Wacky Friday was Fun!

Wacky Friday was a SUCCESS at School!

Catholic Schools Week was fun with the big kids this week.

Pipe cleaners in the hair...does it get better than this?!

Of course Miss Carrine wanted to join in the fun. I think she looks like an old fashioned "school teacher!"

Thankful for my extra time with my kids this NEW YEAR!

Catholic Schools Week!

This week is national Catholic Schools Week...the big kids are loving each day.

Monday was "accessories" day. Tuesday was your favorite sports team day (yes, both kids chose to wear Duke apparel, I swear I'm not brain-washing them! ;)

Today was "School Spirit" day.

Lots of fun events scheduled for school this week.

I'm very thankful Jake and I can send our kids to St. Mary's.

Andray and Roslyn LOVE SCHOOL!

Happy Wednesday Everyone...only 2 more days until the weekend!

Congrats Coach K on 1,000 Wins!

What a day for Duke and Coach K!

Congrats on 1,000 wins - amazing come-from-behind victory over St. Johns.

Truly no one better than Coach K!

Can't wait to go to Duke again and watch the Blue Devils in Cameron Indoor Stadium!

Stress Management for Women...

This was inside my fortune cookie on Monday night...quite fitting!

A young woman confidently walked around the room while leading and explaining stress management to an audience with a raised glass of water. Everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question, 'half empty or half full?' She fooled them all ...."How heavy is this glass of water?" she inquired with a smile. Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm.

If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes." She continued, "and that's the way it is with stress. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on."

"As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden - holding stress longer and better each time practiced. So, as early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don't carry them through the evening and into the night. 

Happy Birthday Mom!

So thankful I got to go home with the kiddos to celebrate my mom's birthday with her this weekend!

I love and respect my mom more and more every day!

I continue to be humbled by all the sacrifices she's made for my brothers and me!

Happy Birthday yesterday to an amazing woman!

Nothing better than going HOME and resting with our feet up by the fire place.

Passing on this amazing tradition to our children ;)

Happy MLK Day everyone - lots to be thankful for!

Don't Quit!

What an Adjustment. ..

Well, I've completed my first week as an in-home daycare provider...aka...In-Home Nanny.

This week was an emotional roller coaster for all involved.

I knew it would be a tough adjustment for me, leaving behind 15 years at SCSU and the "constantly on-the-go" schedule. But I absolutely love being back home with my kids, and taking care of another family's children can be trying, yet rewarding. It's yet another blessing in disguise to have this opportunity and I know once we get into a routine and we all have time to ADJUST (and go outside for walks/exercise/fresh air)- all will be good!

God truly does provide - there was no school on Wednesday, which means my business was closed.

I definitely needed Wednesday to re-charge with my kids.

And get our Christmas decorations down and put away!

Literally, took nearly 3 hours to take the ornaments off the tree and get them back into their respective boxes...with the kind assistance of our kiddos!

Of course the big kids wanted to decorate the Christmas tree "One More Time!"

Good times.

Thursday was a glorious day!

I hadn't been outside since Sunday, so I finally got to take the two older girls outside for 20 minutes!

Felt like HEAVEN, even in the 0 degree weather.

Even our big kids love all the new "baby toys" for daycare ;)

...are you kidding me Roz? ;)

Hard to believe a week ago I experienced the BEST Homecoming from work at SCSU...looking at these amazing signs that my kids made and were holding at the top of our stairs and Jake had "I'm Coming Home" song by Chris Daughtry playing on the loud speakers...TEARS! Life is full of difficult decisions and adjustments, but great days ahead for our family!

This TRIO is my life's greatest reward.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Can't wait to celebrate Christmas with my Gram tomorrow...finally!

A New Journey Begins...

Hard to believe this is my last day at work at St. Cloud State University.

I have an incredible opportunity to work from home starting next week - to be home full-time with Carrine and be home when Andray and Roslyn get off the school bus in the afternoons.

I've spent nearly every single day of my life for the last 15 years here on campus.

Talk about BITTER SWEET!

Last night our family stopped by Angie's to officially say Good-Bye to her as well.

(it never gets easier saying good-bye to Angie, even after the 3rd time!)

Talk about an incredible Daycare Provider.

We will forever be grateful for Angie, her friendship and her support.

What an incredible GIFT she's been to our family!

Thankful for the opportunity to have worked in Records for the past 3 years and serve as the commencement coordinator at SCSU - truly a blessing in disguise.

The kids' art kept me going everyday in the office!

I love Andray's St. C logo ;)

I will forever be grateful for the athletic and professional opportunities I had with Husky Athletics!

I've worked with some incredible people the past 9+ years at SCSU.

I will miss those people...but will stay connected.

Talk about an awesome office - a full spread of food for my last day here.

I will miss these great people...

..but my reward is being home with this TRIO!

This isn't good-bye forever...just see ya later!

Great times ahead for our family!

“We are created with boundless potential, and the only way to discover it is to take risks and step out of your comfort zone”

“There will be a few times in your life when all your instincts will tell you to do something, something that defies logic, upsets your plans, and may seem crazy to others. 

When that happens, do it. Listen to your instincts and ignore everything else. 

Ignore logic, ignore the odds, ignore the complications, and just go for it.”

Husky Hot Shots in the Big Gym!

The big kids ended 2014 in fine fashion...they got to play bball on the BIG GYM floor at Halenbeck Hall on Tuesday night!

Of course Andray and Roslyn's #1 fan (CC) was in attendance and dressed in fine fashion!

Roslyn was all smiles on the court!

Jake had front row seats while sitting in press row!

Our future ballers!

Hard to believe I played and practiced on this court for MANY HOURS "back in the day!"

We were proud parents on Tuesday night.

Husky Hot Shots is always a blast!

Happy New Year everyone - hope 2015 is the best year yet!