Nursing: Step 1

So I'm half way through week 3 of my 4 week CNA class and really enjoying it.  Mon/Tues/Weds of next week are clinicals!  24 hours of shadowing CNA's at a long term care/memory care facility in Englewood.  I'm fairly excited about it, even considering the fact that it is 40 minutes away and I have to be there at 6am. ;)  At least I'll beat rush hour!

I'll be taking the state board exam/practicals the weekend after I get back from Puerto Rico.  That solves my dilemma of how to keep myself preoccupied on the long flight back from the islands! (study, more study...)  Once I pass (staying optimistic here), I'll be licensed to look for a new job!  Not planning to until August but it will be good to be ready to go.  And enjoy my kids for the summer!

Well, at least I thought I would have a break just to play with the kids....but the Bishop had different plans.  New calling this Sunday...you know that big one that is like having another part time job?....which I feel right about and at peace with, but I will admit that I have had a few cries since finding out.  No rest for the weary.  May slightly affect Nursing: Steps 2 and 3, but it will all come about as it needs to, so I'm just going with it. *BIG SMILE*  

I can't really complain.  I have a beautiful family, that besides a few gray hairs, is a constant support to me, we have better health than literally ANY other family I know (except maybe Shannon's?  But then she shows me up on everything), I have a loving husband, and don't have financial stressors that plague so many, and I have a faith that gives me peace.  No doubt this calling will end up being one more blessing as the opportunity to serve usually is!

Last Thursday was 'Bring your child to Work Day'.  Catherine thought my 'work' would be more fun than Papa's so she came with me. ;)
And it was!  After the 2 hour lecture, I got to use my gait belt to transfer her to the wheelchair, get her positioned with the bedpan, and assist her with feeding.  Then she pretty much just played with the wheelchair popping wheelies and such to finish out the day...

Goldfish Challenge!

What to do when you see Goldfish crackers on sale for 99 cents?

Thomas says, 'Buy all 21 kinds of them!!'.

So actually we had to scour 3 stores to find 21 varieties.  Missing 2 or 3, but we decided we would survive.  Poor Thomas and Catherine could hardly standing seeing them all lined up on the fridge, waiting for family home evening to come...

I have never seen my kids so focused... Harder than you might think to differentiate 21 flavors.

THE WINNER: PAPA- with 15 correct.
2nd PLACE: MAMA- with 11.5 (1/2 pts given for a few close flavors like chedder/xtreme chedder)

Parents rock ;)

Not to ruin your weekend drag racing plans...

After years of constant frustration with flat wheelbarrow tires, I say to Sean, "Sean.  Here is a million dollar idea for you.  Solid foam tires for wheelbarrows so they don't go flat!  Why don't they make that!"

(well, it turns out that they do...)

I want to know what idiot tried using a wheelbarrow wheel on the highway and then sued the tire making company when it blew out at 55 mph, bringing about the necessity for this warning.  Really?  I had to laugh

Birthday 3

So this is actually part two of my birthday.  Time kind of got away from me... 

Brandon's daily surprises leading up to birthday were, as always, awesome.

Birthday itself was also. awesome. 

Woke up to a lovely cake decorated by my girls with loads of fresh flowers.  Ahhh. After some perfect present opening, we headed over to a trail that Brandon had found near to red rocks.  Although the hike was only 2-3 hours long, we did manage to trudge through some snow, climb to a great overlook to view downtown Denver, get lost (harder to see the trail when there is snow!) and circle the same 80 ft stretch a few times till we found our way, and find the ruins of a castle.  Good times!  Can't remember the name of the family that built this 'castle', but if memory serves, it was built near the turn of the 20th century by a (of course) very wealthy man,  He planned to make his property a place that US Presidents could vacation when they were out west.  With in a year of it's completion, however, his wife died and then (I think) about 7 years after that it was struck by lightning and burnt to the ground.  I guess he took that as a bad omen as after the fire he decided to leave town. 

I loved being out with the fam, though, and was pleased the sun decided to come as well. ;)

The castle.  The kids were actually all collapsed, exhausted, on a bench right before this, but were sweethearts to show some energy for the camera.

One of my sweet coworkers made me a personalized nursing card for my birthday, as well as some fajitas for lunch.  Mmm!
I'm enjoying my CNA class but do miss the company of Sandy, JoNell, and Brisa.

Birthdays 2

THOMAS

What an awesome kid.  I look forward every night to tucking this kid in.  After the scriptures, prayer, song routine, I can just lay by him and chat.  He's not generally a talker, but at night he has all sorts of things to say: thoughts, questions, musings, curiosities.  All good stuff.

My baby is 9!!

After morning presents and skylander cake, we had a hangout 'yes' day (that's from Alyssa's family ;). Played games, random treats and such.  Then as soon as Brandon got home from work we picked up Thomas' friend Charlie and headed over to the 'Family Fun Center'.  You always worry when they have to put 'Fun' in the title, right?  But we actually had a really good time.  One more friend joined us over there.  3 rounds of Laser Tag (which I pretty much stink at...but still enjoyed) and then many MORE rounds of bumper cars, and then obstacle course racing (and no, I never beat the 9-10 yr olds, but I totally rocked it against Brandon!).  I was tired.  And feeling more than my young 39 years.  A couple head first leaping dives over inflatable mountains takes it out of you.  Once I got the tuck and roll down, though, it went much better.  Then came rock climbing.  I 'let' all of the kids go first.  Really just needed to catch my breath.  I saw Catherine make it all the way to the *very high* top and knew I had to do it.  Two moves off of the ground and my hands were sweating like a pig and I knew I was in trouble.  Stay calm and don't look down. Stay calm and really don't look down.  Proud to say that I made it!  Woo-hoo!  So pleased with myself.  Got down and am like, 'Brandon! Let me see the picture of me at the top!' And he's like, 'oops'.  Sooo. No proof, but I never lie ;)

Nana gifted some magnifying glasses.  Forget looking at small things when fires can be made!

 

Fire!  Now we need something to burn.... Mama had a whole bag of past tax documents to part with.  Ahhhh.  Kept us nice and toasty.

(we did move to the fire pit for this one)