse: This is nurse blah blah, don't worry the kids are fine, I'm just calling about Jake's epi-pen.
Me: OK
School Nurse: I lock up the nurse's station at 3:30 when I go home and DayCare Guy has a key but he's worried about finding Jake's epi-pen during an emergency.
Me: OK, I'll bring an extra one for DayCare Guy.
School Nurse: Oh, Hold on there, you're two steps ahead of me. (what is this? An algebra test, where I have to show all my work?) What I was saying is that it's all locked up, it'll take too long in an emergency to get his epi-pen. (yeah, you just said that, why do you need to say it again?) And DayCare Guy and I were brainstorming about what to do about this situation. The teachers take epi-pens with them on field trips, so we thought maybe we could do something like that.
Me: Uh huh (because, really, I think maybe I'm not actually supposed to come up with a solution)
School Nurse: But then we thought maybe it might be better to have an extra epi-pen for the day care mobile. I know it's expensive (like I'm going to begrudge my child the 45$ for medication that could save his life). But we think it may be a good idea.
Me: So, do you want me to bring in an extra epi-pen?
School Nurse: Yes, don't you think that would be a good idea? (well yes, it's why I said that 5 minutes ago)
Me: Yes, it's no problem, I can do it later this week.
School Nurse: Well there you are jumping steps ahead again (are you freakin' kidding me!) Discuss this with your husband (Discuss it with husband? What? In case he objects to life-saving measures being put in place for his son?) And then decide (What exactly am I to decide here? Should Jake have --- let me say this again --life saving measures -- easily accessible to those who care for him --- hmmm not a hard decision---would any of you out there need a minute to decide this?)
Me: Ah, Okay. (OH MY GOSH, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO RETIRE LADY!)

So glad my kids are healthy.

Ms. Martha...seriously consider taking over....you would make the most awesomest school nurse and my kids love you!

Quirky Stuff

Although I was not officially tagged by Ms. Martha, I am still going to play along with her Meme and list off some of quirky things I do. Sadly, unlike Ms. Martha, I had NO problem coming up with six things, as a matter of fact I could have gone on and on.

Number 1. I think Vincent D'Onofrio as the detective in Criminal Intent, Law and Order, is hot. There's something about a really smart, quirky guy that is a real 'turn on'; come on have you met my husband...He's Vincent but shorter, darker and with a beard.

Number 2. I enjoy more the planning rather then the actual execution of said plans.

Number 3. I like to mix mustard and ketsup and dip my fries in it.

Number 4. When I lock any door and put my keys in my bag, I'll reopen my bag and check that the keys I just put in are still there, then I start to close the door, but right.before.it's.closed I open my bag again to absolutely make sure the keys are in the bag, then I shut the door, but hold my breath, check my bag again and breath a sigh of relief. Periodically, through the day, I'll check for my keys...ok, this is really more OCD then quirky, but we all have our dirty little OCD secrets...(don't we, please say I'm not the only one).

Number 5. Sometimes when the kids are playing nicely I'll scream at the top of my lungs and giggle hysterically while they looked shocked, scared and totally freaked out. They are so going to need therapy.

And, Number 6. When I've done something nice for someone, I'll go buy a lottery ticket, because really, don't I deserve a million dollars for having been so thoughtful to have cooked someone a casserole?

I hope that revealing some of these things haven't completely turned you off from reading my blog.....and if not, please clue the rest of us in on those quirky things you do....Teresa, Chief Rock Chef, Ali and Terri in particular (Danielle got tagged officially by Ms. Martha...but here's another plea to hear what you have to say.)

Damn Drivers....

Dear Lady in the Blue Honda blocking the intersection at the grocery store today,

While I appreciate that you did stop your car to talk on the cell phone while simultaneously consulting a map, could you have done it, say, in a parking spot rather then the entrance to the grocery store parking lot. Me and the 3 cars behind me weren't really thrilled to wait while you got your sh...stuff together. And what was with the honking, did you really think I was going to pass you going against oncoming traffic? And isn't honking really supposed to be reserved for, oh, I don't know, the people who are doing it RIGHT to point out to the idiots that are doing WRONG that they should beware . I should have been honking at you. But whatever, maybe it was opposite day?

Sincerely,
Someone who is glad she didn't have ice-cream in the trunk

For Sale...

The boys have out-grown the play set and want a trampoline. They've had a lot of fun out in the back yard playing on this thing. We (as in Jason) repaired, cleaned and restained it. If you know anyone who wants one, we're selling ours. We'll help (we...hahaha, Jason'll help) with the dismantle; getting it home and remantling it is up to you (is remantle a word? it should be if dismantle is one, right?) Unless you're still up for it Mrs. Kravitz, then Jason'll be happy to help Mr. Kravitz.

Yeah..those are weeds in the back ground...our back yard is next summer's project...why did we buy a fixer-upper at the same time I decided to go back to nursing school, have two young kids and a husband who works 60+ hours a week? Oh yeah, I'M INSANE.

I must be stooopid.....

