The Nanny Diaries

All things Bright and Beautiful

2009-11-04T10:42:00.000-08:00

I love the fall season. I love all the beautiful leaves in shades of red, orange and yellow. I love the crisp mornings. I love curling up under a blanket and drinking some hot tea! I love seeing peoples porches and house decorated. I love carving pumpkins. I love seeing all my precious kids dressed in their adorable Halloween costumes. I love the landscape God creates and that He allows us to share in that. I love that it brings about thoughts of being thankful for all our blessings. I love the way this time of year brings families together. I just love it all!
A few weeks ago I had Anaiah all weekend. We had lots of fun reading books, watching Dora, playing on the structure at the mall, finding her Halloween costume, going to the pumpkin patch and just being together! She is so precious and I hope that every time they come back on furlough that I will get that special time with my little niece! She is a precious gift and I want to capture every moment I can with her!

The weekend after that, it was Halloween. I had an awesome and amazing day! I started the day off with some coffee and then going to watch Alyssa's soccer game. It poured lots of rain, but it was worth it to watch her play! She is an aggressive little thing and gets the job done. It was her teams last game, so after it was over we gathered for snacks and hot chocolate. She was very proud to get her trophy- I think she was the best one on the team!! After her game I hung out with them for the remainder of the afternoon. We went to their local grocery store/strip mall and did some trick or treating. That was a lot of fun and the kids looked so adorable in their costumes! Alyssa was Goldilocks and J,B, and D were the 3 little bears!!! I left them to go pick up my sister and the kiddos. We then went home and the kids took a long nap, then we got them ready to go! Anaiah was a beautiful fairy and Evan was the cutest caterpillar ever! We took them to some people's house from church, grabbed some pizza and went home. We enjoyed our fellowship as our brother Drew was here for the weekend. It really was a perfect, fall day! And a Halloween I will remember forever!

And the picture of the 3 Little Pigs is of the girls I nanny for now- pretty cute huh?!

Time for a MASSIVE update!

2009-09-28T22:14:00.001-07:00

Ok, so sometimes I even wonder why on earth I ever started a blog!!! But I know that way down deep in my heart I did it too keep the 2 people who read it informed about what is going on in my life!!! Haha!!! So I guess since the last blog I did was wayyyy back in the month of May I have a little bit of catching up to do! So here it goes...don't hold your breath as this may take a while....so if I go back and begin with June, I will just say that overall it was a busy month. But the highlight of June was being able to first, go home and visit my family! I love going home to Idaho, it is always so great to see my mom, dad, sister in law, brother, grandmas, cousins, aunts and uncles!! But one of my reasons for going home this time was to help my mom complete the playroom that she had been working on for her wonderful grandchildren! So before going home I forced (wink,wink) myself to go and walk around Ikea for a few hours collecting furniture and stuff she needed to have for the playroom. I also managed to pick up a few things for me as well. I don't go there very often because it really is a store that I love and it is not/ would not be very difficult for me to buy lots of cute things there!!! So I ended up driving home and got there and back safe and sound. While there I was able to help my mom put together furniture and put last minute touches on the room. It ended up looking so fabulous!!! And Anaiah LOVED playing in it while she was at Nana and Papa's house! Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure :)

Something else I did in June was fly to Arizona to attend the annual CAPPA conference. CAPPA is the organization I am getting my postpartum doula certification from. And I had such a wonderful time there! It was absolutely great- we had great weather, great speakers, great pools and great company! I met so many women who inspired me to stick with this and to get my butt in gear and finish up! It was a great opportunity for me to learn so much new information and I walked away being even more sure that this is what I want to do!
The first weekend of July I was able to go to the beautiful place of Cannon Beach, Oregon and spend time with my beloved Smith family and some of their best friends. It was a great weekend!! We had so much fun playing on the beach, going to the parade, shopping, and doing fireworks! I am so thankful that I am still able to see them as much as I do and that they are all still a big part of my life. I treasure our moments together even more now since I do not see them on a daily basis. This year was the boys first time experiencing fire works! They have always been in bed in the past..it was a hoot to see how they reacted to them! They were all different, and some more fearful than the others, but they ended up loving them!

The most exciting event that happened in July was Andrew, Aimee, Anaiah and Evan came home from Africa for their furlough!!! I was soooo happy when the month of July was finally here! I could hardly stand the fact that after they got to the states they were in Seattle with some other family and friends for a week before making their way here! But, alas they did and I was so over joyed to reunite with them! It was amazing seeing them and their big kids! My niece Anaiah and nephew Evan are some of the most awesome, amazing kids ever and I have so enjoyed getting to know them more! It is also so awesome to see them interact with Papa and Nana Evans and Grandpa and Grandma Martin. It is one of the best things to see! And I really, really love their sweet kisses and hugs!

(Are your eyes burning yet??) Bear with me, we only have one month left for the summer months!!!

In August I had a birthday! I celebrated the big 2-7!! That is still kind of weird to say, but I don't feel old by any means! I had a great birthday and about 20 different times of celebrating (and that is just fine with me!) My first celebration was with my cousin Kelsey, who was here from Texas. We went out to a great Italian place that I love in Gresham! My best friend Elana took me out for dinner at Claim Jumper and sang to me all by herself!! I love her! Then I had a celebration with my family while we were all here in Oregon at my aunt and uncles house. And then Jamie and Danny took me to an awesome fondue restaurant! It had great food and an awesome atmosphere!! It was DELICIOUS (and we probably all gained about 15 ponds that night!)but it was worth it!!

ok, that is all I can manage for tonight! I need to get to bed...more to come! Hopefully tomorrow, but we shall see!

I wish..

