Nice people make a huge difference!

Today, Jimmy and I had to deal with the I.R.S which usually is a PAINFUL process - especially when it is due to nonsense! ( I could have a whole other blog related to "nonsense", but completely not worth my time!)... today however, I was surprised beyond words when the man with whom we spoke to was the most pleasant, the most helpful, and the most understanding IRS agent I have encountered EVER!!!  What a difference it makes to deal with people who are all of these three things.  When we were done conversing with him, I knew my day was going to be a great one!  So, thanks Mister I.R.S. guy... you transformed what could have been a crappy situation turned crappy day into so much more!  After this I trekked my butt to the gym for a three mile run with my new running shoes, and had a smile on my face the whole time.  Nice people make a huge difference!!

All good things must come to an end...

 Must all good things really come to an end?  Well, yes... and no.  I have thoroughly enjoyed my month and a half break from school - yes, thoroughly.  Of course the Christmas holiday took up a major part of my break but since it is my favorite time of the year, it was worth it.  Morning coffee with my mom was another great thing about Christmas and my break.  She was here for close to two weeks, and having her around to not only bond with but also argue with is something I miss the second she leaves.   Many of my days during the past month were spent creating awesome memories with my family and friends- winter wonderland at Navy Pier, dinner at Hamada with Scott & Brenda,  the Walnut Room,  Santa visiting the Reno's house, the Dinosaur exhibit with Kara and the kids, trips to the library,  awesome Church services at both Parkview and St. Jude,  ice skating, sledding, and lots of parties with friends and family! I could go on and on about all of the fun things that we did, but my point is - the time has come where I not only have to go back to school, but now I have also added my first nursing job to my schedule as well!  This comes with mixed reviews from myself as I have been very fortunate to not have to work in the past.  Oh yes, I also need to mention how I have also decided to add on more minor thing to my plate - a marathon.  Why not, right???  I seem to thrive when my plate is extra full, and I have always wanted to do a full marathon so I have just started training to run my first marathon this May!  So here is my reasoning for my answer to my initial question... although I no longer have all the freedom in the world to soak up each day doing whatever me and the kids want, there are new and exciting things on the horizon in this next leg of my journey and I couldn't be more excited for them to begin!  We will take all of the fun memories we have made in the past month and not only create new ones, but also use them as inspiration for what the future holds!

The beautiful view from our table at the Walnut Room

Ashton made the "good list"!!

Me & Ashton at the Reno's Christmas with Santa party

Navy Pier

Rhyse admiring one of her dolls on Christmas morning

Snow Day

Hard to believe that yesterday I was outside with just a sweater on playing cars in the dirt with Ashton, and now today it is snowing like crazy!!  The magical looks on the kids faces when they stepped outside and saw all the snow coming down this morning is so amazing to me.  As adults, we tend to look at snow as simple as a pain in the butt to drive in,  but the kids.... they see it as so much more - a whole new playground for them to create and explore in!  I try as much as I can to "play" with the kids and join them in their magical thinking, but I have to admit there are times when the convenience of all of the gadgets of today's world get to me, and to the kids.  With televisions, computers, ipads, and iphones always within less than an arms reach it is simple to see why this often becomes difficult.  I have quite a few boundaries in our house when it comes to the kids and all of these "gadgets"... I rarely let them watch television, and if they do it must be age appropriate, and for a very limited time, they do not play video games nor do I ever plan on having any type of video game system in our house -- at least not for a VERY long time, they do not have DS's or whatever those handheld things that turn children into social isolates are called, and the  list goes on and on.  In all honesty many of my friends children have all of the above things in their homes and for their children, and that is their choice - it works for them.  For myself, I want my children to be as creative and magical as they can be all on their own.  All this being said, I must say that I am at fault as well - point: I am sitting here on my laptop while Ashton sits beside me and does a puzzle.  We also have an ipad that I do let the kids play from time to time, however it has to be educational games for the most part.  (I know, what a prude I am!).  I also have an iphone at my side at all times, and several times an hour check my email and whatnot... I guess my point is - how am I to teach my children to not be attached to these gadgets, if I myself am partially at fault?  So... here it is - twelve days late, but it is my new years resolution 2012- - - I am going to be less confined to a cell phone, laptop, telephone, or any other said "gadget" in the new year in an attempt to join my children in their magical kingdom, and maybe even perhaps discover one of my own!

Feeling the love!

 A few days ago I found out that I passed my LPN boards (phew!).... it has been a long, hard journey to this point but wow does it feel great! 
When I started back at school, I really had no idea what to expect - I knew that it would mean sacrifices for my family, I knew that it would mean a LOT of hard work, and I knew that in the end it would open up many new opportunities for my life.  What I did not realize is that I would feel so much love and support from friends and family throughout this journey - it has been amazing!!!
A few days before Christmas, I received a letter from the Nursing Department inviting me to join the Nursing Honors Society (can't remember what it is called - phi theta something - or maybe delta kappa something...haha).  It felt great to be recognized for all of my heard work but what feels way better is the support from all of my family and friends that I have received recently, and along the way.
 Since passing my boards, I have received so many texts, facebook messages, phone calls etc. from so many people congratulating me.  Little pats on the back like this only encourage me to continue knowing that I have such a strong support network.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart - I am truly blessed to have the most amazing friends and family a girl could ask for.

My loves...

As I reflect back on 2011, many of my most cherished moments are of course... with my children.  Rhyse turned one in the blink of an eye.  It was almost surreal when the day came - I could not believe my baby girl was one!  It seemed like just yesterday I brought her home from the hospital, and before I knew it  she was walking, talking (saying "no" like she invented the word), getting into EVERYTHING, but most of all melting my heart with daily smiles, hugs, and giggles.  Ashton also had many milestones in 2011 - started riding a two wheel bike, learned to write his name, swimming lessons, and started hockey!  He also started pre-school - at first I was not going to put him in pre-school because I felt that he did not need to start until he turned four.  In September,  I began to notice that he was getting "bored" with our daily routines and perhaps needed some new stimulation in his life.  He started the school year off late, but fit right in.  I went to his first parent teacher interview in November, and of course shed a few tears (anyone who knows me knows that this is not out of the ordinary).  It was so nice to hear his teachers tell me how much of a wonderful child he is to be around, and how loving he is.  They were also very impressed with his knowledge level, and said "it is very apparent that you work alot with him on things at home"... not saying he is a genius or anything of the source, but moments like these not only bring tears to my eyes, but also reassures me that I might just be doing a thing or two right:)
Goodbye 2011, you were a wonderful year and I do not have any  bad things to say about you -- we had our ups, we had our downs, but everything turned out perfect in the end.