Graduation

Little Brother Graduated!!!

We are all so proud!




We also had our graduation/end-of-the-year party at my work



We made shirts for those of us who are leaving (that's me :-( ) That had the handprints of all the kids on them


And then we went to a giant bounce-house building and did slides and bouncing with the kids! It was so much fun!!



And...family from the mid-west just got here yesterday so stay tuned for pix from our week on the beach, boating, the parks, and parties!

P.S. did you notice the new glasses? ;-)

When You Think You're Having A Bad Day...

Look on the bright side...

When you think you're having car trouble...

When you think you're not looking your best...

When you think you've ruined your pedicure...

And when you think your friends are a little goofy...

At Least you're not them...

Paging Nurse Kari...

On the Nursing front...

1. It's National Nurses Week!!

In appreciation of all the nurses serving out there, all the nurses that inspired me into the profession, all the ones who have helped me along the way, and... all of my classmates and myself!! Which leads me to #2...

2. I graduated!!!



and if that's not enough...


3. I've got a job!!!

Thought it was about time for the blogging world to hear about it. I'll be working at the local children's hospital on the step-down unit. (A step below intensive care, but still critical care, above the general floor) I'm really excited and should be starting around July.

Now all I've got to do is pass my nursing license exam... that very long...very difficult...exam...

Maybe I should start studying! ;-)


Peace, Love, and Nursing :-)

Just Keep Swimming...

The Aquarium, my school's water day, and special needs baseball league!

Goodbye College

Goodbye college

Goodbye long study sessions

Goodbye lbs and lbs of text books

Goodbye free scantrons from the union


Goodbye way too white scrubs

Goodbye 30 minute searches for a parking spot

Goodbye 3 hour lectures

Goodbye sorority I love so much

Goodbye seeing great friends everyday


Goodbye great 4 years
You were good to me
I'll do good with you

Brother's Birthday and Stolen Phone

As you know, last weekend was little Brother's birthday.

We went to the parks to celebrate

For the record, I beat him at the alien shooting ride/game ;-)



On a completely unrelated note...

Last week, while working in after school care at work, I left the room for a little bit. I came back to find my phone sitting innocently on the ground in the middle of the room...

...But I left it on the counter...

It seemed fine, and I thought nothing of it, until later, that night a dinner, I was trying to show someone a picture I had taken earlier. There, I found these:








And about 7 more just like them

:-)

If you recall, I work at a special needs school. For kids with severe motor disabilities (i.e. they can't walk and most can't even crawl) So, far from being mad at them for stealing my phone, I am quite proud of them for figuring out how to get up to the counter to get the phone, how to get to the camera, how to take and save such cute pictures, and do all of this without the other assistant seeing! I am also happy to have these pictures of my cute kids!

Little Brother

18 years ago today...
Little Brother was born

I was almost 4. As far as I was concerned, I had just gained a life size baby doll! (Bless him for not living up to that idea and surviving ;-)

But today...My little brother is:

Handsome, and kinda grown-up :-(

Goofy

An AMAZING musician!
(He plays piano, drums, xylophone, murumbas, bass guitar, trombone, clarinet...pretty much give him an instrument and an hour...now he plays it! He also composes beautiful symphonies and songs!)

A great brother!
(despite our early childhood)

My Forever Friend

...And apparently a lot like the Geico gecko...


Happy Birthday, little brother! You are such a great brother, an inspiring musician, a loving friend, and growing into an honorable man!

Cars...

Step 1: hop in the car
Step 2: hook up Ipod to radio
Step 3: turn on the ignition
.....
Step 3: turn....on....ignition...
*sigh
Step 4: call the friend just left
Step 5: decide to try and jump car
Step 6: drive to Walmart in friend's car to buy jumper cables
Step 7: consult Walmart employee on all the different choices of jumper cables, then buy cables...
Step 8: hook up new cables to cars
Step 9: turn on ignition
....
Step 9: turn....ON....(not this again...)
Step 10: cave and call daddy, then AAA, then eventually really cave and...tow service!
Step 11:

Step 12: pick up car with brand new battery and attachments and throw in the long needed oil change and tire rotation

Step 13: drive on your way!!


And...car shopping?

Not for me though

and not for sure...but fun to look!!

Cars...