Bring it up to date...

Ok. So, lets see what's gone on in the Massing household since September when I last updated. Whew. Lots really. So I'll go chronologically.... as best I can remember. Since I have lots of pics to share, I'll use some cool slideshows to save space!

October:
The three of us went "hiking" at the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve here in town. It was actually pretty cool - and we did get to see lots of neat things including several gators (baby ones too) and snakes. That's when that trusty zoom lens comes in handy. Then of course we had the normal Halloween festivities - Myka was a "army guy" and our annual pumpkin carving produced a Pirate pumpkin for Myka, and a ghost one for Josh. Then, I love the pics included below of Myka out in the yard catching butterflies. It's hard to see the butterflies in the pics but there are TONS of yellow ones all over!

Myka started Tiger Cubs back at the beginning of the school year and he LOVES it (not sure who is enjoying it more, Josh or Myka??) He's earned several beads, beltloops, badges and such. It's a great thing for the two of them to do together. We've done some cool activities like the Space Derby (had to build a rocket that would launch using rubber bands along a line), Cub/Parent camping trip, BB Gun shooting, and Woodworking project. They also have some cool things coming up where they'll go to a Radio station, and then next month a police station or something similar. In December, Josh and Myka planned the December activities for an Outdoors theme, and they planned leaf rubbing cards to deliver to Nursing home residents, and a trip to the Preserve where they learned from a guide about how animals adapt to the florida ecosystem. Pretty cool, so these are some pics from recent activities (there's quite a few).

Also in October Myka did his belt test is Tae Kwan Do to test for his yellow belt! He did awesome! I was so proud of him. It was such a big accomplishment for him. Unfortunately I lost most of my pics, my Josh's dad took some, I just don't have them on my computer.

November:
We had a great time going to Albany, GA for Thanksgiving to visit Grandma & Grandpa Harris, and the Harris family in Macon, GA too! I love seeing family and even though it was a short trip, we really had a great time! My uncle Mike and his wife Vienna litterally built their house themselves, and it is beautiful! Thats where we had Thanksgiving dinner, the food was fantastic!

December:
Whew! I finally finished my second semester of Nursing School and thankfully got all A's (praise the Lord!). I got a month's break before I just started my thrid semester this week. In December I also was able to get a PRN student nurse position at the hospital, will be about 1 or 2 days a week (8 hr shifts) and will be a good experience while in school, but not too much pressure. I do want to keep my grades up, and I know this semester will be even more challenging. But I had fantastic professors and I really learned so much. I just want the next 3 semester to go by quickly...

Myka got a two week break and our Christmas was pretty good, we even slept in a LOT (some days Myka and I slept in past 10am!). Josh's sister Jenn, & her boyfriend Ivan were here, so we had a houseful but it was great! Santa made a special appearance a few days before Christmas, and then he lost a bell off his suit right on our roof Christmas Eve! We spent Christmas morning here with Josh's family, then headed over to Mom's for Christmas dinner.

For Christmas, Myka really wanted this HUGE Hans Solo Star Wars ship. We had been telling him for a few months that it was very expensive, and we didn't think Mommy & Daddy would be able to get it. He even got teary eyed on Santa's lap about it this year (broke my heart!) but the good man pulled through and Myka was so excited to see that on Christmas Day!

It was hard to get back in the routine this week though, back to reality... So here it is, first week of January has come and gone. I start my full schedule of classes next week (Advanced Pharmacology, Adult I, and Mental Health in Nursing). I have two days of classes, one day of clinicals each week. Then I start my new job here in a few weeks so pray for me that I don't loose my sanity. Myka is back in the swing of school, and Josh's business is starting to pick up a bit. So from here on out, I'll try to keep posting regularly!

Back to school, back to blogging

Ok so I unintentionally took the summer off of posting on here... This came right around the end of June, which happens to be when I started my first semester of Nursing at Edison. So that is my excuse...

Our summer went by so fast....

Nursing School -

First semester was good - but boy it is a totally different style of learning AND thinking. There's this whole thing called "critical thinking". Sheesh I haven't done that since like...high school? 10 years ago! So that was an adjustment, but I have to confess I was super excited to get going seeing as how I already did all my pre required classes a few years ago.

I have less than two years to go - May 2010 I should be done, provided I don't suffer any major mental breakdown about handling school, parenting a first grader, and trying to bring in some extra cash with my scrapbook site, and Junior League, and whatever else.

This was my first purchase (of many to come) of books I needed for my summer classes, and then most I'll keep using throughout the program in addition to others.

Oh and I did manage to get an A in one class and a B (but sooooo close to an A) in the other. Whoo hoo! Now on to fall semester.. this is where I'll start Fundamentals, Health Assessment, and the anticipated clinicals. Yes - with real live patients. Ack!

Here is my addition to the Massing Library of Nursing Books:

Myka - TURNED 7!

In the world of Myka - we had TWO birthday parties, and one celebration dinner. All for turning seven - life is rough when you are that age. The first party was a family one, then we had a dinner with my mom, sis, and brother, then we just had his birthday party with all his friends at Chuck E. Cheese. This just opened here a few weeks ago and it is "THE" place in town these days among kids (and even some adults). So here are a few highlights from the celebrations:

Star Wars is the favorite now a'days

Yes, he is looking like he is sticking his finger in his nose - but he's not. This is Josh, Myka, myself, and my super cool sis who just got done with hair school, and my cute brother who just moved to Tallahassee for college and all the girls chase him around.

