an all-star at all-state

For the second  year in a row, Sean was invited to perform at the All State Band performance.  Last year it was held in Gilbert.  We drove nearly 2 hours for a 20 minute performance and came home.  This year, the school was right up the street.  I literally could have walked there. 

If I was into that sort of thing.

Sean spent the day there making friends and learning under some awesome musical personnel.  I think he had a great time, and the music was very entertaining!

   At one point, the director asked all those with straight A's to stand.  He was one of the few.

Then they added the Honor Roll students--all to show that these band kiddos are academics and future leaders.  :)

Then it was on to the performance!

Copyright laws prohibited videotaping, but with my friend Christine's awesome long-distance lens I was able to get superb close-up shots.  :)

Well done, Sean!

our 4th year of pinewood derbys. . . only 3 more to go

That's what happens when you have three sons. . . and 3 scouts. 

   Cameron's is the black "Shark".

   

Why my kid?

He placed 6th out of 20-something. 

sound of a million dreams

I don't know if it's physically possible to fall in love with a song,

but I'm as close as it comes with this one.

A song with beautiful piano music

about a song with beautiful piano music...

yep, I'm in love.

spring break is on!

I really didn't want to post this until I had some pictures to add, but there hasn't been a lot of photo-worthy moments and I've been too lazy to grab the camera when there have been!

Nothing too exciting to report...got to see 4 more babies born this week and took care of several of them in the nursery. Gave shots, took vitals, and did assessments. Just lovin' it!

Spring Break is officially on, Cameron is going to Grandma and Grandpa's for the week, and we pretty much have nothing else going on. (Other than careplan, a paper, and studying for next test for me!) Maybe a short turnaround camping trip at Estrella Mountain Regional Park? I think it would be fun to take Tallie for the first time. Anyone want to join us?

Ethan broke out in unexplained hives again--yes, third time in four years. We then took him to get some official allergy testing done. Gotta figure out what's going on!

Cameron has his Pinewood Derby today and Sean is performing at the All State Band performance. Last year, it was held in Gilbert; this year, it's right up the street at the nearest high school. Score!

I am slightly sunburned today, and couldn't be happier. It means Mr. Sun is coming out! I studied outside on my trampoline yesterday for two hours whilst in my bikini. (lol, there's a visual for ya!) It was heavenly.

There's an 8 year old girl that lives catty-corner behind us who I guess is in love with Ethan. She keeps yelling over the wall for him. It's kinda funny.

Looking forward to the "Hunger Games" midnight premiere the night of March 22nd here in town. If you want in on the group, let me know and I'll email you the information. Our group pays ahead ($14) and gets a numbered ticket, so not only do you NOT have to stand in line all day, but you have a guaranteed spot and get to go in 2 hours early for fun and games and giveaways. The gal organizing it has collected tons of fun donations (some for every person in attendance) and some of the prizes are amazing! (a Kindle Fire!) She has to finalize our theater this week, so email me quick if you're interested.

Sean's play "Beauty and the Beast" is at his school, April 26 and 27th, 6:30pm. Cost is $2 for ages 2 and up. I know he's love some fans in the audience!

There's more, but I tire just thinking about it. All in all, we're healthy, happy, busy, and looking forward to a lovely Spring Break.

What are your plans?

a little tallie love

We are having so much fun with our new puppy!

She definitely likes to chew--and though she hasn't destroyed anything precious yet, watch your fingers and shoelaces when you're around!

She barks and wants attention as soon as she sees we're up and around, so unfortunately she's a little loud in the mornings.  Sorry neighbors, we're working on that!

All in all, we love her to pieces!

Here's her new trick.

better after

My kitchen is featured on Better After today. :)

Fun!

Thanks, Lindsey!

book butterfly reviews -- february

"The Gathering" (Darkness Rising #1) by Kelley Armstrong

This book is the start of the Darkness Rising series that is a follow-up to the Darkest Powers series by the same author. I was kinda blase about the first series...liked the first book, the second was rough, liked the third...so I was hesitant to start this new series. It's about new characters with similar paranormal traits, living in a community run by the same people who ran Lyle House in Darkest Powers.

