Swimming Lessons Day 4

Just a few pictures from today....

Spencer practicing his "strokes"

Jumping in the 12ft

There he goes :-)

Morgan jumping off the diving board

Morgan holding on to her goggles for dear life

Memories....CHERISH THEM :-)  Love being able to look back at certain things/moments and SMILE :)

Quote :-)

I know it is random...just had to urge to post a few quotes....ENJOY :-)

Swimming Lessons Day 3

Day three of swimming lessons are over.  The kids practiced everything they had learned so far this week.  After practicing they got to play a game called "Shark".  The kids enjoyed it, but Morgan got kicked in the mouth.  She was fine though...no blood...only a few tears.  Here are a few pictures.

Morgan

Spencer

This was right after Morgan got kicked...and Spencer just happened to be near, but he didn't do it :-)

Spencer...all smiles =)

Morgan & Spencer

After swimming lessons the kids went to Nanny & Pa's for the night.  They hadn't been up there in a week so they were ready to go play.  Spencer was supposed to go froggin with Sharp & Jimmy.  He has never been, so I hope you has a good time.

I had to go to BG for some pre-employment screenings.  I was there almost two hours.  I had to have a physical, drug test, fit test and vision screening.  Everything is slowing coming together and hopefully everything will be done in time.  I have to go back on Friday for some more pre-employment screenings and I am still waiting on my RNA license.

CMT music awards are on...so I am laying in the bed waiting for Sugarland to perform.  It WON'T be long until I get some SUGARLAND therapy....2 months and 5 days till Indy :-)

Swimming Lessons Day 2

Today was day two of swimming lessons.  The kids were all tired and wore out.  They didn't want to roll our of bed this morning...mostly because we didn't get home until 10:30 last night.  Spencer had a ballgame that was supposed to start at 8 pm and it didn't get started until 9.  This was the first game they had lost, but it was good for them to know that they could loose.  They made a few bad plays and it cost them some runs.  It is good for the kids at this age to know that you win some and loose some.  They have to learn they can't win all the time.

I can already see an improvement in the kids this year in only 2 days.  Spencer swam from one side of the pool to the other today.  This is the farthest I have ever seen him swim.  Morgan decided she was going to jump off the diving board today....YAY

Spencer swimming across the pool

Morgan jumping off the diving board

After swimming lessons we went over to a friends house and fellow blogger.  The kids had a BLAST swimming.  We laid out by the pool and relaxed while the kids played and when we would start "cooking" we would get in the water to cool down.  Jessica said I should put some baby oil on to help me tan....so I did.  Needless to say I am a "CRISP" lobster :)  I'm sure it will all go in and be tan by morning, but I right now I am RED!

Spencer doing a cannon ball at Jessica's

Morgan

After swimming most of the day we came home and ALL took a nap.  It felt nice to lay down and take a nap.  I knew the kids were exhausted and so was I.  After napping it was time to head back to the ballpark.  Spencer had another game tonight and his team pictures.  They won their game tonight and played really good ball.   Only two more games and ball will be over for the year.  :(

Spencer

Spencer running hard....he got an inside the park homerun again tonight =)

Spencer playing first base

Our bedtime routine at house tonight consisted of swimmer's ear drops, neosporin and aloe....yep its definately SUMMER TIME!  Spencer scrapped his knee at the ballgame tonight.  Every year Morgan gets swimmer's ear during the summer from all the water/swimming...we had some drops left from last year and she started complaining so I went ahead and put some drops in her ears.  The aloe we all got....the kids faces got a little red today & I used LOTS of sunscreen...maybe we were just outside a little too long. 

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY COHEN!   His birthday blog from his mom is HERE....you should read it =)

Claussen Pickles

I wanted to blog about these so I wouldn't forget. Kinda like blogger mobile for times like these.

Claussen pickles are the best pickles I have ever ate in my life. I like to put them in our tuna. The kids LOVE them. I just bought this jar today & this is what it looks like now.




EMPTY...between the tuna & the kids they didn't last 5 mins.

Swimming Lessons Day 1 & Randomness

Today was the first day of swimming lessons for the kids.  I am always amazed at how far they have come since the previous year and look forward to see all the new things they will do this year.   This morning I got a little emotional (imagine that).  I have always had to opportunity to go to all the kids swimming lessons/other activities and I am very thankful for having this opportunity.  Next week will be a totally different story.  I start my new job next week and I am very excited, but I will miss a whole week of swimming lessons....this also got me to thinking there will be a lot of things I will miss out on now.  There will be holiday's I have to work, because there are always patients in the hospital.  I think Christmas will be the hardest holiday to miss, because I have always seen the kids open Santa gifts :(  I knew all of this was a possibility when I chose to go back to school to become a nurse, but I know that this is the best thing for the kids & myself at this time.  We will have so many more opportunities now that I will be working.  We will be able to do more things together.  It will be nice not to struggle from week to week and bill to bill.  The kids have so many things they want to do once I start working and we get financial stable.  We have big dreams and hopefully now we can start living them.  A Disney cruise is top on the list....I have heard this for about three years & we will be going next summer or fall.  Spencer is wanting to go to Chicago to watch the Cubs & White Sox play baseball and Morgan is wanting to go the the American Girl Doll Store in Chicago...so this is on our to do list too.  I am excited that we will be able to do these things as a family.  Now back to swimming lessons.  Morgan is in Level 4 this year.  When she first started three years ago she was level 2; Last year she moved up to Level 3 and now this year she is in Level 4.  She still makes me nervous at times.  Today they were down in the 12 ft section of the pool doing strokes across & swimming under water from one side to the other.  She has improved so much and does so well, but when I looked down one time she was treading water in the 12 ft and I got kindof freaked out....I guess it is mother instinct.  She was fine, but I wasn't used to seeing her do that...so it scared me.  Spencer is in Level 3 this year; when he started he was in Level 2.  The first year he wouldn't even put his head under water.  Last year he moved up to Level 3 and he even dived off the diving board on the last day.  He stayed in Level 3 for another year because he still isn't good at swimming long distances, but he is improving.  He got on the diving board today and jumped the first time...a big step from last year.  Last year he would get out on the board everyday and then he would get scared and go back...finally the last day he starting jumping off.  I didn't know if he would try to jump this year or if it would make him nervous, but he got up there and jumped right off.  Here are a few pictures from swimming lessons today.

