Sweet Pea's New Found Talent!

PuRe JoY!!!!

Have You Ever Had a Day Like This?

Apparently, so has Sweet Pea! ;0)

It's Birthday Time!!!

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

Someone in our house is having a BIRTHDAY today!

I'll give you a hint:

He is funny, crazy, spontaneous, kind, loving, protective, helpful, driven, intelligent, dependable, loyal...

A terrific dad...

An incredible playmate...



Doesn't take himself too seriously...


Is attentive...

Comforting...

And, he is our ROCK.

Happy Birthday, Nurse Boy!!! We love you!!!

Makin' Memories

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

This is our last weekend of summer before the kids are back to hitting the books and I am back to packing lunches. I just thought I would share some pictures of one of our summer traditions:

A surprise trip to Crown Center!

It is always a surprise to the kids as to when we will go. I love making things a surprise! It has become a bit of a tradition around here. Can you see the sparkle in their eyes BEFORE we told them what we were doing today?

Look at their reaction AFTER we told them! (They are dancing, in case you can't tell.) We are makin' memories, people!

Our first stop was Kaleidoscope. It is owned and operated by Hallmark Cards and is every kid's artistic dream. Plus, it is FREE!

Next stop, the Hallmark Visitor's Center. Also FREE!

We worked up quite the appetite, so we had to stop at Fritz's; where the train delivers your food and the grease delivers... well, other things.

But, the munchkins loved it! (It wasn't free. Nope, but those smiles just might have been worth the over-priced grease patties.)

Then we hit the Lego Exhibit. FREE, yet again!

Family photo! We really do love this city.

Here we are walking over to Union Station to watch the trains. (FREE! Are you seeing a theme here? If we are anything, we are resourceful!)

Then the boys got all white trash on us and ran through the fountains in their clothes. Of course that was FREE! And, surprisingly, legal.

Summer, we will miss you!

Weather You Like It Or Not

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

My brother works with my son's idol, Gary Lezak. Gary is a local weather man who is also known for taking his dogs to work with him. Dimples got to go to the station last week to meet Gary and Stormy. Dimples loves the weather and can tell you the highs and lows each and every day, HOUR BY HOUR.

I pretend I am fascinated. He really is.

Uncle Kelly arranged a special one-on-one meeting for Dimples. He got to answer the phones, play on the green screen, spend time with Stormy (the dog), and watch Gary in action. It was quite possibly the highlight of his summer.

Here is Dimples watching Gary hard at work.

Dimples loved the fact that Gary took some time to show him the ropes.

What do ya think? Do we see a new weather man in the making?

Here he is answering the phone and talking to another local weather man who was in search of Gary.

Thank you Uncle Kelly and Gary for a memory that will last a lifetime!

"Lily" Tails!

Or maybe I should title this, "Peer Pressure."

(I need to preface this post with the fact that technology and I are NOT friends. Not. At. All. But, please notice the very impressive transformations to my photos that I did, in this very post, all by myself. Yes, using technology! Who knew this was in me? Certainly not my husband. Oh, wait. I used picnik.com. But, did I mention that I did it all by myself... with a little help from picnik.com?! Go ahead... read on. Check out my talent!)

Sweet Pea has a friend named Lily. When the two of them get together, it melts my heart. They are both such sweet little girls who love to shares laughter and giggles.

And, apparently hair styles.

The last time Lily came over, she was sporting some adorable pigtails. The kind that rest on the nape of your neck. I have always placed Sweet Pea's pigtails high on the sides. I know what your are thinking... WHO CARES?

Sweet Pea does.

She will now request "Lily Tails" when I put her hair up.

And, why wouldn't she? She does look adorable, if I do say so myself!

(I just love this photo!)

I have grown fond of the "Lily Tails" myself.


I like to think that Sweet Pea has a sense of style, not that she has just given into peer pressure.

I'll keep telling myself that...

Monday's Random Musings...when I should be napping!

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

I am exhausted.

