transition to 2011

Another year has come and gone. I feel like I just wrote last years post not that long ago. Some times it is great how fast times goes...like I would really love for time to move rather quickly back into warmer weather. I hate this cold, gray stuff. This year was filled with some pretty amazing things:
1. I graduated with my masters
2. Was accepted and started my doctoral program
3. We went to the Dominican as a family
4. Our basement is 75% finished (dave's goal is to have it done by summer)
5. James hit a few homeruns in baseball
6. We had an awesome summer by not being tied down with school. Spent a great deal of time by the pool and at car shows.
7. Daves car won an award at world of wheels
I wonder what next year will bring. This is the first time I have not really looked forward to a new year. I have very mixed emotions. One second I worry about what this year will bring with the economy still not doing well, but the next I realize there is no sense in worrying about the future. No matter what we plan, hope, or think will happen is no guarentee. I look back on the past 2 years and realize that a lot of what has happened wasnt planned and wasnt that great but good things have come out of it. God's plan is not always what we have in mind, but it is the right thing. It just takes time to realize it. So as I told Dave last night...things may or may not be easy, but it is our attitude that will make the difference. If we look at life as unfair, it will be a misraeable year. But if we stay positive, because even though we may not have all we had or hoped to have we still have more than a lot, we will enjoy life more and not waste of year of life.

christmas 2010

Ive realized that I love the holidays....the pre-holiday....I love christmas shopping, wrapping, baking, music, lights but the actual weekend of christmas isnt so plesant. It is way too busy and way too rushed and in the end everyone is exhausted and the house is a disaster. You can't ever seem to please everyone with what time or day to celebrate. But once again we survived and can say that it was a blessed christmas once again. James was very happy and content with his gifts this year. We had a lot of laughs at the Bruinius side and a more calm and quiet christmas on the Kamp side. The cosentino side was lively with all the small children and the enormous pile of presents.

new camera

My christmas present this year is a very nice SLR camera from Dave. I love to take pictures and the digital one that I have just doesn't take the greatest pictures. He let me have it early so I could use it for christmas. Last week I took some pictures of the dogs in the snow to get some practice.....

one semester down...7 to go....

So I survieved my first semester as a doctoral student. It was a lot of work, but I never felt overwhelmed which I am very grateful for. I had a lot of positive support, and I am sure that helped keep me motivated and strong. I will admit there were times when I was working on homework that I asked myself "what are you doing? You could be done and not having to do this right now" but then I wouldn't have the wonderful things I look forward to in the future. I have been done with classes since the 7th and dont go back til Jan 18, so I am enjoying a nice winter break. Our grades were released a few days ago and I recieved all A's. It is a pretty amazing feeling!

our tree this year

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...