a night in the city

Last night was so much fun! Dave, James, and I went downtown to eat at the melting pot and to see a christmas carol at the Goodman. James has been asking to go to the melting pot since he loves chocolate covered goodies. He didnt care too much for the cheese part. He liked the meat and the salad and LOVED the chocolate part. It was so much fun. After dinner we walked to the Goodman and saw a wonderful performance of the Christmas Carol. James and I are huge fans of the story.

being a doc student...

On November 16, 2010 Nancy McWilliams, Les Greenberg, and Judy Beck completed the Gloria re-make films at GSU. We spend the day watching them and talking with them. It was really awesome to get to just chit chat with some of the greats. That evening we had a dinner with the president, dean, provost and several other staff and students. We were introduced to the school and were able to speak about our future goals and aspirations...it was pretty special

pictures of fall

way behind

So what is new.....
We have had a busy fall but nothing too overly fun or exciting. James finished fall ball in the beginning of Oct. He is still enjoying it very much. We went apple picking with Ben and Leah the end of September as our yearly tradition. too bad I've been swamped with work to enjoy all the apples. James just finished his first quarter of 5th grade and I midterm of the sememster. The doctoral program is going well for me and I am enjoying it. However it takes up most of my time. I spend mondays at school working in the counseling lab and helping assist in teaching a class, then I see some clients at V & R Behavioral. Tues I spend my day in class, Wed and thur am I am still working at the dermatologist so that leaves me with fri, sat, and sun to clean house, get ready for the next week, and study. I am busy, but thankfully I don't feel stressed. Dave has been doing a lot on the basement. We are hoping to have it painted by thanksgiving :) It is looking amazing and am very proud of all his hard work. this past weekend was halloween and James went to a party and out with his baseball friends. He is really beginning to mature with all his social activities (school dances, roller rink on friday nights, ect), but yet has found a new foundness of climbing in bed with me at night. I like to read in bed and dave likes to watch tv on the weekends and when bed time comes james has resorted to coming in bed with me and talking my ears off until he falls asleep. It is really great.
I am really looking forward to the next 2 months. We will be hosting daves family for thanksgiving again, christmas shopping, classes end the 7th of dec and I am off until Jan 18, we are going to the christmas carol at the goodman in two weeks, ect. Even though I hate the cold I LOVE LOVE LOVE this time of year.

out of the mouth of babes...

Yesterday James killed me with two random questions....first we were in the car on the way to his game and he asked "if you sneeze, will that make the baby come out?" after I said no, he continued to argue his point. Then after his game he was getting in the shower and asked if he could have a hair cut so i asked him if he wanted one tonight. he replied "no, this weekend, but can you pluck my unibrow?" So after his show we took care of that and he climbed in bed with me (the second time in a week), talked my ears off again, and fell asleep

Its the simple things...

Friday night James had his first school dance. When he was in 4th grade I remember him coming home and saying he didnt want to go to 5th grade b/c they had dances....at that point I told him kids dont really dance they just hang out, but he didnt have to go if he didnt want to. Friday I picked him up from school and he asked if he could go to the dance. He went home and changed his clothes and had a great time. Dave and I picked him up and went home. When we got home Dave and James took showers and I climbed in bed. While Dave was still in the shower, James climbed in bed with me and talked my ears off for an hour until he fell asleep. Our main topic of conversation was about soft blankets and the power rangers blanket I made for him when he was little, and how he would like another one like that. It was too cute

Sooo proud

James has been really improving over the year with his baseball. Tonight he hit a home run. The excitement I felt as he crossed home plate was indescribable. He was sooo excited.

It has started....

I have completed my first week of chaos (as I call it). Actually, it wasn't bad at all. Ive been anxious to start this week, but dreading it at the same time. Monday I started working in the lab at school. I really like it, and find it helpful. Later that afternoon I met with a fellow classmate of mine and worked on an online class that I am helping her teach. By time I got home that night, I felt pretty excited about the new opportunities I was experiencing. (along with the fact that I wasnt at work and I got to sleep in 2 1/2 hours extra!) Tuesday I started class. My first class is pretty intimidating and a lot of work. The second class is really interesting and more my style (paper writing and take home work). After class I headed to my counseling job and saw some clients and set up some new client appointments. It was at that time I started to get some major anxiety. I'm so super excited with what is going on, but so many firsts in a 48 hour time period does a little number to the body. I was fine by bedtime. James started fall ball on wed. thur i worked at the derm and at the lab. Today Ive been home grading and doing homework. Its been a great week and I hope I can continue the positive energy and not get drained.

bears training camp pictures

bears training camp

We went to the bears training camp a few weeks ago...it was pretty neat for the kids. they have special roped off areas for the kids to get close to where the players come in and out of the locker room. James and his friend Jacob came with us and our friends John and Stacey. The practice itself was pretty boring (and explains why they didnt win one pre-season game) and they ran out of food before the practice even started so we were kinda hungry. After the practice the players sign autographs if they want. James brought with a football and got 4 signatures...since you cant read them its hard to determine who they were. John saw 2 of them sign...but I cant remember who they were.

summer beach pictures

more summer pictures...

summer fun...

