Where has all the time gone!

Ashton and Karwin when he was about 3 months.
Dustin and Ashton when he was about 1.5 years
Ashton when he was about 1.5 years

Ashton when he was about 12 years. Not much changed!
Ashton around 7 years

Ashton at 8 years
Ashton 12 years
Ashton 13 years. Weird teenager!

I know that we always say where does the time go, but I realized this year, when Kaylee started MIDDLE school, that ashton will be in HIGH school next year. Really? High school? That's the last leg of the trek. It took me forever to get to high school and now for my son it really is just around the corner. He is definitely a teenager with the hormones and moodiness to prove it but he is still so fun to be around. I know the time has gone fast but these next five years are going to go even faster. In five years, he might be turning in papers for a mission! Unbelievable! Any clues on how to get time to slow down???

Preshool

(When I find my camera I will have pictures to post)

Kenzie started preschool this year. She is loving it. She goes to teacher Jill's in milleville and other than the drive, I love teacher Jill. I would have liked somewhere closer but Kenzie is my child that doesn't like new things and she has been to teacher Jill's with Tara and Ryan so I thought that was my best choice. Her little friend Brylee goes there too so it is working out great. She was a little nervous the first day but she went with no tears and no screams. Her and Brylee always ride together so I think that helps to always have a friend too.

She loves school but this was our conversation the other day:
Kenzie: How long do I have school for?
Me: For two hours.
Kenzie: NO, till how old am I?
Me: Oh you mean years... Until you are 18 at least
Kenzie: Well sometimes I just want to stay home and watch TV!
Me: Well don't count on that too much. You got a long way to go!

Hope this isn't a prelude to how school is going to go for her!

The Flu... Already?

Last week two of my kids that I took care of had a flu bug. Being the cautious person that I am, when I got home (it was 11pm) I stripped in my garage and came running in the house to shower. I didn't think Kenzie would still be up but she came running down the hall, saw me, and stepped back and said "did you go to work like that!" It was so funny. But despite my streaking and all I still brought home the flu. I came down with it Saturday morning and then Kenzie was throwing up Saturday night. It was a disaster. Kenzie was most unhappy and kept asking me why I got her sick. The worst was when her cousins were all next door and she couldn't go play with them. She just kept telling them "You can't come by me I'm sick" and then even started crying when she saw Maisey. I am happy to report we are feeling better and no one else has gotten sick... yet. I try to do my best to keep out the germs, but sometimes I guess I don't do good enough. I HATE the flu!!

Lagoon!

I had taken Kenzie to the Ogden fair in Aug and she wanted to ride the rides so bad but they were expensive. So I let her ride one and came home to talk to Marty about taking the kids to Lagoon. I had realized that we hadn't been there since Kenzie was about 9 months or so. We decided that school didn't start for another week and a half so we would take all the kids before then. Well I got a call the next day from Heather inviting us to Ken Garf's Lagoon day. Divine intervention of what! So the next Wednesday off we headed to Lagoon. I took my friend's little girl so Kenzie would have someone to ride with and we had a blast. I got brave and let the kids go on their own so them and tarrin just had free run of the park. They loved the freedom and I loved not hearing them whine about staying at baby rides! Kenzie was in heaven. She didn't stop all day. Andy and Tiffany and their girls were there also so she had a bunch of cousins there. We missed Rob and Tara's family but it definitely was a favorite in my book. It was so nice to see my kids get along and be happy. Thanks Kevin and Heather for inviting us and we will definitely be doing that again!

Finally done!!!

So I was trying to post this from my Ipad but for some reason it would only let me put the title and I couldn't change it. So... now here's what I wanted to post. I am finally done with my first degree of school. I got my LPN in June and really can't believe that I am really finally done. It has taken me quite a while due to all my breaks with raising kids and Marty's job out of town and then with the last little surprise Kenzie but I am glad to say that I made it.

I had such wonderful girls that I went to school with and although I don't miss school one bit I can say I miss these five girls like crazy. We all had hopes that we would all get jobs together but that didn't happen so I have to settle for a one night a month date!



These are my girls from school. couldn't have made it without them!



I am working for a home care pediatric company that I love. I am surprised that I actually got a job doing pediatrics because it has always been my dream to work with long term disabled kids. This job has taught me to really appreciate my kids and how healthy they are. I know the teenagers are hard but I am grateful that they have the opportunity to be teenagers. Some of these little kids won't even live to be ten and if they do it will be trapped in a body that just doesn't work right. Why would I ever want to work around that you ask? I'll tell you. Some of the kids I have taken care of now and in the past have the sweetest spirits you will ever meet. You can actually feel them surrounded by angels and they all seem to have a very calm feeling within them. Despite all of their trials, they are happy. They smile, they laugh, and they take whatever comes to them and deal with it. Working with them makes me a better person. I don't take small things for granted, I cherish my kids more, and I am learning what is really important in life.

What's next? I am back to school in January. I have class to take before I get accepted for an RN program and I have to apply for that in February. Probably won't get accepted then but applying will put me in a great spot for October so that is my plan. As I well know, that can and will change. Nothing goes as planned but finishing school has taught me no matter what if you just keep at it, you can accomplish anything!

