Gross Anatomy...literally

Today was our first dissection of the semester and it's not like I haven't done this before but for some reason today's lab really grossed me out! There I was gloved, gowned, and ready to go but when I held the brain in my hands, I was ready to walk out the door. I'm not sure if it was the formaldehyde smell, the squishy feel of the organ in my hands, or the look of the cerebellum that made me queasy. Even though I was gloved, I've washed my hands at least twenty times today. I'm glad I had breakfast before class because here I sit ten hours later and I still can't eat.

Another Great Weekend

The Tubiolo's had another eventful weekend.
Saturday was full of soccer....we started out at 12:30 and left the last game at 4:30. We had a Chick fila picnic filed side, because the games were so close together that we couldn't leave. I was so tired and so hot, all I wanted was a shower and a bed but instead we did some gardening when we got home. The kids were so sweaty that I let them run through the sprinklers, along with some of the neighborhood kids.
We then headed in for our showers as the kids were spending the night at my sisters house. Mike had a guys poker night to get to and I had to get ready for a party hosted by the hospital Anesthesiologists, it isn't often that nurses and doctors can hang out and have fun together outside of the hospital so I had to be there and I had so much fun.
Since my sister was grateful enough to keep the kids overnight, Mike and I slept in, I didn't pick the kids up until noon! I owe my sis big time.
Thanks to Brandon, Leo, and John for helping Mike with our new swing set, they worked hard today and it still isn't finished. The kids are super excited and I can't wait to hear the laughter and fun coming from our backyard.

TGIF

Today was the perfect start to the weekend. You know one of those days when you can sleep in a little, get the things on your list done, and still have time with your friends. For me that day was today and it doesn't happen very often. With the help of Ethan's weariness, we were able to sleep until after 10am! This was the rest that I needed to be able to clean the entire second floor and put ALL the laundry away and I did it all in less than three hours!
Took the girls to theatre practice at 4 and came home in time to head to Starbucks with Jessica, Sandra, and Liza for a girls (early) night out. With all our busy schedules, we don't have the time to just sit and chat anymore, so it was nice to get away for a while. We came home around 7 and out came the lawn chairs, it was such a nice night to gather on the street. The kids played well together, the weather was great, and I was content because Jessica let me hold baby Jet. We stayed out until around 10pm or when John and Sandra's pizza finally came, LOL that is another story on it's own.
When we came in, the showers went on and the fam got into their PJs, watched some television together, then tucked the kids into their clean cozy beds. It was a really great day!

Falling for Fall

I am trying real hard to fight my urge to bring out the Halloween/Fall decorations but I have slowly been giving in. My Fall bins have been brought out of storage and I've been sorting through all my indoor and outdoor decorations as well as buying things here and there for preparation. I already bought little pumpkins for the kids and for now they sit in the entry way table peeking behind picture frames and a vase of flowers (a fall bouquet). I bought mums for the front planter and Halloween arts and crafts, that I will work on this weekend with the kids.

Today I gave into my craving for the new pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks, I couldn't wait any longer. I haven't had Starbucks in 3 weeks and I was having serious with drawl. Now that I have had the taste of pumpkins spices frappaccino style, all I want to do is go home and make pumpkin bread and pumpkin pie. Halloween and Christmas bring out the mommy in me. I make more home cooked meals, do craft projects, and have family outings and family in nights. We love our visits to the pumpkin patch where the kids search through rows and rows of pumpkins trying to find the best one to carve. We always have so much fun.

One of our family traditions in the Fall is to watch Nightmare before Christmas and It's a great pumpkin Charlie Brown with the kids. Mike and I watch old scary movies like Halloween, Friday the 13th, and Nightmare on Elm Street.

I love our family nights in when it is too cold to be outside, the crock pot is going, something sweet baking the oven, in our PJ's at 6pm and a good family movie. I cant' wait.

Dancing Ghosts

My kids and I saw this delightfully spooky sight in the front yard of a house in our neighborhood. I slowed the car to get a closer look. It was 3 ghosts that seemed to dance and float in a haunting game of ring-around-the rosy. It's clever and unique, and definitely a fun Halloween craft that will bring enjoyment to all. I'm sure there are several variations on how to make these, but I searched the internet to find an easy one for the kids and I to make next weekend. Here is what I found:
What you will need:
3 white kitchen garbage bags
Lots of newspaper or grocery bags
3 dowels (length should be however tall you want the ghosts to be: about 3 to 4 feet tall) Masking tape5 white sheets (try the thrift store)
Twine
Black marker (permanent) or Black Felt this will be used for eyes and mouth
What you do:

1. Decide where your ghosts will be dancing in your front yard.

2. Create one ghost's heads by taking crumpled newspaper or grocery bags and stuffing them into the garbage bag. Once the dimension is the size you desire, place one end of the dowel into the bag. Tape off the "head" with masking tape tightly to secure it to the dowel. Continue until you have 3 ghost heads.

