Allergies - UGH!!

So, I've always been a winter lover - and the main reasons for that? I hate hot weather, and I HATE allergies!! This year, we've had a large amount of rain - which has caused an even heavier amount of growth - which in turn causes a greater amount of pollen...leading to an unbearable onset of my seasonal allergies.


I've dealt with seasonal allgeries since I was a child, and each year they seem to get a little worse. The past few summers, I've ended up in the emergancy room cause of an allergy asthma attack - and I fear that this year will be no different. I've tried every prescription and OTC drug on the market to help with my symptoms - but with no avail. I wake up every morning like I've been beaten in my sleep - two swollen eyes, a swollen and red nose, and severe throbbing pain all over my face and in my head. To make matters worse, this morning I also woke up with a fat lip - because I've now developed blisters on my top lip from blowing my freakin' nose too much.


It's this time of year that I wonder to myself - why the hell am I living in the middle of the woods?? I'm killing myself living here - but unless I move to the other side of the country, I doubt that moving to town would help any.


This is the time of year that I should be enjoying the nice weather, taking the kids out, and making the most of my 3 months off of school. Instead, I dread going outside. I would love to be able to enjoy things like picnics, hiking, playing at the park - and I do - except for the fact that I spend the whole time sneezing, blowing my nose, and trying to see thru my watered and sore eyes.

Oh, well - I've complained long enough - back to my misery. :(

Graduation Photos - as promised

Here are a few graduation photos that I thought I'd share:

With my parents:

With Jane and Sierra:

With my "little" brother and sister:

Family photo:

Accepting my "diploma":

Summer Lovin'

Well, I did it. I walked across the stage, received my fake diploma (I don't get the real one until after my final grades have all been calculated..should be by the end of the month), and am now a college graduate. I will post pics next time - as I haven't received my photos yet.

It's a very surreal feeling. I am the first of all my parents' six children to receive a college degree and will probably be the last until my youngest sister who is 13 goes to college. My journey is only half over, and in August I will begin the second half at the University of Arkansas. I go next Friday to enroll in my classes and get a rundown of how the next two years are going to go. I'm ready to get that over, so I can devote myself entirely on a summer of no school, no studying, no tests - just fun, relaxation, oh and more fun!!

Even though I really hate hot weather, I'm always excited when summer comes because it means no school, and quality time with the kids. I only work 2 days a week during the summer, so that gives me 5 whole days of doing fun stuff with the kids. Now that Jada is 17 months old (oh my, where did the time go??), she will enjoy a lot more of the activities. We already have our annual zoo trip planned for the beginning of June, and between now and then Jada and I will be doing some fun things with the toddler playgroup I joined. Being that Payton and Brayden don't get out of school until the first week of June, Jada and I have a few weeks to do some activities together - and then we can focus on including the "big kids". This week alone Jada and I are going to "petting zoo day" at Petco and a playdate at the park. Next week there are more fun activities like shopping, "Mom's Night Out" and more playdates. I'm so excited!!

I'm ready for a summer of fun, fun, and more fun - with a sprinkle of relaxation thrown in there. I'm gonna let my hair down, and just go with the flow. I think I'm more excited than my kids are..LOL

Less Than A Week To Go!! WOOHOO!!

In just 6 short days, the day will be here that I have waited for almost 1o years for. I will be graduating for the first time in my life - and with a college degree!!

Last week, I got to go and visit the new campus where I will be attending university next fall. The campus is BEAUTIFUL!! It's very small, as it's just a satellite location to the University of Arkansas but the building is so nice. It really made me put into perspective what I've been working so hard for these past two years.

Thursday was my last day of classes, but I still have finals next week. I'm not really nervous, but it's a "pass or die" scenario so I have to study hard to get the best grades. Even though I've done well in all of my classes up until this point, it is a little scary to be taking a major test over everything I've learned over the whole semester, and that's for each class. So, even though the school part is over - it still means just a couple more nights of very little sleep to be sure that I retain as much information as possible to do well on the finals.

Once this week is over, and I walk across the stage and receive my associates degree, my summer will be spent focused on my kids and just having fun. I joined a couple of "Mommy & Me" groups last week, so I already have some fun activities planned for Jada and I for the month of May. Payton and Brayden don't get out of school until May 28th, so I have almost a whole month to do some fun things with Jada. Then, when they get out of school, we will be going to the zoo, the aquarium, swimming, skating, hiking, and doing some other fun stuff...I'm so excited!

I'm sure the summer will fly by, and then it will be back to hitting the books - so it's important to me to spend as much time with the kids as possible now. They have been so great, as well as Steve, in helping me get this far - so I owe them so much. They have all given me the motivation to keep on, study hard, and make them proud. Even though I'm not done yet - I know that they will continue to give me the love and support I need when I go through University...and I love them so much for it. :)