2009-05-22T10:50:00.000-07:00

I wish I had something really exciting to put on my blog since it has been a long,long time since I have updated it! But my life has been pretty ordinary lately. Nothing too exciting is going on. But I did start a new job last month. I have started working with a new family with triplets- and they are all girls this time! Two are identical and one is not. Which is the exact same as the boys I used to take care of! They are very cute and I love dressing them in their clothes! I love this family and know that it is a true blessing that I got this job, it will become full time in June!
The first weekend of May all of our friends were here in Portland for the final events at Cascade. It was so wonderful to see all of my beautiful girlfriends and to catch up, I am just sad as to why they were all here. We all said good-bye to Cascade, the place that brought us together almost 10 years ago..it is so strange to think that Cascade is no longer in existence- it was a great weekend, but very bittersweet. It is hard to let go of a place that really did transform my life in numerous ways.
Our weekend was very busy and packed with one thing after the next and while I was thankful to rest Sunday evening, I was also sad to say goodbye to my friends who live far away. The times we are all together now in one place and few and far between, but we are all grateful when those times happen!! My parents were here that weekend as well, and I was able to visit with them a little bit- and it was nice to see them as well!
Here are some pictures from Cascade weekend and a few of the cute little darlins I am watching now- enjoy!!

Happy Birthday Aimee!!

2009-03-13T23:23:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday my dear sister!!! I can't believe you are the big 30 today!!! My, where has the time gone?!?! I hope that you have a day filled with many blessings and that this year is filled with joy and love daily. I pray that you will find joy in your Savior, laughter in your children, love in your husband and harmony in your relatinships. I pray that you will live each day to the fullest and enjoy each and every second with your sweet babies. I pray you will continue to adjust well to living in a foreign country that is now your home. I wish I could be there to celebrate with you, but know that I am there in spirit and am thinking of you, praying for you and loving you from afar. I am so thankful for you and that God has blessed you with thirty years, I admire you in so many ways. Thank you for being the best big sister a girl could ask for. I miss you and love you!!!
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear Aimee
Happy Birthday to you!!!

Back in the Swing..

2009-03-03T23:05:00.000-08:00

Well here I am, after being back from Africa for a month now..my trip was amazing and I really wish I were still there with my sister and her family. It was great to see her, Andrew, Anaiah and meet Evan. And I can not wait till July when they will be here on furlough- I think that is how you spell it! I look forward to seeing them again and having our family all on the same continent!
Life has been quite the transition since being back..first getting back and only working two days a week..to finding another job for two more days a week...and now having different job opportunities on the horizon..wish it would have happened a week ago! We will see what happens. And the biggest transition of all has been not driving to Wilsonville everyday to see Alyssa, Jacob, Brandon and Derek. This has been hard and I am still adjusting to this. I know that I did the right thing in choosing to move on and find a new job, but that does not change that fact that I miss them lots and love them dearly!
I hope to update with more pics soon..we shall see!
By the way..I am sorry you are still seeing snowflakes when you view by blog..I have tried several times to get rid of the current code and it is not working! Who can help me out here? Hopefully that will be changed soon as well!

The Tale of Four Beds and a Million Mosquitos..

2009-01-26T00:41:00.000-08:00

It has now been 3 days since Evan was born and I have had some time to think about the events of Friday as I was "laboring" with my sister. It was strange for me to know that my sister was going to be giving birth only 16 months after having Anaiah, and that she was going to be doing it in Uganda!! The thought of that made me very nervous and scared for her. I am thankful I was able to be here with her and see what things are really like...here is a glimpse of what happened while we were at the hospital..
first of all, the laboring rooms are called "suites" which i found rather amusing since all that was in them was a bed, a chair and a bathroom. The suite had no toliet paper in the bathroom, no soap in the dispenser, and no towel to dry our hands on after washing!! The bed was rather uncomfortable for Aimee and it creeked very loudly anytime any of us sat on it!! We were able to find some toliet paper, and a nurse filled the dispenser with soap..but even after doing so it still did not come out!! So we just used hand sanitizer!! While Aimee was laboring she had several nurses come in and check on her and Evan to make sure all was going well..they were just so quiet about it. When she was having a contraction they would just sneak in the room and stand right behind her..she would sometimes have no idea they were there! It was just weird to me that they did not make it a point to let Aimee know they were in the room. And most of the time one of the nurses or doctor were talking I had no idea what they were saying!! They talk so quietly and have accents as well..so I am sure I looked confused more than anything!!
Anyways..as the day progressed Aimee's body did not dialate enough, so she ended up having a c-section. At the point of making this decision she was contracting a lot and they were strong..so when it was time to move her to go back for surgery the nurse brought in a bed that we had to move Aimee on to. The bed the nurse brought was pretty dinky and was sitting a lot lower than the bed Aimee was on..at first the nurse was just going to make Aimee move to it without it being level with the other bed. So one of us suggested that we lower the one bed so they were even...and the funny/strange part is..the first bed Aimee was on had wheels and could have been moved out of the room just as easily!!! so we got her moved and she was off..or so we thought!! Cheryl and Andrew went back with her, and I was told after they went through the first double doors Aimee had to move onto another bed. And at this point, she was very tired and no one was around to help her except for Cheryl because Andrew was changing into his scrubs..so Cheryl helped her move onto that bed..but she was not done still!!! After they got to the OR they said she had to switch beds AGAIN because the one she had just been transferred to that was in the hallway of the OR was not sterile...so she had to be moved again. And every time she was supposed to get onto a new bed she was left to do it on her own. It is such a blessing that Cheryl was back there and able to help her each time!!!
So needless to say, the process they have here is quite different!! From what I have seen it is hard for them to think things through ahead of time!
Chai tea is a big deal here and they drink it all of the time..I lost count of how many of the nurses asked Aimee if she wanted some hot chai while she was in labor!! She very politely told them no thank you each time, but the kept asking!!
A few hours later we made it to the recovery room..it was nice and had a big bed for Aimee, Evan and Andrew to sleep in and there was a single bed for me. We all went to bed around 11 and I went right to sleep...but when we woke up at 2 for Aimee to feed Evan I found out that whole time Aimee and Andrew were getting eaten alive by mosquitos..the net that was around their bed was not big enough at all and they kept getting bit!! Thankfully Evan was in his bed with a net over him and was just fine! So from that point on Andrew and I proceeded to kill dozens of mosquitos. It was so nasty how many there were! He asked someone to bring them a new net..but that was never done. So he found an electric bug zapper and really instead of sleeping spent the rest of the night killing mosquitos! The next day we were moved to another room for a few different reasons and the mosquitos were not that bad in there! But let me tell you, I had to sleep on the most uncomfortable bed EVER!! When I layed down on it I felt like there was no mattress and I was sleeping on metal! I woke up with a very stiff neck and back the next day! I was so happy to sleep here at the house last night on a nice cozy bed without all of the mosquitos!!
Aimee said last night there were only like 2 in their room and they got a lot of rest. I was very happy to hear that!!! She and Evan may get to come home today..lets hope so!!

