I did it!

I suppose I should acknowledge my complete disregard for this blog lately. It only seems fair. Sorry little Blog. I still love you.

Umm....so if you didn't hear....

I graduated!!!
(Don't freak out Mom, the ceremony isn't until July.)

A year ago, when I decided to go to school... I never imagined the ride I was in for. I wanted to do something with my life while I had the time. I thought this would be a perfect time for school. I was bored at home and needed some stimulation. I thought that I could really take my time and do well and not be stressed about it. And then everything changed and suddenly I'm sleeping on my friends couches and getting my own place and now I'm a single Mom and I have rent and bills to pay.

Change, change, change. A year of constant change.

I can honestly say, that I probably would have given up about halfway through if it wasn't for my PIMA fam. These people truly became like family to me. We definitely fought like it ;) and there were definitely times I thought my teacher was ridiculous and that maybe she was extra hard on me, and maybe she was. No, she was. In retrospect, I'm so glad she was because I did it. 

PIMA FAM-- I LOVE YOU GUYS! Congrats to everyone! Thanks for putting up with me :)

Life lately, VIA my iPhone

Took Tristan to see Frozen! His first movie theater experience! We had so much fun on our little date night. He was basically the cutest. He loved Elsa and the snowman...but was a little intimidated by the seats because it kept collapsing on him (so funny). He ended up on my lap, which was alright because I got to snuggle him :)

I finished school!!! YAY!

Testing out my AWESOME new running gear/Chirstmas gifts from my parental units. I'm one of those people that will find any excuse not to run. Now I have none...sooo I suppose I should be running daily.....

Sooo.... if you didn't hear. We kind of won the Superbowl. There were lots of "Blue Fridays" in our lives. These boys are either brainwashed or they got their football-lovin genes from Daddy. Tristan was even invited to the "Seahawks party" at daycare due to his Seahawks spirit. They made a poster with all the pictures from the party, which he is very proud to be on. He shows me the pictures every day...as if I have never seen them :)

PIMA FAM! Finally SENIORS!!

Tristan is such a good sport :)

Pre-Valentines Day Fun. Tristan asked me if I was making cookies for Santa... 

I said, "No buddy, these are for Cupid." 

He said, "For CUPID?"

"Yeah buddy. Mommy is trying to butter him up so that he'll shoot someone with an arrow and Mommy can have a man again"

Tristan says, "I want a man"

"Uhh... ok buddy"

"I want a cookie"

#toddlers

 My cuddle buddy. Somehow this kid either manipulates his way into sleeping with me every night... or ends up in my bed by 4am. I SURRENDER kid!

We had a couple days of just hanging out at home after I finished school while I waited to start my extern... things got interesting :)

MY VALENTINES!!!! They were so stinkin cute. I got a little knock at the door and these two little midgets with their backpacks on were standing there with flowers, "Happy Valentines Day Mommy!!" 

It was the best Valentines day yet. 

Last day of class in Stinsonville

I tried to get a picture of our Nike lovin' fam....but I got these cute little faces instead.

Sunday funday with my Wawa (aka Laura)

This is what he wanted to wear...wouldn't take his Nike's off for 3 days. Seriously. 

First day of extern!

Morning vitals <3

5 am is rough.

2013-- In Summary

Wow. Does it seem like I JUST wrote a big long Facebook status about how thankful I was to be DONE with 2012? Well, shooot... Cuz 2013... You beat 2012 with the challenges. Jokes on me!

Kidding, really. So I had a rough year. I ain't even phased. Because you know what? I'm just THAT much smarter, and the smarter I get... Oh boy, watch out world! I'm gettin super smart!

Before I tell you all how super smart I got this year, I gotta start with my obligatory list of sh*t I'm thankful/grateful for...


First and foremost, I'm grateful to my husband (I still get to call him that, right?). For loving me when I couldn't love myself, for standing by me when everyone else was against me, for following me while I was lost and leading me back, but mostly for not giving up on me. No matter the outcome, you will always be my rock. 



For my kids who kept me going, who kept me smiling through the tears, for making me laugh when I wanted to cry, for reminding me who I am, and who I want to be.

&

To those that understood my journey, thank you.

Some might not understand me or my choices and that's okay. I've accepted that some people will just never understand, and some people just don't want to, and that's okay too. To those, well God gave us a middle finger for a reason right?

So on to the next...

2013. 

Full of ups and downs. What a year. It was truly the hardest year yet, but here I am... I'm alive, my kids are healthy, we have a roof over our heads, a fridge full of food, a car to drive, and I'm getting an education. We are going places. I feel extremely grateful for all the hardships of this past year. I have learned so much about myself, about the people I surround myself with, about life, love... the list truly goes on. 

"Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times... if one only remembers to turn on the light."


(I realize that a few people have already seen this, but for my friends and family that do not have facebook...as well as for the sole purpose of this blog--to document my family's journey)