For the love of peanut butter

Had to share this great close up of Henry's tongue in action.

An Eyre-y Merry Christmas Card

Happy Christmas from the deep dark bowels of the hippopotamus. 

May your year be merry and bright.

Brandon, Carrie, Thomas, Catherine, Milla (and of course Sean as photographer)

Christmas Surprise!

Water! 

I love water. Just not plumbing.

We woke up to a few surprises on Sunday morning. Those pictured along with some warped wooden flooring in our main floor bath. 

 

Luckily the drywall was dryish so we knew it probably wasn't an active leak of a copper pipe full of water, but rather from a drain pipe. I was much calmer after getting out the hammer and opening up the wall a bit. Ahhh. So therapeutic. I really need to knock some walls down...
Anyhow, after some detective work we determined it was probably from the girls bathtub, but we couldn't get anything to leak again for us. Stupid plumbing. ;)

Christmas eve morning, though, we had some very nice professionals out, for the low price of $179, that determined it was from the bath overflow- not the main drain- the seal of which came loose after being jarred a bit by the girls repeatedly turning the overflow cover upside down to enable them to get a deeper bath. We've all done it, right? You know you have. ;)

We let the boys go at it cutting out the basement damage.

You are wondering why they didn't put down a tarp on the pool table before starting demo. We all are. 

Good clean family fun. Well, not so clean, I guess. But thankfully not as big a deal as it could have been.

Hodgepodge

Who has spent a total of 1 hour updating her blog in the past 5 months?

Me! Me!

Well, in my defense, I just didn't feel like it. :)

But now I do, and that's how I roll these days.

So following, in no particular order, are pics of the few times I remembered to pull out my camera (or asked for pics from others that did). A little of what has been happening here in beautiful Aurora.

Thomas: scout camp. he doesn't actually do scouts, but went to camp for some good old bonding time with friends and the outdoors. The rifle shooting ended up being his fav thing this year. Fun note: Thomas has grown 5 INCHES in the past year, quickly surpassing Rin to reach his current 5'6".  Poor Sean got stretch marks in middle school from skyrocketing to 6'3" by the end of 8th grade. Thomas may not get there, but I fully expect to spend a good fortune on new pants in the coming months.

 Next are an assortment of famous people that we've come across 

on our journeys:

The well decorated Olympians Carrie and Brandon Eyre. Forget what event they medaled in, but they're good!

Robinhood, of course. Hopefully Brandon is holding onto his wallet...

Yes, Brandon DID get to go to Disney World this year. Again. 😛

Tom Welling. Need I say more?

No sure what this guy is from, but I'm pretty sure he's famous. We spotted him strolling through the Denver Botanic Gardens during the 'Glow at the Gardens' event this Halloween.

Birthdays!! Yes!!

Honoring Grandma Milligan on Snickers Day (ok, not a birthday, but a 'celebrate someone special day')

Rin taking great 'joy' in my Barbie robinhood cake.  She picked the theme... Happy 14, sweetheart!

Milla's theme was mystery/scary. So here we have a foreboding looking cake that is all sunshine and lemon and raspberry inside.

Continuing the theme with a balloon spider. Milla can be pretty brave until it comes to spiders...

I did manage one getaway this summer.To exotic Idaho!!!

Really though, I was thrilled to get to see my good friends from La Grande and spend 3 days just talking, hiking, and eating ice cream. Doesn't get much better than that.

Danielle, Karen and I catching up on the porch of our AirBNB

The three of us surprised another friend (Rachel- bottom left), who is now living in Kuna, Idaho, by showing up at her ward on Sunday. Cambria (in red) is Milla's age and spent a lot of time with my kids when they were young. Relationships really are what makes life happy! 

Proof I was actually in Idaho. 

Bloody family!

So what happens when you mix nursing school and family home evening?

Blood typing night!

Ah, what fun. Gotta love Amazon. Sean refuses to get his finger poked and Milla took her card away to file before I could get it in the picture. But we ended up with:

Dad: B-

Mom: O+

Milla: B-

Rin: B+

Thomas: O+

So I think from those results we can presume Sean must round the kids out with an O- ?

(We may never know....)

Of jobs and Sean

We got a slow start to the job hunt this summer for the 3 of us that were looking, but all is well that ends well, eh?

Milla- things just work out for Milla. Sean has been interviewing for months at various positions with no luck.  Milla submitted a single application to JoAnn's fabrics, went into to the store 3 days later to follow-up with the manager and walked out with a job offer. She just has a way about her that imbues trust. The wait was that it took a month to get paperwork and schedules up and running. But she is loving it.  (this is supplementing her other part time job with the Aurora Schools Foundation) Cutting fabric more than dealing with upset customers when coupons don't work, but loving it none the less.  Her current claim to fame? The only employee (at least on her shifts) that can reach the alarm to turn on at closing without using a stool.