Morgan, Spencer, Lucas & Logan

Morgan doing her back stroke across the 12 ft section of the pool

Spencer headed to the diving board

off he goes

Morgan is finished...She didn't want to dive today

Morgan watching the boys dive

Spencer all smiles :)

As I said earlier I start working next Monday...with this will bring so many changes...good changes, but changes.  I told the kids that when I graduated and started working I would STOP smoking.  This is a HUGE step for me.  I have smoked for way too long (almost 17 year).  I have tried to quit a few times but was unsuccessful...mostly because I started gaining weight.  When my step-brother Eric passed away in 2006 I quit for three months with the help of Chantix...which gave me terrible nightmares and insomnia. I have tried the nicotine patches before too and they seem to help. I am not sure if I am going to try to us anything to help me quit this time or if I am going cold turkey....we will see

I think I finally have everything for work sent in/paid/scheduled.  I applied for my license, NCLEX, background check on Saturday.  Today I mailed my FBI fingerprint background check in, scheduled my drug screening & physical.  I have to be in BG on Wednesday and Friday for pre-employment screenings.

Another goal I have before I start work is to get my house back in order and bring back my organization skills that somehow got used in nursing school, but not my house.  The kids came home and cleaned their rooms...and were putting things in boxes for the yard sale.  My kids NEVER want to get rid of anything...Morgan is the worst she is my pack rat.  I was impressed to see that they were actually sitting things out a yard sale.  I definitely need to have a yard sale...I haven't had a yard sale in 2 years.  There are enough clothes in my building to open a consignment store...some with tags still on them.  We are hoping to have a yard sale at mom's the first weekend in July to have some extra spending money to take to the beach.  Speaking of the beach...I hope I will be able to get off work to go.  We have been planning this trip for almost two years and I would really hate to miss it.

I have spoke about Cohen in many of my previous blogs.  I have followed his mom's blog for a while now here is a "short" recap of their story.  They found out at 23weeks that Cohen's heart was broken and didn't know if he would survive after birth.  Tomorrow is his 1st birthday, but he will be celebrating it in heaven.  He lived for 12 days and in his first four days of life he had five surgeries.  He was a fighter and he has touched many people's life's.  Cohen is going to be a big brother X 2.  Cohen's mom is 26 weeks pregnant with twins.  Here is a link to the her blog...I would recommend if you have extra time to read this story and follow them.  http://www.inthiswonderfullife.com/  HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY COHEN!!!!

Guess that is it for now...back to cleaning....

Playing catch up

I am going to try to catch up my blog:

June 2

I finally got all my Thank You notes finished for graduation gifts.  Maybe I will get them mailed this week. 

Spencer had a make-up ballgame.  All the boys played excellent.  Spencer hit two in the park home runs :)  After the game Spencer had a friend come over & spend the night.



Spencer's Ballgame-June 2nd Challenge-I am going to try to work on my actions shots more. (no editing today)



June 3

Our Girl Scout troop has passed out medallions, flowers & balloon's to the survivors for the last three years.  It is one of my most favorite things to do with the Girls.  It is a wonderful feeling to see the girls giving back to the community. 

Morgan & Spencer were on a Relay team this year for the first time.  They had a blast at the campsite.  They played baseball, kickball, bounced in the bounce houses, walked/ran laps & painted faces.  We ended up staying until about 3:00 am.  I was glad to be home in my WARM bed :)  Here are a few pictures from Relay.


 



Spencer



The Girl Scout Girls who handed out medallions, balloon's & flowers to the survivors



Morgan & Spencer walking



Morgan dancing....imagine that ;)

Kickball game fixing to start

Morgan running back to 3rd base
(I need to work on my night time shooting also..this is one of my goals with this challenge I am doing)

Spencer playing kickball at 2:30 am

June 3rd photo challenge



June 4

We slept in this morning....we all must have been really tired.  I HAD to wake Spencer up at 11:15 because he was still snoozing ;)  

I submitted my applicant for my KBN (Kentucky Board of Nursing) License, NCLEX (state board test) & my criminal background check all today.  Now all I have left to do is send my FBI fingerprint background check in.  This should be a fun & interesting week trying to get everything ready for next Monday...but it is all starting to come together :)

This afternoon we went to a friend's house to swim.  We had a BLAST.  The kids got water logged.  We grilled out hot dogs & I found my NEW LOVE TODAY....white chocolate chip brownies (where have you been all my life???)  I will be making these at home...they were delicious :-D  The kids were worn out & slept all the way home.  I guess they are still tired from last night....maybe that would explain their mood all day.  They have been grouchy, fighting & arguing all day...hopefully tomorrow will be better :-D  Here are a few pictures from today.

The kids playing under the fountain

Spencer

Morgan

Morgan & Noah
I think he likes her ;)

June 4th photo challenge