It's Catch up Time

Nathan & Morgan playing on the snowy hill! 

The Girl Scout Cookies came in on Wednesday! YEAH!!! For those of you that ordered cookies -- they'll be coming soon. Otherwise, if you forgot to order and still want some, there are some re-order dates over the next few weeks.

I had my first day on the floor with patient care at Ebenezer Saturday. It went well, but it's busy and it will take me a while to get to know the residents and their special needs. I'm on the fifth day of nine days in a row of work between Ebenezer & Bumper's. Whew!

The kids went up to Cable this last weekend with Steve. They didn't get much snowmobiling in as Steve's sled is busted -- but they were able to borrow a friends' sled for a while and get a short ride in. They went swimming three times!

I've been working on a "Booga B*g" that my friend Donna wants. She saw me with the one Carrie made me for my birthday last year, was jealous and asked me if I could make her one. Of course, I said yes, as it gives me something to do in my "spare time" (actually, when it's slow at Bumper's and when I'm trying to fall asleep).

Just finished reading "The L*st Juror." It was a pretty good book -- 'course with John Grisham it's hard to go bad!

I have a secret (or two) . . .

Today was my first day at Ebenezer. It was an orientation day -- spent four hours watching videos, taking quizzes and reading manuals.

Nathan just finished a report on the planets. He did the report for fun -- it wasn't a requirement for school. He went to the planetarium last week on a field trip and has been intrigued by planets and the Voyager. He's going to bring his teacher a copy -- it's awesome and he really put a lot of work into it!

I went to the yarn store today . . . see what I bought!




It's a secret what each of the items are going to be but I will keep you posted. I also have some Deco-Ribbon on order for another project. Morgan has been plugging away on her scarf and I showed Nathan how to knit this last weekend.

The kids are playing Life and I have to go catch American Idol and get started on my knitting projects!

Carl

Carl's visitation and memorial were this morning. I wish he had known how many people cared about him. Here is the poem that was on his visitation notice:

Life Must Go On

Grieve for me, for I would grieve for you,
Then brush away the sorrow and the tears,
Life is not over, but begins anew.
With courage you must greet the coming years.
To live forever in the past is wrong,
Can only cause you misery and pain,
Dwell not on memories overlong,
With others you must share and care again.
Reach out and comfort those who comfort you,
Recall the years but only for a while,
Nurse not your loneliness but live again,
Forget not -- remember with a smile.

Carl, you will be miseed.

English Language

I'm tossing and turning, so thought I'd rant in a mid-night post. O.k. I realize some people actually get up at this time of day, but not generally me.

Why is it that "sneak peek" is "sneak peek?" Why isn't it "sneek peak" or "sneek peek" or even "sneak peak?" Both words make the long e sound -- why aren't their middles spelled the same? I just don't get it. So now you're saying I have too much time on my hands. What else do you think of in the middle of the night? I was thinking of the kids and their spelling tests and got around to this. They ask me how to spell things and I tell them, but I don't always know why things are spelled the way they are. I don't know all the ins and outs of proper grammar -- and I've noticed my spelling has been failing as of late. How do I explain this to my kids -- "Oh, kids, it's just the way it is!"

And another thing . . . I was thinking of a post I recently did and stated: "Thanks, Carrie & Kyle, for helping me finally get these pictures off . . . " If I'd said "Thanks, Carrie & Kyle, for finally helping me get these pictures off . . ." it would have had a totally different meaning. Just moving the placement of one word can change the whole tone of the statement!

But this is all just my opinion. I could be wrong!

Snowy Sunday

We went to Skateville today. Morgan had her friend, Rebecca's, birthday party there. Morgan & Rebecca have been friends since before preschool. Nathan & I decided to stay and hang out. I didn't don my rollerblades, but Nathan did. It was a great day to go skating as it snowed last night and into today. So far, we've received about 5 inches!