Sean- as I mentioned, it's been a frustrating search. Who knew their were so many places that only hire people 18+ yo?  Along with local stores, Sean applied to 10 apprenticeships with a program (non-profit?) in the area called CareerWise that is in only it's 2nd year.  They recruit companies (healthcare, tech, financial) to give 3-yr apprenticeships to Jr and Sr's in high school that not only pay, but also encourage exploration of various positions w/in the company and often have college tuition reimbursement programs to encourage attendance once the kids get to that point. He got great experience just learning business etiquette in his interviews. A few weeks ago he landed a position with Pinnacol Assurance in Aurora (a worker's comp insurance business). He attended the 3 day long CareerWise bootcamp downtown (that he got to all on his own via car/train) and really felt proud to be part of the experience. He even got to shake the governor's hand after he addressed the students.  This whole idea of apprenticeships in right in line with changes Sean would like to see in education- as he feels the school system are not keeping up with changes in society, so it's a good fit for him. I am just so proud that he pretty much headed this up and followed through on his own to make it happen! Still hard for me to accept he'll be 18 in just a couple months. 

He begins Aug 13, when he'll spend 2 days a week at work alternating with 2-3 days a week at school.  He also got recommended for a few things for the coming yr that he is going to try to fit in as well: TA in chemistry, general tutor for students needing help a couple periods a week, and web leader (the kids that go to various events throughout the yr to answer parents/students questions,  direct them, etc).  Really stepping it up and finding some strengths that he has this year.  He's also being my 'house manager' this summer, spending hours a day cleaning, doing yard work, home repair projects and grocery shopping for me, with a little (a lot of) gaming on the side.   What am I going to do when these kids leave home?

CarrieAnn- School is calming a little, or maybe I'm just getting comfortable with the routine, so I decided I needed to add a little more to my schedule. So I applied for a job. I've pretty much narrowed my nursing focus to 1. ICU or 2. School nursing. This may not seem to be a narrowing to you as these are at 2 ends of a spectrum of nursing, but to me they both fill needs for me. Just in a little different ways. 
I need connection. ICU is very team focused where you work with just 1-2 patients and depend on the other nurses, Drs and aides for support. You also get to interact with the family more intently than on the regular floors. It's very cohesive which I love. In schools you get connection with the students and have multi-year relationships with them. 
I need challenge. ICU is obviously very acute and always a challenge to stay on top of any little change in the patient. School nursing is very autonomous and a lot to coordinate and so challenging in a different way.
I enjoy addressing Mental Health. Schools- well that's obvious- mental health teaching is essential. ICU- I read an article recently that said something like 50-80% of those leaving the ICU (and their families) experience PTSD to some degree. That's insane! It's always going to be a stressful sitution for patients and families, but obviously there is a lot of improvement to be made in addressing mental health in the ICU setting.
Anyhow, long story a little shorter, I just got an offer to work in the STICU (surgical trauma ICU) at our University Hospital as an ACP (glorified nurses aide). It's a position just for nursing students, so it's flexible; just work one 12 hr shift/wk. I hope it will build my skills and give me a better idea if this is really a place I'd like to be!

Last but not least I will leave you with a little movie clip of Sean performing in his theatre final last Spring. I don't know how to edit, so there are 2 shorts on the same clip. He is in the 2nd one. I thought he was pretty awesome.

Mom's kid day

So I woke up on Mother's Day feeling just as crappy as I had the previous 3 days: sore throat, cough, headache. I had momentary thoughts of staying in bed and hiding out all day. But then Sean knocked on my bedroom door and brought in a nice breakfast of 2 fried eggs on toast (Dave's Killer 5 grain-my favorite), a bowl of strawberries and some orange juice. So I thought I'd better eat it. Then a 1/2 hour later, the other kids came in: Thomas had a card that he had walked a mile to a store to buy all by himself the day before and Milla had crafted a pretty impressive paper rose for me that she had written a bunch of sweet messages on the petals of. As you can see from the picture, the two gifts matched perfectly (although unintentional).  So that was sweet and woke me up a little. Then Brandon asked if I wanted to go on a walk with the family that morning. So I just decided, what the heck, no reason to let a little sore throat dictate my life. So I didn't. And we had a lovely 2 mile walk around a lake on the Rocky Mountain Arsenal (a chemical development turned nature preserve area north of Denver). I got 2 new birds for my life list: lark bunting (CO state bird- about time) and the Bullock's oriole along with seeing a bunch of Canada Goose and their hatchlings, tree and barn swallows and, of course, the ever present red-winged blackbird.  We also decided we had just enough time before church to do the nature drive where we spotted a good herd of wild bison and some deer.  The kids continued to spend time time with their mama after church playing an escape room board game and a paint matching game that Milla had crafted. So much fun to laugh with Brandon and my kids. Just the medicine I needed.

