This weekend...

This weekend, I actually broke out my camera for a good amount of time....although I could shoot for 8 hours a day and think that it isn't enough...I fooled around a little bit and got these shots:
The only thing that would have made this picture better for me would be catch lights in her eyes...it was never going to happen with her back to the window in our living room.
I love this picture of Dylan - the window is to his left...where you can see most of his face...one catchlight in the eye closest to us...
This is the two of them playing something together - I wish I had enough frame to catch that. Melody was taking a nap at the time...
Finally, a picture of my handsome husband - always an unwilling subject...all I can say is that he better start getting over it...there are only so many pictures of the kids that you can take...thanks for letting me take this picture of you in Dad's new recliner.

If I can get permission from my friends, I'll post pictures that I took of them at a party we attended this weekend...Happy 30th Jess!!! 30 is the new 21 - actually it's 20-10 and better than 21 because you've learned a whole lot over 9 years!!!

The test is over!

Congratulations to me - my first A&P I test is now done...how'd I do? I felt ok after the test was completed. I think I did as well as I could, considering that I was overly hungry (but not hungry because I was overly nervous) and wound up about the test. I got to school mid-morning and didn't stop reading until 3:00pm - the test began at 3:30pm.

My friends said that my blog needed some pictures ASAP - so here's what I took pictures of today...
These big white areas are adipose tissue - bettern known as fat cells...and no, they aren't mine but I have plenty like those... =) And that little brown thing on one of the cells - just dirt on the slide.
These are simple cuboidal epithelium...these are found in your kidneys...
This is a mucous membrane - the little white things are goblet cells that secrete mucous...these ones belong in your intestines.

I did get the quick chance to take this one at the hockey rink, when I picked up the girls while Dylan had practice...
I wish Melody was looking at me too - Angelica keeps losing teeth...see the little space in her mouth...there's already a tooth there - she just lost it 2 days ago.
I was fortunate enough to get this one of Melody - I wish she was looking at me. I am forever wishing that she was looking at me!

Another test at school coming up in a week - a lab practical test...identifying different bones, tissues on slides and markings....shoot me already!

Poor Dylan - he had to leave practice early because he came down with the flu...thankfully, he is the last. Adam got the fatigue version of the flu...I can't wait until spring - and the end of flu season!

Today's the day

My first Anatomy & Physiology test...I have today off since I'm working the weekend and will be studying most of the day until the test this afternoon. Will let you know how it goes - keeping my fingers crossed for a 90 or higher...

STUDYING LIKE CRAZY!!!!

I spent most of this weekend, recovering from the flu and studying like crazy for my first Anatomy & Physiology lecture exam. It's on Wednesday - I have learned over the years that I am not a crammer...and so I study as I go along and then at the last minute, freak out needlessly because I usually do a pretty decent job studying.

I'll let you know how it goes on Wednesday after I take the test...Adam is working day shifts this week...it will be nice to have him home at night for a little while. Maybe I'll get to take pictures of him interacting with the kids...

Back to work tomorrow - despite a snow storm that may be due to bring 10-13 inches of snow - we finally got rid of all the snow we've had for a majority of the winter only to have it all come back overnight tonight. I think the kids will not be going to school tomorrow. Lucky them...that will also mean that it may be very quiet at work tomorrow - which is lucky for me since the beginning of the month always brings many things to do in the office.

Hope you like my little MP3 player...these are my favorite songs for the next minute or two.

I'm a pathetic blogger

I have become a pathetic blogger - not posting anything for 8 days is just plain wrong. I should go to blogger jail...let's see what have I done in the last week....

Our 9th wedding anniversary was last Thursday 2/19...we went to see Dirty Dancing on stage. Pictures were not permitted but I snuck this one in...the dancing was excellent and the guy who played Billy also sang 2 numbers in the show and he was unbelievable!!!

Baby was ok but I don't think anyone could be Johnny Castle except for Patrick Swayze - the dude who played him was a great dancer...he was the 3rd understudy of the regular guy who plays Johnny...we'll just leave it at that.

