Bring on the noise...

The kid is back! After a week of vacation in CT with dad, stepmom, kid brother and sister...we have a teenager back in the house and all is well...and significantly louder.

The pugger is happy...

...and so is the Skeeter. Can you tell?

Sam and I had a good week. We enjoyed our weekend grilled cheese tradition last Saturday...

...complete with giggle-fest.

A new friend was added to the menagerie...purchased with his own dough. Meet Nick the bunny.

Cardinal sin of hair...but I cut my own bangs anyway and I quite like them.

My husband is a culinary genius...particularly when it comes to soups. I ate almost the entire pot of this batch of chicken tortilla...not all at once. My love is the shizz.

Skeeter had a buddy come to play yesterday...I made them a fort in the dining room.

Chillin' in the hideout.

Then Sammy and I hung out after his pal went home.

We love blanket forts!

A little afternoon snack...3 2 1 cake. It's 3 tbs of instant cake mix, 2 tbs of water and 1 minute in the microwave. Not the best cake I've ever tasted, however...

...add a little of this combo to the top and it's a lovely, sweet little treat.

We spent the afternoon lolling around in Sam's room and had a funny face photo shoot with the iPad.

At one point, Sam looked at me and said..."I love your smile."

And I love your smile too, bean.

Pugs, and usually a kitty or two, cover my lap at all times when I sit anywhere.

Today we dropped M off to ski with some friends and then Super Sam and I headed to Burger King for lunch.

When in Rome...

And then we headed to the library to read and watch the snow. I'm typing right now as I listen to Sam read out loud to himself. He is getting to be a really good little bookworm.

Such a fun place to spend a snowy afternoon.

Picture of the week...I should frame this one. Oh how I love a noisy house.
Happy weekend!

A quickie recap of the week...

It has been a really good week...super busy, but productive and encouraging. Everything is feeling pretty good at the moment and the positive flow seems to be outweighing the stress of everyday life as we know it. All is well...lots to be glad about. Below...a handful of things that make me feel happy right now...

A little Saturday adventure with the Skeeter.

The kid's favorite...a big fat soft pretzel.

And I'll take mine with mustard please.

A fun little trip to Build A Bear.

Sammy will take one soft and squishy bear please, Build A Bear lady.

Making a wish on his new buddy's heart.

Tubby time for Sam's new furry friend.

A little brushing.

A new outfit and Scout the bear is ready to come home with us.
This place is brilliant...I would have loved this as a kid. Sammy is very much a boy after my own heart...he loves his stuffed animals and sleeps surrounded by a furry little entourage most nights.

A little lunch...grilled cheese...

...followed by a lovely heart cookie that I am fairly certain contained one whole stick of butter. It rocked...I had one too.

This can of shaving cream...I paid $1.00 for it and I've been using it since before Christmas. I love a good dollar store find.

Shamrock shake season has arrived early this year. I'll say no more.

Hands down...one of my favorite shows on tv right now. I rarely have time to watch anything, but this is one that I never miss. M and I watch together every Tuesday. It just makes me really happy.

Sam tells me that his 100th day of school glasses will help make me really smart. I think the bean just might be right about that!

Sammy's reaction to how his bed looks after I make it up and arrange his buddies just so, makes me feel like a million bucks. It's like I've given him the best gift ever. I've said it before...it's the little things

This week's academic adventure. I seem to be hitting my stride in school...I killed it with a 100 on a quiz and 94 on a three chapter test last week. I can't even express how good that feels. So bring on the bones and skeletal tissues I say! I'm ready.
Happy weekend!

Ease up a little, mama...

Alright...so the word "simple" is definitely not the one that I'd choose to describe anatomy and physiology. It's effing hard, people...but I really am doing my best to take it all one step at a time, while keeping my potential panic attacks at bay. It's a lot to absorb and some nights it just makes me straight up bitchy, but Evan is a trooper and is rolling with me like he always does. He pours my coffee in the "Don't Stop Believing" mug, every morning. Good man. I adore the guy...I really do. And my little guys...they inspire me.

86 yo...and that's a good solid B+. I'm not gonna lie...I wanted to, at least, hit 90 but four points away isn't really all that bad. I'm cutting myself some slack, considering that this is the first quiz I've taken in 20 years...and I'll throw in the full time mama, wife, 40 hour a week job as a reminder...just for good measure. Not bad Jenny girl...not bad at all.

Miles, on the other hand, is an academic powerhouse this year. High honors twice. I NEVER brought home a report card like that. The kid has a serious case of responsibility and self discipline and I can only hope that it'll rub off on me.

And this little skeeter is battling a wicked cold...last night was ugly. No sleep for mama and Sam. He was still bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning though. Me...not so much. Two cups of coffee helped.

Even when he's sick, he's still the happiest little guy I know.

Sammy did a little coloring while I made a and p flashcards.

Study sesh with the Skeeter...

...and Kiko.

BK drive thru and the car wash makes Sammy really happy.

And off we go, bright and shiny. This shot makes it look like it's winter here but it's really not and I find that totally creepy. How about a little snow already!

Finishing off a low key day with a vapor bath and, as always, a smile.

My cinematic motivator for the day. I am completely overwhelmed with school right now and I'm trying so hard to keep this all in perspective...focus on my end goal...helping people through physical therapy. This movie is amazing and at the end, they show clips of children and adults who are handi-capable or who have lost limbs, swimming with this incredible little dolphin. It makes me cry every time and inspires me. Super sappy...it is...I know, but it's good to find little reminders and encouragement in unexpected places.

Back to work.
Happy weekend!