Sewing fools

Cole made an apron in the sewing portion of his CTE class at school. It turned out very well, and he loves the Cowboys fabric that he used. Morgan got a sewing machine from Grandma Donna for Christmas. She is figuring out how to use it and to have patience with her projects.

They are growing up

We spent this weekend rearranging the whole house... or that's what it felt like! Rich and I got a new mattress and Cole got our old one. Morgan got his old bunk bed and we turned it into a loft bed for her. Both the kids were so excited, Cole said, "it's the best night's sleep I've ever had". Morgan has spent quite a bit of time at her vanity, behind the curtain, or reading in her new bed. They are both very pleased with their new rooms.

The rooms turned out well, but are also reminders that the kids are getting older.
Why do they have to grow up so fast?

On work...

I have been a registered nurse for over 15 years. This career has given me amazing opportunities to grow, not only in my profession, but as a compassionate, caring individual. I have learned and will continue to learn more than I ever thought I would, not only about medicine, but about people. Being a nurse is incredibly rewarding.

When I became a nurse, I had no children and thought I probably wanted to take on the world and become a nurse manager one day. My perspective has changed throughout the years, and, though I once worked full time, I now work about 6 days a month, which allows me to take care of my family and still work in this amazing field. Being a specialty nurse, placing PICCs, gives me a unique perspective of the hospital, in that I get to visit every unit from the ICU's, to the Burn Unit, and from the medical floors on up to the Hunstman Cancer Hospital.

The past few weeks have been some of the most trying in my career. It has made me consider every aspect of what makes me who I am when I walk into a patient's room, when I talk to a young burn patient's family, and when I communicate with physicians and my peers. Ultimately, it has made me realize how passionate I am about what I do.

"When I think about all the patients and their loved ones that I have worked with over the years, I know most of them don't remember me nor I them. But I do know that
I gave a little piece of myself to each of them and they to me and
those threads make up the beautiful tapestry in my mind
that is my career in nursing."
~Donna Wilk Cardillo, A Daybook for Beginning Nurses

November 2, 1941- January 13, 2002

It's hard to imagine that 9 years have gone by since Dad's passing. I can't count the times that he crosses my mind in a day and during special moments I wish he could be here to share.
Thank you for watching over us. I miss you.

Happy 2011!

Click on either of these collages to view them in a larger size...

I didn't have to work on Saturday, New Year's Day, so we decided to have a New Year's Eve celebration at our home. We had a fun evening with friends and their children, some amazing food, fun cocktails, singing, visiting, and ringing in the New Year!

On New Year's Day, Cal and Jennifer arrived for a visit. It was great to see both of them and we had a blast with Grandpa Calvin having Nerf gun wars!

May 2011 bring much joy and many blessings to you and yours...

Christmas 2010

We love decorating the tree each year...so fun to remember
each ornament and the memories attached to it.

The kids had a blast together during the break from school.

Morgan's deluxe sewing kit!

Still loving the Star Wars Legos!

Christmas break was a great time and over too quickly this year. The kids had fun playing with each other, having numerous Nerf gun wars with Rich and I, figuring out their new stuff from Christmas, hanging out with friends, and sleeping in a little.

On Christmas Eve, we stopped by our neighbors', Jeff & Ella, for a cocktail and some of his yummy salsa before heading to the Brown's home for our traditional Christmas Eve feast of clam chowder and many other delicious treats before heading to church for 11PM service.

The kids opened most of the family gifts on Christmas Eve, but were eager to get up on Christmas morning to see if Santa found our house. Lucky for them, it was not a white Christmas so Santa made it safely. Marcia, David, and Jenny came for brunch later in the morning. We had fun conversation and a great meal, complete with mimosas. The day was complete with great phone calls from friends and family and a nap in the afternoon.

The snow came in the middle of the week after Christmas. We got over a foot of snow, so it made for a beautiful scene outside our windows and fun sledding on the hills.