Latest Endevours

I have passed third semester in nursing school. After our final, most of the class got together for a celebratory lunch at a really great bar and grill in Yuba City, the Happy Viking.

In the fall I begin my preceptorship here in Woodland. I am so happy to not have to drive to Marysville so much anymore! Fourth semester also includes a psych class. The instructor is a former nursing supervisor for Woodland Memorial who I adore, so I am really looking forward to that class.

Since school ended I have been decompressing. I have been just enjoying my family and hanging around the house. Although it may be a little late in the season we have put in a garden. My father has been so wonderful, doing all the rototilling and teaching me all about the plants. Thanks Dad! I also fulfilled a long time dream and planted an herb garden. I ended up using an old animal trough that has been in the barn since the last great depression!

Firefighter of the Year

Jason was chosen to be Dixon Fire Department's Firefighter of the Year. The award was bestowed upon him at a dinner at Dixon Fire last week. This week there was another dinner for all of Solano County's Firefighters of the year. He received a plaque from Dixon Fire, a trophy from Solano County, and several certificates of recognition from the California State Assembly, the California State Senate, the County of Solano, and the United States House of Representatives. It was very cool. I am very proud of my husband.

Jason accepting the award at the Dixon Fire Department's Awards Night.

At the Solano County Dinner in Fairfield.

Winter Break

I pretty much shut down during the Winter Break. I did nothing related to school (until this weekend). I spent time with the kids and became a computer and video game addict. My latest "drug of choice" has been Animal Crossing, City Folk on the Wii. I also managed to get Jacob and Mark addicted.

I went to a couple movies, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Bedtime Stories. Both were great movies. I wanted to see Marley and Me, but never got back to the movie theater.

The boys, Jason, my parents and myself spent a day in San Francisco. We met Mark and Ari there and Mark showed us the "Full House" house. You know the row of Victorians during the opening credits.

Ari, Mark, and Jacob

To keep a promise to Jacob, we headed over the Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum near Fisherman's Wharf. It was interesting, but not really my cup of tea. Definitely interesting to a 12 year old boy, however.

My Mom and Jacob

We headed over to one of my favorite restaurants The Cliff House for lunch. The food is great and there is such history surrounding the site. I always have a crab sandwich called the Ben Butler Sandwich. Then we wandered around taking in the view. I would have loved to have been there years ago when the amusement park was just down the road.

Jason and I in front of the Cliff House.

Jacob checking out the pelicans on the rocks.

My Parents near the Camera Obscura (picture by Jacob)

After lunch we went down the road (Highway 1) to Golden Gate Park. I had been dying to go to the Academy of Sciences that just reopened in September. It holds the Steinhart Aquarium, a Rain Forest Biosphere, and Planetarium. We missed the Planetarium show but we really didn't have time since there was so much else to see. It was really an all day trip squeezed into half a day. I need to go back this summer!

Jacob checking out the T-rex skeleton

Mark and Ari checking out the starfish at the tide pool.

Jacob in the Rain Forest exhibit.

Nana and Popie check out the roof of the California Academy of Sciences building.

The roof is a living roof...all 2.5 acres.

Well, that is about it! I will keep you posted and share how school is going!

Cards for the Troops

Take a few minutes and say thank you to the men and women who are putting their lives on the line for our freedom.

Another year has passed...

I am 41 today. This year has gone so fast. I have almost finished my first year of nursing school. Jason has done a wonderful job of keeping the house together while I study my heart out. Mark is completing his first semester of college. I have discovered that I will be a grandmother by the summer. Amanda and Aaron are expecting. I worry that they are not ready, but ready or not....

I reflect on all of the things I want to get done but haven't. I still haven't lost weight. I still haven't done things around the house. We haven't taken those vacations. The yard is falling apart. I keep saying that I will work on these things when I am done with school, but then I think about all the things I have said in the past....after the kids get older, after this football season, after we make more money. Slowly, these chances are slipping away. The kids are growing up and away. My grandfather always told me "if not now, when?". He is always good for an appropriate saying!

So anyway, I guess that is my goal for the next year. What I can fit in between school work and the kids...I will make things happen!

Jacob's School Project

Jacob had to perform a community service project for one of his classes at school and document the progress. Jacob decided to collect recyclables and use the money to donate food to the local food closet for the holidays.

Bagging up the goods.

At the recycling center.

Money earned...

Mission Accomplished...

Fulla Bologna

Here is Jacob in his Halloween costume. I didn't have my camera due to leaving the house in a hurry for a family emergency. It soon resolved thank goodness, but all I have is my cell phone image. I still think it is worth a post though!