So Literal

The other night, the kids and I were cleaning up the living room. 

I handed Zaydee a plastic sack and asked her to please go put it under the kitchen sink. She ran in the kitchen, came back so happy and said, "I put it under the sink mom!" 

I said thank you baby and continued on with the cleaning. When we were done I put the kids to bed and went into the kitchen to get a drink and saw this.......

It is definitely under the sink!!

I chuckled out loud and then got my camera to take a picture. I said "put it under the kitchen sink" I just figured she would know what I meant. That's what I get for assuming.... haha It made me remember and think that you need to teach your children. She did exactly what I said and was so proud of herself. I love her so much! Can't imagine life with out the little stinker!

don't worry about all the dishes in the sink! I only have so much time in a day to do the things that need done. Unfortunately the house work is on the very bottom of that list, usually.

Certified Nursing Assistant....

It feels so good to accomplish something you have worked very hard for. I finished my CNA course and passed with an "A"....

I had a great teacher and really fun classmates! I learned a TON and I am super excited for the nursing program!

To become a CNA, part of your hours are spent in a care center, taking care of old people. That was very hard work and it takes a special kind of person to do it. 

I got the chance to follow some GREAT CNA's and some not so great ones. I did my 24 hours at St. George Care and Rehabilitation. On the last day I made every one take a little picture so I would always remember that experience. 

Some of the things I did there were better than others......

Change briefs (a.k.a diapers) not so pleasant

give showers

feed elderly people

make beds... with and without people in them

apply oxygen

send a gentleman to the ER

catheter care

help people get up and in a wheelchair

more brief changes

comb and style hair

paint nails and play dolls

answer call lights

get hit on by old pervert men

talk to and learn about the residents

take vital signs

did i mention brief changes.... I think I did so many, I am scared for life!

get kicked by an old lady while trying to shower her

Some of the happy things I will never forget.

The first time I went I wheeled a darling old lady to the dining room for breakfast and "Ice Ice Baby" was blaring on the radio!

Rosie: "What is that cute boys name?"

ME: "Oh, his name is Austin"

Rosie: "My husbands name was Austin. He was great... but he had a huge nose!"

Mikey and all his hugs and funny hats

Rosie and Ruth

Rosie: giggling...

Me: "What is so funny Rosie?"

Rosie: "I farted!" "Oh I should be ashamed of myself!"

The cute husband and wife that share a room and are soooo in love still

Alzheimer's unit

Ruth singing B.A.N.A.N.A.S

I am very glad it is over, but I learned so much and overall had a very good experience. I gained a whole new respect for nurses and cnas in nursing homes. 

p.s I really hope I die before I have to be put in a place like that......but if not, I hope I have good CNA's to take care of me!

Splish Splash!

Every Friday, my grandma takes us swimming at the club in Bloomington. We love spending time with her, and it is great for Konner to get over his water fear..... When we started going, at the first of the summer, Konner would get in the kiddie pool ONLY!

He wouldn't get his head wet or put his face under the water. He would run and splash and pretend he was walking with his hands in the 6 inch deep area. 

We have been going for a month and a half...... and look what a difference it has made!!!!!

I couldn't even believe it when he told me he wanted to... I realized I was more freaked out than he was! He is so so brave and the nice, soft, life jacket was one of the best purchases ever!! 

He swam the whole length of the big pool... TWICE!

I am so proud of him!

we have taken lots of fun swimming pictures... I will put a collage together for another post when finals are over! 

Let Freedom Ring

We had a great 4th of July weekend. Started off by going to Vernon Worthen park for the booths and games! My mom, dad, and Emilee came with us and we had a great time. The kids went on the bouncy slide, the Wizard (electric swing things) and the bounce house! We ate snow cones, met up with Sammy and Kendall, and walked the booths. We ate lunch at A&W and then drove up to the airport to get a good spot for fire works. My dad parked his truck on the hill and then hopped in with us to go take naps so we would be ready for a late night! 

After naps, the kids and I headed over to Pete and Alicia's house for a little get together. The whole GANG was there! We visited with every one and since it was Alicia's house, we ate lots of food! haha They always have yummy food, and get mad if you don't eat! :)

Next, we headed back to my moms to pick them up for FIREWORKS! The kids loved it... and I loved it too! I think one of my favorite things to do with my new camera is take pictures of fireworks and sparklers! I took a million pictures and we had so much fun playing with sparklers!

Sunday night we went to Zeth and Miranda's house to BBQ and do fireworks in the street! Konner loved the pop-its and was scaring all the girls all night! We set up the tri pod and took pictures of every one to send to Mikey Flowers since he couldn't be here due to military deployment.....

The whole experience was hilarious!!.......

p.s I took tons of "sweet" firework and sparkler pictures... I will post those soon! :)

SO BUGGED!!!

UGH!.......

I had some pictures of Zaydee, asleep with her baby stroller, and I accidentally DELETED them!! 

The other night I put Zaydee to bed and I heard her making some noise. I thought, I will give it a minute and see if she goes to sleep. So..... about 10 minutes later I went in to check on her and she was sleeping with her baby stroller covering her like a blanket. I was cracking up. I got my camera and took some pictures so I could remember how funny that was... AND I FREAKING DELETED THEM!!!!

I am sooooo sad about it.....