So this is actually just south of the preserve- a shot of a flock of pelicans (and a couple cormorants) that I spotted while waiting for my train one day after school. Cool! They are just such massive birds. I'm always surprised when they are able to take to flight.

Obviously not my pictures, but just to note the birds I saw on my hike!

My oldest

I'm secretly (or not so secretly) thrilled that Milla decided to live at home for a bit longer as she starts college. She's always uplifting to be around. She's responsible. She's got an adorable laugh. And she's good for quick game of ping pong when I need a partner. For Christmas last year she got a Birchbox subscription as she wanted to begin playing around with makeup. Below is an impromptu photo shoot when she came down ready for church lookin' so pretty. Skin of an angel.

Milla has been hanging motivational quotes on her bedroom door for a long while now. Looks like for upwards of a year if the title is any indicator. I think it helps her to stay in a positive frame of mind. I look forward to seeing what is there each day as I know I'll get a boost. 

My baby

Thomas is 12. Yep. No more primary or elementary school.  Six years to empty nesting. Well, that may be optimistic, but this does feel like a monumental occasion. So much so that both Grandmas came to town for it. G'ma Eyre for the birthday and Nana for Thomas' priesthood ordination the following week. Thomas was thrilled to have them both and spread out the celebration. (although I neglected to get any pictures of them. Bugger)

Lucky for me he isn't too old to come snuggle in my bed with me in the morning and read together. Hopefully that will never end. 

Happy Birthday Thomas! Love this kid.

'That looks like a store bought cake', you say. Well, yeah, that's how we roll these days

Thomas had to follow a string up to mama's bathroom to find the gift below. We knew we did good when the happy dance came out. ;)

my beauties

Just a few beauties that I've gotten my camera out for this spring...

White orchids I cut the stalk completely off maybe 2 years ago (actually 13 blooms/buds- some are hidden). Pink ones I just cut off the flower shoot 1-1/2 years ago (six blooms). They actually do come back! I had completely given up hope for any new flowers when these both sent out blooms in the SAME WEEK. Nature is a mystery. But good for surprises.

My blue eyed babe. Being a goof.

Ahh, fritillaria. Your vibrant shades against winter golds, your disregard for April snows.

Nursery love

In our ward, it seems tradition to treat newly released relief society presidents to a nursery calling. Consequently, last July both Brandon and I got a calling to nursery (joining w/ the RS pres previous to me). And we love it. Several of the kids have bonded with Brandon, which is sweet to see, but when this happened a few weeks ago, I had to pull out my phone and capture the joy. 

So the kids aren't so great at making a circle, but whatcha goin' to do. ;)

Nothing for Valentines

This happens every year: Brandon and I agree that we aren't doing anything for Valentine's because our anniversary is just 2 days later. So really, what's the point. ;)

But the thing is, I've been married to Brandon for 22 years now and I was burned early on when I BELIEVED him (that we were doing nothing), and then felt really guilty when he showed up with flowers or chocolates or whatever.  Not that HE made me feel bad. Self-imposed. Anyhow, I always now at least get him a card. 

This year though, I had a feeling something was up so I stopped at Kohl's on the way home from clinicals on the 13th and picked up some new pajama pants and a fancy candy bar for a gift. I was feeling pretty good. Then I woke up the morning of the 14th to the best candygram ever. Pictured below. So 1990's. 

I was a few points behind at this point (he definitely was ahead in the creativity arena). But then I went to school, did school stuff, and pulled into my driveway at 5:45 pm.  Sean, fully dressed in waitering attire, peeked his head into the garage and welcomed me home. Then, after letting me change and freshen up, he escorted me in to a re-creation of the meal I made for Brandon on our 1st anniversary: Hamburger covered in mozzerella cheese and tomato soup and fresh green beans. Thomas and Sean waited on us, Rin and Milla had cooked the meal and hand dipped strawberries for dessert. All had helped decorate with yellow roses and candles. Of course Brandon had planned the whole thing and bribed the kids for their help.  

Finally Brandon took me upstairs and gave me a relaxing massage on the table we picked up many years ago. Best purchase ever!

I definitely made out in the husband department. You won this round, Brandon. Well played. 

I may just let you win again next year. ;)

Love you, Brando