Excessive Heat and Pollen

Who would have ever thought it would be possible to have snow on a day that the temperature reached 104 degrees!!!! Not me. But when I was outside today there was fluffy white stuff falling from the sky....definitely wasn't snow, but it sure looked like it! All of those fluffs sure made me itch! Gotta love allergies.

Heading to nanny today, I knew there was an excessive heat warning for the day and that they were advising people to stay indoors in air conditioning if at all possible. But on a beautiful warm summer day you can't expect me (or young children) to stay inside all day! It was the perfect opportunity for water activities!! Too hot for the beach, but we spent the whole morning outside! Broke out the slip n' slide, kiddie pool, water ballons, and water guns! It was so much fun! Then this afternoon, when it was nearing the above 100 degree mark, we headed out to get the kids' hair cut. **Note to self: While I have never taken children to get a hair cut at a regular place, it just may be worth the $16.50 to go to Kids Hair where they get suckers and can watch a movie while they get their hair done. Not once did Zoe scream! I may need to try that trick while combing her hair at home! ha ha After the hair cuts we of course had to go for ice cream :) Good times! And cute kids!

Look at those messy faces :) Gotta love Superman ice cream!

Should have went with a cup for Jaden. He didn't quite get the concept of "licking" his cone and wanted to use a spoon instead.

Zoe and Chandelle love! <3


Check out those hair cuts! I think they look good! Zoe even got a pony tail! I love her hair out of her face!! I thought it was stressful enough getting MY hair cut...but being responsible for the hair cuts of 2 little people is pretty scary too! Especially when I have to report back to their parents!!


All in all, another GREAT day! I love my job!!

Wonderful Weekend/s Recap :)

It has been awhile!! School was wrapping up for the year over the past few weeks, so that took priority. However, SCHOOL'S OUT! FOR THE SUMMER! Well...sort of...I have one class for a week starting in a few weeks and then I have off until Sept. 26th. But I have already started the summer fun! My social life is definitely back in full swing!

Last weekend summer started with Memorial Day...even if I wasn't yet completely done with all of my homework! Don't worry. It got finished :)

Spent Memorial Day weekend with Jaden and Zoe while their mom and dad had an out of town date weekend. Friday night I spent with the kids at there house and we went for ice cream...in the rain! Quite the adventure. But the kids were great and didn't make a mess when we ate in the car :)



Saturday morning Jaden saw me blow drying my hair and later decided he was going to use my blow dryer to get an ant! It was cute! lol



The kids even helped me with the dishes before we left for the zoo with my grandma on Saturday! They were great helpers! And it was THEIR idea to help!!



At the zoo we of course had to get fun lollipops! I remember getting these as a kid and not really liking the taste...but still wanting one! These kids almost licked theirs all gone!! And they were a life saver for keeping them busy when the storm rolled through during our visit...




Luckily, we also got to hang out inside during the storm and watch the dolphins. They were Jaden's FAVORITE! I tried to get him to turn around so I could take his picture with the dolphin but he freaked out!! So all I got was the back of his head :)




Also got to attempt a picture of their cute faces in this submarine! Taking pictures of kids sure is a talent! One which I don't yet have mastered! lol


This was Jaden's face THE WHOLE DAY! He walked around saying "Wow! Wow! Wow!" And the only way I could get him to move on to the next animal was to say "Tell the ______ (fill in name of animal) buh bye, Jaden" And he would say buh bye!



Hanging out, waiting for the tornado warning and severe thunderstorm warning to expire so we could finish seeing the animals. They sure were troopers!


In addition to the lollipops, flirting with this little girl also kept Jaden busy :) lol


By the end of our visit, I was ready to sleep like this cute monkey!! What an exhausting but SUPER fun day! I loved every minute of it :) Actually, every minute of the whole weekend was great!!


Sunday we went to church and the kids were awesome! And then we came home and "fished" on the "dock" before heading to McDonald's for lunch and playing in the playland!!! So fun!




This past weekend was the REAL beginning of my summer...minus summer school.
Got to see my friend from college, Jonna, marry an amazing man! Such a beautiful wedding! Jonna was a gorgeous bride. LOVED her dress!! And instead of having a unity candle or combining sand, they tied together 2 branches (1 from each of their yards) in the form of a cross to symbolize they are the branches coming together being connected by the vine (God). Pretty neat symbolism! Didn't get very good pictures...but check 'em out!