We spent a lot of time this summer swimming...at the splash station, my moms, the beach, and boating...I dont think there was one week where we didnt have our suits on

Summer is almost over :(

I am feeling such a huge mix of emotions as summer is coming to an end. I am....

HAPPY: I organized all my pictures, went to a lot of car shows, read some good books, swam A LOT, got a good tan, relaxed, napped, went for bike rides and walks with the dogs, played with James on friday instead of cleaning the house, organized my holiday bins and all my closets, remodeled my office (well its in process), and pretty much touched up everything i wanted to around the house.

SAD: I wont get to do all those above mentioned things soon....James will also be going back to school, Ill be crazy busy again to the point where there won't be much free time.

ANXIOUS: school is starting and it seems scary. It is going to be a lot of work....more than ive ever experienced, but there is also going to be a lot of great opportunities such as meeting famous/ influential people and learning above and beyond anything i could imagine.

EXCITED: I will be cutting my hours at Southwest Dermatology, Ill be working in the lab at school and helping teach an online course, and hopefully beginning to build my client hours at V&R Behavioral


ahhhhh see Im just a big mix of emotions...not sure if im coming or going. A major part of me wants everything to slow down and the other part wants me to move forward and start all the new aspects of life.

enjoying summer

I am truly enjoying my summer this year. It has been several years since I have had a summer off of school. I really wanted to take advantage of my time off before the next 3 grueling years begin. Baseball has kept me busy, but besides that I have done a lot of things I havent been able to do because of time. First off I am working one long day (10 hours), and 3 short days (7.5 hr), my short days end at 2:30 which gives me plenty of time to do stuff when I get home. I still have my fridays off, which used to consist of housework since the rest of my weekend was spent on homework, but this summer I have been enjoying my fridays with James and his bff Jacob...We've spent most of our fridays at the pool. I'm so thankful that we are having a nice warm summer. I've spent more time at the pool this year than I have in the past 3 years. Its been great!!! Besides the pool Ive been enjoying a lot of ice cream, long walks to the movie store with the dogs, and bike rides. Last year we were told there was a zip line off of one of the bike trails by our house. Dave and I finally took a ride to see if we could find it. Initially we were skeptical, but since it was suppose to be close to where the park district build dirt bike ramps we thought maybe they had other activities. Well after a very very buggy bike ride we found the zip line....attached to play ground equipment. the zip line was for small children...big disappointment. oh well...we had a nice bike ride. summer is half over...so what can I do before aug 31?!?!?!?!

Baseball

Well the baseball season has officially come to a close for the summer. James improved so much over the past few months, we couldnt be prouder. He really seems to enjoy playing and is already looking forward to playing fall ball (along with cross country) His team didnt do too well with a regular season record of 3-14. The last game of the season was against his best friend and they won! (he even threw out his friend at 1st base to end the game) He was pretty excited that they won since his best friend is a really good player. After the regular season an in house tournament began, two losses and the season was over. They lost the first game which put them into the loser bracket, but then they won the next 3 games (of which were played at 7:30 fri night, 1pm and 7pm Sat...AND it was 90+ outside) The rain allowed a few days off, but unfortunately that game ended in a loss (to James bff...go figure) Overall they took 4th place out of 11 teams...not too bad :)

the last piece of the puzzle....

Whew....after several month of studying and waiting, all the pieces of the puzzle have been put together. In March I defended in order to graduate, in April I took my licensing exam, in May I was accepted into the doctoral program, and in June I graduated and passed my licensing exam. I have never been so happy to be done waiting...I am very thankful and blessed that everything has worked out. Now hopefully I will be able to sleep at night again. I can truly say LET THE SUMMER BEGIN!!!!

Graduation day....

June 12, 2010 I walked the stage to receive my diploma from Governors State University- Masters in Marriage & Family Counseling

Big Announcement!!!

Just when many of you thought I was done with school....I have decided to go back again this fall. I have been accepted into a doctoral program at GSU where I will be the first graduating class. I will graduate with my EdD (counseling education and supervision) I am excited and very nervous.

Graduation Party/ Birthday party

James and I shared a party memorial day weekend. The party went wonderful and I am very happy with how everything went. Thank you to all who came and made the day extra special for us.