10 things I love

Did you know that the tradition of 'valentines' started around the 15th century when lovers (insert French accent) sent flowers, confectionaries, and cards to their significant others to express their love?  Crazy that we're still doing it so many years later, but I for one love to receive a good Valentine.  And this year my husband did NOT disappoint.  In fact, it might've been the best one yet!  He planned and cooked dinner- Stuffed peppers, chocolate covered strawberries, fruit, and wine.  AND he showered me with a beautiful bouquet of flowers that even had some of the same flowers in our wedding.  It was very special.  And then to top it off with a very funny, Reid-like card that had a couple, smiling really big, on stilts on the front cover and the inside said, "Even the dumb-ass things are fun with you".  Perfect ending to a perfect night.  :)  Ha! 
So, in the honor of Valentine's Day and the holiday of lurrrve (insert French accent) I will share 10 things I love.
In no particular order...
1)  My little buddy Jack.  His sense of humor, the way he hugs me and runs to me when he's scared, and his big brown eyes.  He captures my heart every.single.day.
2) My hubby.  His sense of humor, the way he hugs me, and his big brown eyes (yes, the two boys in my life are quite similar).  He continues to capture my heart every day, too.  :)
3) I love breakfast for dinner.  Pancakes, french toast, eggs, bacon, anything...so good.
4) Sleeping in.  I feel very sleep deprived these days and any extra second I get I will take. 
5) Taking care of kiddos at work.  Seriously there is something about caring for a child that makes my heart feel full.  They put a smile on my face even in the saddest situations.
6) Movie nights/picnics in our living room.  We do this often since it's cheap and a) we have to eat and b) movies are fun!
7) Playing the piano.  Boy do I miss this luxury.  Someday I'll own a baby grand...
8) A good glass of Moscato or a Margarita.  Relaxing...
9) May 11th...this year it will be my 28th birthday AND my pinning for nursing school.  Woohoo...can't wait for this day!
10) And let's see...#10 today is reality TV.  Yes, I'm a glutton for crappy TV shows.  But, they are just fun and funny and I can always use a good laugh.

Hope your day was full of LOVE! 
Until next time...

L.O.V.E.

Tonight my little man and I had dinner together while daddy was planning something (likely more details to come as I believe it was a V-Day surprise!).  anywho- Jack looked up at me, mid-bite and said, "Mommy guess how much I love you?"  To which I replied, "How much bub?" 
"All the way to the moon!  That's really far isn't it mommy?"  My heart melted.

Until next time...

Another milestone?!

Today Jack has reached another...er....milestone.  I guess you could call it that.  He has his first case of strep throat.  (ugh)  I feel compelled to write this down since I've kept track of mostly every other 'first' in his life.  And it gives me a chance to update the blog.  Not a very happy subject, however.
This weekend the poor little guy has been running a fever and I had to do everything in my power not to go to Urgent Care.  It's really sad that I have to put so much thought into whether or not we should take him there, all because we don't know how insurance would pay for it.  We treated his fever and cough the past 3 days and this morning he woke up with another 101.5 fever.  So, thankfully our awesome pediatrician has Easy Care hours on Monday mornings and we were there at 0700 for a check up and sure enough, we're positive for Strep!  Interestingly enough I had a sneaky suspicion this was part of the diagnosis.  He smells 'streppy'.  And anyone who's had strep knows what I'm talking about-- rancid strep breath.  Poor little guy was gifted with an awful morning breath to begin with and with strep it's just unbearable.  (he's going to love me when he reads this in 10 years) :) 
Secretly I'm excited to have him home with me all day.  Likely he'll take my attention away from my to-do list, but who wants to do school work anyway.  Procrastination is my 2nd middle name.  We picked up some donuts, gatorade, a new toothbrush (yes nursing friends, the doctor really says buy a new toothbrush!), his meds, and Kung Fu Panda 2 on Redbox.  Pj's are on and we're going to snuggle all day.  (Again I secretly love this sick day)

Here is the happiest sick boy you'll find.  He got GREEN popsicle from the doctor while we waited for the strep test:

Hope this finds YOU healthy!  Until next time...

Procrastination!

Another Monday test = a day full of procrastination.  I slept today for the first time in forever, due to shear exhaustion after this week.  We've been doing laundry, baked some ginger pumpkin bread, fixed some computer issues, updated my calendar, and now the only thing on my list is prepare for my exam tomorrow.  Yep, you're right...3rd exam in 3.5 weeks!  So, instead of studying I'll recap you in the happenings over the past two weeks!

*Just finished our first week of Management in Nursing.  I'm overwhelmed and scared for this semester.  BUT we're almost to February and it's just going to keep moving fast. 

*I've decided to take the NCLEX (boards for nursing) in Kansas.  Kansas does not require transcripts before allowing you to sign up for a test date.  So, instead of waiting until June-ish to test, I'm going to try and test during the last two weeks of May.  I'll be able to get a duplicate license in MO after I pay a small fee. 

*Reid and I toured 10 homes yesterday.  I think we're going to try and sell or rent out our house.  We found two homes that we love and could move into, tomorrow. But, a slight obstacle stands in our way and that's the current home.  Whichever comes first- renting or selling, we'll do...so if you know friends/family/acquaintances that need a home...send them our way!!  You cannot rent an apartment with 3 bedrooms for what you could buy this house for. 