3. Place a sheet over a ghost head, then secure it with a piece of twine around the neck.

4. Draw a face on each ghost head with the black marker or felt glued on.

5. Push one of the ghost's dowels down into the yard until the sheets touch the ground. Continue setting up the rest of the ghosts, about 2 to 3 feet apart in a circle. Take the long corners of each sheet and tie them to the ghost next to it. It should look like the ghosts are holding "hands." When you finish, you should have a ring of ghosts.

6. Make any necessary trims needed. You can round out the bottoms of the sheets, or cut small tatters in them to flutter in the breeze.

Tips:
When pushing the dowels in, lean them slightly away from the center. It will make your ghosts look as if they are spinning fast.
Take a great picture with your children standing in the center of the ring, acting afraid.

Weekend Review

Friday: Me and Liza took the kiddos to see Igor followed by a treat to Baskin Robbins for ice cream, that was good. My kids had to 'sample' some flavors before they could make a decision...yeah I know that trick. It was a good night with great friends.

Saturday: soccer day. Everyone had a soccer game and they were all spread out throughout the day, the first game was at 9:30 and we were finally done with all the games at 4:30pm. Ethan scored 5 goals for his team. He was so proud. I think he told everyone he talked to that day, about his five goals!!
Sporadically during the day, Mike and I worked on the kids new swing set.

Sunday...I slept all day. When I woke up it was time to head outside for a party down the street where the kids spent the afternoon riding their bikes, throwing a football, chasing each other and just having fun. This weekend was full of activities and we all had a good time.

Cookies & Milk

Ethan did not want to go to school yesterday, he thought he could convince me by telling me that he wanted to stay home that I wouldn't have to be lonely....nope didn't work. I kissed and hugged him goodbye and although it made me sad to force him to go I knew he would be just fine. I thought he was just tired, no one wants to get out of bed in the morning if they don't have to, right.
At first I was worried. I wondered if maybe preschool from 9-2 is a long day for him and maybe he's not be ready for four long days a week, or could it be that he doesn't like his teacher, did she yell at him? Is she mean?....what would I do if that was the case??? These different thoughts pondered my mind all day.
When he came home, he gave me a big hug and he was smiling so I thought okay maybe he was just tired this morning, I had no reason to worry until I asked him if he had fun today and he said "yeah but mommy, I still don't like school". So out came the cookies and milk and we sat at the table for a 'talk'. I was scared to ask but I had to..."Ethan, did something happen at school?" He looked at me, with those big brown eyes, legs swinging, milk mustache, and said "my teacher always....." dunking and biting into his Oreo cookie, "my teacher always says we can't talk in the hall, and we have to stay in our seat, and no running, and no climbing on top of the monkey bars, and it's too much stuff". Then he proceeded to ask "but mommy, if I tell you that I don't like school everyday, can I have cookies and milk everyday when I get home?"
He's so silly!

Mickey's Not-So-Scary-Halloween Party

This has been a great Halloween tradition for our Family.

Event Highlights:Mickey's "Boo-to-You" Halloween Parade!Trick-or-treating throughout Magic Kingdom® Park at numerous locations.Happy HalloWishes fireworks spectacular — where the Disney Villains go trick-or-treating in the sky!Characters decked out in their favorite costumes — so wear yours, too.Some of the most popular Magic Kingdom® attractions.With special entertainment, this party is no trick — it's a real treat!
Select nights September 5 – October 31, 2008!
Visit: disneyworld.disney.go.com for more info.