Uganda so Far....

2009-01-19T23:55:00.000-08:00

I have been here for almost a week now and feel like I have adjusted pretty well. I was really tired the first few days, but am now on a good sleeping schedule. My trip over here was long, but it went very smoothly! Since being here, we have not left Kampala since we are still waiting on Evan to be born! Being in Kampala, I can tell that I am not in America, but I also don't feel quite like I am in Africa. Kampala has a lot of "American" aspects to it in a sense. We have gone out to eat a lot and gone to the mall as well. While driving down the streets here there is a lot going on. There are tons of people walking, lots of people on motorcycles, and lots of people driving! It is pretty intense and there is no way I would have any desire to be behind the wheel of a car here! There are lots of people on the street trying to sale all sorts of items, and they will walk right up to your car and stand there until you nod your head no. I feel like there is a lot going on, and that people have a lot of good ideas, but they do not know how to execute them. The city looks like it is in transition, maybe waiting for something better. It is just strange.

We went to Aimee's doctor last week and that was different. The office was very small and hot!! Her doctor was very nice, but I had a hard time understanding what he was saying to me. I have a funny story...while there, a mother was going to weigh her baby. And in order to weigh a child here, you put them in a cloth seat, and hang them from the scale. Well, this mother had gotten her baby girl naked, and as she was taking her baby out of the sling/seat the baby peed all over the floor. There was a lot of pee!! And the mother just walked off and left it. I can not even tell you how many people proceeded to walk through that little girls pee. It drove me crazy that no one was cleaning it up!!

I am having a very fun time with Anaiah Dawn!! She is so cute and so loving. It took her a few days to get used to me, but now I think we are good friends! She is one dramatic little girl, and that just makes me laugh! She is full of laughter and loves to be a part of our adult conversations. She gives Evan the sweetest kisses on Aimee's belly, we shall see how she treats him once he is here!! She loves to watch baby einstein videos and gets sooo excited when one is being put in for her! I love her so much and am so thankful we are getting to bond and know each other!

Aimee is doing pretty well, she is ready to have the baby though. And today would be a great day, it is cool and rainy. So she would not be too hot! She and I have been watching a lot of Jon and Kate plus 8 and last night we watched MamaMia, and she really liked it! Andrew is going crazy here and is ready to be back in Fort Portal!! So he has been playing on the computers a lot! We are all hangin in there, lets pray for a new baby to come very soon!!

A Year of New Adventures...

2009-01-05T20:47:00.000-08:00

I can not believe we have just welcomed the beginning of another year and that it is 2009. Remember when it was the New Millenium (SP??) and every one thought the world was going to end? That was 9 years ago, the same year I graduated from high school! I can not believe how quickly time has flown by since then!! As I sit here in 2009, I can't help but think about this past year and it's events.
I began 08 saying goodbye to my dear sister, brother in-law and precious little niece. That was really hard...but in some ways this year without them has flown by! It took some time to adjust to life with out them in America, and I still find myself doing that often. March brought me to my official Doula training through KAPPA. That was an amazing weekend, and I am so thankful that I have finally found what I want to do with my life. I am still on the road to being a certified Doula,learning more all of the time and getting more experience when the opportunites arise. In May I was able to go home and visit with my family over Memorial Day weekend. During that visit, I helped my mother go through our entire house and we picked out paint for every wall. It was quite the task, but we got it done and after it all being painted, it looks pretty fantastic!! The summer was spent with several trips to the beach with my babies and lots of fun in the sun! We (meaning me and the family I nanny for) went on vacation in August and had a great time with the Collns and Jennings families. During that trip I got some amazing pictures while we were at Ecola Park watching the sun set- it was a BEAUTIFUL night! In October I was able to go home to the farm and I brought Carey and the kids with me! We all had a lot of fun riding horses, feeding chickens, chasing cats and riding on John Deere! I also decided to quit my job in October, while it was one of the hardest decisions I have made, it was a good one (I think!!).
November went by quickly, and then December came and went just as fast. In December the Fox family lost sweet Hadley and that was so very sad. She was such a sweet,lively girl who will be greatly missed. My family and I had a great Christmas and were VERY thankful to have made it to Idaho!! We played lots of games, ate lots of food, saw LOTS of snow, and shared lots of hugs and laughter. It was great being with my family!!!
2009 is shaping up to be a great year thus far!! I am leaving for Africa next Monday to go and visit my sister and her family!! I can't wait. It will be so weird to actually be with them and to see Anaiah walking and talking!! And to meet my little nephew who could arrive any day now! I look forward to 09 being a better year than last, with less tragedy and loss. I hope to grow more in love with my God and learn how to walk in His path daily. I hope to find a great job and to really begin my career as a Postpardum Doula. I hope to find love in all areas of my life. I hope to be a friend to everyone and to love the way I have been called to.
Hats off too a great year!!

