Cutting Wood

The kids and I drove to my parent's house in southwest New Mexico to spend Christmas with family. When we come here, it's always a reminder of how cushy our life in the city is.

My dad, brother Justin, Cam and I got to take a little drive up to one of my dad's horse pastures to cut some firewood. There was a big fire there a year and a half ago, so the dead trees needed cleared out. We were only working up there for a few hours, but were able to cut a good ammount of wood to last them at least through this winter. We will probably go back and cut some more before we leave if the weather permits. It was snowing when we were up there this time.

I love to come and do things like this with my family! I especially think it's good for Cam to experience hard work. It's one of those things you can only learn by doing. For the most part, Cam stayed in the truck where it was nice and cozy while my dad and Justin cut and I stacked the wood. He did get out to help load the trailer a couple of times, though. Here he is posing with my dad's chainsaw. (for the record, we did not let him opperate it!)

End of the Semester

Hip, Hip, Horray!! I took my final today and am done with level 3!

It's been an interresting semester of nursing school- filled with lectures and clinical days all about labor, delivery and pediatrics. Coming into the start of the school year I knew I would most likley enjoy the L&D segment, but didn't think I'd enjoy Pediatrics nearly as much as I did. In fact, I'm considering working in a pediatric setting after graduation. Anyone who knows me really well is probably laughing right about now....ok get over it. People change, and yes, there was a time that I didn't want kids and even stated I didn't like kids all that much, but that's not the case now.

I love taking care of these little boys and girls!! Maybe working in primary has something to do with it? I'm not sure. All I know is that I'm one step closer to knowing what I want to do as a nurse when I graduate in May.

Thanks to all of you that have been my personal cheerleaders as I have labored through these past 3 semesters of school. Without your love and support and encouragement, I would have been tempted to give up at times.

My 4th and final semester of nursing school starts in January. I'm looking forward to getting this over with. I feel like I've been in school forever. Actually, it's only been a couple of years, but still. It's not that fun sometimes. Until then, I'm taking some time to read for fun, relax with my family in NM, and spend time with my kiddos.

Now I can take a deep breath and relax...

Camper

Because I don't have anything good to blog about these days, I'm just going to randomly post pics of my kids. Keeps people coming back for more.

Good Feelings

Note to Self: When experiencing a bad mood, simply look at this picture.

Mara in the Hospital

First and foremost- do not worry. Mara is not currently in the hospital. She was in there almost a month ago, but I am just now documenting it.

I won't go on and on with the whole story, because to be honest, most of you reading this know the story anyways! I just wanted to say thanks and post some pictures.

In short, after getting an infection through an insect bite, we had to go to Dell Children's hospital because oral antibiotics weren't clearing it up. Luckily we only had to stay a little over 24 hours. Mara was quite the trooper, even after getting stuck 6 times for an IV that eventually failed. She has since made a complete recovery from her bout with cellulitis in her leg.

After a few days of eating very little, Mara's appetite returned for some pancakes, eggs and applesauce.

Thank you Nancy and Tammy for coming to visit us and bring Mara goodies and this giant Jack-o-Lantern! She loved it so much she carried it around the house until it totally deflated just a few days ago!

We would like to thank all of you for the thoughts and prayers and phone calls while we had our little scare. My heart goes out to all the families with children that have weeks and months of hospitalization to endure. I don't know how they do it. As I prepare to become a nurse myself, I know this experience will stay with me and help me relate to my patients better. I have gained a whole new perspective.

Dressing Like a Girl

This is Mara’s go-to outfit these days. She wants to wear her “wetard” and her princess shoes all the time. Last night at the Halloween activity we went to, she got these superstar shades to complete the ensemble.

These little heels light up with blue flashing LED lights when she walks around.

Gotta love this little girly-girl!

Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?

I found this funny list on another blog. I believe it was taken from a pass along email. Here are some different answers to the age-old question: Why did the chicken cross the road?

According to some well known authorities...

SARAH PALIN: Before it got to the other side, I shot the chicken,
cleaned and dressed it, and had chicken burgers for lunch.

BARACK OBAMA: The chicken crossed the road because it was time for a change! The chicken wanted change!

JOHN MC CAIN: My friends, that chicken crossed the road because he
recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all
the chickens on the other side of the road.

HILLARY CLINTON: When I was First Lady, I personally helped that
little chicken to cross the road. This experience makes me uniquely
qualified to ensure right from Day One! That every chicken in this
country gets the chance it deserves to cross the road. But then, this really isn't about me.

GEORGE W. BUSH: We don't really care why the chicken crossed the
road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road,or not. The chicken is either against us, or for us. There is no middle ground here.

DICK CHENEY: Where's my gun?

COLIN POWELL: Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the
satellite image of the chicken crossing the road.

BILL CLINTON: I did not cross the road with that chicken. What is
your definition of chicken?

AL GORE: I invented the chicken.

JOHN KERRY: Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am
now against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled
about the chicken's intentions. I am not for it now, and will remain
against it.

AL SHARPTON: Why are all the chickens white? We need some black
chickens.

DR. PHIL: The problem we have here is that this chicken won't realize that he must first deal with the problem on this side of the road before it goes after the problem on the other side of the road. What we need to do is help him realize how stupid he's acting by not taking on his current problems before adding new problems.

OPRAH: Well, I understand that the chicken is having problems, which is why he wants to cross this road so bad. So instead of having the chicken learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm going to give this chicken a car so that he can just drive across the road and not live his life like the rest of the chickens.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN: We have reason to believe there is a chicken,
but we have not yet been allowed to have access to the other side of
the road.

NANCY GRACE: That chicken crossed the road because he's guilty! You
can see it in his eyes and the way he walks.

PAT BUCHANAN: To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American.

MARTHA STEWART: No one called me to warn me which way that chicken
was going. I had a standing order at the Farmer's Market to sell my
eggs when the price dropped to a certain level. No little bird gave
me any insider information.

DR SEUSS: Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a
toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I've not
been told.

GRANDPA: In my day we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road.
Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good
enough.

BARBARA WALTERS: Isn't that interesting? In a few moments, we will be listening to the chicken tell, for the first time, the heart warming story of how it experienced a serious case of molting, and went on to accomplish its lifelong dream of crossing the road.

ARISTOTLE: It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.

JOHN LENNON: Imagine all the chickens in the world crossing roads
together, in peace.

BILL GATES: I have just released eChicken 2008, which will not only
cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and
balance your checkbook. Internet Explorer is an integral part of
eChicken 2008. This new platform is much more stable and will never
crash or need to be rebooted.

ALBERT EINSTEIN: Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the
road move beneath the chicken?

COLONEL SANDERS: Did I miss one?