no, no, No, No, NO!

One NO for each day of my Spring Break that I managed to do NOTHING on! It's over...and all I accomplished was eating out A LOT (I cooked one night and ate lunch here one time all week) and reading books 2 and 3 of the Twilight series! Where did my break go?! I will say that book 2-New Moon, was v-e-r-y s-l-o-w and I had a hard time pushing through until the last 100 or so pages. I don't even really remember book 3-Eclipse because I am now so into book 4-Breaking Dawn. I don't know what I'm going to do when I finish...Joseph won't know what to do when I finish-he'll have to share the bed and tv again!!

So, anyway, did you notice that Spring Break is over and I'm not to excited about it? I had great plans of posting lots of pictures from break...like the new additions to our family...three fish from my classroom. They had to leave school because someone tried to kill them...yes, someone tried to kill my fish by putting paint in my fish tank. So...they are now traumatized here at the house by three cats. Lucky for the fish it was non-toxic paint...but I'm still REALLY mad that someone tried to hurt my little fishes. Can you tell I'm a big animal lover..even if it is stupid little fish!

I also wanted to put up pictures of my wonderful weekend with my niece/nephew (remember the hermaphrodite dog) Bacon. I went and got her yesterday morning because Shawn and Lauren were out of town and my parents left for Cancun-thanks for that invite Mom and Dad! Bacon terrorized the cats...poor Charlie did not come out of the closet, but I'm looking at it as revenge for the cats terrorizing the fish...it all works out. Anyway...Bacon is gone, all is normal and quite here (Bacon barks at ANY animal on the tv-fun times).

This week finds me wicked busy with getting back into the swing of things at work but also running the park for my parents while they are out of town...I love being in control of it, gives me a power trip. Tomorrow I get to pick up permits, and make deposits and all the fun stuff associated with the park. I'm a little too excited...I know, big power trip!

Anyway...I better get off of here and try to migrate towards the bed before reading another chapter or two. 5:35 is going to come awful early....yikes! Thanks for checking in on us. Sorry I've been MIA all week...but start reading the series and you'll probably be addicted too! As always, please REMEMBER JACKSON!

Happy Easter!

I love Easter. There are so many wonderful memories from years past that make Easter one of my favorite holidays. Add in the fact that it was the day they found the grave empty, and wow, that makes it a pretty amazing day all in its' self!

My greatest Easter memory is, and probably always will be, spending it with Jackson at home. It was the only holiday that we had him at home for and it was so special. I got to make him not one, but two!, Easter baskets which was so much fun! I think we had entirely too much fun shopping for his baskets and we definitely spent too much money, but hey, it was for a perfect little boy so it doesn't matter! Anyway, I will never forget being at my parent's house (aka Home) for Easter and sitting around the table with all of my family and having Jackson right next to me in the pack and play sleeping. I even remember getting some chocolate on my finger and giving him a little taste. It is one of the greatest memories I have and I will never forget Easter 2007 with my beautiful son, wonderful husband and supporting family!

Today was another great Easter too, but I don't think any other one will every measure up! We had 20 people gathered around the table to celebrate and had a great time hanging out and spending time together. Today for the first time I felt like my old self. I often tell Joseph that sometimes I know I act completely different, because ummm, lets face it, I am completely different after everything with Jackson. But today...I felt like the old Nichole was creeping out, having fun with my family and just really enjoying the time we had together. It was a great Easter, and just like in years past my parents did an awesome job! Thanks Mom and Dad!

I don't remember if I mentioned that I finished reading "Twilight" and it was really good. We watched the movie yesterday afternoon, and it wasn't as good, but it was good. I went ahead and bought the next book "New Moon" and I started reading it today. I'm sure I'll finish it rather quickly since I'm Spring Break-yay! And I'm sure I'll let you know how it is too!

And now I'm off to fill out a US District Court Juror Questionnaire...of course! I have the greatest freaking luck remember! I hope that everyone had a great Easter and that you enjoyed the time with family and friends. Thanks for always checking in on us and sharing in our journey. As always, please REMEMBER JACKSON!

A Teacher's Favorite Words...

There are many favorite phrases/words of a teacher. But this month's favorite two words....SPRING BREAK! I'm heading out to begin my vacation...you might not hear from me for awhile...

Nichole

I Love South Carolina

The proof is in the picture...



This was my car this morning, covered in pollen. Oh, what a lovely thing! I don't remember having this much pollen in Northern NY growing up...so is it a "southern thing" or does everyone have the joy of experiencing this much pollen?! Oh...and the lovely pollen even travels through screens. The proof is again in the picture...



This is Rocky's cute little paw after walking around on the screened in porch for awhile. Can you see the pollen on his foot? Double lovely!

And on top of all the lovely pollen I have bronchitis...triple lovely. It all started last week with a sore throat and it's just continued to escalate. Finally went to the doctor again this afternoon and got an antibiotic, steroids and a mack daddy cough syrup so that I can sleep for the first night in three nights. Thank you!