With Great Loss comes Great Hope

2008-12-14T18:13:00.000-08:00

It seems that the past month and this last week have been filled with loss..loss of Cascade, loss of Cindy, loss of my job, and now the loss of Hadley. It seems strange that in this season of cheer and all things bright, I have seen more gloom than I had hoped for. I have come to grips with the fact that Cascade is closing and will not reopen it's doors, and I am "okay" with that fact that this Friday is my last day with my babies. Even though I chose to quit my job, it still breaks my heart in many ways. I am still wondering why God chose to take Cindy away, and that loss still makes me wonder what He is doing. And on Friday, sweet Hadley went home to be with Jesus. Even though she had been sick for a while, it still hurts and my heart grieves with the family. I can't imagine what her parents are feeling, her grandparents, her little brothers, her aunts and uncles, and all those that knew her. I can't imagine losing my sweet niece Anaiah, and this is where it hits me the hardest. Hadley was the niece of my sister in law- and when he married her, Hadley became Drew's niece as well. I I feel so bad that my brother is experiencing this- and all of the Fox family. They are a family I grew up knowing and feel so sad for this time in their life. With all of this going on, sometimes it is hard to look forward to what is going to happen next.
I do not know where I would be or what I would do with out the hope I have in Christ. It is becasue of Him that I can have the confidence to look towards the future and know that somehow, everything will be ok. It is with hope that I look forward to next month and traveling to Africa to see my sister. It is with hope that I look forward to the arrival of Abi, Nate and Kelsey- and then traveling to Idaho with them to see my family. It is with hope that I anticipate the birth of my sweet nephew. I am thankful for hope and that there is a tomorrow, whether it is here on earth, or in Heaven, I have hope. Hope was a word associated with Hadley. She showed me how to have hope in each day, and the love of Christ. Even though she is gone and will be greatly missed, this little girls spirit lives on and gives me hope for the days to come.

School of Brotherly Love

2008-11-02T21:05:00.000-08:00

A week ago tomorrow I found out Cascade College would be closing it's doors in May of this year. At first, all I felt was shock but now as time has passed I am feeling a lot of sadness and loss. Not just personal sadness or loss, but that for our community here in the Portland area. I was so blessed to have attended Cascade, and I am so sad to see it closing. I have so many memories at that school. I have been blessed with the rich heritage of Columbia and of Cascade. I have countless family members that attended both Columbia and Cascade, my dad and grandpa both served on the board of trustees. I got to walk and experience that campus with my sister and my brother in law. I met my best friends there and will forever be grateful for all of the opportunities I had to grow in spirit and knowledge over those 5 wonderful years.
Growing up I heard all about Columbia Christian College and all of the fun and exciting times my parents had there. That is where my wonderful parents met and fell in love, and it is also where they met a lot of their life long friends. Growing up they showed me the importance of maintaining relationships and how frutiful God can make them if you continue to invest in them. I remember as a young child dreaming of going to Columbia (at the time)and gaining what they had. As I entered high school and started thinking about college, I was able to start visiting the campus and was able to see what my parents had been telling me about all along. There was a spirit of community, love and support. I knew it was where God wanted me to be. So I went and experienced some of the happiest times of my life.
I am sorry that all of the current students have to think about leaving this place that has just started to or is finishing transforming their lives, I am sorry to all of the facutly and staff that have the Cascade vision and have to somehow let that go. I am sorry to all of the people who have invested all of their time and energy into this place that truly does transfrom lives. I could never tell you how much that place has impacted my life and can't imagine my life without it. I pray that we never lose our memories, traditions and relationships that we cultivated while spending time on that Northwest Corner of Heaven.

School of Brotherly Love

The raindrops beat upon the roof descending all in rhyme
The images of faded dreams keep drifting through my mind
The pieces of the puzzle of myself I had not found
But now I know the answer and my feet are on the ground

Oh, School of Brotherly Love remain forever in my heart;
Oh, School of Brotherly Love remain forever in my heart.

Lonely in my wanderings I walked without a home
The clouds of life, they followed me where ever I cast a stone
The wrong path I had chosen and there was no light to see
But now I 've found the answer and I'm hapy and I'm free

Oh, School of Brotherly Love remain forever in my heart;
Oh, School of Brotherly Love remain Forver in my heart.

I've learned to love and sing and pray and share a brother's tear
To know the joy of perfect peace and fellowship sincere
My heart was overjoyed with love and sunshine filled my soul
And now I walk the pathway to the true and only goal!

Oh, School of Brotherly Love remain forever in my heart;
Oh, School of Brotherly Love remain forever in my heart.

My FAVORITE time of year!!

2008-10-26T17:29:00.000-07:00

I love, love, love the fall season!! It is so beautiful with all of the leaves changing color, the big fields with all the bright orange pumpkins, and the cool crisp air! It is always exciting to me to wear hats and scarves too! I am so thankful I live in a climate where the weather changes and we have four different seasons,I don't know if I could handle somewhere where that does not happen!
Last Saturday I went with Dave, Carey and the kids to the pumpkin patch. We had a good time and had a gorgeous day! The kids enjoyed their pony rides, hay ride, playing with the pumpkins and the other little games they got to play. It was a great day filled with lots of memories!

Then, last Sunday I went to Roloff Farms with David, Carrie and Jamie. It was kind of a bust if you ask me!! It wasn't all it was cracked up to be!! We ended up going to a different pumpkin patch up the road and it was much cooler! They had a much better selection of pumpkins, shorter lines and things were just a lot cheaper! We had a lot of fun!

So one day while we were outside a few weeks ago, the boys found a caterpillar- the poor little guy could not escape their grasp. They played with it for soo long and wanted to know where it was every second!! I finally had to pick it up and put it on the other side of the fence so that they could not touch it or follow it anymore! I did manage to get some pretty cute pics of the boys that day while they enjoyed playing outside..they are pretty good little models!!
Last week the boys got their big beds. Needless to say, nap time was interesting everyday..I had to go in every 5 or 10 minutes to remind them to stay in their beds, to stop touching each other, and to itleast rest if they did not want to fall asleep! It was pretty funny some of the things they were trying to do..hopefully this coming week will go better!!

