our weekly excitement

Even though I wanted to stay in bed all week and mourn from watching Sunday night's episode of Downton Abbey, I realized that I still needed to get up and go on...for my children.  ;-)

It's been a pretty boring week here.  And, when I say boring, I don't mean that in a bad way!  I like low key weeks where we don't have a lot going on.  

Tuesday, I spent some time in Levi's classroom for reading groups.  Seriously, this kid cracks me up!  Trying to get him to read in front of his friends is hilarious.  Instead, he will say, "Mom, can I play xBox tonight?" "Mom, what are we doing this weekend?" or even "Mom, do you think Papa will let me borrow his rifle to shoot again?" Oy.  That kid!  Ha!

I also had a dentist appointment.  I've spent about a fourth of my life at the dentist.  Or, at least it seems that way!  I had some serious issues last year and had to get a root canal.  Since then, it seems like I have these little weird things that come up.  This week, they were polishing off a tooth that I had to get re-fixed.  That's a story for another time! ;-)  But, while I was there, I found this picture in a magazine.  I have a small obsession with Courtney Cox.  I LOVE HER HAIR.  LOVE IT!!!  I thought she always had the cutest hair styles while on Friends.  And, she seems to get more awesome with age.  (Except, lately, I think she's had a little too much Botox!!)
This is what I want! ---

 ...it would probably help if I had a stylist, a make up artist, and weighed 98 pounds soaking wet, too! Ha!

Today at CBS, I was forced blessed to be a Helping Hand.  That is where you are forced able to help in the children's department.  I helped in a three year old class and it was fun.  The best thing?  I was right beside the music room so I got to sneak over and watch Maggie through a double glass window!  She is so shy!!  Every time her teacher would move, she would almost cling to her leg.  Poor teacher!  The very last song is Jump for Jesus, and she did do a little jumping.  I seriously almost cried.  There is something awesome about seeing your child engage in an activity.  Yes, I am a sap.

Oh, and then there is this...

A snake that Levi made with paper mache at school.  And, yes, he chases his sister around the house with it while she screams bloody murder.  Nice, Levi.  Nice.  Boys!

Downton did me in.

DISCLAIMER: DOWNTON ABBEY SPOILER INCLUDED

If you watch Downton and have not finished the 4th episode on Season III, or if you plan on watching Downton and don't want to know what happens, stop reading.  Now.  :-)

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When I was in college, I fell in love with Jane Austen's beautiful story Sense & Sensibility!  I could seriously watch the BBC video every single day and not tire of it!

 Then, a few years ago, I took the plunge and watched Pride and Prejudice.  I didn't think I could love anything as much as Sense & Sensibility, but I was wrong.  Love it just as much!

I am fascinated with these time periods!  Sense & Sensibility was first published in 1811.  Austen actually wrote the first draft in 1795 when she was 19 years old!  And it is still a loved book today - that's pretty awesome!  Pride and Prejudice was published in 1813.  Amazing!

Jump ahead about a hundred years to 1912 and be.still.my.heart.

Downton Abbey

I am in love.

This show.  Oh my stars.

If you are not a fan, you will not understand this fascination.  And, that's okay.  But I will go on for a little bit here. ;-)

Katherine, over at Grass Stains, did this post a few weeks ago where she posted some of her favorite live tweets from episodes 1 and 2 of the new season.  I usually have to stay off of Facebook and Twitter until after I have watched the most current episode or I will see spoilers.  I was happy that I got to watch Downton last night, shortly after it aired.  When it was over, I headed on over to #DowntonAbbey and #DowntonAbbeyPBS to check out the tweets.  I saved some of my favorites.

Let me tell you this, though.  Downton fans were NOT happy last night.  At all.  One of the main characters died during childbirth and IT WAS HORRIBLE.  I did not see it coming and I feel like I need to go through some therapy now.  She was one of the favorite sisters (I saw lots of funny live tweets asking why it couldn't be the sister many people didn't like! Ha!) and it was just plain sad.  There was talk about last week's episode being a tad boring - well creator & producer Julian Fellowes made up for that this week!

So, while I sit in mourning today, cursing Lord Grantham in my head, silently weeping for Cora, and wondering how in the heck they will make milk for that sweet baby with orange juice (??), enjoy these tweets that I thought were funny from last night:

And I posted this for Jami because she texted me and asked if I saw Peyton and his son at the Pro Bowl. 

