The Perfect Day. . .

We've officially been kidless for 4 days! My brother Nate and his wife Amber took the kids to their house for a week! How awesome is that?! The first 3 days they were gone I worked and had class, but today was the PERFECT DAY!!!

6:30 AM- Eric leaves for work. . . I stay in bed :)
11:30 AM- Wake up time
11:45 AM- Shower, put on clean PJ's go back to bed
1:00 PM- Read (it was so great to read a novel. . . and forget about text books for a day)
3:00PM- Lunch
3:30 PM- watch TV
6:00 PM- Eric gets home, showers and leaves for Scouts
6:30 PM- Another nap for me :)
8:00 PM- Eric gets home, we watch TV together. . .


Now does this sound like the PERFECT DAY or what? It was great to lay around and worry about nothing. I can't remember the last time I had absolutely NOTHING to do. It was great. THANK YOU NATE AND AMBER!!!!! (And HOJ AND ANNEKE)

Ps. I talked to the kids tonight. . . they are having a blast. They made cookies, went to Chuck E. Cheese, lit fire works, sat in the hot tub, went to the park, did arts and crafts. . . . the list goes on and on. I think they are enjoying the break from us as much as we are enjoying the break from them.

The Best Aunt Ever. . .

My sister's little girl, Brenna turned 2 a couple of weeks ago. While I was visiting I took her out for a full day of fun. It was so much fun to take just her! She's talking like crazy and super cute. First we started out with a bag of Cheetos. . . she was in heaven!

Then we headed to Target for a new outfit. She helped pick it out. . . it was cute she had a really hard time picking between the pink and yellow shirt.

Next was a quick stop to Kiddie Kandids. She hasn't had her picture professionally taken since she was 6 weeks old. . . yes, 6 weeks old! Isn't my sister naughty? Any way, she looked so cute and the pictures turned out adorable!

After the pictures we spent a couple of dollars on 25cent rides

Of course we had to make a pit stop for some candy.

After we left the mall, we headed to the dollar store and I gave her $5 to spend. She picked out chap stick (Aunt's can buy chap stick for 2 year olds right?) and jewelry to go in her purse. I forgot to take a picture of her with her new purse. I didn't get any pictures of us together either!! :( Any way. . . it was a super fun day! Happy Birthday BRENNA!!!

Play-doh Fun!

The kids had lots of fun with the play-doh this morning. They haven't played with it for a while, it entertained them long enough for me to clean the kitchen! Hooray!

Brandon making an ice cream cone

Lexi's making "dinner"

Brandon drilling on some teeth :)

Lexi's elephant

Giving the poor puppy a shot!

I PASSED THE NCLEX!

I found out with in 24 hours that I passed. . . which is rare. It usually takes several days or maybe even weeks. I've never been so relieved. . . the stress of the test is over! It's official: I'm a nurse :)

Test Results. . .

Well I took the GAP test yesterday. . . it was quite nerve racking. I ended up doing MUCH better than I ever imagined! Hooray! My score was an 82, the national average is 55 and our school's average is 62. I'm so relieved! Now the waiting begins. . . the acceptance letters will be sent out in April.

Cosmic Bowling

We took the kids cosmic bowling tonight. They loved the strobe lights and music. They danced and laughed the entire time. Every time Lexi would bowl she'd do a little jig waiting for the ball to hit the pins. I'm not sure where she learned to dance, but she's got some pretty good moves! It was pretty cute.

Brandon would get a running start and throw the bowling ball has hard as he could. It was a little scary, but luckily he didn't hurt any one :) He would jump up and down and say "strike" every time he knocked over a pin. Anyway, we had a great time. Of course I brought the camera!

Only knocked down 2 pins. . . but he's sure happy!

YAY!

My score was 145. . . . not too bad:) The bumpers really help :)

Eric has nice form :) I still beat the pants off of him though. . .

Brandon bowling. . . singing "I got a strike, I got a strike"

Lexi concentrating on her dance routine rather than bowling :)

Study Time

I've procrastinated it long enough. It's time to take the NCLEX (National Council License Exam) for my nursing license. I paid the $200 and set the date for March 12th. I've been super busy, and studying for the test hasn't been at the top of my "to do" list. I'm still taking classes, which include Microbiology and Pharmacology (both of which are quite intense). I'm working 2 days a week at the hospital, watching handicapped kids 3 days a week, home health care for an elderly couple 3 days a week and trying to be a good wife, mother and housekeeper all at the same time!

On top of it all, I am studying for the GAP (Generalized Achievement Profile), which is a test for advanced placement into the RN program. LPN's can enter in as sophomores, if I get in I'll have less than 15 credits left for my RN. Anyway, the test is on Saturday (the 7th). There are 10 people taking it, 3 students with the highest score on the test will get into the program. Needless to say. . . my stress level is through the roof. I'm headed to the Dr. tomarrow. . . I think I might have an ulcer :)

Any way, I'm setting everything aside this weekend, and studying for the NCLEX. I've already made over a 150 flash cards so I guess I have a little bit of a start. This is the stack of books they give you in the nursing program to help you study for the test. I guess I have a lot of reading to do.

Ok. . . I'm done whining:)

New books. . .

My kids were getting tired of their books so we decided to add a few to our collection. I took Brandon to the used book store (Lexi was at school) and he got 20 new books for $2.00! What a steal! They are all in great shape, and lots of them are favorites from when I was little. Including this one:

A childhood classic!

We brought them home and wiped them down with Clorox wipes (my best friend) and added them to the book shelf. Fun Fun!

Brandon super excited about all the new books :)

Lexi singing. . .

Lexi's been learning new primary songs at church. This is one of her favorites:

(Sorry the video is so dark!)

Lyrics:

Our Father has a family. It’s me!

It’s you, all others too: we are His children.

He sent each one of us to earth, through birth,

To live and learn here in fam’lies.

God gave us families to help us become what He wants us to be—

This is how He shares His love, for the fam’ly is of God.

She's got such a pretty voice. I love to hear her sing. Isn't she sweet?!

Roller Skating. . .

We took the kids roller skating on Saturday. At first they fell down quite a bit but it didn't take them long to figure it out. I was suprised how good they did. They had fun games and prizes. We had a great time.

Art's and Crafts

While Lexi's at school, I try to do some type of craft with Brandon. Of course he loves every second of it. Here are pictures from the last few days. . . .

Shape dinosaur. . .

Scratch art. . .

P is for Penny!!

Robot. . .

Sorting pom poms on a caterpillar. . . .