Baby Blues

My friend had her baby today. I went to see her in the hospital and all those new mommy memories came back. I really miss all the little coos and faces babies make, they are so amazing. As I rocked him I thought to myself, I want one. Yes I have contemplated yet another child. I absolutely loved being pregnant and I love kids, I would have a ten if I could. The thoughts in my head are overwhelming. Bottles, strollers, car seats, diapers, wipes, bibs, teething and potty training, oh my. But you know what, somehow we manage to get through all those things and end the day with a smile.
My three kids are all different in their own way and the trials of motherhood for each of them was a new adventure.
Syd, my oldest: great pregnancy, bad delivery, colic, eczema, jaundice, always had to be held, and didn't sleep through the night for years! But she holds a special place in my heart, because she was the first one to call me 'mom'. I can still remember those words and how they made me cry and I she will be the one I share 'firsts' with first (does that make sense?).
Naty, my second: pregnancy not so well, preterm labor and bed rest at 20 weeks, she came early, and she was breech so I had to have a c-section but she slept through the night almost immediately. Naty was my trial and error child, all I did was compare her to Syd. You know, well Syd was walking by this age, why isn't Naty, something must be wrong. But my Naty has a strong spirit and put up with all my nuttiness. She is such a sweetie, very motherly and big on family values.
For a long time it was just my two girls, and the poor things were the victims of dresses with matching hair bows, tights, or ruffled socks, and patent leather shoes. But they were mama's girls and I was proud to show them off.
Then along came Ethan, my son: perfect pregnancy, repeat c-section, slept through the night, cloth diapers, never had a bottle, teethed with no fever or cries, but took a long time to potty train!! I enjoyed buying the cute little boy stuff, whitey tighties, ties for church, sneakers and jeans, and all those cool new toys.....move over barbie, here comes GI Joe and his pal spider man. He is all BOY and there aren't enough words to express the love a son has for his mother and vice versa. I could go on and on about the love I have for my kids, but you get the picture, they are wonderful and they have made me who I am....mother.
So you can see where seeing my friend in this new mommy moment has made me reminisce, I guess I'll just have to see how long this temptation will last, or maybe I will just give in to it................ :)

Good Old Times

When you drive down our street on any given day, you will see twelve brick homes perfectly manicured accented with the lanscping of bikes, scooters, skateboards, and sidewalk chalk. Two of my neighbors are having babies. One is having her baby on Friday and the other in November.... did I mention that we already have twenty kids on our street!? Two houses are for sale and one potential buyer has two kids, so the number keeps growing.
Ahhh, kids. you gotta love them. I've gotten used to the multiple ringing of the doorbell early Saturday mornings, it's become routine around here, and I am getting better at solving their 'issues'. Having all these kids around definately has some downs but for the most part, the children are great friends as well as the parents. We are like one big family. Our street is highly known for the friendships that lie within the stop signs of Brush Creek. We are known for our nieghborhood pot lucks, bbqs, ladies nights, mens poker nights, family movie nights together and dinner at each others houses. The memories that my children are making will stay with them forever.
Some people go their whole lives without the chaos that I sometimes deal with, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Soccer Moms Play Soccer Too

Today I consider myself a true 'soccer mom' and not because my three children are all playing soccer this season and I have a carpool scedule with five other moms, oh no that's a piece of cake compared to how this soccer momma earned her badge today.
Sydney's soccer practice lacked three players due to school cirriculum night so the coach asked us, the soccer moms, if we wanted to practice with the girls. Who us?? The four of us gauked at eachother (slightly ignoring him) hoping coach would change his mind but he didn't, so we gave in.
As I walked on the field I thought to myself that this could be fun and really........how hard can this be? YEAH, right!!! What was I thinking?! We scrimmaged for half an hour and I thought I was going to die. I was winded and could hear my heart beating in my head!
I want a drink, I'm tired, and I want to stop were the thoughts in my head. I was not going to give up though, I wanted to show Sydney what a great sport her mother is, so when my jewel lined sandals and big rimmed sunglasses took an air ride with one kick of the ball, they came off and I continued. The moms were like the bad news bears, at one point all the moms were gasping and laughing so hard at each other, that we let them score on us, hehehe. But guess what....these ole' ladies won!!! I myslef, made three goals, YAY!!! When it was over, all I wanted was a shower and my bed but what I got was Ethans turn for soccer practice and a CVS trip (a mom's gotta get her deals, right?).
I'm tired now but I bet I feel it more tomorrow.

Hump Day

Okay, instead of studying like I should be tonight - I caved. I knew eventually I would give into the pressure, it was just a matter of time and here is the result…. my new blog.
Today was not as busy as usual, I actually had a moment to put my feet up on the couch and take a nap, in the middle of the day no less!
After a busy morning of getting the kids ready for school and getting myself to classI found myself home at noon in a clean empty house, I had an hour before I had to pick up Ethan and the girls, so I did absolutely nothing, and it was great! I took a well deserved nap.
Tomorrow is another day…I will be home alone all day working on projects and catching up on some organizing and crafting.