 If you stuck with this post, God bless you.  I'm not sure how life will go on today, but I must try to maintain some sense of normalcy.  For the children.  ;-)

how did these little creatures get so big?

I can't believe it is already time.  Ready or not, my kids are growing up way.too.fast.  I seriously feel like Maggie was born, I blinked, and now she is almost ready for preschool.  It kind of makes me want to throw up a little in my mouth.

We headed out yesterday morning to visit our first preschool.  She will be THREE YEARS OLD in May!  I guess I never thought I would send her to preschool at three, especially when I decided to be a stay at home mom.  But, I really think she will benefit from it.  Mags is a big mommy's girl - and I LOVE IT!!  I do think, though, that she needs to start getting a few hours a week away from mommy. ;-)  When we drop her off at church or CBS, she has a hard time with me leaving.  I know this is natural for a lot of kids, so I try not to worry too much about it.  

My cousin teaches the three year old class at the preschool we scoped out yesterday.  She suggested we check it out -- and I'm SO GLAD we did!  I love their program.  Love it!  During the informational meeting, they had some cute stations set up for the little ones.  Maggie had a blast!

I kind of assumed we would send Maggie to the same preschool where Levi went to daycare, but now we may switch it up!  Having lots of good preschools close by is a great problem to have. ;-)  This next chapter in our lives is a little bit scary, but I'm also looking forward to it.  Is that allowed?  Ha!

Levi has been begging to go shooting.  This makes his daddy's heart swell with pride! ;-)  So, yesterday, Eric told me he and our neighbor were picking the kids up from school a little early to go to the gun range.  O Happy Day.

Three excited kids.

 Seriously, the pink ear protectors - I'm dying.  Adorable!

My sweet little buddy {um, his nose is painted black because it was the 101 day of school and they watched 101 Dalmatians.}

Levi even got to shoot Eric's gun for the first time.  This gives me a little anxiety.

So glad to have a man that teaches gun safety to our kids!  Lord knows their momma can't even load a gun right. ;-)  All in all, a great Wednesday.  

Sunday fun-day!

Sunday was fun-day around here for the boys!  Eric surprised Levi and took him to see the Harlem Globetrotters after church.  He didn't tell him where they were going until they pulled into the parking garage.   Levi kept thinking Eric was taking him to an indoor shooting range.  Ha!  Funny kid. ;-)

I got them tickets from a Groupon a couple months ago and it included a pass to go early to watch the Globetrotters practice.  Levi got to sit in their seats and watch them do some skills.  Cool, right?!

Um, hello!  This guy, appropriately nicknamed Stretch, towered over Levi.

I love how he has the finger on his left hand pointed, too.  So cute!

They had pretty good seats!  Looks like my Groupon paid off.

Hey, look, it's Cee Lo Green! Ha! ;-)

Seriously?

I love his smiles.  He told me the show was "so funny" and he was glad that the Globetrotters won. ;-)  He also told Eric, "Thanks for the fun afternoon, Dad."  Love.

Class of 2012

Last night was the graduation and pinning ceremony for all of the graduates at Galen.  Even though he was finished with classes and clinicals, this made it all feel more "official"!  

They held the service in the Alumni Chapel at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary which is close to Galen's campus.  I LOVE THAT BUILDING!  I've attended a few weddings there and it is just gorgeous.  We arrived early with Eric so we had to sit quite a while.  Luckily, Levi kept himself entertained.

Before the ceremony, we were able to get a few pictures.

The evening class:  I was finally introduced to the people that I've heard Eric talk about for two years.  They kept saying, "So you DO exist!" ;-)

I don't believe there will ever be a question about paternity... ;-) Ha!

 

After the Pomp and Circumstance - there were 55 graduating from the RN program and 86 from the LPN.

During the ceremony, the fire alarm went off.  What is it with us and fire alarms??!  Levi flipped out.  He went to sit with Eric for a few minutes until they made sure we didn't need to evacuate.  It is an old building, so I guess this happens regularly.

When it went off the second time, Levi shouted, "You have GOT to be kidding me!"  Several people around us started chuckling.  One of those proud parent moments.  ;-)

Receiving his diploma...

...and his pin.

The Florence Nightingale Pledge by candlelight...

Turning his tassel - woo hoo!

And, finally, a photo by Levi :-)

So excited for Eric! A great night for our family.  And a special thanks to my parents for watching Maggie for us.  She had fun visiting with her great grandparents and playing puzzles with Grammy.

