Survival...

Well... I did it. I survived the first week of nursing school. Whew!

Actually, it really wasn't that bad. Although we did have 8 chapters to read on the first night, they did a really good job of easing us into the program. The instructors spent a lot of time explaining the 150+ page syllabus (no joke), and answering all of our crazy questions. They are doing a lot of wonderful things to welcome us to the program, such as giving us free lunch tomorrow to meet with the 2nd year students, letting us off early on Friday, etc. I think it will be a good year! One week down, 11 more to go...

Now off I go to read 10 chapters, do 6 chapters of math, and read two medical journal articles - all by Tuesday! Yipee!

A fire and a good book

All the making of a cozy fall day...

Our first fire of the season...

Listening to "Wuthering Heights" on CD...

and

Making mini freezer meals for busy nights...

Looks like Fall is here!

First day of Preschool

Thursday was another BIG day at our house - Taylor's first day of PRESCHOOL!! For three days, he went with me to drop off and pick up Maddie from Kindergarten. Not a day went by that he didn't ask, "When do I get to go to school?" Well, this was the day!
He was so excited. The first thing he said when he woke up and I told him he got to go to school was, "Yeah, and I get to have pudding!" Apparently he saw that Maddie had gotten pudding in HER lunchbox the day before, so he should get one too. Rational thinking.

When we got there, he seemed a bit apprehensive. He looked SO cute carrying his new TMNT lunchbox. He didn't need to bring a lunch, but he insisted on bringing one - with the pudding. Once he got to his classroom, he found his cubby hole with his name on it, hung up his coat, and went right to playing! He barely even looked back at me as I was leaving. What a big boy!
When I got there to pick him up, it was lunch time. They actually cook a meal for all the children, so he didn't even thing about the lunch he'd brought - or the pudding. Mexican rice with chicken, green beans, and fruit cocktail - yummy!
They all looked so cute lined up at the tables. There were about six kids on each side of the table. When I asked Taylor what he liked about the day, he said the bible story and play time. Sounds like a great school day to me!
By the time we got out the door to go home, he was ready to leave... this picture says it all. I asked him to smile, and he said he was too tired, so his fingers had to help him. Ok, Smarty.

Speaking of smarty, watch this:



Do you THINK he's ready for school? Maybe he could teach them a thing or two...

Who do they take after?

My friend, Liza, found this cool look-alike meter (thanks Liza!) - you be the judge! Is it right?

Who does Maddie look like??



Who does Taylor look like?



Ummmm.... yeah. Shocker, I know.

Maddie N. Norris - Kindergartener!

Can you believe it? I can't! Here she is, though. Maddie is finally a Kindergartener!

Maddie was so excited! This morning when I woke her up and told her it was time to get ready for school, she acted like it was Christmas morning! I suppose for a little one, it kind of IS like Christmas... she gained 11 new friends, a GREAT teacher Tammy, blueberry muffins for breakfast, and hot cocoa after her first day of class - ALL IN ONE DAY! Who can blame her!
This is Maddie's class. Now, because there was already another "Madison" in the class, our Madisyn will be going by "Maddie" at school, which she it totally fine to do. When we walked into the classroom today, all the kids were buzzing! There was a cute note on the board of how we could help our kids get ready for class:

1. Put bags and lunches in their cubbies:
2. Hang up your coat
3. Wash your hands
4. Find your stick (still don't know what that was for, but it had her name on it...)
5. Sit in the circle
6. Give kisses goodbye!


This was the little girl Maddie chose to sit by. Her name is Alli. She had a matching (almost) shirt like Maddie's, which she thought was pretty cool. Maddie made sure to talk to all the kids today. She, of course, has no problem conversing with total strangers. She was so excited for class to start.

When I picked her up, I asked her what the class rules were: No kicking, hitting, punching, being mean, or jumping up and down (that last one was Colby's input, a boy in her class). She said her favorite part of the day was playing in the gym for "recess" - ah, yes, isn't that always the favorite part of any kid's school day?

