Long over due.

I have to retake Biology. I ended up with a D+ in the class. I was so mad. The least I could have done was fail it utterly and completely. But a D+?! That's almost a C. Luckily, I don't have to redo the Lab that went with the class, which will save me about 5 hours a week. The summer class is already closed, but I am going to talk to the professor about adding it on anyway. Usually they say yes. 

I am also going to take a class on Quickbooks during the summer. I know Quickbooks is supposed to be soooo easy, but I am one of those retarded people that makes a mountain out of a mole hill. I think this class will help me with running our business here at home. (We own a small business out of the house that deals with commercial cleaning.) 

This week is a very busy week. Our kids have their last day of school on Friday. Which means a whole lot of last minute activities at their school that I have to help with (I don't really mind, I actually miss helping out at their school), including one very special 8th grade graduation dinner and ceremony, you know C thinks he is no longer a child because he is starting high school next year. 

The kids are very excited for summer break. I am too. I can't wait to have them home so we can sleep in, go to the pool, sleep in, go on little day trips, sleep in, and just be. It will be a nice break. And then week two will pass and I will realize they are driving me crazy and that they won't be going back for two more months...

Sunrise

I just had to share these pictures too. They have not been doctored in any way. These are the originals.

I love desert sunrises!

Random

I was going through some pictures and just had to share these two. We were at a baseball game kind of late in the evening and these two could not stay awake. 

I just love these pictures! 

I have a Birthday Boy!

My oldest turns 14 tomorrow! 

Luckily, we gave up birthday parties about 4 years ago. We do parties at "special" ages now: 5 because this is the first year they are in school, 10 because it's double digits, 13 because this is officially the teenage year, 16 because you can drive, and then 18 because I can finally kick them out of the house!! (I will admit that I do like to throw one at 6 or 7 just because.)

On the "off" party years, the kids get to invite one friend to come over for the day and have dinner, play games, and just hang out. They love being able to invite that one special friend and it makes the party years that much more special. 

Back to my oldest. He was born 5 weeks early at 5 pounds 3 ounces. He was so tiny, I bathed him in the tiny bathroom sink. Now, he wear's a size 13 men's shoe and is just about 6 feet tall and he has another 6 or 7 years to grow! 

In two years he will be able to drive and in four years he can move out. 

I can't believe how fast the time goes and yet, not fast enough (because the boy has a serious attitude problem at times.)

Meet my brother.

I was going through some pictures this morning and found these of my brother that I just HAD to share with the entire blogging world. 

Every Thanksgiving, my family comes to Utah from So. Cal. to spend the weekend with us. We have a lot of fun together. On Thanksgiving, there is usually a bit of drinking. Most of us are used to it and some of us are still building up our tolerance...

This can't be comfortable.

And never pass out while your sisters have control of a permanent marker and your feet:

Semi-Promotion

I got offered a promotion at work. The title is Med Tech. A Med Tech is a CNA who is allowed to give out medications to patients. (At least where I work). The only problem is they want me to work the middle of the night shift. Yuck. 

I took the position. I told my boss that I would give it a try. I am nervous about being able to stay awake on that shift, but it will only be two nights a week. I went through a whole pro and con list and the pros for taking it totally out weigh the cons. 

1. It will look really good to have this title when I apply for the nursing program in the fall. The program is extremely competitive and any job experience and promotions within will help, a lot.

2. I get a little raise. Money is always a nice incentive.

3. Most of the residents will be sleeping and it will provide some good study time. 

I also want to find out if the building has wireless. I would really like to bring my computer. It would help me stay awake. 

Wish me luck! 

Finals are next week and I have a TON of studying to do. I can't believe the semester is almost over. I am so excited. Now I am just praying that I pass my biology class. If I don't, I have to retake it. Which means I can't take anatomy in the summer and I won't be able to apply for the nursing program until the spring. 

