Delinquent...

I have been so inconsistent in writing and every time I sit down to catch up I feel slightly overwhelmed and incredibly guilty that it has been so long since the last time I sat down to write....and catch up. An obvious conundrum in overcoming obnoxious feelings of guilt.

With that said, I am here and I am writing and I have about a million and one things I'd like to talk about. Let's see, since March a number of rather large events have occurred and in no particular order I will list them here, possibly with an accompanying photo. In the event there is no photo, chances are the moment wasn't documented in digital format (yet another deficiency of the Working Mother).

Easter

Jackson's second Easter was a bit more eventful than his first, but like the first one it included dinner with the Nelson's and time in the backyard. Max and Jack hunted for eggs, ate some chocolate and watched a movie together. The parents grilled steaks and chatted. It was a really lovely afternoon.

Miss Linda

Jackson's teacher at school left her job for one closer to home (she was commuting about 50 miles one way) and subsequently to her pre-teen son. This truly was the best choice for her as a single mother and we totally get those hard choices have to be made sometimes, but it doesn't keep us from being very sad to say goodbye. She was so incredibly loving to Jackson and so incredibly patient and helpful to Robbie and I. Jack's other teachers are of course amazing and we are also very fond of Miss Nikki, his new lead teacher, but there will always be a very soft spot in my heart for Miss Linda.

The University of Kansas School of Medicine - Masters in Public Health

As daunting as the graduate school application process was, I now look back and almost think, "Wait a second, that seemed too easy." I was accepted into the one graduate program I wanted to be accepted to with the only provision of graduating with my undergrad degree. It's taken me a few weeks to be able to say this but I am really proud of this accomplishment. It was a competitive program to get in to and I did it. It is nice to know all of those years of working in healthcare, when it seemed like the wrong place at the time, paved the way. I kind of feel like I am finally catching up with myself educationally and professionally.

Graduation

Well, it only took about 16 years and $50,000, but I finally graduated college with my bachelor's degree. Robbie threw a lovely party for me including some of my favorite friends and family and food and drinks. After all of our hard work to get ready for the party do you think we took one dad-gum picture of anything that night? Heck no. It's all up hear (visualize me pointing to my head) and I suppose that will just have to do.

Paris & London

I suppose there are many, many reasons to travel to Europe. I have chosen graduation and the years of studying art, art history and French to be mine. Aunt Lonni and Uncle Mark are making this trip possible and now that the semester is over and the summer is upon us I am in full planning mode for our September European Getaway. There will certainly be more to come on this topic.

Jackson

My Darling Dangerous One remains to be a source of total amusement for Robbie and I. He is nearing two years old (!!!!!!!) and talking up a storm. I feel like with a blink of the eye he went from my sweet, cuddly baby to my loud, rambunctious little boy. There are moments when I catch a glimpse of that little baby boy, but they are fleeting and arriving with greater intervals of boyish chaos between. I am perfectly convinced that he will never be as cute in his life than he is right now. Say what you will about the Terrible Twos, I happen to love them.

So now that you are somewhat caught up I can, once again, sleep at night. I'd like to promise regular updates, but I will only disappoint you and myself. Life is moving along faster sometimes than I feel I can handle. The moment things appear to have slowed down I am hit with milestones like balancing on a skateboard, a second birthday, "more cupcake pwweeaassee" and the prospect that my little baby will only be that for so long.