Fourth of July

     What a fun 4th of July, though it turned out very differently than planned. I was supposed to work, but luckily when I got there, we didn't have enough patients so I got to go home and go back to sleep. Brad and I spent to afternoon cleaning and rearranging the downstairs, we finally got our new media center put together and I LOVE it! We were going to go to Tom Brown to watch the fireworks, but Raelee started running a fever again and was acting very puny, so we invited Brad's parents over to our house instead. We had yummy jelly hot dogs and watermelon and cupcakes. Then we did our own fireworks outside and then watched a movie. The not so fun part was waking up at 5:30am to vomit in Rae's crib from earlier in the night. The cupcakes were not so pretty to see a second time. Her crib looked like a blue smurf had been squished, Yuck! Raelee's still running a fever today, so no beach for us tomorrow. Hopefully she'll start feeling better soon. Sick babies are so sad.

     It's been pretty low key in the Wonsch household lately. I'm trying to get used to working part time. It's been AWESOME, but after I'm off for a few days, I start having nightmares dreams about work. My body thinks I should be there more I guess. Let me just say that our Heavenly Father is AMAZING. I was able to go part-time finally because we were able to get our health insurance through Brad's job. Well the plan was to cut back my hours towards the beginning of 2011, buuuttt my boss was let go, and my dept's kinda been in limbo the last few months. Finally I was told that I could go part-time. It was going to be a little bit of a pay cut for me, but soooo worth it to be home more and have less stress in my life. Well the week before I went part-time, the hospital gave all the part-time staff raises. It's a set amount that you make regardless of how long you've been an employee, in this job status everyone makes the same. I guess they haven't had a raise in a super long time, so I came on board right in time. Now I work less, but am bringing home more moola than I was when I was working full time. How awesome is that?!!!
     Raelee started nursery last Sunday and loved it!!! Her friend Stokes is in there with her, so I think that made her comfortable. Once she saw him and books, she was good to go! I think it was harder for Brad and I to leave her then for her to be left lol. She's growing so fast it's crazy. She's talking so much now. She's repeat words back. She'll sing songs with me now, it's so cute. She can do an awesome crying baby for "wheels on the bus".  If you ask her how old she is, she'll hold up one finger and smile. A family friend gave her a doll, not really the kind you play with, but Raelee LOVES her! Evey morning this week, she wakes up and asks for her baby. She's a good mommy.
     I'm excited for next week. I have a friend that I haven't seen in FOREVER that I get to go visit. AND we're going to visit at the beach which is even better! I can't wait to see her little girls and catch up.

father's day decor

daddy gifts

Raelee with her baby

before church Sunday. 1st day of nursery

Raelee put her shoes on by herself. She mixed up 2 pairs of shoes in different sizes

beach pics

tired of the wait for lunch at Bubba Gumps. 1 hour!

paparazzi pic

happy 19th bday bro!

with my baby

me and my two loves :)

