Blog Slacking

September 18th marked the last day of my associates degree program in nursing. Hence the much lamented lapse in blogging. Here's the proof......
Classic black & white of Nick during our SCE, or 'simulated clinical experience.' Once a week we would get together and play out a scenario. This weeks was a kid with severe resiratory distress. We also had adult med-surg rotations, ob rotations, and this was the peds rotations. My group was one of the first to actually kill the dummy. (PS, when performing CPR, before beginning compressions, check for a pulse.) Listening to Donna voice our 'patient' giving birth is something I'll never forget.

This is Hannah, looking mighty fine in our Ameritech colors, checking out his poor little bubba who can't breath.

This is Tim's good side. We met on the first day when I figured out that we lived, like, two minutes away from each other, and then aproached him and asked him if he would be interested in carpooling. This was during the summer of super-duper-crazy-high gas prices, so this friendship actually does have a price-I bet we saved hundreds of dollars commuting, not to mention all the last minute studying we were able to do on the way to classes and tests.

It was actually my turn to drive when Tim's wife went into early labor, and I have never driven faster in my life. As we shot over Point of the Mountain, of course there was a cop down there waiting for us. And by some miracle of miracles, he didn't pull us over!! And the baby didn't come early after all.

Ryan. What a stud.

Dean, the elder statesman of our group.

Double trouble. Charlotte up close and Jessica in the back.

Cameron. The Voice of Reason.

Jessica K. One of my favorites.

Lona. One of the funniest teachers ever. I still laugh when I think of her using he word 'tallywacker.' If you don't know what she is referring to.....Google it or something.

Julie. Also done with school and probably celebrating in Mexico right now.

Nick, bartender extrodinaire. He's gonna be a great nurse.

Byrnn. Jess. So cute.

Anyways, that is why I have been so lax in posting. Once I finished my capstone, I started working again since I was back down to jsut two days of class. So I went from having two days a week of class and Heather working three days a week, to working three nights a week and having class two days a week and working at night and then coming home and having to take care of Jack on no sleep........but that is a story for another day.

Summer Swimming

We spent some time this summer swimming.

Jacks reaction to the water this year stands in sharp contrast to his enjoyment last year.

Last year, it was torture to get him in the water, and once he was in, all he wanted to do was get out and run around. It seems like I spent the majority of the time swimming around the edge of the pool keeping an eye on him. 'No Jack, don't put the rocks in your mouth, ' and 'No Jack, thats not our stuff."

This year, he was totally into it. He got brave enough to jump in, and could actually swim his way from end to end. He also still loves him some hot tub.

Next year should be a real blast.

He is the cutest kid I have ever made.

Twinners Birthday Par-tay

Meet Owen.

He's a cutie. He had a birthday party.

He and his brother Wesley are good friends of Jack, and they invited him to their third Birthday party. There was a Dinosaur/Cars themed cake, a thirty-foot long sandwich, and a pony to ride. It was Great!

Heres Wesley.

Ok, one more of Owen too.

Jack LOVES horses, but the last time he had a chance to saddle up, he chickened out, so I was a little worried that this time he would do the same thing, but he bucked up and rode the pony.

Cowboy Jack.

I like little ponys and little things. They make me feel HUGE.

The twins dad also let me ride his bike, and I took Jack along, too. Also, Steve makes the BEST WINGS I've EVER had. Hands down, the best.

Jack though it was great, except that he honked the horn at Heather when she was taking the pics, and she got mad. Whoopsie....

Fun party.

It's Been 5 Years!?!?!?

While Heather's moms was here, we took advantage of the gratis baby-sitting, and went on an early anniversary date. We found an old tractor-bull-dozer thingy, and took some pictures. It is a cool-looking dozer, getting older, rusty around the edges, short, stocky-just like me.

We also went up to the temple to take some more pictures, and got some of Heather by the flowers.

And here's a shot of us together. Together still, 5 years later. We decided to go for double or nothing, so.....see you in another 5 years!

We also went to dinner at the Texas Roadhouse. I was a little dissapointed. I ordered the ribs and chicken, so I expected a lot of food. I'm from Texas, so I actually had some high expectations. When you are really in Texas, and you order chicken and ribs, you get three or four big ribs, plus the option of either half or a quarter of a roasted chicken. What I actually got was a chicken breast and the smallest little ribs I've ever seen. I didn't know rabbits had so much meat on them, they certianly couldn't have come off of a cow.......

We topped off the night watching "The Proposal."

Happy Anniversary Honey!!

Staycation Part II

This shot is out of order, and belongs at the end, but it is Uncle Marlin and his partner, our Uncle David.

Not only did the Benezras come to visit us this summer, Heathers moms, Lynette came for a visit as well. It was kinda lame though, cuz she was hard to keep outta the water.

Just kidding.

While she was here, she got to visit with her brother Marlin as well.

How to Know You're REALLY Fat, Part 1

If you are killing time by walking around Old Navy, and Jack points at a female mannequin and says 'Mamma,' then points at a pregnant female mannequin and says "Dadda." Yeah, about that.........

The New Brat Pack of Belle Monet

So, we used to think that nothing could be as much trouble as Dennis, Kayden, Brooks and Jonathan. Boy were we wrong. Boys, you have been officially displaced. Make room for Emma, Jack, Little Man, Rhaegan, anf Gavin. As Kendall would say, "For the love....."

Little Man, Jack, Gavin, and Rhae-Rhae.

Come'on, you know you can't get enough.

Crazy.

Nah-Night!

Today, Jack prayed to God for the first time in his life. It was AWESOME!!

Our routine at night goes like this. First, we eat dinner. Jack usually finishes first, and then insists on getting down and running around in only his diaper, while we try to ignore him and finish our own dinner/conversation. Then, we take Jack in for his bath, lately, kicking and screaming. This we don't like so much.

Then there's the bath, teethbrushing, and jammies.

Then, there is story time, as you can plainly see, which occurred on our bed in these pics for some reason I don't currently remember why. Usually this takes place in his room.

( I love how Jack always crosses his little legs-it's cute-Heather does the exact same thing, she can't be anywhere without crossing her legs or her feet!)

Then there are the stories. Goodnight Moon, Too Little to Love (after which he MUST kiss the giraffe), Runnaway Bunny, A Pocket for Corduroy (after which he MUST snuggle noses with the reader), and assorted others.

Then, we kneel on the floor of his room and pray. Jack usually remembers who prayed last, and is really good about saying, "Mamma turn!" or "Dadda turn!" ...............

...............Today, how ev ah, he decided it was "Jack turn." I did that whole thing where I say the words and he repeats after me, and he did pretty good. He's a great little mimic, and we can get him to say some really funny things, like 'prostate gland' or 'volcano,' but it's usually a one-time deal. This time, he volunteered and said some of the words all by himself and I could't be happier. It was so cute!