Updates on random things

Thought I would add some random things about the kids: Kenzie has turned from a scared little mama's girl to an absolutely hilarious younger version of her sister. When tara first started watching her I would drop her off crying every morning (and why? Don't ask me- who doesn't love tara's house!) Now if she finds out her dad is home or that I have an off day then she is so upset because she NEEDS to play with Ryan. She also informed me that Ryan is her boyfriend to which marty and I have tried explaining that dating your cousin is against the law! She says she doesn't care so hopefully she'll grow out of that one! She has also decided that she really doesn't need to tell people when she goes next door to grandma's- she says WE should know where she is. She has become quite independent. She has made a little best friend-Olivia and will now go to primary because Olivia comes to church with us every other week. Amoung other things Olivia has taught Kenzie that magic of makeup, bikinis and just how to shake it! Where do they learn these things! She hasn't seen Olivia for about 2 weeks and told me when she sees her she's gonna say "Livia! Where you been all my life!" The girl is too funny. Kaylee had a rough winter. She had some weird random illnesses that hit here all right in a row. She missed about three weeks of school and was totally wiped out for about a month. She ended up having the flu B, which they thought was strep and some major sinus problems and then I think she ended it all up with another form of the flu! I felt terrible for the girl but am so happy she is back to "normal" and doing well. She even got a couple of 100's on some of the test over material she missed while she was gone. She reminds us all the time that she really is THAT smart. She is back to gym also. She missed about a month of that too but with some make up lessons she is about to move up a level. Ashton has had an amazing year and proud to say that his grades are all A's and B's and we have overcome the not turning in work problem. Most of you know I about lost my mind last year due to him just not feeling like it was important to turn stuff in. He did it- just took too much out of him to turn it into the box- ugh!!! Thank goodness that has passed. Other than that he is active in church and is the deacons president that he takes very seriously. He has become such a responsible good kid and I am constantly getting compliments and how much he helps people in the ward. I have become a very proud mama! Thanks kids and my amazing husband for all they have done to help their crazy, cranky, mama!!

I'm almost done!

I can't believe that I only have 2 and a half months left until I will be graduated with my LPN. It has been a long, hard road but definetly worth it. I have been doing my clinicals in the hospitals twice a week and that has really helped me narrow down where I want to work. I have always loved and been interested in surgical but after working on the med/surg floor I am not sure that is my favorite. Now the wound clinic has been my absolute favorite. I know I am a blood and guts girl but can I just say how amazing I think our bodies are and how they are able to heal themselves. I saw some pretty nasty things and even learned that we treat wounds with maggot and leaches- yes real ones!! Awesome. I have also loved working in the mother/baby area and am even more aware that I am done with kids when I hold a baby and can only think I am glad it is going home with someone else! They are so sweet but definetly not my thing anymore! This opportunity has opened my mind up to so many things and now I am just hoping that I can limit what I want to do to a resonable number. This whole process has been more stressful, hard, and more rewarding that I could have ever imagined. Most nurses say if you can stick it out through your 1st semester of LPN year then you are in the runnings to succeed. I now know exactly what they mean. I am so grateful to my family and friends who have supported me. My kids literally didn't see me for the 1st three months and I didn't think it bothered me until I realized that they didn't call me for things anymore the had actually learned their dads number! That was probably my AHA moment when I realized that not only had school changed me but also my kids. I hope they don't feel abandoned and hope that one day they are proud of me. Thanks everyone!!!

Hello again!!!

I never thought I would say this but due to the amount of excess TIME on my hands I am very bored and thought it would be a good time to give an update.

• I have successfully completed my first semester of nursing school. I do not brag about myself but I am going to say that I am extremely proud of what I have done. The first semester of your LPN year I have heard is the hardest and I came through with flying colors. I was very worried about how I was going to handle things but when it came time for everything to happen things just worked out. My SIL tara has been wonderful to watch Kenzie with my other SIL Tiffany and tara's sister Tiffany helping when it was needed. My inlaws and SIL Michelle have been wonderful playing taxi for school, babysitting, and activities. My family has supported me so much even thought my calls to my dad, my sister, and my mom have been weeks apart at times. Even my phone life lines- Kelly and heather have understood when I just didn't have time to talk. It has been so wonderful to have so much help and I am so grateful for my husband and kids who literally lived without a wife and mom for close to two months. I start school again in a week and a half and I am so excited to complete this first chapter of my career. I am loving doing my clinicals as a nurse. This really has been my dream come true.
• I was also put up in the nursery. I know that everyone dreads this calling but I have done nursery two other times in my Mormon career and I love this calling. There is nothing better than getting to play and eat snacks for two hours!! I was able to be in there with Kenzie and loved being able to spend the much needed time with her. She had her world rocked when I went to school so this helped us both tremendously. I was a little worried about her not wanting to go to primary on her own but she has done great and even takes her scrippers (scriptures) every week.
• We added a new memeber to our family-nibbler the bird. I know that people think we are crazy for having two dogs and now a bird but I love how much my kids love animals. Even Kenzie asked for a dog for christmas. (we had to draw the line there!) I am always hesitant to get more animals but once they are here I just love them all the same. I do think that our animal quota is reached though.

I'm sure there are many more moments but this is a good stopping point until I get my pictures uplaoded. I hope everyone has been well and that everyones year has been great so far.