Down on the Farm

2008-10-26T17:02:00.000-07:00

The first weekend of October, I went home to Idaho and got to bring some of my favorite people with me! Carey and the kids came home to the farm! It was so much fun and we had a good time taking tractor rides, checking out all the tractors, looking in the hay barn, taking rides on Taco (our neighbors horse), playing with the kittens, feeding the chickens and just hanging out. The weather was beautiful and I was excited to share where I grew up with my "kids." Here are some pictures from our time there

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I have the joy of praying for a young lady at church. Kaylin had a birthday in late Septmeber, and we went on a date! We went to Red Robin for lunch, and then we went bowling. It was a lot of fun and I had a great time with her! Also, in late Septmber my babies turned 3, I can't believe they are that big!! We had a very good time at their party and they really enjoyed opening all of their gifts- they did not want that part to end!

1 month and 2 days later....

2008-09-05T14:39:00.000-07:00

so a month ago, i turned 26. it was with the best intentions that i was going to do a post about that weekend a long time ago, and here i am finally getting around to it! so here i go..it all started on friday, august 1st. Kelsey and I went out to dinner at an Italian place in Gresham, then we tried to go to a movie. When we arrived there, we were hit on by the security guard, and I was thinking..is this part of your job description?!?! So then we proceeded to the counter to get our tickets. We had planned on seeing Get Smart and we found one theater that was still showing it. But when we got up to the counter and I asked for the ticket the girl looked at me like I was a crazy person, it was clear from the expression on her face that I was asking something that was totally out of the question!! So needless to say, we did not see the movie! So we went to Applebee's for desert. It was yummy...then on Saturday I got up and cleaned the house with Kelsey, relaxed and got ready. I met my friends at PF Changs for dinner...it was DELICIOUS!!! and of course, the one I had chosen to go to was the one that was in every news story for Dirty Dining every time you turned on the TV for the previous week! so thank you to all my friends for braving it and going with me, I am glad to say none of us got sick!!! It was a lot of fun and my friends payed for everything..which was not my intention of inviting them..I was very grateful for that!! Then we went to one of my most favorite places...we went to the Karaoke place in Beaverton. And we sang and sang and sang! It was a lot of fun and I still think about that night every time I hear one of the songs we sang on the radio! Then from there we went back to me and Jamie's apartment where we played games and had ice cream. So that brings us to Sunday, my actual birthday! I went to church that morning and worshiped with my East County family and then after church I went to lunch at Red Robin with some of my good friends..it was a lot of fun. And yes, the waiters sang to me and I had the silly little balloons around my chin and all. :) It was fantastic!!
So I packed a lot into one weekend but it was a lot of fun!!I love birthdays and believe you should always have a party and a lot of fun not matter your age!! Here are a few pictures to commemorate the weekend!! Enjoy!

Almost One Year Old...

2008-08-30T20:59:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow, September 3rs my sweet niece Anaiah Dawn will celebrate her 1st birthday. I can not believe it, where has the time gone?? As I sit here writing this blog my eyes are full of tears as my heart aches to see her. I know she is so so big now and is doing amazing things that make me smile everytime I hear about them or get to see them in a video. In the past week she has started walking...and I can just see her little face light up every time she is clapped for. I can see Aimee and Andrew's faces light up with pride as she grows and experiences each new phase. I wish that we were all with her to celebrate and show her how much she is loved. I wish I could hold her and kiss her. I wish I could hear her laugh again- it was very cute at 3 months old and I can only imagine how much it has changed. I wish I could watch her dig into her cake and see what she thinks of it. I just wish I could be there instead of here.
My sweet, sweet girl..have a BEAUTIFUL day filled with sunshine and love. I hope you gets lots of kisses and have fun opening all of your gifts!! I miss you so much and am so sad I can't be there on your big day. I pray that this new year brings you happiness, good health and lots of laughs. You are getting so big- I can't wait to see you!! I love you so much!! Hugs and Kisses to you- Auntie Mandie

beautiful sunset!!!

2008-08-15T15:38:00.000-07:00

ok, so last night we went up to Ecola State Park to watch the sun set. and when we got there we saw a herd of elk. there were a ton!!! and then we watched the gorgeous sunset..i will write more about our week later- but here are these for now.

Past, Present and Future

2008-07-28T16:40:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it is the end of July and that August is less than a week away. What I wonder is where the summer has gone and when it comes time- will we be ready for fall? It seems that we spend so much time looking forward to what is ahead, we do not take enough time to live in the moment. I am guilty of this. I do live in the moment, but it seems like I am always planning what is coming next and my calendar is too full of tasks I need to do. As fall approaches, I am trying my hardest to live in the moments of work. I am soaking up all the hugs, kisses and sweet words the kids say to me. Because this fall I will be working less hours and will have to find another part time job to make enough money. Some days I am relieved that I will be working less, but some days it makes my heart so sad. I feel like a mommy to these boys. And it breaks my heart when I think about the fact that I will not be here every day to see them and interact with them. I never thought that when I started this job 3 years ago it would turn into this.
I have grown and learned so much over the past 3 years. I have learned what it is truly like to put others needs above mine. I have learned that you can survive on 5-7 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period. I have learned that children really are AMAZING, and PRECIOUS gifts from the Father. I have learned that I get cranky when I don't have Amanda time, and that I need(ed) to take advantage of it when available. I have learned that these kids have captured my heart and there is nothing that I will not do for them. They are so beautiful and I do not know what I would do without them.
I have also learned what I want to do in the future. When the babies were born, we had a Doula come and take care of the boys so we could sleep (she was a LIFESAVER!!). Through many conversations with her I discovered that God had blessed me with the gifts to serve women and children along side their families after they bring the babies home from the hospital. So as I look ahead, I can not wait for the day that I will be a certified Postpartum Doula. It will be great!! I can not wait to serve families that need extra hands and love as they adjust to having a new baby in their home.
As I sit in the present, I think about finding a new job. I think about interviews I have had, and the ones to come. I think about making a choice to go with a new job, and then worrying it is/was the wrong choice. I think about the fact that looking for a new job stinks- but at the same time I should look at it as a time of growth and an opportunity to try something new and different. I think about the fact that I claim to have so much faith in God and Him to guide my decisions, but when it comes down to it, I don't listen and search enough to see where He is leading me.
I need to worry less and live in the now more. I need to be excited that things are changing and that God is presenting new opportunities for me to take hold of and run with. Please pray for me and I search for a new job, and that I will not dwell on the fact that my time with my current family is getting less, but that I still have time to spend with them!

