It's Official

My husband has his BSN!!

Today was Ben's graduation day. Words cannot express how proud I am of him. It has been a very long five years. We have both worked so hard to get to this point. The light at the end of the tunnel is finally here. The working 40 hours a week, while going to school full time (for both of us) are finally over.

We still have quite a ways to go but we are WAY past half way there. He has his diploma, he has a FANTASTIC, (way more than we hoped for) job, now all that is left is to pass those boards!!! We will be leaving Sunday for a much needed week vacation to the lake house and then it is time to HIT the books HARD, one last time. Well... at least the last time for the next two years. Then it is off to Graduate school for my hubby, but for now... we hit the road for friends, sun, boating, TONS of food, and fun!!

Congratulations, Uncle Ben!
SIUE Nursing Bar Crawl 2010

Graduation Day

Step Up For Jack

This is Jack.

Little Peanut

Jack has an extra chromosome. This is known as Trisomy 21 or Down Syndrome. What does this mean for Jack? On one hand it means that Jack is an extremely happy little boy! It also means that Jack and his family get to be part of one of the happiest, most loving communities on the planet. You can read about Jack's family and his newly found extended family here at his mommy's blog. www.justjackjack.blogspot.com.

On the other hand it means that Jack will grow up just like any other child. He will laugh, he will smile, he will roll over, he will crawl, walk, talk, run, play, learn, read, write, sing, dance, swim, play soccer, etc, etc, etc... It will just take Jack a little longer than most. Jack will have many difficulties along the way and will have more medical struggles than most. Other than that, Jack is just like you and me and all the sweet little babies born every day. Jack is a pretty special little boy. He has made my life, and the lives of everyone around him a little brighter, and he will continue to spread his love every day.

Now here is your chance to spread a little love to Jack and children all around the world like Jack...

Click the link below and support Jack in his walk to spread awareness and love!

http://www.firstgiving.com/brandimckenzie

Thank you from Jack, his family, and mine,
Lori Mc

Baby Jack

This is Baby Jack! I call him Peanut. He is the sweatest little baby boy in town! I just found this picture of him and needed to test out my flickr blog function. So, I thought I would post this adorable picture of one of my favorite little men. Here he is ladies! The amazing, adorable Jack, Jack!!!

A Momentous Occasion

Every family has their own special holiday traditions. The one tradition that seems to hold true for most families is coming "home for the holidays".

This year for me, that meant getting to see some old friends. My high school friend Alison very rarely comes to A-Town for the holidays since her mom moved to Chicago, her dad moved to Texas, and she now calls Washington D.C. home. However this year she decided to come to good Ol' St. Lou and pay some old friends a visit.

This meant a momentous thing: Kari, Abby, and Alison all in town at the same time! Since high school everyone has gone their separate ways. Alison to Chicago and then to D.C.; Abby to San Fransisco, and then New York; Kari to Springfield, MO, and then Chicago; and me to Chicago and back to St. Louis.

Though we all have led much different lives we all still love to do one thing: Party with the girls!! Though I get to see KO quite often and go to visit her as much as I can I rarely have seen Abby & Alison since High School. The holiday was a great excuse to get together and an even better excuse to have a few too many drinks with a bunch of old friends!

So, without further ado, here are a few drunken, really bad quality snapshots from our night out in A-Town:

***Not pictured but also out for the night with us were Sam & My hubby, Benjamin. note: Jon's wife stayed home to relax because she is preggers!!!

Alison and KO

Alison does not like this picture; I think it is fabulous! :)

 Jeremy and Kari

Me and My Kari O

Alison, Me, Kari

Me and Jon

New Winter Sweaters For Our Babies

JO and A.J.

Jenny & Alice

Jenny Olive & Alice June

AWWWW Babies!!!

Kelly is Funny When She is Angry

Kelly sent me an e-mail this morning and it made me laugh so hard I just had to post it. I am sure she did not find it amuzing as it was happening to her but I found the way she told her story quite witty. Her e-mail to me follows:

So, here’s my morning:

I get up and everythings fine, I leave outa the house early! In time to stop at starbucks YUM!

So, as I’m driving, I realize I have no money for parking... How perfect that I’m right next to the exit with the gas station right there. “Cannot complete Transaction”. So the guy tells me they are probably updating the machine and to try again. I do, like 5 times. Nothing. So I ask him where another gas station was and crossed my fingers that I wouldn’t get lost.

So, I then remembered I actually knew where another one was. I go there. Make my transaction.. “Error.” So I try again and make my transaction, the receipt spits out “Withdraw $20.00” but NO MONEY CAME OUT!! I was like ohmygod you must be joking. Now I’m down 20 bucks and didn’t even get it! Ugh!!! Where’s another gas station MA’AM!?

So, I drive alll the way back in the opposite direction of work. Finally find another gas station.. “Cannot Read Card.” Oh, you’ve got to be joking me. I’m gona try again.. “Unauthorized User”. WTF OMYGOD NO IM NOT!!! “Ma’am what does that mean?” She’s never heard of that response before.

F*CK F*CK F*CK!

So, I end up parking illegally, storming into my bank and demanding to know why my card won’t give my money. He explains that he doesn’t know why none of them went though, but it didn’t say the $20.00 was withdrawn.

I was soooo mad at this point, I stored into my office illegally and now everyone is complaining that it’s too light in here! I’m like people! I’m trying to brighten my mood! F*ck off! It’s fine!

All I know is that if I go out to my car today and there is a ticket on my car, I WILL cry.
Oh, did I mention... I wasn’t even able to get my starbucks :’(

#1's of My Week

#1 Song played on my i-pod:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGXDzqnJ-zw

#1 Soccer player: tie between my Ben & my Owen. Ben won his soccer game 10 to 4! Owen scored a hat trick at his soccer game!

#1 dinner: Sunday night. Roasted Garlic Chicken, Stuffed Zucchini, Mashed Potatoes w/ skin, and a bottle of our favorite St. James wine.

Ben's victory dinner after his 10 - 4 win.