I really liked this new addition to the story; I think I liked it better than the first series. The characters are fresh, different, and exciting. It's not as scary as the first series, but it's still lots of fun to read. It even has a little romance and mystery thrown in. The story mostly follows Maya who lives in a small island off the coast of Canada, who has always had a way with healing and calming animals. She encounters a native american woman who claims Maya is a "Skin Walker". Later, she finds out just what this means.

As I was nearing the end, I went to my trusty library website to request the next book, only to find out it doesn't come out until April. Curses!

 

"Jacob T. Marley" by R. William Bennett

Sweet book; I really enjoyed this perspective on Scrooge's journey from the eyes of Marley's ghost. The additional background on the characters and situation really add much to this already touching story.

 

 

 

"Midnight in Austenland" by Shannon Hale

This sequel was a lot of fun...all the quaintness, humor, and romance of Austenland with a touch of Northanger Abbey mystery thrown in. I really enjoy Shannon Hale's books written for adults. For some reason, I'm in the minority as far as my opinions on her YA lit, but her grown-up stories are right up my alley.

 

 

Can you believe it?  all 4-star ratings this month.  It's been a while since I enjoyed the books I've read so much. 

I don't see my trend picking up any time soon--a careplan, test to study for, and OB assignment due within the next week or so, what else is new?--but I sure treasure the time I am able to take to escape into books, and the fact that I've had some good ones recently just adds a cherry on top.  :)

What are you reading?

march birthdays already!

And happy birthday to my brother-in-law today...

who does get to celebrate his Real birthday every year,

but it seemed mean not to mention him.

:)

leap year birthday wishes

Happy Real birthday to my sister-in-law, who only gets to celebrate on her actual birthday once every four years!

We can't wait to meet your new baby!

Have a great day and we hope to see you soon.

best. day. ever!

Had a fantastic first day at my OB Clinicals...got to participate in and help with two births. Simply amazing! I truly loved it. Can't wait to go back!

What an incredible thing to help those babies come into the world and watch them take their first breaths. Hard to believe that thousands of mommas do it every day!

This is what I've been looking forward to since the day I decided to go back to school to become a nurse. This is what I've been most excited (and thus most nervous!) about.

This has been a good day.

the best 5 minutes 12 seconds I've spent all day

If you didn't care for Nirvana or Europe, this won't interest you. I was a fan of both (at least both of these songs) so I thought this was a pretty rockin' mashup.

And it was a much-appreciated diversion from the 150 pages of text book goal I set for myself today.

computer is fixed!

Thank you so much to Megan; her hubby fixed it for me.

Power source. *sniff* Ya caused me much stress, my friend.

need computer help!

I really don't need this frustration right now, but I'm having computer issues.

Techie friends, I need some support!! Last night, my computer was turned to hibernate mode.

A couple of hours later, we couldn't get it to unhybernate--the orange light was blinking, literally nothing would change it. Not a hard power-off, not a deplugging, nothing.

This morning, there is no light and no power and NOTHING going on. Moved the computer to another outlet, no activity at all.

Anyone have any ideas? I have a completed paper on there that is due Tuesday!

oh the joys of nursing school

Burying myself under a rock for the next 6 days.

Fo' Shizzle.

'Cept when I come out for "Wicked" tomorrow night.

Other than that?

Buried. Absolutely and completely buried.

spirit week at the boys' school

The rumor was the new Principal didn't like the muss and fuss of dressing up for Spirit Week, so last Fall it was gone. 

It was back for the Spring though, and I'm glad because the boys really got into it. 

Thursday was my favorite:  Smarty Pants (or NERD) Day.  :) 

I was laughing so hard.

how we're spending our happy valentinesaversary

:)

We decorated cards for Daddy.

Then Dan left me a few cute things to find around the house when I woke up.

 

A Car with the note:  Where U Go I always want to Be

A Light bulb with the note:  U are always on my mind.  :)

A Heart.

Cute!

And then he got me the cute cute red Salt & Pepper shakers I've been wanting to match my kitchen.  Yay!  I'm pretty easy to please!

 

I got him a new tie tack--the one he'd been using since his mission circa 1994 finally broke.

 

And a couple of the books he's been diggin' on.

And today, we have Date Day/Night to celebrate both!  We're going to the temple, gonna have our tradition of Chipotle afterwards, then tonight the movie "One For the Money" and dinner at Las Fuentas.  Gooood stuff.  :) 

I love date nights!