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!