I'm not really and expert on high finance, I mean I can barely balance my checkbook (although I do do it)so bear with me when I ask this really stupid question....

When did bankrupting a company and then having to be bailed out by the government become something you would get millions of dollars worth of bonuses for AND not be punished?

We're writing this big check to make sure our economy stays stable and we all jump on the bandwagon and have emergency meetings right NOW (what? no one knew this was happening? we couldn't have foreseen this?) and we have to make a decision right.this.very.minute about the bail out....and only after some stalling -- which pissed some people off, we concede to limiting executive payouts....but only if.we.make.a.decision.right.this.very.minute. Oh yeah, limiting...that would be government poking their noses in big-business...and why should government do that, I mean, big business is being run by such moral upright people (hey on both sides of the political fence, I want to be fair here, they're not all elephants)....right? Anyway it's more fun to mess with individual rights -- those pesky things that get in the way of running a tight ship.

So ---700 billion to save some companies and our country from financial disaster....but we whine and complain about fiscal responsibility blah blah blah, when someone wants a vote about a bill for oooh, say health coverage (because really we want people with schizophrenia on the streets without meds...I mean really if they wanted the voices to stop, then they could really get them to stop if they just try hard enough); Social services for the elderly and Oh My Gosh...do we really want to be soooo irresponsible to actually give an extra dime to the schools?

Again....I don't claim to understand...I pay my bills, on time, I have some debt (hey I'm in school, the kids have to go to daycare and I'm not working), My husband and I paid HUGE amounts of taxes this year (don't freakin' get me started...we paid taxes on stock that we could not cash in at a value of 20 a share and now they're worth 5 a share and so even if we could cash them in, why bother!) We paid 20% down on our house and didn't get more then we could afford...even when we were told we could afford 200k more (who does that?). We've been putting money in our 401k's since our very first paycheck at our very first jobs out of college.....we have college funds for the kiddos. We give to our church and charities (I know, I know what are we to do with the bleeding hearts like me). I'm liberal (not a dirty word by the way) and because of that I'm fiscally irresponsible?

Again...I guess that's just me being stupid.

Consequences? What are they?
3rd grade teachers who are sued because little joey can't read coming out of high school?

Schools lose money when their test scores are low? Isn't that punishing the victim?

Nurses lose their jobs and pensions and who knows what else when they give a wrong dose of a wrong medicine after taking care of 5 critically ill people, with no break, and a on double 12's (because we're not really in a health care crisis and we have plenty of nurses, doctors, hospital beds to go around -- hope ya'll are healthy).

If you don't pay your mortgage you lose your house.

If you don't pay your bills you have sucky credit.

BUT if you're a CEO and take millions of dollars in bonuses from 2003-2007 even though technically you really aren't making a profit and it's all about to go poof...nothing happens.

hmmmmm

Sucks to be the average joe (or josephina).

I'm not bitter or anything, I just DON'T UNDERSTAND.

Here's an idea, stop calling me names or people like me names, and let's all work together and make this country a better place!

I so wish (and I know my conservative brethren, if they haven't already stopped reading by now, are going to gasp) McCain would have picked Lieberman for his running mate. I mean that's seriously putting your money where your mouth is (and not in the pockets of bankrupting execs) when you talk about bi-partisan politics. I could so see how that would bring this country together, we could heal and we could make solid decisions about our economy, the war (ok, I'm not so liberal here -- but that's a different blog entry), about health care etc....

If we just worked together, prayed (in whatever religion you choose) for guidance, got our big fat egos out of our big fat hmmm, well you know -- I think we could make this work...

But, that's that pesky, pie in the sky, hopeful, non-pragmatic liberal in me talking....

Ooooh, sorry honey (yeah, yeah, hubby and I are on opposite sides of the fence, November every four years is a fun month in our house -- and before he gets credit for the financial decisions above...that's my territory...yup, the liberal).

oh you all know you still love me.
And I love you too!
We're all in this together.

WW--I can't believe my baby's SIX

From this....sweet, darling precious bundle to.....
"THAT'S RIGHT WORLD, I'M SIX, I'M WILD AND IN TEN YEARS YOU'LL HAVE TO LOCK UP YOUR DAUGHTERS...WOO HOO"

Answers

ok, so if you want to know what we Parkview moms were doing with that box check out http://sittinginsilence.blogspot.com/

so excited that she finally got her welcome to the neighborhood package...yes, she's across the ocean but we Parkview bloggers have all adopted her and are slowly trying to convince her to move state-side!

I'm now back in Denver, grandad's funeral was so nice, more importantly it was so nice to reconnect with cousins and my aunt and uncle. There were bitter sweet moments --my grandad is buried next to my grandmother and my father, my great-grandmother, great aunt and another cousin are all in close proximity. It was such a reminder of what our family has lost. I hugged my kiddos a LOT that day.

Now I'm studying for a test coming up this weekend. Wish me luck -- and, yes, I will slowly catch up with all of you!

Thank you for your well-wishes, thoughts and prayers.