Yeah, no stress there! (Definite sarcasm here)

Cinnamon Rolls

For some really yummy cinnamon rolls:

Take this recipe: The Pioneer Woman Cinnamon Rolls 

and this frosting:

Caramel Glaze

1/3 Cup evaporated milk

2 Tbsp. brown sugar

1 1/2 Cups powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

In a small pot over medium heat, mix the evaporated milk with the brown sugar, stirring constantly, until the mixture starts to boil. Remove from heat. Add in powdered sugar and vanilla and mix with some sort of electric mixer until creamy, about 2 minutes. Pour over cinnamon rolls. 

If you want enough frosting to cover ALL the cinnamon rolls from The Pioneer Woman, triple the batch. 

I really like The Pioneer Woman's dough. They turn out great and I can freeze a bunch of pans before letting them rise. (When you want cinnamon rolls, take the pan out of the freezer and set on your counter. As the dough defrosts, they will rise.) I just don't like her glaze much. 

Unfortunately, there are no pictures at this time. As soon as I make some more I will try to remember to take a picture before we devour them. 

Weight Loss

For over a year, I have been participating in a contest at my kid's school. I have been apart of a Biggest Loser contest. Each person had to put in $100. to participate and at the end of the contest someone will receive a large chunk of money, about $500 this time. (Last time, the winner won $2000. We didn't get very many sign ups this time.)

Until lately, I haven't really cared about trying to lose any more weight. I lost 28 pounds last spring and I was happy with where I was, 154 pounds. A little thick, but I hold it well. 

Over Thanksgiving and Christmas I started to hover around 160 pounds. Not good. I did not want to go back up to 180 something again.  But, I just didn't have the motivation to get it off. Quite frankly, I just didn't care. With all the pressures of life right now, it wasn't a priority. 

About 2 weeks ago, I decided to go ahead and try. I somehow had the motivation again to start losing weight again. I normally do this by counting calories. This works well, don't get me wrong, but I don't want to count calories anymore. So, I decided that I was maintaining my weight with the portions I was eating, I am now going to eat 1/2 of my normal portions. Instead of a whole sandwich and a side for lunch, I eat 1/2 of one and a smaller side. My two year old eats the other half and she gets all excited that she get to share with mommy. 

It's working. I started 2 weeks ago at just about 160 pounds. Last week I was at 155.5 pounds. 

Tonight when I weighed in: 151.4 pounds. 

I am just about to reach my first goal of 149.9 pounds! I haven't been that small since my oldest was a baby. I just can't believe it. 

Goal for the next week: To lose 1.5 pounds. 

4 Weeks Left

My semester ends in 4 weeks! I am so excited. I just hope I don't blow it here at the end. 

My first week off is the week of May 1st. Which means, I will get about 2 weeks home while the kids are still in school. Hopefully, I will take those couple of weeks and really organize the house back up before everyone is home for the summer. 

I do know that MY summer is going to be short lived. I start Anatomy sometime around June 1st. Time is flying. I get to apply for the nursing program in September. Wow. 

Oh Shit. I have to get my shots and background check done. 

A very shitty weekend.

Turns out I was pregnant. I miscarried on Friday night. While we would have loved this baby very much, now is not the time for another kid. Trust me. I would have to quit school because I can't go through the nursing program while pregnant. 

It still wasn't very comfortable. It was quite painful actually. I once had someone tell me that a miscarriage really early on was slightly more painful than menstrual cramps. My Ass ! My menstrual cramps feel nothing like that did and I would have only been 5 weeks along. I ended up taking 800 mg of Ibuprofen to ease the pain. I never have to take anything during my menstrual. 

Saturday I woke up late and was feeling pretty good. So, I decided to go to one of our local grocery stores and get donuts for the kids. Of course I had to eat one with them. A cinnamon roll. They used to be my favorite. Unfortunately, this cinnamon roll didn't sit well in my tummy. I got to have the lovely chance of throwing up four or five times throughout the rest of the day and feeling very yucky the next. 

The only good thing about my weekend: I only got to work one day.