Easter Tree

Easter is this weekend.

We've dyed Easter eggs.

Which means it's the time of year for the Easter tree.


I'm not exactly sure when we started this tradition. But it had to do with wanting to paint and decorate eggs, but then not wanting to hide the fragile, beautiful works of art.


I'm pretty sure the tradition did not stem from still having our Christmas tree up at Easter and decorating it with eggs as an excuse to not take it down. But I can't be sure.

Last year, our Easter tree was beautiful.

This year, it's a little...well, scraggly.


And I have no idea if the branches we chose will actually have flowers like last year. With my luck, there will either be no flowers, or ones that smell like the door mat.

It does make me smile every time I walk in the kitchen, so it is my photo for the Happiness Project.


Be sure to check out Leigh at Leigh vs. Laundry, the maker of the the Happiness Project. You'll be glad you did.

A Little Monday Therapy Session

I am NOT in mourning over the fact that my last two consecutive days off until June are now over. I completely DID NOT get used to having weekends off and two whole days of rest and relaxation and family time.

I have NOT been so pre-occupied by the fact that I am starting back in the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) that I can hardly enjoy myself. I am NOT so stressed about it that I have NOT dreamed about the SICU for the last three nights. I absolutely know that it won't be that bad. And even if it were, I wouldn't let it impact my free time. Not me!

I DID NOT hover over the boys as they decorated Easter eggs. I did NOT constantly remind them not to splash the coloring or drip the eggs across the table. I would just let my boys enjoy themselves while we color eggs. And even if I did get after them, I would NOT be the only person who actually spilled egg coloring on their shirt. I am still NOT finding glitter over every surface of the kitchen. Even with that, we absolutely DID NOT have fun!

I did NOT skip out on a time slot previously set aside for studying to enjoy the 70 degree weather. I am completely dedicated to my studies and wouldn't shirk them just for a little sun delivered vitamin D. And even if I did, I would do it myself. I would NEVER make the boys go for a walk with me, even after they DID NOT make it perfectly clear they did not want to go.

Hubster is NOT is a very funny mood today. He has NOT said nearly everything in a Christopher Walken's voice today. He did NOT spend the afternoon before I came home from work teaching the boys all manner of silly finger games. Hubster is a very mature, serious person and would never do anything like that.

I DID NOT laugh when I went to set the table for dinner and found this scene. I am absolutely NOT wondering what the parrots did to the dinosaurs. Only Monkey knows.


When I took the boys to get their mops, um, hair cut, I did NOT decide on a whim to get mine cut as well. I am now totally NOT regretting it.

Yes, I know I look upset and slightly dangerous here. Can you not see the haircut!?

My new fringe does NOT remind me of the '80s or of being 11 years old again. I would NEVER just change hairstyles on a whim. And even if I did, I would NOT still be upset about it every time I look in the mirror. Not me!

Whew! That felt good.

Go check out MckMama and find out what everyone has NOT been doing this week.

Growing

Proof that winter doesn't last forever

This blog carnival is from Leigh vs Laundry, my newest blog obsession. She posted 28 days of photos of things that made her happy. I was going to follow suit, but weekly is all I can manage.

Not Me! Monday: Back at Work

Thank goodness for the blogosphere. Otherwise, I would never know what day it was. Even if I did NOT go back to work today after a week of vacation.

I am NOT upset at all about being back at work. I would be completely bored if I stayed home. Right?

And right now, there is NO WAY that I am blogging at work. I am much too professional for that and jump right on my work. I do NOT post-pone reading ICU chest x-rays. I would never. Nope, not me.

I am NOT totally regretting just asking if I could get extra days off for boards instead of using up my vacation studying for and taking them. I am a completely forward, upfront person and always just ask. And I do NOT have a mini panic attack everytime I think about my board scores and whether or not I passed.

I DID NOT gain 3 pounds over the last week. I would NEVER use stress of boards, and then vacation, as an excuse to eat junk food and ice cream. And there is absolutely NO way that, after six months of not eating beef, that I ate a hamburger last night. I would stick to my diet no matter how delicious a portabella and swiss burger sounded.

Bug and I did NOT spend nearly four hours playing Wii together yesterday. I am always good at finding very productive, non-computer/television-based activities for my children to do. And, even if that were true, there is NO way I would do a victory dance when I beat Hubster's Rhythm Kung-Fu score. I am always very classy and a very good sport.