Flashback Friday - Australia

Last night, Eric and I settled in to watch CSI and I got distracted by a message on my phone.  It was a Facebook message.  I usually ignore those, but this one was different.  It was a "live chat" message and it was from a friend that I haven't seen in a couple years.  

I thought it was sweet that she was checking in on me because she had a dream with me in it.  :-)  Over the next hour and a half, we continued to chat and reminisce about the past.  Christy was like a mentor to me while I was in college.  She and I experienced so many things together and she really challenged me and helped me as my relationship with Jesus began to flourish.

I have been on four {what I consider to be} "big" mission trips.  I lived in Eastern Kentucky for eleven weeks during a summer break.  I went on a trip to Moore, Oklahoma after deadly tornadoes came through.  I went with a team to Russia where we worked in a summer camp for children.  And, I went with a team to Dapto, Australia.  That trip impacted my life in a way I never thought possible.  My friend, Christy was with me on that trip, so naturally we started chatting about some of the memories.

After our convo, I went in search of some Australia pictures.  I was thinking of YOU, my readers!  Sweet, right?  I thought it would be a great Flashback Friday post.  But, I could NOT find any pictures.  I started to get really depressed because we had a flood in the basement of our old house several years ago and I thought maybe they were ruined then.  This morning, I thought of one more place to look.  I found THIS...  

 A postcard from Dapto, Australia!  Yay!  I was on the right track!!

I also found some Australian moo-lah.  And a $5 from New Zealand!  Holla.  I can retire now.

 I remember loving their money because it was colorful!  And, it wouldn't rip.  Nope.  It was made of some sort of plastic and you couldn't tear their bills.  Genius!  Um, hello...America?  Paying attention?  This was eons ago, and I have no idea if their money is still like this.  ;-)

BUT, THAT'S IT!  I still could not find pictures!  I didn't think they were ruined since I had found a few Australian souvenirs.

And then, I gasped.  I saw it.  OH EM GEE.

The reason I could not find any pictures is because I HAD MY NEGATIVES DEVELOPED INTO SLIDES.  SLIDES, people!  I bet you didn't even know you could do that!  Am I right?  This was back in the days before Power Point.  Christy and I were part of a mission team, which meant we had to report to churches when we returned, so we figured the best way to do that was to show them a slide show!

Yes, that is me.  If you can see the little figure on the left.  Dark hair, white shirt and blue corduroy overalls.  Sigh.  I miss overalls. ;)

I managed to find a few pictures in the box with my slides (Oy) so let me share about our trip.

This is me and Christy in Australia.  Please excuse our tucked in shirts and big blousy pants!

 We went with a team to a small town called Dapto where we were going to help introduce a new study to their church leaders.  Some of you may remember Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby; that's what we were introducing.  We stayed in Australia for 17 days and then went to New Zealand for some sightseeing.

This is Michelle - I stayed with her and her family.  I have great memories of them!

One thing I remember about Australia is how incredibly majestic their landscaping was!  They had mountains that looked like they went on forever!  And, their rain forests were absolutely beautiful.  

We saw the famous opera house and I don't remember a whole lot more about Sydney.  I was more impressed with their countryside.

But, the main reason we were there was to invest in the lives of the people we met and stayed with.  I remember these two girls like I was just there yesterday.  And I remember loving those blue overalls! ;)

Hilarious that I took a picture of my dessert?  Nope!  I remember this night very well.  My host family was appalled that I had never eaten Pavlova.  They thought it was a cardinal sin.  Australia is famous for this dessert, named after the Russian ballet dancer, Anna Pavlova.  It was an angel food cake with meringue and all kinds of yummy fruit.  I remember loving it!

 During my time in Australia, God used me and stretched me way out of my comfortable little box.  I was not prepared for the ways I would grow, but I'm so thankful that I did.  Got taught me about unconditional love. He taught me about real spiritual warfare -- not just the little good angel/bad devil that sit on your shoulders.  And, it was on this trip that I really understood of his unending love for ME.  Amazing.

After our time in Australia, we spent several days sightseeing in New Zealand.

I remember it being beautiful there, but our hearts were still behind with our friends we met in Australia.

So, maybe one day, I will get some photos made from all of my slides and do another post.  Ha!  I would love to see those faces again.  Until then, I will remember those 21 days as some of the sweetest that I've ever had.