Here's to a great year!!

Sick boy

When he woke up yesterday, I knew something was wrong. First of all, he didn't wake UP until almost 9:30 am, then he didn't take two bites of his cereal (which he usually downs), then he was yawning all morning telling me he was still tired. At first I thought, oh, he must be growing - because that is a mother's answer to why he is sleeping more than normal

We had planned to go to the park for a picnic, so when we showed up, one thing led to another, and everything melted down for him. He wanted to go home. Then I KNEW something was wrong. When we got home around noon, he laid down for a much needed nap. After a couple hours he was back up, but not much better. Decided he wanted to watch a movie. About an hour into the movie, I noticed he wasn't even in the room to watch the movie. Maddie didn't know where he'd gone either. This is where I found him:

He'd gone ahead and put himself BACK in bed, pulled the covers up, and went back to sleep. He looked so sweet, but it was so sad.

When he woke up, he stayed in bed for a good hour, missing dinner, then decided he needed a bath. After his bath, he curled up with his bear, Boomer, and my blankie in my bed, and relaxed. He looked much better, but didn't feel better, he said.There is almost nothing that makes this kid feel better except being able to take a picture with his mom's camera:Not bad for a sicky. Ten otter pops later, he seems to be feeling a little better, but not healthy. Please pray for all our health as the school season begins. None of us can afford to be sick!

Seattle with friends

On of my most FAVORITE things is catching up with old friends. Yesterday I got together with some of my very favorite people. In my younger days, I was VERY involved in a children's theatre group, Creative Theatre Experience (CTE). It was my life every summer. Shannon, Bethany and Jeremy were all a part of it with me. We are like family. We get together every Christmas break for dinner, but occasionally, we get to see each other MORE than once a year. Yesterday was that day!

Jeremy was back from New York to visit his new niece, and Bethany and Shannon live in Seattle, so we got together for lunch in Seattle. We ate at Gordon Biersch - yummy, then took the Monorail over to the Pacific Science Center to walk around. Of course, the kids were thrilled that they got to ride on a train!

Taylor and Maddie BOTH took to Jeremy... must be the teddy bear face! :-)

They also LOVED playing in the fountain. They kept trying to dodge the water sprays. Maddie got it once - it was hilarious!

I have to put this video on here. Maddie and Taylor were playing this game where they'd throw a cup down the hill, then race to get it. Taylor got mad at Maddie for throwing his cup, and the fit that ensued was HILARIOUS!!

Can you say: NAPTIME?!

Bethany and I at the fountain

The highlight of the trip for Maddie was "driving" the Monorail. The driver was so nice and let Maddie come up, push the horn and decide whether to go fast or slow... Maybe we've just discovered why the Monorail has had two accidents in recent years...

Alas, the day ended, and this was our drive home! What a fun day.

Shan, Bethany, and Jer - thank you! I loved getting time with all of you. See you in three months!

Are you kidding me?!

For those of you (myself included) who have been wondering what my next two years will look like for nursing school, here it is:

NINETEEN INCHES and counting... and THIS is only for the first QUARTER!!!

I think I will use a lot of them throughout the two years, but there are still MORE books to buy next quarter!

Pray with me AND for me!!

Bike-a-thon

As you can tell from the last couple blogs, Maddie and Taylor have been really into riding their bikes lately. Taylor really wants his training wheels off, but Maddie needed to accomplish that first. His will come off soon, I think. He seems ready. They can always go back on, but he is so determined, I bet we'll soon have a blog with the joyous news of his new accomplishment! Until then, here are a couple cute pictures from the week of bike riding.
This is taken at ROCKET DONUTS! It is one of the best kept secrets of Bellingham. I wish it was still a secret to me because I can't stay away!! Think Krispy Kreme - but WAAAAYYYYYY better!

I am so proud...

What a monumental day!




Maddie's triumph! A day none of us will forget!

"Look momma, NO WHEELS!"