Rebecca & Morgan

Here are the pictures -- finally -- from Minnesota Vikings Arctic Blast:

Me & Michael Bennett (#23 -- Running Back):



Me & Adam Haayer (#72 -- Offensive Tackle)



They're not the greatest pictures, but they were taken on a camera phone. Thanks, Carrie & Kyle, for helping me finally get these pictures off Tom's phone and onto my Blog! :-)

Sloth Saturday

Today the kids and I went to lunch with my birth parents and birth sister and her husband. We went to the KFAN restaurant in Roseville. After that we went to Target to get a present for a birthday party Morgan is going to tomorrow and then came home and watched movies, made little pizzas and went to take care of Annette's cat. Not much else . . . relaxing. It's snowing right now and they're expecting us to get 4-6 inches.

Thanks, Carrie, for your help adding our picture to my profile and your button to my blog buddies list!

Girl Scout cookies come in on Wednesday . . . :-)

Girl Scout International Festival

Girl Scout International Festival 2005

Morgan participated in the BurnsValley Service Unit International Festival tonight. Her troop hosted the "Patch Booth" where the girl scouts were able to design a patch to wear on their vests for this years' event. The festival is an annual event where troops from our Unit pick a different country to represent and they can do whatever they like to explain the culture, food, geography, etc. Next year we will be doing an actual country . . . and we already have a cool idea in mind!

Morgan had a sleepover at our house tonight with her friend, Emily, who was born on the same day as her.

P.S.

I decided I'm going to carry my camera with me everywhere I go so that I can make this blog a little more exciting.

Bittersweet

Today was bittersweet . . . a guy that I know from Bumper's, Carl Lange, took his own life last night. He was 31. I just spoke with him Monday night. He was sweet, smart, funny and will be greatly missed by all. I never saw him upset, angry or sad and I'm puzzled and shocked by his departure. I'm glad that I was able to share some laughs with him before he left our world.

On the other hand, my best friend, Lisa, found out today that she is expecting. I am so happy for her and her husband, Craig. They are the ones that got married in Vegas last April 13. They will be great parents and bring us all something to look forward to.

Uh-Oh

I've been neglecting my blog . . . went up to Brainerd this past weekend on the 2nd Annual Bumper's ice fishing trip -- it's a group of "regulars" (Sandy, Jerry, Kenny, Tom, Beth, Wurtzy & I) that went this year. We all stayed in one BIG cabin at Paradise Shores Resort on Upper South Long Lake. The weather was beautiful . . . ice-fished on Saturday, shrimp cocktail on the lake, cribbage games, and assorted innocent silliness . . . here's Wurtzy & his teeny perch --



-- can you see it in his left hand???

Anyway, Tom & I decided to go into Garrison on Saturday to pick up some bait and beer and we stopped at the Blue Goose Inn -- there were a ton of snowmobiles there and a helicopter giving rides and low-and-behold it was the Vikings Arctic Blast! We had a few beers, a bite to eat and I got my picture taken with Michael Bennett and another Viking that I didn't recognize (Chris Liwienski?) -- all I know is that he was TALL! (I'd publish the pictures, but I can't figure out how to get them off Tom's camera phone and onto my blog -- any help out there?) All in all, it was a great weekend and nice to get away for a few days with some fun people.

I went to Ebenezer yesterday to finish my hiring paperwork and set up my schedule. Training and orientation start next Tuesday. My schedule will be every-other Tuesday, every-other Thursday and every-other weekend -- all 2:30-11:00 p.m. I start on my own on March 26.

I had to take Morgan to the dr. last Friday before I went out of town . . . she had swimmer's ear . . . an infection in the ear canal. She's on drops and is feeling better. Both kids are doing GREAT! Had their hair cut today and they look totally awesome ('course, I'm biased!)

We're taking care of my friend Annette's cat, Tiki, this week. Annette went to Disney World with her family and her cat is diabetic so we go over there twice a day to feed her and give her insulin.