My Parents

2008-06-28T21:50:00.000-07:00

So last weekend my parents were here for a visit along with some meetings my dad had to attend. They ventured out and stayed with me at my new apartment...so they spent the entire weekend dancing around boxes. I did have a lot of stuff unpacked when they got there, but there was and still is some stuff that needs to be done. They slept on an AeroBed (thanks Carey!!) in my room and I slept in the living room. Friday I went to work and they attended meetings, then on Saturday my mom and I got up and went to Starbucks and then to Ikea. Our plan was to be done at Ikea before dad got out of his meetings..well it did not end up that way. Lets just say that he had to join us at Ikea and he just LOVED every second of that to pieces!!! Then we went and had a late lunch at Red Robin, then we went and saw Jamie and her baby Mellot.
And after that is where the fun really started...so as most of you know, I got a new car last August. I love it and it loves me most of the time, but last Saturday it did not love me so much. We had gone to WinCo to get some groceries and after getting back in the car, I started my car and it was really jumpy and did not want to shift. So my dad told me to drive it around the parking lot and well it died several times. So we ended up calling TripleA to have it towed..the tow truck finally got to us around 11 and the ride in the tow truck was very interesting! Before this story gets much longer, there was a lot of worry on my end and a lot of frustration on my dads. My parents were planning on going home on Sunday, but they ended up staying till Tuesday. We had my car worked on Monday and it turns out that my computer (which controls the car) had died. So I got a new one and did not have to pay a dime since it was still under warranty!!!! Thank goodness!
So some of the things my parents did for me:
my mom washed dishes
my dad fixed our dishwasher and my shower rod
they bought me some bedding
they bought me a shoerack
they bought me a coffee maker
and some other stuff too.
they helped me move a couch
and my mom was stuck with the annoying task of helping me move my clothes...
they did soooo much for me and i could never thank them enough. they are supportive and loving and always have my best interest in mind, even though I am 25 years old. i cried like a baby when I said goodbye to them Tuesday morning. It was GREAT having them here. God has blessed me sooo incredibly much with my family. I love my parents dearly and cant wait to see them again!!! Thanks for everything mom and dad- I love you both!!!

they grow so fast

2008-06-05T18:20:00.000-07:00

As we approach another fall, my boys will be 3 years old and starting preschool. Alyssa is officially enrolled in kindergarden. That is so weird. Where has the time gone?

yesterday jacob looked at me and said "you have blue eyes nanny" and i said yes, i do. and then i almost started crying. they are just getting so big and smart and all that other stuff.

still working on potty training. hopefully it will be all said and done sooner than later. we shall see. if you have any ideas or tips, i will take em!!

anyways..i look forward to sunny days, trips to the beach, days at the zoo and many more sweet moments with "my" kiddos!!

My Shoes...

2008-05-09T22:45:00.000-07:00

they found them...my cousins, well mostly kenzie has discovered my shoes and that she enjoys wearing them. so almost every day this week after arriving home after work, i find a pair of my shoes NOT in my bedroom where they belong. i organize them the way i want them to be and come home and find them in disarray! and do they ever put them back?!?! no, why would they do that? anyways, i really don't mind if they wear them, but why can't they put them away???

only one month till i move out....YEAH!!!! i am going to look for an apartment tomorrow..wish me luck!!!

Spring Cleaning!

2008-04-18T16:36:00.000-07:00

I guess you could say the cleaning bug has bitten me!!! I am just in the mood to clean and get rid of stuff...which is not very normal for me because I am a pack rat! I really do think that I am becoming more tidy with age, which I am sure pleases my mother and sister a lot! So these are a few tasks I have accomplished recently..I finally finished going through and organizing ALL of the boys clothes, shoes, hats, and toys!! You have no idea how much clothing can pile up when you nanny for triplets, and it is all shoved into a room and nothing is ever given away! Oh my..I have been working on this for a long time. But each time I would begin to make progress, I would have to put it all away since I was organizing it in the game room. So a few weeks ago, I worked very hard and got it all done. And let me tell you, it feels GREAT! So now I am going to venture to do Alyssa's stuff..and that girl has a lot of stuff! So we shall see how it goes.

Last week I went through my clothes and got rid of two bags full. I feel like I should make myself do it again and get rid of even more. I also finally went through all my mail, organized it and threw away all the junk mail. I finally put all my clean laundry away. Which in it's self feels like a huge accomplishment seeing as after I do laundry it will sit in nicely folded piles on the couch that is in my room. That couch is a curse!!! This week it is my goal to put all clothing away before I go to bed each night, I really need to get into that habbit!

Yesterday at work I organized all of the coloring stuff. And oh my gosh, there were soooo many coloring books....holy cow. I recycled a ton of those and I am pretty sure there are still it least 15. I got rid of all of the papers that Little Miss has colored on and just silly stuff that has been kept around. So now it is beautifully organized and I know it won't stay that way for long- but it will be nice for a while.

And it does not stop there...oh no! Last night I went to a store in Tigard and got some little organizers for my bathroom drawer. And I also got some for the drawer that my lovely cousins keep all their hair things in. So I came home and cleaned out my bathroom drawer and it looks great! I got the perfect amount of little organizers and it is so nice when I go to get something, I don't have to dig for it! I also organized the girls drawer and I hope they noticed and are grateful! If not, that is ok. I know it was done and that makes me happy!!

