Sayonara

Today is a mighty fine day... Steve is getting rid of his 5 year old, raggedy pants, full of rips and stains from who knows where. He got a new pair of them from his beloved this Christmas. So he parted with the old and there may have been a tear shed on his part.

I really got tired of seeing his complete left knee cap and left butt cheek fully exposed in these.

If you stood close enough to him standing you could see where his boxers ended (yes the skin), and nope... he didn't really care.

See ya!!

Benny's Christmas Program

Vocally challenged like his Mom? I think not!! My Benny baby sang his Christmas songs with all of his friends in his preschool class with style and grace this year.

Here is my handsome man, who will wear a necktie for any occasion if given the chance to. He has quite the tie collection at age 4. We were shopping for Dad's Christmas present the other day when we were walking through the men's section. I saw the whole selection of ties and said "Benny, look!" He looked back and stood there just in awe of the hundreds of ties that were in front of him. It was like he was planning his adulthood of ties, right then and there. He even napped in a tie the other day.

Good job Benny!! MWA!

Happy Birthday Sergeant Stink!

6 years ago today, at 12:23pm I had my first baby. My Sergeant Stink was born. I can now say it was one of the most life changing experiences I have had. Like Johnson and Johnson says, "having a baby changes everything." It truly does. Even though he isn't quite a baby anymore, he will always be in my heart. He is now getting sick of hearing all my annoying stories from the womb. They probably sound like tales from the crypt to him. I am now starting to embrace sports a little thanks to him and Benny, and realize that I don't have to let out that motherly gasp just because he is jumping off of something entirely high or doing tricks on the monkey bars or seeing how much "air" he gets when bicycling off his ramp... because 95% of the time he ends up ok, and I'd look like a gasping freak if I did that every time. Besides he told me the other day, " I'm ok mom, see, no blood". Quick and simple that boy is. No blood, no hurt. We celebrated his 6th birthday at a roller rink. It was so much fun!!



They all reminded me of the scene in Bambi where the deer and animals try to walk on ice. Their little legs would just go, kerplunk. Then they would get back up and do it again.



Sergeant Stink got to say his name and how old he was turning on the DJ's mic. He thought he was pretty cool. They asked him what his favorite song was so they could play it and he said, "who led da dush oud" in his crazy voice that he does with all his friends, interpreted as "who let the dogs out" and to top it all off he let out a whoof-whoof-whoof, whoof, whoof afterwards.



Here he is in the "green machine". He is not claustrophobic thank God, but I think we would have found out at this point. They shut him in this box with tons of tickets and turn the air on the set the tickets off flying. He has to try and catch as many as he can, and he got a whole 415 tickets worth... whoo hoo babes! Happy birthday Stink, Mama loves ya!! :)

A Column of Thanks

As most of you know, I had my Pinning Ceremony on Monday, honoring completion of the Nursing Program. It was beautiful.

I am so proud of myself for completing this goal in life. Thank you Lord for being my rock and strength as I fulfilled Your calling for me in life. I look forward to the many experiences filled with: joy, sorrow, life, death, smiles, cries, and the growth that this profession brings. I hope to be the best Nurse I can be.

Thanks to my great friend Dawn. We have gone through everything together from day 1 of Nursing School. I not only appreciate her genuine self, but have gained a lifelong friendship.

Thank you Amy, for understanding that my life has been busy these past two years. 7 years of friendship we have, and many more to come.

Thank you Heidi, for everything you have done. From friend to babysitter in need... you were there. It is greatly appreciated.

Thank you wild, crazy, fun, loving, supportive neighbor girlfriends of mine. I love you all, and you all hold a special place in my heart. I am so lucky to have wonderful people so close to me. Thanks for being such great support!!

Thank you Dad and Shari for taking care of me growing up and for understanding that my life was crazy busy these past two years. I love you two.

Thank you Mom, for being the Nurse Role Model in my life. It is you who I looked at and decided to be a Nurse. I love you.

