Drum roll please....

Shawn passed the NCLEX last week!

HALLELUJAH!

And he has a job!  I was a little worried about that part, to be honest, because I have heard a lot of people tell me how difficult it is for new nurses to find work.  Maybe that's true, I don't know, but Shawn didn't seem to have a hard time.  He has been working for a pharmaceutical research company as an assistant for about a month and they just offered him a full-time position as a nurse.  He is very excited and is already working on several different studies about Alzheimers, sciatic pain and such.  He doesn't think he will stay at this particular setting forever since he really wants to do hospital nursing, but it's a foot in the door and will be valuable experience for him.

The rest of us are breathing a big sigh of relief and are having our own little celebration that we finally have the REAL Shawn back in our lives.  The fun-loving and happy Shawn who has been scarce the past while.  I am so happy for him and just bursting with pride at how he stuck through every challenge and overcame every obstacle (and believe me -- there were many) that he came upon.  It's amazing how much stress can negatively impact your emotional well-being, your spirituality and your health.  The past several years have been hard for everyone.  I feel like we've climbed a mountain and now we are finally at the summit.  I know we will have many more to climb in our life, but for now --

we are just going to sit back and enjoy the view.

Easter pic

Aside from the hideous glare on the glasses, we're not a bad lookin' family!

Am I smarter than a fifth grader?

The answer to that is a resounding NO.

What happens when my 10 year old asks me to help him with his math homework?  Besides me breaking out in a cold sweat?

I say something like this:  "You know who is great at math?  Your brother!  Now...who wants ice cream?"

But tonight, both Dad and brothers were unavailable for tutoring so I was left to the task.  Two hours later it was clear to both of us that we were on a sinking ship.  Here is a snippet of our conversations:

Me:  "Now that you have solved the problem, just reduce the fraction."

Seth:  "Reduce?  Do you mean simplify?"

Me:  "Well, ya, whatever."

Seth:  "Mom.  It's simplify.  If a teacher says "reduce" when she teaches math, she gets fired.  My teacher said so."

Me:  "So can I be fired now?  Please?"

The Rebel Alliance

I know what you're thinking...quitting facebook is the same as running away from home.  You're just doing it for attention and we all know you'll be back.  But seriously folks.  I deactivated my account a couple of weeks ago and I have one thing to say:  I don't miss it.

The Girl in a Whirl

In my little world the fact that I actually made lunches for kids to take to school today is a small miracle.  Then I remembered this poem I heard many years ago.  All I can say to women everywhere is this --

Drop the guilt!!

The Girl in a Whirl         by ‘Dr. Sue’ (a.k.a. Vickie Gunther)  
         "Look at me, look at me, look at me now!
         You could do what I do
         If you only knew how.
         I study the scriptures one hour each day;
         I bake,
         I upholster,
         I scrub,
         and I pray.
         I always keep all the commandments completely;
         I speak to my little ones gently and sweetly.
         I help in their classrooms!
         I sew all they wear!
         I drive them to practice!
         I cut all their hair!
         I memorize names of the General Authorities;
         I focus on things to be done by priorities.
         I play the piano!
         I bless with my talents!
         My toilets all sparkle!
         My checkbooks all balance!
         Each week every child gets a one-on-one date;
         I attend all my meetings (on time!  Never late!)
  
         I’m taking a class on the teachings of Paul,
  
         But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all .
         I track my bad habits ’til each is abolished;
         Our t-shirts are ironed!
         My toenails are polished!
         Our family home evenings are always delightful;
         The lessons I give are both fun and insightful.
         I do genealogy faithfully, too.
         It’s easy to do all the things that I do!
         I rise each day early, refreshed and awake;
         I know all the names of each youth in my stake!
         I read to my children!
         I help all my neighbors!
         I bless the community, too, with my labors.
         I exercise and I cook menus gourmet;
         My visiting teaching is done the first day!
         (I also go do it for someone who missed hers.
         It’s the least I can do for my cherished ward sisters.)
         I chart resolutions and check off each goal;
         I seek each “lost lamb” on my Primary roll.
         I can home-grown produce each summer and fall.
         But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all .
         I write in my journal!
         I sing in the choir!
         Each day, I write “thank you’s” to those I admire.
         My sons were all Eagles when they were fourteen!
         My kids get straight A’s!
         And their bedrooms are clean!
         I have a home business to help make some money;
         I always look beautifully groomed for my honey.
         I go to the temple at least once a week;
         I change the car’s tires!
         I fix the sink’s leak!
  
         I grind my own wheat and I bake all our bread;
         I have all our meals planned out six months ahead.
         I make sure I rotate our two-years’ supply;
         My shopping for Christmas is done by July!
         These things are not hard;
         ’tis good if you do them;
         You can if you try!
         Just set goals and pursue them!
         It’s easy to do all the things that I do!
         If you plan and work smart, you can do them all, too!
         It’s easy!” she said...

        and then she dropped dead."

words of wisdom

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." ~ Plato

Funny Girl

So Abby says to me the other day, "Mom, I wonder how Jesus is doing today."

"I think he's probably doing great," I say.

Abby ponders my response.  "Ya....he's probably up there just singin' that "beam" song, huh?"

".........." (me trying not to laugh.)

Where does she come up with this stuff??  She's my funny girl!

Cheese = happiness

Introducing my latest addiction:

Have any of you tried this stuff?  Holy moly!  I can't get enough of it.  I was grazing the other day at Costco and sampled this little piece of heaven, served by a cute lady who proclaimed it to be tasty and satisfying.  I have to say I agree.

So here's the bad news:

Yup.  There is pretty much no nutritional value whatsoever.  It's almost 100% fat and one little serving of 2 Tbsp. fills up 40% of your saturated fat intake for the day.  Which, of course, is why it is so dang yummy.  I admit with little shame that I can eat the entire box in one sitting if I so desired.

The best cracker to eat this with is:

Also available at Costco!  (dear Costco...I want free cheese).  

I know...you see the words "rice crackers" and you think "boring", but these are salty, cheesy and yummy!  Thank heaven they are low fat, low calorie and as close as you can get to just eating air.  It cancels out the cheese, don't you think?  So I can eat as much as I want, right?  Right.

life at 4 a.m.

So it seems that I must endure another night of only 4 hours of sleep.  I'm not sure what is happening inside my brain to make me so sleep deprived, but here I sit, 4 o'clock in the morning while everyone else is blissfully sleeping.  I am wandering around the house, eating cereal and contemplating life.  The heater is humming quietly and I can hear Shawn snoring in the background.  Words are jumping around in brain, but I just can't seem to bring them all together and let them flow out of me.

Such is life at the moment.

What does a person DO at 4 a.m.?  I am open to suggestions.

Isn't this nice?

Typical family dinner at my house:

It's like someone had a camera installed in my kitchen...and then made a cartoon out of it.

Except a few things need to be added.  Like musical chairs.  And kids choking.  And me laughing so hard I have to leave to room.