Thursday is my day off and I plan to be a cleaning maniac!! So we will see how it goes!! Sorry you all just had to sit here and read through my blogging about cleaning. But it feels good to get these things done, so I thought I would share!

Happy Birthday Packy!!

2008-04-18T16:15:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday was a beautiful day in Portland and so I spent the day at the zoo with Alyssa!! It was great- i mean it was a gorgeous day! So it was a very crazy day at the zoo- it was Packy's 46th birthday. We got there in time to watch him eat this birthday cake. That was pretty exciting- his cake was made of carrots, celery and some other magical ingredients! He ate it all up and there were lots of excited children everywhere! After we were done, we stood in line for Alyssa to get her face painted, she wanted a Monarch butterfly and it ended up looking very cute! We saw some of the animals, I think the warm weather surprised a lot of them becasue a lot of them were just being lazy and sleeping! But we did get to see some of the animals and we rode the train- which Alyssa loves! It was a fabulous day and it was great to spend some time with "my" little girl! Here are some pics from the day- enjoy!

SpRinG BReAK?!?!?

2008-03-30T11:08:00.000-07:00

Spring break started out with a rainy Easter day here in Portland. But church was amazing and we had lots of visitors!! I hope that they will come back at some point! Then after church we went over to the Ellison's for lunch. It was very good and nice to visit with them. I played with Eli and Evan a lot, they are both so cute! Then after lunch and hanging out, I came home and finally packed to head off for the beach! But sun was not in the forecast..

I left for the coast Sunday afternoon to join the family I nanny for. We went for Alyssa's spring break. Let me just say, it was more like winter break than spring break!! First of all, we only were able to go out and play on the beach one day the entire week!! That was on Monday, and it was not really all that warm- but we braved it so the kids could have fun for a little while. We were out there for a while before they started saying they were cold, and for that I was thankful because I was ready to go in as well!!

Tuesday we played in the house and went to the park. It was raining off and on while we were at the park, but when we got back the boys napped greeeaattt- and for that I was so glad! Monday and Tuesday were rainy off and on and we also had some hail too. So that brings us to Wednesday, and we went into Seaside for a late breakfast, the carousel and the tilt-a-whirl. After we were done with all of that, we decided to walk down to the aquarium (which is very tiny!!). When we went out to start our walk, it was snowing and snowing pretty heavily! But we decided to go anyway since we were all bundled up. We went and saw all the sea creatures and they also had sea lions that would do "tricks" for pieces of fish, and when they talked they almost sound like cows, it was pretty entertaining! Even though their talking did scare the boys! So we walked back to the car in the freezing snow! Thursday and Friday the crummy weather continued and we drove home on Friday in the snow with some slick roads. Thankfully, we made it home safely! I was happy to be back in Portland, and then yesterday it rained all day long and we even had some snow here too- crazy weather!

Overall, we had a pretty good time. We were also able to play Yahtzee with Alyssa, which she loves! She got her first loose tooth while we were there, after discovering it was loose she spent about half an hour flipping out..it was pretty funny. She is/was worried that she will loose all her teeth at once. Poor girl, she will be so cute when it does fall out! It was fun to watch the boys play on the beach and discover the ocean more and understand that the ocean is bigger than the river! I hope the weather is a lot better the next time we go!

So here is to spring time and spring weather....please come and stay around for a while!!

The heart of a Doula

2008-03-09T22:20:00.000-07:00

This weekend was amazing, excititing, educating, and a blessing. I learned so much this weekend, and it was great. I really truly believe in my heart that I have found what I was born to do. I have always loved, loved, loved babies. And I really do miss holding my sweet niece Anaiah, and just cuddling with her and the sweet babies that I have helped take care of since they were in their mommas belly. I also love to help people. I love it, it makes my heart feel good and it is what I have been called to do through Christ. So this weekend I was able to invest more fully in my path to becoming a postpartum doula. A postpartum doula is a woman (most of the time) who goes into the lives of a family after she has given birth. A pd takes care of the mother, the baby and assists the family in making the transition of bringing the newborn home.

Ok....so here I am a month later finally finishing this post. I am loser for not getting back to it sooner! As you can tell, I am in the process of heading a different direction in my career path. I will still be providing child care, but it will be with infants and will involve more taking care of the mother and family as well. I can not wait to continue this journey! I have all ready helped out a few families for a doula company here in Portland, and one family was very challenging. But in that challenge I was able to over come and it turned out pretty good!

If any one knows a family who is going to have a baby or just has..send them my way! I need to get more experience!

Happy Birthday Baby!!

2008-03-04T12:44:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was March 3rd, 2008. That date probably has no significant meaning to most of you, but to me it was the day that my little niece, Anaiah Dawn turned 6 months old!! I can't believe she is all ready half a year old. Time has flown by sooo quickly. It seems like yesterday I was holding her for the first time. I really wish that I could see her!!! I just wish we were closer so that our family could see her change and grow as she learns new things! My sister told my mom that they are starting to put her up on all fours, but when they do she just gets frustrated! She is starting to help Aimee and Andrew turn the pages of her books as they are reading to her. She is also sucking her thumb like her Auntie Amanda used to- hopefully she will not suck it as long as I did!! She is also eating rice cereal, which is pretty exciting!! I just wish I could see her, hold her and give her some kisses. Before I know it she will be walking and talking. They really do grow so fast!!!

So happy 6 month birthday baby girl!!! I hope you are having fun in Africa. Be good and don't grow too fast. I love you lots and cant wait to see you!!! (make sure your mommy reads this to you!!) You have my heart- Auntie Mandie

I've Been Tagged!!

2008-02-16T21:35:00.000-08:00

I've been tagged!!