*Jack has been getting great reports from school and I think he's really enjoying being in the 4 y/o's classroom.  He's learning a lot and comes home with the best stories.  We're going to visit a preschool open house this coming weekend.  I'm really excited about this and hoping Jack enjoys it so we can sign him up for school!

*Reid won his fantasy football league and got a nice chunk of change as the prize.  So, after 3 years of nagging on him for spending $50 each year and losing miserably, he finally won.  AND he was smart and put $50 of it away for next year's league.  (Who says you can't train 'em with good habits)  :)

Not a whole lot else has been going on.  Just very busy with school and work and trying to squeeze in family time whenever we can.  Hope this finds you well.
Until next time...

I want I want I want...

I feel like I could get along real well with Brother and Sister Berenstein bears in the "Case of the Gimmes" book.  I have so many things I'd like to be able to purchase, change, decorate with, wear, use, etc.  So, I'm just going to keep a mini-bucket list of sorts and what better place to do it!  Wants (as of 1/7/12):
*New house- big-- 5 bedrooms! With a big backyard, finished basement, and more storage than I know what to do with.  Those are 3 deal breakers as we search for a new home.

*A new car...I know I know, we have 2 really great cars, but there always something nicer and newer.  I fell in love with a car on my uncle's lot, so maybe something like this: 

*After an accident, I'd like to purchase a new screen for my phone...but that's like $180 for parts and labor.  Considering I spent $0.01 on the phone in the beginning, thanks to my upgrade, I probably could spring for it, but I'm also going to have an upgrade in 16 months.  (That's a lot longer when you write it down)

*A maid- dusting, vacuuming, toilets, scrubbing tubs.  Ahh--that'd be wonderful.

*A rose colored watch such as this: 

*A trip to Disneyworld!  Oh how I love Disney and I have been wanting to go with my family for a couple of years now.  Maybe 2013 is the year!? 

*A romantic getaway to somewhere...all I want is a beach, sun, all-inclusive food/drinks, and fun activities.  I think that's doable.  2013 Anniversary trip will happen!

That's about it for now.  I know there are several a million other things I'd like to buy, but these are the main ones I keep thinking about most frequently.

Until next time...

I went to jail...

No really...I went to jail.  But...not because I was under arrest, but because we had to tour there for our Community Health nursing course.  And yes, that means classes have started again and life is off to the races again.  It's a little crazy how much I didn't feel like I had a break, but that's neither here nor there.  I loved getting to spend time with both of our families and we have been blessed with B-E-A-Utiful weather this "winter".  Here's hoping for no serious snow this "winter".  I can't even imagine it, but I would be totally fine with it happening. 
Life around the Kirby's is busy...as usual.  We're finishing up holiday parties this month and I'm working at Children's Mercy almost every weekend.  We will hopefully get to go celebrate Emery's birthday (my cousin's first born) at the end of the month, so maybe even a quick getaway.  We'll see how the weather plays out! 
A few facts/quotes from Jack's world:
1) He's moved up to the 3-4 year old's classroom.  No, he's not 4 and not even 3 yet, but his teacher from the 2-3s moved up and asked if he could move too.  He does very well with her and he communicates very well for his age, so I guess it's good.  He loves school so much and came home after the first day in his new room basically bursting with excitement about all the fun things he was doing.  I love to see my baby happy, so I'm happy too.
2) Jack weighs 37 lbs.  We haven't had him weighed officially on the doctor's scale, but he likes to jump up on ours occasionally and that's the latest weight.  I cannot believe it.  He's solid because he weighs as much as some kindergartners but I don't think he looks like one! 
3) Today he saw a commercial for the Fresh Beat Band concert tour and he looked at me and said, "I wish I could take you to it."  So. sweet.  I had told him that probably a week or so ago when we saw it the first time and he remembered it and said it to me.  Can you say sponge?! 
4) Jack's room has been transformed into a 'big boy' room!  All the baby decorations are down (and ready to sell).  CARS has taken over.  Jack got an awesome sheets set for Christmas from my parents and we hung 2 posters up.  I took his old letters and painted them solid colors to go more with the sheets, instead of the previous jungle theme.  He loves it and calls it a "big kid room". 

That's about it for now.  I'm procrastinating for my 1st test tomorrow; maybe my next blog will come on Thursday next week, since we have another test next Friday....oh the joys of accelerated nursing...4.5 months people.

Until next time...
A few pictures from our Christmas:

 Jack and his new CARS stocking cap and book

 Our little family

 Jack had to pose with this duck

Grandma and Jack made Christmas cookies

Aunt Sarah and Jack matched!

Kisses fix everything?!

This morning my head was pounding (thanks to the champagne I drank while wrapping presents last night).  My little sweet bubba came  in an wanted to go get his breakfast.  I said, "Oh buddy, let's just cuddle for a minute.  Momma has a headache."  He said, "I will kiss it and make it feel better" and proceeded to kiss my forehead.  "Does it feel better momma?"  ....I hated to tell him 'no' because it was the sweetest thing ever!
Until next time...