Last week was February break for the kids but Angelica was sick with the flu; she gave it to Melody and now I have it too. Thankfully, I got it the worst. For the beginning half of the week, I could barely speak (I'm sure a few people were thankful for that too) and then yesterday, I finally went to the doctor who told me to stay home for the rest of the week because I had the flu. (If I can stand up tomorrow, I'll be back at work...which may not be wise, but I'll take my chances.)

I was going through old pictures in my library and found these:


These were taken last August - at the National Night Out Against Crime - that took place at Campanelli Stadium here in Brockton - The Army National Guard brings out a rock wall that they use in training. This is Dylan climbing the wall...with his Mickey Mouse Crocs on.

This picture was taken right before Dylan got yelled at for jumping into our friends' pool (that they are not supposed to jump into).

Both those pictures make me want it to be summer today - I'll take warm and sunny...and for warm, I'll take 55 degrees right now. Spring is coming...just not right now...but it will be here soon.

What I've been up to

Lately, I've been scrapping for myself - I did all these layouts between Friday and Saturday night. I'm a very slow scrapper...especially when the tv is on and I'm trying to catch up on everything in my DVR.

A while back when I first took a one day photography workshop with Karen Russell, I bought two of her scrapbooking kits...and of course, I'm only breaking them out now. I believe these kits are no longer available (you used to be able to get them on her website but she's all sold out). This kit is called 10 Reasons. It's just an absolutely wonderful introspective idea for a scrapbook.
I apologize right now for not having a 13" scanner/printer (I'd end up a hybrid scrapper, I think, if I had one - I'll put it on my "when I win the lottery" list) - I took these pictures of my layouts on the floor of the kids playroom.

Reason No. 5 - Because Every Moment I have is Blessed (this is Melody).
Reason No. 8 - Because I hope that one day, she'll say that I did it all (this is Angelica).
Reason No. 6 - Because someday he'll be a better man than most (this is Dylan).

Reason No. 3 - Because this family defines me (one of my favoritest pictures of the three of them).

All the materials came from a kit. All the materials (except for the cardstock backing) are from the Narratives line by Karen Russell for Creative Imaginations. I love their stuff!!! You can order directly from the CI website or support your local scrapbook store and get it there. All the photos in my layouts were 8x12 - not your typical size for pictures. I ordered them on scrapbookpictures.com - reasonable prices for larger prints and at $2.00 an order for shipping (no matter how big the order) - you really can't beat it!!! I never like putting up my scrapbooking work - I'm overly critical of myself.

Other pictures I took over the holiday weekend...
Little Miss Melody - I can't even remember what she was looking at...but this look on her face is what defines her best - curious and observant (or nosey and spyish...)
I like any picture with the three of them together looking at me - even if their smiles are in the awkward stage...
I love this picture of Adam cuddling with the girls watching tv - while he's not thrilled about me taking candid pictures of him, he'll get over it...and too bad if he doesn't.
Love this picture of Angel - my living room has a very big picture window that faces North - so there is a fair amount of light that comes through that window.
Finally, we had lunch yesterday at the Rainforest Cafe and scored seats right next to a fish tank. I actioned this photo with an action called Sharp Shot Color Pop Pro from ezactions.com. I'm not altogether sure how to use that but it made this picture pop! Took this picture with no flash using my Canon 50mm f/1.8...had to crank up my ISO to 800 - making it a little noisy (not so apparent here but would be if I blew this picture up).

Anyway, no school this week but it is the week to catch up on my histology project (don't ask) - it's for A&P I. No news on the city layoffs as of yet...I'd rather not talk about that. It's our anniversary in 2 days and I don't yet have a card or a gift...better get crackin'...
that's all for now...

Finally fixed it

Yippy - I finally fixed my blog. The black and pink design was super cool but the little ad for pyzam.com (where I got the design for free) was killing me.

Gotta go to work this morning and figure out some kind of family friendly Valentine's Day activity for after work.

DETERMINED TO TAKE PICTURES TODAY!!!