I knew that I had to wake up early this morning, so I DID NOT stay up late watching Revolutionary Road. And since Hubster had no interest in seeing the movie, I would NEVER lure him into the family room with ice cream. I did NOT cry during the movie. I never do things like that.

I am NOT completely dreading February. I do NOT dread overnight call and internal medicine more than anything.

How about you? Anything you DID NOT do this last week? Stop by MckMama to see what everyone else hasn't been doing.

Coming to Realize

Between the sudden increase of stress and busyness I find myself in right now, the need to blog is stronger than ever and the time to blog is less than ever. I really need to stop complaining about being busy, because, apparently, it can always get worse. Even with the desire to blog, all my mind keeps thinking is the most sensitive test for pheochromocytomas, or diagnostic studies for sickle cell anemia, or the antibiotic of choice for atypical pneumonia. Seriously, I almost wrote a post about things I re-learned while studying. And then I realized that NO one, not even me, really cares.

So in order to satisfy my need to write at the moment, while saving everyone from a regurgitation of medical trivial, I'm borrowing a terrific post from Gina.

I’ve come to realize that my job. . . is an amazing opportunity. Despite how tired it makes me.

I’ve come to realize that when I’m driving. . . I appreciate small town Midwest living even more. Minimal traffic suits me.

I’ve come to realize that I need. . .to get to bed at a decent time.

I’ve come to realize that I have lost. . .a great deal of the fear I used to have about life.

I’ve come to realize that I hate it when. . . people think I'm a nurse. No offense to nurses. I couldn't do their job. But seriously...

I’ve come to realize that if I’m drunk. . . I'll probably have some 'splainin' to do.

I’ve come to realize that certain people. . .will just always rub me the wrong way.

I’ve come to realize that I’ll always. . . love my children, no matter how noisy, messy, or stubborn they are.

I’ve come to realize that my sibling(s). . . are going to continue to get birthday cards from me. Now matter how old they get.

I’ve come to realize that my mom…is the most patient woman I know.

I’ve come to realize that my cell phone. . . is apparently a "dumb phone."

I’ve come to realize that when I woke up this morning. . . my to-do list felt nearly overwhelming.

I’ve come to realize that last night before I went to sleep. . . I wasted several hours of potential study time crying while watching "The Soloist."

I’ve come to realize that right now I am thinking. . .that blogging at work is probably frowned upon.

I’ve come to realize that my dad. . . is where I get a lot of my personality traits from.

I’ve come to realize that when I get on Facebook. . . I promise and promise myself that I'll just be on for a second. And then I get sucked right in.

I’ve come to realize that today. . . is going to be more productive than yesterday.

I’ve come to realize that tonight. . . I will take time away from studying to read to and kiss my boys goodnight.

I’ve come to realize that tomorrow. . . means the boards are one week away. And then I will be done! For now...

I’ve come to realize that I really want to. . . .escape the snow and go somewhere warm. Why did I move to the Midwest again?

I’ve come to realize that the person mostly likely to repost this is. . . more likely to post it on Facebook than they are on their blog.

I’ve come to realize that life. . . doesn't just happen. It gives us opportunities and then sees what we do with them.

I’ve come to realize that this weekend. . . is the perfect opportunity to make Rice Crispy treats while freezing temperatures keep us inside.

I’ve come to realize that my friends. . . are few but precious.

I’ve come to realize that this year. . . will undoubtedly surprise me, despite being so planned out. Last year sure did.

I’ve come to realize that my husband. . . is amazingly patient with me and continues to support me no matter how difficult it gets.

I’ve come to realize that maybe I should. . . lose the baby weight from the last two "babies" before I seriously contemplate having another. Although all the posts about new pregnancies is making me slightly restless...

I’ve come to realize that I love. . . the new friends I've made blogging, summer, and sitting by our fireplace.

I’ve come to realize that I don’t understand. . . why people think the BCS is a good system for determine the college football national champion.

I’ve come to realize my past. . .doesn't limit my future.

I’ve come to realize that parties. . .don't appeal to me as much as they used to.

I’ve come to realize that I’m totally terrified. . .that the terrible, heart-breaking things I see at the hospital could happen to my family.

I’ve come to realize that my life. . .continues to be on track, heading in the direction I've/we've worked to hard set.