I am back...

So over summer, to save some dough, we decided to ex the internet being that it is not a necessity. Although I am sure some of you all can argue against that statement. We have it back on now that i am back in school and need this thing for classes and such. Pretty funny when 90% of my time has been on other things and only a few minutes for school.
I have started school and staying true to their motto, it has been one heck of a week. I really don't feel like a week has already passed. I honestly can't remember much. I know I was there, I know I failed a skill (big surprise) and that I was taught acid-base balances. I know that I was in a classroom for 6 hours as we were 'taught' how to use kaiser's computer system. Taught is not the word I would describe the horrible video we sat and watched with no breaks and listened to this dreadfully boring guy talk about what button to push. EWWWW.
Regardless of all the above, I still have a hard time remembering everything. Oh and don't forget that I am the treasurer for the class and we are supposed to start getting things ordered for our graduation. I am putting myself on the Monthly countdown until 2 months prior to graduating. Right now, I am at 9 months.
Moving on... kids are wonderfully crazy! They know what buttons to push to drive their mama to the edge. Yesterday was one of those days. I had to run and do a million errands since I haven't been around to do them. We had to ship things off, go school supply shopping (which took the majority of the day) and shoe shopping for school. And animal stuff shopping. Talk about quite the day. The kids are ready tho, that is the best part. They are getting more and more excited that it is close. They have said over and over that they can't wait. I am so happy that my little ones are wanting to go to school.
Over summer Jordan learned to ride his bike without training wheels. He is keeping up with sister already. And I think that this Christmas Santa will have to bring some new bikes because they are already growing out of them.
Dillon is being just my little one. He is starting to talk more and more now that brother and sister don't do it for him anymore. Last night Dillon crawled into bed and fell asleep with me, Brent came home late. This morning as Brent was getting ready to leave, he went to move Dillon so that I would have more room and little sweet Dillon snarled at Brent. We both started to laugh and Dillon, without opening his eyes, says, 'shhh.' Which naturally made us laugh harder. And that is my little Dil.
Brent is doing well. He has gone back to the day shift, and I am so grateful. Night shift really does test the marriage, that is for sure. He is coming up on 1 yr as a deputy in just a couple weeks. It is so crazy how fast time flies. Now we are just waiting for stuff to figure itself out for us to know what we are doing. All plans are tentative. Flexibility is one of the words that we have learned in the nursing program that has spilled over in real life.
Until next time...

It has been a long time since I was on here last.

I can't believe how time flies when there is so much to do. Father's day came and went, sorry Brent, without much fuss. I think this year we just pretended that it didn't exist given the recent situation.
Rebecca is out of school for the summer and I am so torn on having her home. I know that sounds horrible but when the boys are used to being the ones home all the time and then here comes sister it ends up being quite the dilemma. I love having her home but I hate the fights. Little Miss Sunshine Rebecca got straight A's on her report card and was rewarded with a free shake to Applebee's. She is such the smarty-pants. And we are so proud of her.
Jordan asks me everyday if he gets to go to school today. Trying to explain months to a 5 year old is not the easiest task. We have the kids signed up for the bus next year which will help out SO much. Getting kids to the school and fighting all the crazy parents is the hardest part of school.
Last week I went down to my girlfriend's house in L.A. to help with her sister's wedding. It was so much fun but her sister had almost nothing done! Talk about stress. It was incredible. I was referred to as the wedding planner. It was absolutely hilarious to have everyone asking me what they needed to do instead of the Bride and Maid-of-Honor. Even the Venue and all the employees were asking me what needed to be done. It was a great experience none the less. I know that if I can pull off a successful wedding in one week then I might be on to something. Who knows, if Nursing doesn't work out, or I want extra dough, maybe I will just go into wedding planning.
Now I must finish the Family Reunion planning... why limit myself to weddings? Event planner?

Ok so I have said this before, I know...

I am reiterating what I have been saying for years... I am a Nor Cal person. I love northern cali with a passion. It is almost sickening. The people, the area, the beauty, and the calm. Man I can not wait to move!!! Only one more year. I can not wait!!!!!!
I had such a wonderful time in Bishop, which is more central cal, but it has the feel of nor cal. So I will take it. The colors are so rich and vibrant. You can't find that beauty here, the sun washes all the colors out! Ugh. So until then I will continue the house list (that is now up in the 30's) that are our idea of the perfect home. There are 4 bd 3 ba houses on quarter acre in neighborhoods one could only DREAM of finding in so cal for under 250k! Did you know that grass is a weed up there? Who knew? Hee hee. Ok, so there is my, "So Cal Sucks" rant for the evening. God Bless us with the opportunity to move with speed.
Amen!