me and my sis

Loving her sunglasses and mine lol

beach babe

sandcastle

the guys castle

me and hubs on our date night at PF Changs

Beach Vacation take 1

     We had the best vacation this weekend. We left Friday morning headed to Destin, FL. I had never been there, even though I grew up in Tally. Our trip started off a wee bit stressful though. We had set the alarm for 5am, to get up and finished packing before my dad dropped my brother off at 6:20am on his way to work. Weelllll, our alarm never went off, and poor Matthew stood on our porch knocking on the door for almost 40 mins until I finally woke up and felt the house kinda shaking. I still couldn't hear the knocking and Matt had left his cell phone at home. I felt kinda bad, but it was still kinda funny because it was poor Matthew's birthday. Anyway, we had a late start due to that, and Matt forgot to bring Raelee's pack and play from my parents with him, so we had to swing by there first. We still made good time to the beach, though we were making better time before Brad was pulled over and given a ticket! We decided to stay at a state park that was near Destin, we could drive there in about 15 mins, but it was waaayyyy cheaper to rent a cabin then a motel room. I was so happy when we arrived, because the cabins and park were super nice, we will for sure  be going back many times.
     The beach was AWESOME!!! The waves were perfect, maybe just a tad on the too big side for Raelee though. She was not very happy until we got her out to past where the waves were breaking, then she was okay. We had a little float for her, she actually started to fall asleep in it a few times. Once again, I revived my love for boogie boarding. It.is.awesome! I love whenever I catch an awesome wave, that makes you feel like you're flying and was able to ride it all the way into shore.
     My sister and her husband were able to come down Friday night. They didn't find out until like 10 pm that they were going to be able to come, so we were excited about that. I however was not super excited when I woke up at 230am to find out that Lindley had set the AC on 65!!! We. were. freezing! Poor Raelee was wimpering in her little bed. I turned the AC back up, but at some point they turned it down again. Brad and I were so cold that we coudln't muster up the strength to get out of bed and turn the AC back up, we just put Raelee in the bed with us and tried to sleep. It's funny how at the early hours of the morning my brain does not work well, I should have just woken Lindley and Michael up to see what was going on, but I didn't want to wake them. I'm so nice! We found out the next  morning that their air vent was closed off in their room(but they didn't realize) so they though the whole cabin was as hot as their room, they didn't realize they were freezing us out. Needless to say, we all slept much better the next night lol!
     We were able to eat at two fun restaurants in Destin; Bubba Gumps and PF Changes. Yummy food! I recommend both spots. We also hit up the outlets, bought me some GAP :) Next time I'll have to take some extra moola with me. We saw the coolest thing too when we drove over the Destin bridge, we could see a sandbar just under the water halfway out and it was COVERED in boats and peeps on floats and in Kayaks, there were floating concession stands and blow up slides going into the water, it was crazy fun looking. I wish I had been able to get a pic. We drove down scenic route 98 through Destin which follow the coast, and dang that place is busy! There was not an inch of sand left to lay down your towel. When I saw that, I was so glad that we were staying in the park and able to go to the beach there. It was still gorgeous, but way less people.
     All our beach pics are on my iTouch, and the cords to upload are at Brad's office, so I'll upload them later.

We saw this next to the road leaving my parents.

Our cabin

The porch, wish I had one of these!

Raelee with her mimi mouse

Brad, me, Raelee, Matthew, Michael, and Lindley

Chillin on the porch

My sis and her hubby

Raelee, Lindley and I

Summer fun!!!

     Summer has arrived!!! This is my absolute favorite time of the year in Tallahassee. Even though it was 102 yesterday! I love summer, and all the activities that come with; the beach, swimming at Wakulla, hiking, camping, sports, just hanging out in the yard with Rae in her pool... I am kinda bummed because my favorite swimming hole is still closed! So dumb! The state bought the sinkhole probably back in 2003, cleaned it up, put in hiking trails, diving platforms, and docks, then 2 years ago somebody found some law that said a state owned swimming facility had to have whatever type of bathroom and this place only had an outhouse. Sooo its too expensive to build the bathrooms for a free swimming hole, so now no swimming. So sad! That place is gorgeous, warm water, rocks surrounding it, no alligators, 70 feet deep. Loved going there! I remember back in 2003, I went swimming there with my group of friends at midnight! Probably not the smartest thing, but soo scary and fun! Oh and it was always fun to do a quick lookout for the ranger and then to climb the tree really quick and jump out! What a rush! I'll never forget my BFF doing a triple backflip out of the tree lol.
     I am so excited about this summer because Brad has EVERY Friday off work, AND..... I just went part time at work!!! The dream has come true lol! I'll still work two days a week, but with 12 hour shifts that's WAAAYYYYY better than three days.
     Our fun started over memorial day weekend. My parents were going to Orlando for the state homeschool convention that my mom helps with every year. We normally go every year, but I ended up having to work that Saturday, so I couldn't go. I asked everyone at work if they could work for me that day, but it was a no go. My parents were leaving super early Friday morning, and Thursday night I got a text from one of my co-workers and friend, that she could work for me if I still needed her too. So after several text and calls with my charge nurse, then to my assistant manger, I was able to be off and go with my parents!. We had such a fun weekend. We stayed at the Gaylord Hotel in Orlando Florida. Such a neat place. Raelee loved being able to walk around in the atrium. We had fun at the pool, except Raelee is a little too brave I think. Dad went with us to IKEA and I was able to buy 2 of the 3 items I've been trying to get FOREVER! I could have bought the third item too, but we didn't have anyway to bring it back to Tally. Trying to carry the boxes into the hotel and then back out to the car to tie them on top the day we left was an adventure! We sure entertained the people around us lol. It was fun to be able to go out of town with just my parents and Raelee. I don't think I've ever gone with them without the rest of the siblings around.
     So Brad's excited about summer to start playing golf for real. Not just every few months. He has a plan and practice schedule worked out, sooo maybe by next year the PGA tour? Just kidding!