I got to go to Vegas to play with Thera, Sharon, and a good friend from Payson. I had so much fun! We shopped and ate at Town Square (one of my very favorite places EVER!) We walked the strip, since Kyle had never been to Vegas... He had to see the sights! 

Sunday we went to Zions and it was the first time I have really been amazed by the ROCKS! I have been raised around the rocks my whole life.. so I have always just thought..."sweet! looks like everywhere I have ever lived." But this time I learned a little about Zions and I was AMAZED! I got to eat at Oscars, drive all the way through the canyon, and do a couple short hikes. I think I heard more different languages in one day than I have heard my entire life! It was GREAT!

Waiting for the Zion shuttle! haha

looking out over Weeping Rock

While I was gone, Dusty took the kids camping with all his friends. They must have had lots of fun cause they came home looking mighty HOMELESS! This is a picture of Konner's foot, before he got in the tub. I was going to take a picture of the tub after... BUT.. there is no way you would have believed all the nastiness was from one bath! haha

Their whole bodies were this dirty!! 

Happy 5th Birthday

WOW... Where does the time go?! Konner just turned 5 and had a great birthday weekend! 

On Thursday he got to have a birthday party at the splash pad with all of his friends and cousins. It turned out really fun..other than the wind! He got lots of fun presents and had pizza and "orange pop" for lunch. Grandpa Jeff decorated the cake. like usual, he did a really good job and Konner loved it. After the party, we came home for a little while so Konner could ride his new bike and then went out to Texas Road House for birthday dinner. He picked Road House so he could sit on the saddle. It was really fun for him since I know a few people that work there, they made a big deal out of his birthday! He sat on the saddle and let Zaydee sit on it with him. The servers all yelled and sang and gave him a BIG BIRTHDAY YEEHAW!! 

My little brother Mikey invited us to go camp out at the lake for Memorial weekend. He went out on Saturday and got a good spot by the lake. Since we had a reception on Saturday, we waited and went out Sunday morning. Konner's real birthday was on Sunday so when my parents came out, my mom made Konner his favorite dinner... Shepherds pie with fruit salad. It was a really nice and warm weekend for the lake and we all had a really fun time! Konner got to celebrate his birthday ALL weekend! 
My grandma Joy (Konner's great grandma) took him shopping for his birthday. I was at work so Emilee was nice enough to take a picture for me. They went shopping at Oshkosh and Konner got some new clothes, new jammies, and some sunglasses. After shopping, they went out to lunch. Konner loves spending time with Grandma Joy and she said she really enjoyed taking him. My kids are so lucky to have so many grandparents that love them in their lives!

I am so lucky and blessed to have such a great little boy. He makes me laugh and cares so much about other peoples feelings. 

Things he really enjoys right now are:

riding his bike

playing his Nintendo DS

playing with his horses

shepherds pie

swimming with his life jacket

picking out his own clothes

putting on deodorant

playing outside with Zaydee

complimenting Zaydee 

playing with his friends

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KONNER!!!

An Apple A Day....

Keeps the Dentist away! Well, I think we need to start eating some more apples at our house. Konner had his 6 month cleaning and he did really good.. BUT.. He has 4 cavities and the dentist wants to cap 4 of his teeth! I really do not understand how that could be possible when 7 months ago he didn't have a single cavity and its not like he never brushes his teeth. So the dentist wants to put him under and do all the work at once.... ugh I am really going to have to think this over and maybe get a second opinion. I don't understand why they would want to cap a baby tooth and it doesn't make sense to me that his teeth would get that bad in 7 months. 

On the other hand, Konner did great! He let them x-ray his mouth and clean his teeth! They put on Madagascar, gave him a NEW toothbrush, a book, and let him pick out a balloon! 

We had to wait in the waiting room for OVER AN HOUR!!! yeah... an hour! It was ridiculous! So while we were waiting we took some GREAT pictures!

showing our "big sharp teeth"

Happy Birthday Dad! My dads birthday was on the 24th of May and the kids and I took him out to lunch at his favorite place......Wendys! (It really is his favorite place!) That night we had birthday dinner and cheesecake. Konner helped grandpa blow out his candles. We are so lucky to have our family live close so we can celebrate together! We love you Grandpa Jeff!

The new "shades" Mikey got him! 

Nothing makes me feel more needed, loved, and content than rocking my baby to sleep. After a long day of school and work and juggling from one babysitter to the next, I am usually to tired or have to study and don't take the time for it. Relaxing and taking time to talk with my kids and then rock Zaydee to sleep is something I need to make time for more often. Not only does it help my kids know that I care about them... It makes me feel like they also care about me. Tonight I just had such a strong feeling of contentment and love. Having Zaydee snuggle and fall asleep on me made me want to stay in the rocking chair all night. She was just so peaceful and she made me feel like I was needed and important. Even though I have studying to do and my house is a wreck... It felt really good to just rock Zaydee and take a little breather and realize what is most important in my life. I am so amazed sometimes at how much love my little ones have for others and how much love I have for them. I feel sooo incredibly blessed to have such blessings in my life :) 

p.s I know it is super sappy but it is just something that happened to me tonight and I never want to forget the feeling. I have so much more to post but 5:45 comes mighty early in the morning... so i gotta get to bed. Stay tuned for more post updates!