He is 6

My sweet boy is 6 today

He woke up so excited for the day

We let him skip school, cause we are cool like that.

His first request of the morning - to open a certain gift that had been on the counter since it was delivered with the mail on Saturday.  He was SO, so eager to see what was inside.

Clearly, his two side kicks for the day were eager as well.

This angry birds crazed kiddo was in total delight as he dug inside...

The most exciting present of the day...

Oh, he was SO thrilled!

 His brother, not so thrilled about it not being his birthday, cried because he wanted new toys too...my 6 year old saves the day and gives one of his new toys to his brother.  Cause he is cool, really cool!

R and his angry bird collection ;), He would want everyone to know he has 19...and is just $3 away from having enough money to buy another one.  I wasn't kidding when I said he was angry birds crazed!

Cheeseball in the back seat on the way to Red Robin.

 Angry birds make an appearance at his birthday lunch as well.

 Cheers to being 6!

 This picture, oh it cracks me up.  So very typical of R, K, and J...

Loprinzi boys diggin in to the delicious-ness

 My Kippy.

 Another birthday gift form the mailman came in the evening.  An exciting surprise from Grandma!

 My favorite 6 year old, with his funfetti cake.

After a full day of sweets and fun we headed out trick or treating.  As I was getting the kids geared up I said "Paul you gotta grab a camera and get photographic evidence of how people in KY do Halloween..."

Granted we do live in a neighborhood where everyone has large lots...but still.  No wonder KY is one of the top leading states for stroke...(yes, that is a tractor, with a trailer attached for carrying people from one house to the next)

And finally, my three loves in their gear...I couldn't post just one, because they are too stinking funny!  Poor Kip is feeling blah from his ear infection, but goodness R is sure a goofball, and J copies every moved he makes just with a few second delay.

and I had to post this artwork my 6 year old made...I LOVE his scarecrow painting.

Costume Party

Just a little fun, with the littles, because they won't always want to try on costumes like this.

Pumpkin Patch

78 degrees.

Took all three kids to the pediatrician, this time to get K's ears checked out.  Sure enough...an ear infection.  Ryk is on day 2 of his antibiotics from his ear infection, and Jov is just a snotty mess, give it a couple days and we'll be back in for her..

And we...yep, this picture about sums us up.

I had plans.  Brilliant, fun, keep us busy all week long, type of plans - as this was R's week-long, fall break from school.  But then they all came down with this yuckiness. I'll count my blessing and be thankful that he has this break to rest, recover, and recoup.  Clearly, a slowness of pace was what they all needed.  So instead of trips to the park, and adventure hikes, etc...we have enjoyed being home, snuggling, reading books, and watching Redbox dvds.

But after realizing it is October 24th, and we still hadn't made it to the pumpkin patch, and our gorgeous 70-80 degree weather is going to turns doomsday on us tomorrow, I decided a trip to the pumpkin patch WAS happening.

Even with them being sick.

So I called P, told him to meet us at the patch after he got done teaching.

There was complaining as we got our shoes on, and complaining on the car drive "this is SUCH a long drive, are we EVER going to get there"

It was a 15 minute drive...

a long 15 minutes.

and I was rethinking this bringing 3 sick kids to the pumpkin patch idea.  But we arrived, got out, and I'm not sure if it was the pumpkins or the magic from sunshine, and shorts, and outdoors....but it was perfection.

  

 and seeing these three littles enjoy this, made the bickering in the car so very worth it.

 He, is handsome.  So, handsome.  Especially when he is carrying around such a cute "accessory."

Now, and then

October 2012

October 2012

October 2012 I can't keep this giraffe still to get a good picture of the back...

October 2011

Second guessing

The thought of being a nurse practitioner is overwhelming, and seems like a role too big for me to fill.

And I second guess if I am smart enough.  To do this program.  To be an NP.

It is a rough spot to be in.

Especially when I feel like I do a pretty good job as wife, mama, and RN.  I've got that balance down, I can do all three, and do them well...finally.

I know I felt this feeling 3 years ago as I was in nursing school too, and now I feel like it is just second nature being at work.

So maybe, someday, I'll feel the same as an NP.

Perhaps it was the fall break from classes, or the difficult topics in pathophysiology.

But coming home, to a soft place, where I feel like I know what I am doing.  It is therapy.

Tomorrow I'll be mama,

and with a clear head, I'll be back again in class.  Because I stretch myself.  Always.

To do more, learn more, and BE more.

Cause I'm not throwing in the towel.

Yet.