Oh puppies.

Friday night I was out late with the kids and was pretty excited by the idea that they might actually sleep in. Amazing plan! We get home, I get ALL 3 kids to sleep at the same time. I let Duke out for about 30 minutes to play, pee, eat, etc. I put him back in his crate for bed, thinking to myself, OK this is going to work. No, he starts yelping at 6AM to be let out. So I let him out, feed him, let him play for a bit, and back to the crate he goes. He still yelped a little for about 5 minutes but quieted down. I was so excited that this morning might actually pan out... Oh little did I know. Just as soon as I fall asleep, there is Duke yelping again. I try to ignore it but it is that pathetic loud yelp, like someone is murdering the poor dog that finally gets me out of bed. I didn't want him to wake up the kids. I let him out of the crate to play as he pleases. Of course that means he is grabbing my pj's with his teeth and tugging on me because he doesn't want me to lie on the couch, he wants me to play with him. I hunt down his many chew toys to see if that helps, which it does for about 10 minutes. Then he was back at me trying to chew my leg off! I finally gave in and played with the little booger at 7AM because he was lonely. Here I thought baby days were over... Silly me.

Newest Family Member

Sometimes in life we are surprised with events that just shake our foundation. It is in these moments that I believe God will bless us with ways of coping. To be able to handle the trials and tribulations He gives, he also gives us the tools and mechanisms to continue to live, to thrive, and to enjoy life. He shows us His love.
Writing about this is very hard... But writing to me has always proved therapeutic... so who knows?
My father passing has been, for lack of better words, the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with. (DUH) I can honestly say that I have moved passed the initial shock. I can also honestly admit that I am at peace with what has happened. I know that my father is in Heaven and I know that he is loving it. That he is with God, at His feet.
Now with all that said, I can not say that it has been easy. There have been countless bouts of crying, some unfortunately in class. There have been moments that I just could not sleep, or moments that I did not want to get out of bed. But I do. I have moments where I feel so very cheated out of time with my dad. I also feel very cheated for the time my kids spent with their papa. At the same time I am so grateful that God gave us the moments He did. My kids and I were able to visit with my dad the weekend before he passed. How lucky are we?
I love my daddy, I always will. And I will continue on to show that he raised a young woman whom he will be always proud of.
Now the fun part- My dad and sister had white German Shepherds that they breeding. Puppies were born just 8 wks ago and my dad had come up to pick out his puppy. That was two days before his death. Debbie, my step-mom, could not take the puppy alone, and care for it. Kellie, naturally, could not sell the puppy, and so he was offered to Brent and I. We waited a week to decide (This is a BIG dog we are talking about) and after a week we decided to take him. My dad had named him 'Duke'. And he is so adorable. He has one of the best personalities ever. And all the dogs get along, AMAZING. So here he is... our little addition (who will be a BIG addition in just a few months).

I have to say that I LOVE summer...

I have been so busy that I haven't had a chance to even say 'Hi' to most people in my life... including my hubby. I was able to fly up to Sacramento to be there for my best friend, aka my sister, as she was pinned for graduating from nursing school. I flew up on Wednesday afternoon and was back at home Thursday evening. I loved it, it was so nice hanging out with the fam. I know that I should say my favorite part was watching Bec get her pin, my honest fav was sitting on the back patio listening to Etta James, with a cool breeze coming in and a fire in the pit. Doing this with my girls. Alyse was ok'd by her MD to come on up and visit too, so that made it so much better. While sitting in the airplane trying not to cry, I realized my summer starts soon and I am going to LOVE it.
I haveso many trips and events in mind, I am going to catch up with old friends, keep up with the new ones, and just have a grand ol time with my family. Life is good, and it is only going to get better during summer.
Cangrats Bec, I am so putting it up to my class to have someone pin us. And that is you babe. Love you, so proud of you.

Christmas came a little early this year.

I got my dream car early. Love my hubby and how he spoils me. :)