After the wedding, I met up with an old college roommate who slept over. Such a good time! Lots of laughs were shared :)





I also got to meet my cousin's cute new baby boy! She has a SON! I forgot to take a picture because I was so busy marveling in his adorable self...But let me tell you! He is CUTE!!!

Well, that's all...actually a ton, for now. Time for the week to really begin! Back to work tomorrow. It's going to be another hot one...so bring on the sprinkler with Zoe and Jaden!! :) I sure love the excuse to be a big kid!

Surprise SURPRISE!!!

I thought going to Tim McGraw was enough of a surprise in my day yesterday, but it got even better!!! We got to the concert and because tickets hadn't sold out, we got a FREE upgrade!!!

We moved from sitting just above the line of bright light (sorry, pictures aren't the greatest..)

to having this AMAZING view!!!! $70 tickets for only $40 :) :)

Amy and I were BEYOND thrilled!!!



Not only did we get to see Tim McGraw, but we also got to see The Band Perry (didn't know many of their songs, but they put on a great show!)



and Luke Bryan was also there to open for Tim! Amy and I didn't know who he was, but we knew most of his songs! GREAT show from him! And...he was pretty good lookin'! ;)

I really struggled to get some good shots...

And then! For the main event!!! Tim actually entered the stage THROUGH THE CROWD! Just one section over from us!!! And then sang so close to us! For a 44 year old man he was freakin' gorgeous!!! mmm hmmm!





He was quite the crowd pleaser too! Getting right down in the crowd a few different times! Such a GREAT show!!! Sooo much fun!! And I totally called that he would wear a white shirt, black hat, and tight jeans :)

Surprising Saturday

It's been awhile since I posted. A lot has been going on - my last quarter of my first year of seminary is coming to an end, I'm working to set up a meaningful volunteer experience for the summer, my nanny job may not work out next year so I have been job searching. A lot of surprises have come through these things. I am learning how unexpected life can be!

What as been surprising so far today:

1. Sleeping in, even if its only until 8 am, is niceI

2. My plants are all starting to grow :) Except for the rosemary...hmmm

3. I really enjoy integrative psychology journals....yep. I think I would read them for the fun of it.... weird!

4. Despite taking nearly all day just to do research for my Integrative Psychopathology paper, I'm not stressed or anxious about the fact that I haven't started writing it yet.

5. The MOST surprising part of my Saturday - I'm going to a Tim McGraw concert tonight!!!! :) I have never been to a concert so I am super pumped!! Hopefully I'll get some good pics :)

Happy Surprising Saturday!

Planting Seeds

The beginning of a beautiful thing! I started my garden today :) Planted my seeds and filled one of my planters with soil. Now...to wait for my little seeds to grow grow GROW!

Starting my little seeds inside. Hopefully they grow fast! Well, hopefully they just grow! ha

Where my seeds are going once they start to grow :)

Beyond Blessed

Sometimes I feel like I am blessed beyond belief! Such a truth on this Easter Sunday too! But really, I honestly feel sooo blessed sometimes that it makes me feel bad, or at least guilty. Yes, I'm going into debt in order to be at seminary, but I'm getting to learn such exciting things for a job that I think I am going to LOVE someday! I'm starting to have a little group of friends and am getting more connected at church. I nanny for a family that continually blesses me, even if the kids can be challenging sometimes. And to top everything off, I live alone in a 2 bedroom apartment and still only have to pay rent as a single! At first I didn't think it was going to be too great, but I'm actually really loving having my own little place all to myself. Having a roommate again will hopefully be good, though, too. As long as they are okay with all of my decorating :) Check out my most recent additions:


Area by the door where I can put my purse and store winter stuff :) This was my old toy box as a kid! Multi-purpose. Love it!

MY FIRST GARDEN!!! Thanks Dad for building the planters and Jeff for the gardening tips and pot! Plants still to come....they are currently working to grow from seeds inside my house.

Coffee table from grandma, end table from dad, and new pictures above the futon...thanks dad and grandma!! :)

New curtain in my bedroom...which I made with my mom's help. THANKS mom!

New bookshelf to store the massive amounts of books I will be accumulating over the next few years in grad school...a little empty right now, but it won't take long :) THANKS again to mom!

Well, I think that is about everything. My apartment is so homey and cozy! I love it! Such a blessing :) Or maybe I am just spoiled by the people who love me.... :) A BIG thank you to them all!