We had a wonderful 4th of July. It was full of food, fun, fellowship, and fireworks. It was NOT full of sleep.


So, staying with my Monday tradition, here are my random thoughts:

*** During our last trip to Costco, I let Nurse Boy talk me into a case of Coke Zero. I am a fan of Diet Coke. Turns out I am not such a fan of the Coke Zero. Therefore, I am now the proud owner of 144 cans of a beverage I won't drink. Here's hoping Nurse Boy LOVES this stuff!

*** Completely unrelated, (it IS called "Random Musings," people) I am also the proud owner of a year's supply of toilet paper. Something tells me that Costco purchase was a little over the top.

*** Bruiser lost his second tooth last night. After the boys were tucked into bed, Dimples pulled Bruiser's tooth out with his bare hands. They were both delighted.

*** What I wouldn't have given to have had the opportunity to yank out one of my brother's teeth! Although, I think Dimples was gentle and loving. I am not so sure that would have been my first instinct :0) Maybe that's why he never asked me...

*** It DIDN'T rain on our parade...although it sure did try! Man, did we have a lot of rain this weekend. But, it was dry and cool for the parade and fireworks.

*** Dimples shot off fireworks for the first time this year. This was the only picture I got since I am an overprotective mother. I had to put the camera down and get Bruiser and Sweet Pea to safety. I know I sprouted at least 20 more gray hairs just watching Dimples and his fireworks display.

*** Lastly, I love watching this relationship. Her daddy is her protector. He can make everything better just by being present. Does that remind you of anyone? I learn so much about God by watching my children. When we allow Him to be present, He just makes everything so much easier.

I hope you all had a wonderful 4th!!!!

Parades and Candy and Fireworks, Oh My!

We are starting our 4th of July weekend a bit early. Nurse Boy is taking a 4 day weekend. Don't you worry, it is not all fun and games around here. He has an assignment due this weekend. YES, this weekend! So, he is going to be hogging my computer over the next few days. It is time for one of us to get a laptop. That will not be happening any time soon because the economy is in the toilet and I have three children whose goal in life is to eat me out of house and home.

I hope everyone takes time to enjoy your family this weekend. Celebrate your freedom! Celebrate our awesome military! We are a blessed nation and I am so proud to call the USA my home!

We will be hitting our local parade and fireworks show.

Have I told you how much I LOVE parades?! Have I told you how much Nurse Boy HATES parades?! Guess who wins ;0) After nine years of parade going, Dimples is a PRO at scoping up the candy from the street. I know, I know. He is quite talented.

Bruiser is a fan of the candy, but still winces at the loud sounds. His talent is amazing! He can throw down Smarties like no one's business!

Sweet Pea is all about having a good time with friends and family! And, who can resist those bows?! The best $20 I've ever spent.

Oh, I kid. Nurse Boy, you can breathe now. I would never spend $20 on bows. Or, who I?

Ah, here is my man.

Yes, he is pictured here in PUBLIC.

With a t-shirt that says, "FRUITCAKE."

That was a gift from my mother a few Christmases ago. She thought the laugh was on him. She was wrong. Since he loves to wear this when he is out in public, I would say that the laugh is on me. Add the hat and the flag shorts and you would think he was 65 years old. I guess he is comfortable in his own skin, wouldn't you say?

I would say that you should pray for me.

I hope everyone has an awesome and blessed 4th of July weekend!!!!!!

Wanna Sleeper Sofa?

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

This is what we are doing today! Having a garage sale. Everything is priced to sale. The dust is free.

Notice how Sweet Pea is "shopping"? She is having a hard time parting with some of her precious toys that she hasn't played with during the last year. Until today.

Oh, and do we have clothes!!!


The boys are running a little baked goods stand. They are raising money for a local charity. I got this idea from my friend Ruby Red Slippers. It keeps them busy and feeling useful. They have made over $20 so far. They are so proud!

Sweet Pea would be their best customer. If only she earned an allowance.

I mean, how could you resist this face?!

(I personally think he is going to make more then his parents, who have a driveway full of stuff.)