Mr. Decker

I was watching the 10:00 news Wednesday night and saw this story about my high school social studies teacher, Rich Decker. You know how you had one teacher in high school that you will always remember as having a positive influence in your life? He was it. He was awesome! I was surprised when I saw this story.
http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_040192313.html

Nathan started a Home Alone On My Own class tonight. Hard to believe he's old enough to stay home for a little bit at a time, but I guess he is!

I broke up a fight between to men today at work -- one was accusing the other of holding tickets, which he wasn't, and it was starting to get pretty ugly -- a lot of pointing of fingers and such. Anyway, I told both of them that I didn't want to hear another word of it and if they continued they were both going to be cut off. I told them I understood that they both had a lot of money into the box but reminded them that they are gambling. Boys!

Received my permit from the state today so now I can do my orientation and training at Ebenezer. YEAH!!!

On the Mend

After spending most of the last four days on the couch -- only getting up to go to work on Monday and cart the kids to school and friends' houses -- and of course feed them, I think I'm finally on the mend. I took all my antibiotics -- still have a nasty cough, but at least I'm moving things around in there. No knitting this weekend to speak of.

We had flurries this morning -- just enough to make people dust off their cars and mess up a.m. rush hour a bit.

I need to catch up from being on hiatus the last four days so . . . ta, ta!

Super Bowl Weekend

I finally went to the doctor on Friday because I've been sick for three weeks and haven't gotten any better -- in fact Friday I got worse. Anyway, I have bronchitis. I'm on drugs -- legal ones, of course! I want to feel better soon. I will become attached to my couch this weekend, I'm sure!

Morgan has a pool party this afternoon. Tomorrow is the Super Bowl -- we're having a little party with the three of us! Nathan requested chicken tenders and popcorn. Hmmm. It should be fun!

Carnival

We went to the kids' school carnival last night. They had fun running around with their friends and playing different games.

Report cards came out Wednesday. Morgan did well, but Nathan's wasn't the best -- I think he's bored. He loves math and is very good at it, but they're learning things he already knows. Will have to talk to his teachter about this one.

Very warm these last few days -- sunny also. It was 44 on my way to work yesterday and it hit 50 during the day. Today they're predicting 52 and then it will slowly creep down to a high on Monday of 28.

Super Bowl is Sunday! Just an excuse to make fun appetizers and watch one last game of football for the season!

Hump Day

Girl Scout Cookie orders went in last night. Our troop ordered over 750 boxes of cookes this year! That's pretty good for seven little second graders!

I spoke with my mom last night and she said that my brother should be getting out of the hospital on Thursday. Good news, huh?

Yoga tonight . . . hurt my shoulder last week, so I'm taking it easy tonight!

Today has been quite pleasant -- in the 40's and SUNNY!!!

Where did January go?

It's already February 1??? What happened to January? It's been very mild here in Minnesota -- the snow is melting.

Morgan was sick all weekend . . . she had a fever Friday night of 101 and Sunday a.m. of 102. Now she has a nasty cough, but she's been in school this week. I showed her how to knit Sunday night! She saw me working on me "tree" sweater and asked me to show her how.

We were able to get out on Saturday for a bit to see Finding Neverland (www.findingneverland.com) with Johnny Depp (bestill my heart) and Kate Winslet. It was an awesome movie. Bring lots of tissues if you go . . . there wasn't a dry eye in the house.

Nathan went to a birthday party on Sunday afternoon and helped me take care of Morgan. Nathan was "special person" in his classroom today. I went to lunch with him and then shared stories, pictures, trophies, etc. with his classmates. I learned that is favorite meal is corn and pork chops (guess what we're having for dinner!), his favorite movie is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and he wants to grow up to be a software developer -- creating kids games, of course!

I'm off to the yarn shop to learn how to set my sleeves for my "tree" sweater -- and to mail my registration for my nursing permit into the state so I can start my new job! The background check came back o.k. Whew! (J/K)


My newest scarf that I finished last week:




And my fuzzy purse: