Ya Live, Ya Learn

It's been almost a month since the last post and my how much I have learned, processed and participated in since then.  The long and the short of it:

I added another class onto my credit load for this semester.  I am currently taking Intro to Psychology (online), Anatomy & Physiology and the latest, Developmental Psychology (online).  I may be crazy, but I am working towards my goal.   At the end of last month I took into consideration all the course combinations I could be taking and what would be challenging/easiest with my full time job and the boys and my home life.  I decided that if I were doing two courses, I may as well be doing three as it will simply take a bit of the stress off when I am in the core nursing program.  I also applied at another school for nursing so that I am increasing my chances of getting in sooner than the fall of 2014.   My goal now is to get into nursing school the Spring of 2014.  IF I don't get in then, I will simply have a semester (plus the summer) to take some more courses prior to the core program to help alleviate stressors within the program.  I will take whatever I can get to get moving ahead towards my goal of having "RN" after my name.  That's all I can write for now, I have to get back to studying.

Knowledge

I'm two weeks into the semester and thus far I have learned about bonds (covalent, non-polar covalent, ionic and hydrogen), major chemistry's of the human body and the specifics on each.  I have learned about APA format for paper writing.  I have learned the definitions of structuralism and functionalism and how it pertains to psychology.   I am learning what methods of study are best for me and how much I can handle when under stress.   I have also learned a few new skills and techniques at work.   Simply observing my physician (back from medical leave) I find it wonderful to have him as my 'side-kick' each day.  He is so personable, intelligent and a wonderful teacher to the patients (and me).  I feel like my head is growing by the day with the knowledge that's pouring in.  I want to keep going-- I am motivated to learn right now.  I find it to be a challenge for me in this semester ahead; these two courses.  I want to add yet another course on, but a couple of my friends are telling me to hold my horses until I am a few more weeks into the semester as the stress could increase.  I and the boys have been relatively healthy, for that, I am thankful. 

I look forward to Spring.  I know that once it gets nice out or even a day full of sunshine could turn my positive opinions of school right off, but hoping that is only temporary.

Thinking a lot about some of my friends right now who are in tricky relationships or relationships that are struggling to survive.  It makes me sad.  It also makes me fear what is happening to "love?"  It feels to me that love in the world is really having a difficult time surviving even the simplest things.   The devil has crept his way into the hearts of so many.... I want my children to have a strong knowledge and belief in Jesus so that He is in their hearts should they ever question faith, love or hope.

Today was a rambling sort of day.  For that, I apologize.  Just had to get out the words. 

Contemplating (above everything else) how I can make the boy's bedroom and play room a little more 'fun.'

Stay warm.

Pre-School & PRE-School

I was talking with Nathaniel's teacher about a week ago and my eyes almost bugged out of my head when she said,.... "Nathaniel should be getting his Pre-School 4K Packet in the next few weeks."  

WHAT???   My baby is going to be in 4K??   Pre-Kindergarten?  Pre-SCHOOL?  Holy Moses!  I am SO excited for him!   He will absolutely love learning.  I can't wait for him to get going next fall.   Of course it's a transition that may impact our every day lives and routine, but bring it ON!   Can't believe he is getting so big! I have been trying to help him with starting reading and working with his Leap Pad more (that thing is amazing).   Numbers right now that he can recite are almost to 20, but somewhat out of order.  "1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 11, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20!"   I praise him no matter what, it's pretty great that he can remember all of that in his little brain.

PRE-School:  Spring Semester starts for me next Monday.  I am taking two courses.  One will be my first "online" Internet course-Introduction to Psychology. I am nervous about having to motivate myself to get those assignments checked and updated frequently. I love Psychology and study it even when I don't need to, so I am hopeful for a good great grade.   The second course will be General Anatomy & Physiology for the Nursing Program.   I LOVED A & P when I was in the M.A. Program.   Lots of memorization and understanding of systems and theories. I will also have a laboratory class where I believe (based on the lecture notes I picked up) we will be dissecting a sheep brain and heart.  Yummy.  I have a sitter lined up for a couple of the nights that I know I will need to study or in class a little longer; and I have two 'back ups' in case that falls through.  Always need a Plan B and Plan C when children are involved.

Nerves are setting in.  I brought out my books and placed them on the kitchen counter.  LOTS of information in those books.  I read through the syllabus and I know I will have to stay extremely focused.  These two courses will be the most of a credit load until I am in the nursing program full time in about 2 years. I am nervous I will come down with Influenza,... the boys will break something and need surgery, my car will break,... anything.  You name it, I am paranoid it will jeopardize my schedule for completion and my goals.   I know it's pre-mature and I will know my timeline better when I finish my A & P course this semester, but I am estimating a graduation date from Nursing of May 19, 2016.   Here we go....

Here Comes 2013!

December Magic

Time to bundle up for parade FUN!

This year "Jingle Bells" (Nathaniel named him) finally made his way to our home.  He is a magical elf that Santa sends down from the North Pole after Thanksgiving to watch over the house.  He reports back to Santa EVERY night on how good the little boys and girls are who are in the house (Even the mommys!)  Each night he usually finds a new place to hide out.  "Jingle Bells" can NOT be touched.  If he is touched by ANY human hands, his magic disappears and he will most likely return to Santa that night and not return until the following year.  The boys and I are having SO much fun every morning waking up and trying to locate him.  Sometimes Nathaniel predicts where he will be the next day, and HE'S THERE the next day (he has REALLY good ears!) 

               

Christmas Parade, 12/1/12.

Breakfast with Santa at Eagles Club, 12/2/12

Boomer showing his Christmas Spirit

St. Nick came to visit us on the night of 12/5/12.

Carson was SO excited with his new cars and coloring book.

Nathaniel shows off his new toothbrush.  He got the Cartoon Avengers Movie and a Superman Cape! ! !

                   

A little quiet time at the library with Momma.  Carson loves to color and Nathaniel ran right to the computer to show me he knows how to use the mouse.

Goofballs

My snow angels in the first fallen snow of the season.

Carson was fascinated as he most likely doesn't remember last years.

I came home to a little gift from Santa for the boys--two little shovels for the boys. Thanks, Santa!

Mom's Son-flowers

My Boys

Effective People

People say I'm organized.   People say I'm efficient.  People say I'm a positive person.   People ask "How do you do it?"  Well people, I have the same amount of hours in a week that you do--- 168 VERY busy hours.   Do you have a hard time managing a messy-house?  What about grocery lists and the financing of those groceries?  Do you miss deadlines/appointments/events because you don't remember when they are?  And most importantly, do you take on too much?

From the moment I wake up in the morning with the boys, to evenings with Boomer curling up next to me and stealing all my covers.   I have compiled a list (in my spare time) of the tips that I know that help me become an effective multi-tasker, organized, planned-out momma.  Enjoy!

• Create a to-do list.  Think on paper.  I have at least 3 to-do lists going--but just starting with one when you have never done it, will be sufficient for you.  I have a to-do list for 'today,' 'long term' and 'house projects.'  Purge ALL your thoughts on paper about what needs to get accomplished for you to feel at peace.    Once you have done the list, next to each item right the day of the week you will do that task and commit to doing it.  
• Think in Energy -- not time.    This is about knowing yourself and when your peak hours for functioning are.   My peak hours are around 8p.m. until midnight.  I have always operated that way -- even when I was in middle school... it carried through my life with me.  That is when I get most of my work/projects/chores done.   If you know that on a daily basis you are too mentally exhausted after work to do things-- do them right away in the morning!  Yes, this may take some sacrifices like not playing on your phone for 20 minutes or watching mindless television for an hour, but if you want to be less stressed out, make a MOVE!
• Print off a monthly 'box' calendar and fill it up.  Every detail.  Use different colored pens for different members of your family or categories.  Print off more than one and plaster it in the places you will see it every day.  Next to your nightstand, in your car, at your desk at work.  keep it UP TO DATE!
• Visualize the day.  When you wake up in the morning-mentally walk through your day and what you want to be accomplished and proud of when your head hits the pillow again.  (This is highly effective for me). If this is too difficult for you to carry through on; set up 3 MIT's (Most important to-do's for the day). Accomplish them.
• Learn to say "No!"  That simple.   
• Complete what you start!   When you begin a task don't go on to another one until it's complete.
• Maintain a clutter free work environment.   A lot of this skill is learned.  You have to train your brain to think like a filing cabinet/tackle box.   If you can do that, your work environment slowly becomes simple and organized.
• Close your mouth and LISTEN MORE!   When you get the urge to interject, be quiet and listen! It's amazing the things you learn about people through just listening observing. 
• TURN OFF THE TV!    This is huge.  I hear some people complain, "I don't have time for that?  When would I be able to manage that? etc.. etc.."  Then in the next breath (of their useless chatter) I hear, "On____ (television show)___and  (television show)___ last night, I saw this person act this way to the other person and they made jokes and drama and I watched it mindlessly for 3 hours!"    Really?!   Get off your duff and be productive --don't whine about how time you don't have.
• Decide a task.  Execute it.  
• Prioritize your work.   Example:   Phone is ringing, dryer machine dings that it's done with laundry, a book needs to be read by tomorrow morning and your child has a bleeding finger tip.  What do you deal with first?  Apply this mentality to tasks-they will disappear painlessly much quicker than you expected.
• Print off a grocery list template.   I have a 2 page Word Document that I print off on a bi-weekly basis.  I highlight the items I need.   I estimate costs and set aside that amount of money in cash-- leave my check card in the vehicle.   Most importantly; I STICK TO THE LIST- do NOT deviate!   That simple.   I use as many coupons as I can to cut back on costs.   I am becoming well-versed in this. 

That's not everything but that's just a few of my tricks that get me through each day.   I hope you can utilize some/all of these as you can to make your life more simple and organized. 

Would You Like Some Cheese With That Whine?

Sorry about that last post.  Believe it or not there are 'weak' days and I believe that was one of them... and today may have been one too.  I missed my boys today.  Normally when they are gone I keep myself extremely occupied with people or an event that I don't recognize they are gone until about Monday morning.

I woke up Saturday morning; and realized they were gone.  It was to be a LOOOOOOOOOOONG weekend.

I did get a lot accomplished today and even found 30 minutes to wander aimlessly around Target (My Happy Place) and not buy anything other than a $30 DVD player (because Carson stepped on our other one this past week).

Nathaniel has been into super heros (The Avengers Movie especially) right now and he has to tell me all about them every day on the tv.  I am not a huge fan of occupying their time in front of the TV, but as single parenting goes-- when I have to fold a load (or 6) of laundry, sometimes the TV is my best friend to distract them.  

 I want to say thank you to all of my friends and family who have been praying for Holly, Ella and Gary over the past few days.  Gary was in a terrible tractor accident earlier in the week and is one lucky guy.  He will be coming home tomorrow and the road to recovery could be hard.  He is SUCH a task-oriented guy, it will be hard for him to sit still.   Please pray that he gives his body time to heal and that Holly rests when she is able-- she is the mother to a 3 month old angel and is just learning the ropes of motherhood as well as caring for Gary! 

Halloween decor is put away and the Turkey Day stuff has made it's way to the top of the basement stairs.  Is it wrong that I want to bypass Thanksgiving and just put up my Christmas Stuff?  I kinda want to put up the outside Christmas lights tomorrow.  I hope it's nice out-- and I will.   I wasn't really in a super Christmas-y mood last year so WATCH OUT, it could get insane around here.  

Next weekend the boys and I are having our Fall Pictures taken by my good friend-- who is A-MAZ-ING with a camera.  She scouted out a location just for us today-- super pumped to see how things go!

That's it for now.

No answers to all the questions



Some days, I just don't know.  I have so many questions running through my mind.   Random stuff.  If someone could pop the top of my head off and drain out all the useless worry and concern I would greatly appreciate it.   I want someone to talk at during my evenings.  It's hard not having another adult in my presence every day as a close confidant and encourager.  I hate this part of being divorced.

Draggin' Dragons

I had a really fun afternoon planned for the boys and I....Downtown trick or treating!   I won't be able to go trick or treating with them on Halloween as I will be in class that night, so I left work on Friday to suit up some cuties in costume.  Some things you just have to recognize are priority compared to work--and THIS was one of them!   :-)  

Little did I expect that the boys would be super dooper exhausted--I had been 'pumping them up' all week (I think I was more excited to see them in their costumes than anything).   So we get home, have a snack and layer up the clothes.  It was close to 'booger-freezing' weather out there and both boys REFUSED to wear their mittens.  Regardless.... we had a good time.

Happy Halloween!