8 things I'm Passionate About:

1. kids- and making their lives better by showing them love

2. staying in contact with my friends and family and investing in their lives

3. being honest and true to my word

4. my church family at East County

5. helping others make their load lighter

6. being healthy and living a lifestyle that allows me to do that

7. God and my faith

8. loving others the way I have been loved

8 Things I want to Do before I Die:

1. go to Africa and visit my sister, brother in law and niece

2. marry a man of God

3. have children

4. become a Doula

5. learn how to change a tire

6. ride a real roller coaster

7. travel to Europe

8. have full trust in God all the time

8 Shows I watch:

1. America's Next Top Model

2. American Idol

3. Chuck

4. Grey's Anatomy

5. Private Practice

6. The Hills

7. Project Runway

8. Ace of Cakes

8 Things that Attract me to my Friends:

1. they are compassionate

2. they make me laugh

3. i can be myself around them

4. they are honest

5. they are loyal

6. they love to have fun

7. they bring out the best in me

8. they challenge me

8 Things I say Often:

1. Derek Paul

2. Jacob Allen

3. Brandon Ross

4. Alyssa Joy

5. No- don't do that!!

6. I love you

7. Don't pee on the floor-pee in the toliet!

8. Please and Thank you

8 Artist I never Tire Of:

1. Coldplay

2. Nickelcreek

3. Jack Johnson

4. Casting Crowns

5. The Beattles

6. Colbie Callait

7. The Shins

8. Newsboys

8 Things I learned in 07:

1. I was going to be an auntie!!

2. My sister, brother in law and niece were really moving to Africa- and I was sad, excited, sad and happy all at the same time!

3. I want to be a Doula

4. I have a very amazing, loving and compassionate family

5. I can't always get everything accomplished in one day, and that is ok!

6. I love checking items off my "to-do" list

7. I am loved by God and that is all I need

8. I have the best church family ever! (yes, I do favor them, but they are amazing!!)

who I am tagging:

Bethany

Aimee

Drew

I survived...

2008-02-16T21:17:00.000-08:00

I am done being with the kiddos for a few days and I am so glad! It was a long week and I am very tired even after getting a great night of sleep last night. I was able to come home last night and just relax. I still have laundry to put away, which I will have to do before I go to bed since that is where all the hangers and clothes are that somehow need to make it into my closet! I guess I will go and do that after I am done here! So lets see..the rest of my week went pretty well. I ended up taking Brandon to the doctor on Friday and he gave me the name of some stuff to go buy for him to help his little system start moving. So we went and got it and he had all ready pooped once before I left on Friday, so that was a big relief! It was great taking a shower last night that lasted more than 5 minutes and not having a monitor in there to listen for kids. I was able to take the kids outside on Thursday and Friday, which was a huge blessing because it does us all a lot of good to get fresh air! The sun finally shone here and it was beautiful! I am ready for spring time!

Today my parents got here. We went out to lunch for my grandma's birthday with some of our relatives that live here. It seems like we have a bazillion relatives, most of which I am not sure how we are related and have to re-connect the dots every time! But we had a good time and a nice visit with them. Tonight we just hung out at home. Tomorrow we will go to church and then to lunch. My mom really wants to go to Ikea while she is here, so maybe we will do that tomorrow. I am glad they are here and am grateful to have such a great family!

one of those days..

2008-02-12T22:43:00.001-08:00

This has all ready been a long week and it is only Tuesday!! This week I am at work 24/7 because the parents I work for are out of town. So I am on duty all the time. Yesterday was pretty good. There was more crying than I would have liked, but that tends to happen when the big sister is around! There always seems to be a little bit more conflict when she is here! But my family came over to have dinner with us so that was great. And when I finally went to bed last night, I conked out! So that brings us to today...and from the time Brandon woke up, he kept telling me his bottom hurt. He was constipated all day..so after trying several different things,and having him cry and scream a lot, I put him in the bath (why did I wait so long to try this??) And with in like 5 minutes he started going potty. It was a lot of fun fishing his poop out of the tub!! So, after getting him cleaned up he was much better, thanks goodness!
Then tonight after all the kids were in bed I started running water with dish soap in it in the sink. Then I went to do a few other things...and I totally forgot about the running water. I came back into the kitchen to find water all over the floor. So I finally got that all cleaned up. Then I put in a load of laundry, and half way through it washing, I rememberd I had some money in a pair of jeans, and I had even checked my pockets!! Apparently I did not check them well enough! So I was able to save the money from the dryer!
I am glad tomorrow is a new day. I am glad I get to go to bed very soon! Lets pray tomorrow goes a little smoother!

My first post!!

2008-02-08T23:29:00.000-08:00

So I have officially been a member of e-blogger since November, but I am finally putting a post up~ I know that the one person who reads this will be so happy! I really enjoy writing, or it least I used to when I was a student. I will write on here when I feel inspired to do so. And for some reason, right now is one of those times!

If you view my blog, you will most likely read about my daily adventures with the children I nanny, I take care of triplets that are all boys who turned two in September and a little girl who is 5. Speaking of the little darlins, it has been quite the week. It all started a week ago Thursday when Alyssa stayed home from school with the flu. Then Jacob, Derek and Brandon all got it too. I am waiting to get it myself. I was barfed on 3 times on Wednesday. It was disgusting. Needless to say, I am glad it is a weekend and I will have a few days away to rest and be out of the sick house!

I will also talk about my adorable little niece Anaiah Dawn who lives in Fort Portal, Uganda. She moved there with her mommy and daddy in December and i miss them all a whole lot. But she is pretty cute and amazing. I was in the room as my sister gave birth to her and it was amazing. God is amazing and I pray his safety and protection over my family as they are so far away.

I love life. I love my job on most days. I love my church family. I love my family. I love my friends. I love God. I love the beach. I love music. I love to laugh.

So this is a strange and random post, but it least I finally did one!! Now I need to be off to bed, so goodnight!