The whirlwind that was June - part deux.

So where did I leave off?  Oh yeah - I'm a working girl again.  When the spring semester began last year a lot of people in my class and some of my friends started to apply for jobs as techs or secretaries at local hospitals in hopes that they would secure a job as a nurse when they graduated.  It was a genius idea and one that I admittedly never thought of.  I jumped on the bandwagon, started applying in March (!), and finally got an offer from a local hospital in June.  I was on Cloud 9.  I loved this hopsital, was certain that I was going to perfect my skills that I had learned in school and the coolest part - I may be able to get a job immediately after I graduate!  Everything was perfect...until I started.  I became so overwhelmed with the training (working 2, 40 hour work weeks) and in my foggy, hazy, mindset that only comes from a serious lack of sleep, I actually contemplated quitting nursing school!  I missed the kids, Scott, my cushy life (sounds spoiled, but it's true) and being in control of everything that had to do with the house and kids.  Thank God for Scott and his words of reasoning in the dark hours....if it hadn't been for him, I would probably be jobless, a community college drop-out and have a serious lack of direction in my life.  Things are MUCH better now.  I only work 1 or 2 days/evenings/nights a week and it's much more manageable.  I'm praying that things seem as manageable when I add 2 days of school to that schedule in the fall.  We'll see.  I only have 10 more months of schooling left and then I can reassess my direction in Nursing come next May.

On another note, I felt so blessed during those 2 crazy weeks to have friends and family so close and so willing to help with the kids.  The kids were shown so much love during those 2 weeks from people who already had so much going on, and for that I'm so grateful.  :)

Father's Day came in the middle of my crazy work schedule, but we definitely took some time out to celebrate Scott, my Dad and Kenny (Scott's Dad).  I am so blessed to have all of these great men in our lives and don't know what we would do without their love and support.  Scott is such an amazing Dad and deserves to be spoiled more than just one day a year - note to self.  :)

At the end of the month, our family and my parents/sister/nephew, all took a quick trip up north to Philadelphia to visit family in the city and in NJ.  My Mom was raised in Philly and has some strong ties to the city so it's always fun to visit and reminisce about the old times we spent there growing up.  It was a fabulous trip!  We got a hotel in center city, spent a lot of time doing some touristy things like a double decker bus tour, a horse-drawn carriage ride through the historic section, and of course lots of lots of eating.  The kids really loved being all in one hotel room and watching them bounce from bed to bed brought me so much joy - haha.  It was really a fun time for everyone!

 Riding all by themselves on the double-decker bus!  They thought they were pretty cool.

 Noah had to ride in the back with his boring parents.

 Rocky statue.

 Sienna and Jen - my favorite NJ cousin.

 Noah LOVED Rita's Italian Ice.

 Scott snuck out early to get us breakfast.  Sunday morning donuts in the hotel.

 And then at 9:30 AM he was sitting at Pat's, eating a cheese steak.  I tried a bite - it was delish.

We even got some playtime at a park.  This park is right up the street from my great-Uncle's house in South Philly.  And my sister and I spent a lot of time here as kids.  (It has since been re-furbished...)

 Here we are in front of our famous horse.  He is friend's with Oprah and was in commercials. 

  Here's the adult table at lunch.  :)  My mom and Dad, my Mom's cousin's Carol and Margaret, Margaret's husband, Joe and my fabulous great-Uncle Tony....who will be 89 in a few weeks!