I am now getting ready to start reading "Twilight." I was in the middle of another book but finished it this afternoon so now my full attention can be on Twilight. I'm sure I'll let you know how it is. I'm off to rest and read. As always, thanks for checking in on us...please, REMEMBER JACKSON!

Pictures!!

So...even though it rained yesterday I was determined to put out Jackson's Easter flowers. So...below is a picture of the headstone...



And here's a picture up close...



This bunny's carrot says "Happy" and the other says "Easter." Too cute!! I'm really happy with how they turned out. And such a deal...only $33 for both arrangements, and they wanted $49.99 for one they made at the store...not too shabby if you ask me!!

In other news...Joseph had the day off and the kitties kept him quite busy from the looks of it...



2 out of 3 kitties "busted out" of this screen today. Rocky came right back. Charlie was gone for about 3 hours, running from Joseph most of the time. Joseph was very nervous that he was gone forever...but then Charlie remembered how good of a life he had here and came back. So...all three kitties are accounted for and now we can add busted screen to the list of terrorizing things the "Triple Terrors" have accomplished.

That's all for this time around. I've got "Date Night" with my husband and Vin Diesel-YAY! We are eating Mexican and then going to see "The Fast and the Furious" starring my babe, that's the only reason I'm going! And...I have come in contact with a copy of "Twilight" so you may not hear from me for awhile if what I hear about this series is true. Thanks for checking in on us! As always, please REMEMBER JACKSON!

Sorry...

No pictures of my REALLY cute April flowers today. I didn't even take them over today and plan on doing that tomorrow. I thought I had strep, but thankfully don't, but have been sick, so I've come straight home after work to my lovely bed. Tomorrow I have to be back at work at 6 for "Kindergarten Transition Night" were we get to meet the new babies coming up-yay-so I'll be able to take the flowers over between school stuff. I can't promise a picture tomorrow night though because I'll probably be late and tired. Still not at 100% but I was excited after a nap today to wake up feeling lots better! Hope everyone is well. As always, please REMEMBER JACKSON!

A Little Bit of Rock Today...

It was time to change my playlist again...and I'm pretty excited about this selection. I am loving Kelly Clarkson's new song...and I must say that my life would suck without all of you faithful blog followers! I also enjoy some Nickelback, and Gotta be Somebody is one of my favs by them. And who doesn't love some Def Lepard?! If you don't love Pour Some Sugar on Me...well, then I really don't know how we are friends...just kidding! I had to put a slow tune in, so that's where my boyfriend, I mean...Bon Jovi comes in. Make a Memory is off of his newest CD, which really isn't that new, but as a loyal Bon Jovi fan he'll always appear on my playlist!

So...things here have been same ol' same ol'. I was so excited to see the SUN yesterday...after 4 straight days of rain and clouds it was great, and there's a rumor more rain is coming-yuck. I'm glad the sun decided to come out too because some friends of ours were doing a fundraiser and it was outside...so nice weather was helpful. Joseph and I are so thankful for all of the support that Martha and Robbie showed us when Jackson was here, so it was exciting for us to be able to help them now. You may remember they had a daughter Campbell born very early, at around 28 weeks. Well...it's been over a year and Campbell is doing great! You can read all about Campbell here and while you are there you can give a donation to The March of Dimes and be entered into a raffle to win some neat things. Here's a picture of the 4 of us at the fundraiser, and yes, that is a grown man in a playpen, with a bonnet and diaper, begging for donations. Otherwise known as "Doc" from 107.9 The Link...


In other exciting news...I have completed my April arrangements and will be delivering them on Wednesday and taking a picture. So, be sure to check back then! I might be getting a big head because my help has been requested in helping a friend make an arrangement...wow! I'm happy to help anyway I can. I must admit that Joseph was a big help in this arrangement...he helped with everything! There's nothing cuter then a cute man walking around a craft store making a flower arrangement...

And...my last big announcement. Joseph and I have booked a little vacation getaway, and I'm super excited. We kept going back and forth about it...so today I decided to just book it and that would be that. I'm not saying where we are heading off too (only 1 person knows, and I know she won't tell right Pam!), what fun would that be, but I am working on a little "Guess where the Hedge's are going" Game. Fun times! I will tell you that we are flying somewhere and staying in a hotel for under $500, not to bad. We are going to be leaving on May 15th which as many of you know will mark 2 years since losing Jackson. 2 years...are you freaking serious?! It's so hard to believe that it's been that long. There still is not a single day that goes by where I don't think about him and miss him. It is just crazy...it's approaching fast too. That leads me into my next adventure...should I attempt another fundraiser in Memory of Jackson?! I'm not sure what I want to do, I know the economy is rough right now, but there is so much money needed to help find a cure so that other families don't go through what Joseph and I went through, and so that we don't have to go through that again too. Anyone have any great ideas of what I could do?! I was going to steal, I mean copy, Martha and Robbie's idea and just do a raffle, but I'm not sure. I need help from all the creative people...give me some ideas please! I promise I'll let everyone know when I have come up with something! And at least you know that no matter what if you donate you'll get a shout out, what more do you need?!

Alright...I think that might be it for this time around. Thanks for checking in and sharing in our journey. As always, please REMEMBER JACKSON!