 

 

the graduation ballroom

mom after the graduation. She announced names

Raelee with my parents.

Miss independent.

Raelee and I during the graduation

What a catch!

Me

Some assembly required? How about all assembly required!

Practicing to be Brad's caddy

Just do it!!! Monday Funday!

     I have been CRAVING the beach. I am a beach girl, love, love, love being there. Other than a waaayyyy too quick trip to the beach while in the Bahama's I haven't been since I had Raelee. So obviously Rae has never been. How sad that our Florida baby had never seen the beach! Well, schedule's have just not worked out for us to go as a family, so finally I decided to just do it and go with Rae the next time I could. Brad was okay with us going without him. I begged, bribed, nicely asked my little bro to go with us for safety's sake and we hit the road this morning. Well, the plan was to leave at 9am, but as it always ends up, we didn't leave Tally until after 10am. That was okay though, cause it worked well with Rae's nap time and she slept the whole way there. It was so nice to be on the road. It has been forever since I've driven through Crawfordville, Panacea, Carribel, and Lanark Village just to name a few of the little towns on the way to St. George Island. I grew up driving on these roads, all the time, many days a week, and its very relaxing to be surrounded by the greenry on the two lane roads, listing to country music, and not seeing too many other cars. I could feel the stress leaving me as we drove. We made good time, less than 2 hours to the beach, and we arrived just in time for lunch. Raelee was in love with the seagulls. Matthew threw some food to them(big mistake cause then they wouldn't leave us alone) and they came flying in. Raelee was soooo excited, it was so cute to watch.
     The water was gorgeous! It was the perfect temperature, and the beach wasn't too crowded, just enough people, I don't like it to be super crowded, but I like to have other peeps in my sights. Raelee liked the water, she mostly enjoyed it, every now and then she would act like she thought she was supposed to be scared, but the rest of the time she was laughing and squealing, and kicking her legs in the water.
     Matthew found a bunch of sand dollars, which was pretty cool, cause I've never found one before that wasn't broken. The sad part was Matt and I did not put sunblock on, because we were only there a couple hours, and whew we got burnt! Matt worse than me, but still!
     Driving back home was super relaxing too. We took the shortcut and drove on some back roads, so it was pretty much all woods back to my parents house. I really needed that, it was so peaceful. I'm so glad we went to the beach today, and I'm going to try to have many more adventures this summer,even though its hard to pack up the car and all the supplies for Raelee without Brad. I need to feed that adventure side of me. I've missed it the last few years. Hopefully it will help me deal with the stress at work better.

lunch time

    

sand dollars

Saturday

     What a fun weekend we had!!! Now that Brad's out of school, we are all pumped and excited to get our life in order. Sooooo...yesterday was laundry day! Dun dun dun! Sadly, the laundry frequently piles up around here, as does some other non-essential housework. When the wife is working 12 hour days at a hospital taking care of others all day, and the husband is working full-time and in school full time at night , just taking care of the child and making sure everyone is fed is about all that can be accomplished. So we are super excited now to catch up on the house. Anyway, back to laundry, I do make sure its clean, its just the putting away part that gets hard. But we put away all the laundry AND cleaned out our closets and drawers(you are welcome goodwill). We even made it through the sock pile! I am super proud of us! Next week...organizing the office!
    After the housework was done, we went and visiting with Brads parents and brother. It was good to be able to spend some time at their house. Brad's mom had put together a video of Raelee's video's she taken, it was super fun to watch. Raelee LOVES to watch herself be a star!
     Then date night!!! Whoooohoooo! We went to see the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie. You know what? I didn't really want to see it at first, buuutttt over the last few weeks as I've seen previews, I decided that it actually looked interesting, and it was! I really, really enjoyed it! Good plot, not too crazy, scary mermaids. I say its worth seeing. I was kinda bummed, cause we got there early to make sure we got good seats and were going to take Cold Stone ice cream in(which they've let us do before when we've gotten there early) but it was a no go this time :(   Soo we got Dairy Queen instead after the movie. A good friend came to see it with us, and we walked her to her car after, cause parking lots+dark=dangerous! When we were walking back to our car, we got to observe some of the ghetto potty mouths that Tallahassee has to offer. I forget now that we live on a nicer side of town how not nice and uncaring some people are. Then I got a blister on my heel, so Brad tried to piggy back me, which made us both decide we have GOT to start exercising and get in better shape. I'm sure we were pretty entertaining to those around us! So goals of the week: Stay up on the laundry and exercise!