It's been busy... we are making memories!

First- the baby started kindergarten!  One parent said "you are like a celebrity around here" as we waited for our kids to come back from their assessments.  Nope, no celebrity here, just the 6th kid to enter these halls!  Thinking about it made me a little sad, because we are approaching the end of an era (so I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts!).

Then we were off to the Ward Camp-out... fun and beautiful all at the same time (some of us were sad it was only for one night!)

One night at home and then off to camp in Nebraska for the Great American Eclipse!

View toward where we camped from the lighthouse.

observation deck of the lighthouse

At Sunset

Watching the sunset

We felt that viewing the eclipse in the path of totality was worth missing school (yes even High School) and a 3 hr drive to the North.  To avoid the predicted traffic nightmare, we headed up on Sunday and went further east into Nebraska...

I love this picture, even though it is blurry because it looks so similar to the one taken at sunset the night before- yet it is just before midday!

Totality!

2016 recap...

I think of an accelerated nursing program as a strange form of self inflicted torture.  I loved learning in a classroom setting again and all of the information was so fascinating!  But boy was it hectic, no time to think of anything else really.  But with the busy schedule cam many many blessings.  1st off was the house... it was the perfect location and just what I needed to concentrate on my studies.  I stayed down in Denver during the week and spent the weekends with my kids and husband.  Whenever people were impressed that I was in school with 6 children, I would always mention that my Husband was the real hero of my degree (I couldn't have done it with out his support and help!).

One of my rotations at St. Anthony Hospital

Another miracle was the timing of the breaks.  The first break was in May and it was just when the eldest was finishing up her freshman year and preparing to leave for an 18 month mission to South Carolina.  I was able to help her clean out her dorm and do some shopping for her mission.

While I did miss the MTC drop-off, I was able to spend some time one on one and I thought it was fabulous.  There was time for what needed to be done for this busy mom!

The second break came in August right as the rest of the clan was heading back to school.  So once again, the jobs that mom needed to get done, time was provided for.  Such as, getting a locker at back to school check-in for the new High School Freshman, as well as, photo ID at the Middle School and meeting the Elementary teacher.  And something I have always valued... walking to the bus on the first day! 

There was even time to volunteer during the Ft. Collins temple open house due to a shift in classroom hours!

Then there was graduation (and I got to meet my Brothers's fiance for the first time) and before I knew it 2016 was over.  

We did head to Chicago for Christmas, spending time with our good friends the Nicholls.  We had a wonderful time!!!

Been Away...

I've been away for longer than I had planned.  My mother passed away in early 2013, and I have just been trying to put the pieces of my life back together.  We lived with her for 16 years helping with her care, so it has been a big... "what do we do now" process.
I took 2013 to settle her affairs, then looked ahead in 2014.  I went back to school with the hope to pursue a nursing degree.  I've been taking prerequisites.  And found out last month that I was accepted for the 2016 ABSN cohort at Regis University!!! I am thrilled, nervous and in disbelief that the dream is going to be a reality.
Now I only will have to juggle family, church and school.  In the meantime, I have posted about some of the highlights of the past 2+ years.

Planning for Regis

If I am accepted to nursing school, I wanted a place to crash when the weather is bad or if I have early/late obligations at a clinical... so I bought a house with life insurance money from my Mom**.  It was a blessing.  I did everything wrong*, but it will turn out right in the end.

* I started looking for a place in Oct./Nov. 2014.  We had made two different offers, but they weren't accepted.
This one came on the market, had open houses on Sat. and Sunday( 2 hrs. each). and took offers on Monday.
I was unable to see it because we were snowed in on the mountain.  My realtor said it was the best one yet, so we made on offer (sight unseen, YIKES).  There were 12 offers total.  Several were above ours, but thanks to the clean contract that my realtor wrote, ours was selected.  They did counter (I was super stressed it would be too high), but it was all reasonable.  Now I just need to be accepted to school!

Spring Break

Our oldest wanted another look at BYU before deciding on which school to go to... so it was off to Utah to visit Grandma.

Enlighten

I love the lighting in this picture!

The cool people in the group went on a Conference Center tour.  I love the roof top (views, gardens, story, etc.).

We were able to hear the organ being played.  It was a special treat.  One day we will make it there for General Conference!

Christmas with Friends

This year we decided we were tired of buying our kids "stuff" so we spent money on an experience.  We meet our friends the Nicholls in Chicago.  We can't wait to do it again!

We went to museum of Science and Industry.  Everyone thought it was amazing!  Andrew asks to go back all the time.  He loved the train, indoor vortex and could have spent hours in the "Idea Factory".  The older kids really enjoyed the "Numbers in Nature" exhibit.

We ate lots of great food!  Here is the Jerusalem Grill we went too.  Way too much food, but boy was it delicious.

We also had Chicago style deep dish pizza, and Chinese on Christmas.

We also went up the Willis Tower (formerly the Sear's Tower).  

Being afraid of heights, it took all my will power to step out on the platform, but as you can see, the kids had no problem.

Families are Forever

For Thanksgiving we went to visit family in Utah.  Our Colorado cousins were there and the kids went to the newly remolded Ogden Temple.