Josh & Ang

We celebrated our 2nd anniversary, and wait till you SEE what my sweet husband did for me. I'll have to save that for another post since this is getting long enough.

Josh is STILL working on getting his contractors license but it seems we keep having to jump through hoops....

We did finally move out of our house - that lovely after effect of foreclosure and buying a house at peak market values, and then losing most of my income last year - but we know God does have a plan for us, so we are just working now on getting settled in our new place.

I actually did a lot of great reading this summer (notice the new GoodRead widget on the side (I didn't read all those this summer, are you kidding?) including a great series, the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer which I loved! Yes, it is considered in the Young Adult category but I heard about it and it sounded good so I read the first 3 in the series in less than a week, then my sis and I actually went to the midnight release of the 4th one - and so that was fun too. But I start fall classes next week so we'll see how much time I have to read.... for enjoyment. If you like to read check out the Good Read site - and then sign up so we can be "friends" - it is a cool way to keep track of what you have read, and plan to read, and see what everyone else is reading too.

And then school started...

So this brings us to now - the first week of FIRST GRADE! I can't believe it. I think Myka will have a super year this year and he seems so grown up sometimes now. Here he is on Monday ready for school.

So that is the latest from the Massing household.. I think.. I don't know I probably forgot some major updates but I don't know what they are right now. SO this was a good start...

My sweet boy...

Today is a great day! I got some much anticipated news regarding Myka's school - looks like everything will work out on the financial aspect so that we can keep him there! Yeah!!! I prayed a lot about this, and I know that God has plans for us, and it is such a blessing!

Mother's Day weekend was nice - and relaxing! Here are a few pics of what Myka made for me at school (sniff, sniff) and what he got me (thanks to a hint from me to Josh!)

Can you read it? Awwww....my sweet boy!

And my much desired STARBUCKS Create your own cup - I can add my own pics to this and use it for my morning glass of MILK.

Easter is here and gone...

I can't believe it is almost the end of March! Myka has been on Easter/Spring break for the past week and a half! He goes back monday...

We've had a great, relaxing break. Heck I LOVED the sleeping in part (yes, 7:30 is sleeping in for us). We went to church for Easter Sunday and had a nice relaxing day at Grandma's house.... Myka swam in his play clothes (yes it is warm enough to swim here in Florida in March) and we did his easter egg hunt and all the normal traditions before having dinner. Here are some pics of our Easter festivities:

This past week we just did stuff around the house, Myka is doing Tae Kwan Do now, which he loves, and so he does that on Tues and Thurs after school. So we went to those, he has his weekly Occ Therapy for his sensory processing , and we got a great "Program" for both home and school to follow. At home we will be doing a daily routine of Brushing in the am, afternoon and before bed, his Therapudic Listening which are some really cool headphone that he listens to modulated cd's which we borrow from his OT - he does this twice a day, too. Then we have a little "exercise" plan to help strengthen his coordination, his core and his motor skills. So he does those twice a day except on the days that he does Tae Kwan Do, his OT, or does some other vigorous exercising - then he only does it once on those days.

We've been doing these excercises for over a week now and I can see an improvement in his coordination - and the Tae Kwan Do is also helping a lot - with his coordination, getting exercise and with his confidence!

He already earned his firsat stripe on his white belt and he is super proud! So I'll have to get a pic next time and share it here....

So now we are down to the last weekend of break - then we have the long haul to the end of school - about 8 more weeks without a break! Since his school times spring break with easter break and Easter was so early this year - it will be getting rough towards the last few weeks of school LOL

I also worked a lot this past week on my online Algebra course - since I graduated with my AA about 4 years ago - they changed a match class I had taken from 4 to 3 credit hours. Well now that I'll be applying to the nursing program - I now need that one math credit for the requirements for the program. So I am taking an online Algebra class, which I am seriously procrastinating at - and so I worked this week and getting caught up some.

Still have a plan to apply for the nursing program - the deadline for the day program is May 15th to apply. I just wish I could secure a solid job with the hospital - as my position at the school will be up when school is out the end of May... So I have been doing some praying for something to pan out for me there....

Happy Fourth of July!

Ahhh, nothing like spending a day cooking out & swimming! I love 4th of July! God Bless all of those serving to keep our country safe!

Mother's Day Weekend

Muffins for MOM

This was what I got to enjoy Thursday with Myka! His PK teacher is awesome, and she & the kiddos planned a "Muffins for Mom" event in his class room for Mother's Day. When we arrived, each child came out into the hallway with a rose and got their mom, escorted them into the classroom and showed them where to sit.

We got to eat Bananna Nut Muffins that the children helped make, and had drinks, all with a placemat the children made as well. I just LOVE how Myka writes his name by the way, it is so awesome to see him progessing in writing. He is really growing up! THEN we got to open our gift, a glass bottle that the chilren made using thier fingerprints for flowers, grass, etc. So of course I got to put my rose in it when we got home, and it sits on my counter!