Thank you Grandpa and Grandma. You have supported, loved, and guided me all through childhood and continue all that in my adult years. My best memories of childhood are captured in my heart with you two. Thanks for being the best Grandparents. I love you.

Thank you Sweet P. for being the greatest support I could have ever asked for. You are an amazing man, and I love you. Thank you for loving me and supporting me, even though it was challenging at times.

Thank you, baby boys. I couldn't ask for better sons. It is you who inspire me. Mommy is back and I can't wait to spend all the time in the world with you now that I can... because that is what you deserve. I love my babies!

Calepitar Update...

Ryan the "calepitar" is no longer what he was. He has turned into... get ready... are you ready... a moth!!! Yes, all that stinkin' anticipation about a beautiful butterfly and we got a neutral colored moth. The boys didn't seem to mind though, they thought it was the coolest thing.

It was really a neat process to witness, right on our kitchen counter, cross contamination and all (I've got clorox wipes). I was so excited plus disgusted when I looked at it. It was out, but there was this splattered stuff all on the side of the jar. Poop? I dunno. It was gross though.

We decided to take him out front and set him free from his jar of captivity. You can still see his brown cocoon shell in the jar.

Then here is cowardly Ryan in the rocks. He wanted nothing to do with flying. He just decided to crawl under a rock. Poor guy, I think he was intimidated by all this flying stuff, and a little cold. Then I started thinking. He is a total different bug now, how does he know what to do? Maybe he needed to scope out the mothage before he took flight. We checked on him throughout the day, and still he was, under that rock. I checked the other day however and he was gone. Enjoy your new life Ryan...

Merry Blissmas

We were full of cheer today, yes we were. It was in the 50's n' feeling like winter for once. Today was a great day because we were picking out our Christmas Tree, but the best part was that we were all together. So there we were choosing the tree, this one seemed just right and we saw it right away. Perfectly proportioned, full, and standing tall... all by it's lonesome, waiting for us to take it home and dress it with our love. The tree came all the way from Oregon. Never been there... but glad to have a piece of it at our place. There is nothing like the crisp Christmas tree smell throughout the home during the holidays, love it!! So that's when I started feelin' it... the holly jolly spirit. The kind that makes you wanna dance and be completely silly, so that's what I did. And it was contagious.

So while Dad was unloading and lugging in our Oregon Beauty I cranked up the Christmas music and started dancing like I was in high school again. Only with less grace and some not so pointy toes. These two handsome men decided to join me...

So we danced...

And twirled...

And dipped...

Here we are with our unfinished Douglas Fir, right on my dance floor, how dare you.

So here we all are (even my sweet Pursie) with our 2008 Christmas tree, including all of our personal touches.

I love you guys!!

They made their lists...

Mom checked it twice... and yes, they were both some naughty and some nice this year. I thought this was too cute not to post. The boys didn't really get too crazy and ask for tons of things from Santa this year. The boys don't play a lot of video games, so this was a little funny to me. Steve and I are trying to make it simple, so that the true meaning of Christmas is remembered and not blurred with all the "stuff".

Sergeant Stink
XBox 360
Bakugan feild
Wii
Webkinz
Hulk Hands
Nintendo DS
Air Hawks
and we both couldn't make out what the last one was...

Benny
XBox 360
2 Pirate Ships
Scooter
Monster Truck
Motorcycle Ben Ten
Dad
Big Car***

***K, so I have to add a special note about the "Big Car" on Benny's wish list. Every time we go to the store he looks this thing up and down, opens the hood and the whole bit like he is seriously shopping for a new car. It's the red convertible mustang mini car for kids... and yeah like $300. I am trying to prevent as much heartache as I can before Christmas. We had the talk of "Santa doesn't bring you everything on your list" talk. Hopefully my sweet Benny will understand... Merry Christmas!!! :)

Family Photos 2008