The Drive-In

Andrew, Anna, and Lexie @ the Drive-In May 30 2009

Last night for a family outing we went to the drive-in movie; it was a double feture and kids 5 and under are free. I'm telling you this is the way to do family movies as it is much less expensive than a regular theater. Twenty dollars for a family of five with treats. I felt like we were going back in time a little bit. The place had Grease written all over it. We had a fun time and I think it is important to be building memories and traditions with our children. I'm hoping this is something we could maybe start.

Jeremy having some popcorn. Rare he never eats popcorn.

Part of the Grease feeling I was referring to


The movie screen. They had four screens and the place was packed

Jeremy and Anna in the concessions line

The concessions line

Me and Anna ( she has become a total pill as of our arrival in Texas)

Charlotte's Web

We finished Superfudge and have moved on to Charlotte's Web. We are sticking with it and I have really seen great improvements in there ability to sit and listen. I also find that I am enjoying reading to the kids more with chapter books. Even when I think they are not listening they will make a comment about it and I realize they are getting more than I realize. I had to be careful with Superfudge, because it would say stupid or shut up and every time I didn't gloss over the word the kids would say, "We don't say that." Too bad they don't remember we don't say that in the heat of the moment. I don't remember in the heat of the moment either. Guess I need to practice my self discipline. One of my good friends, Shauna reads from a chapter book every night with her six kids, and one of her boys told her it was the best part of his day. I hope my kids will take to this like that. Thanks, Shauna and Jess for the inspiration, I hope we will reap the benefits of reading.
P.S. Another benefit of reading: if you're lonely, which I have been a little bit, if you have a good book, no worries you can get lost in it.

SISTERS

Lexie and Anna in a field of Dandelions April 2009

Don't you just think sisters are the greatest? I do. When I was pregnant with Anna I just knew it was a girl. I was happy Lexie would have a sister, because I love having sisters. When the ultrasound tech said it was a girl I just sort of nodded my head, cause it was like saying the sky was blue, no news there. These to fight a little bit now but they also love each other and I hope as the years progress they will treasure having a sister. I know I treasure mine.

Annie was so cute for the pictures, I loved this one

I finally got Lexie to sort of look and Smile. She was being a pill that day. Who could imagine?

Texas Photo Blog

Andrew in front of an old cool Car. We liked the color.

On Saturday Andrew decided he was going to ride his bike without training wheels. I asked if he wanted help. He emphatically did NOT want help. He got on and did it the first try. He is now, a ridin' fool.

We're in Texas now baby. We've got the flag flying. I guess to truly be Texans, it would need to be the Lonestar flag.

This picture really lacks any interest but that is the Library. It is huge and has a great kids section, and summer programs for kids. This is a really cool area.

Lexie on the slip'n slide, one of the first days we were here. I love the big fluffy clouds and blue, blue sky. She is a fun girl and has the best laugh ever. In many ways she reminds me of me; although, she is super friendly to everyone and talks non stop which was completely unlike me a little girl. I was painfully shy around strangers and large groups.

The first Baptist Church



The water towers. These babies are your mountains. they let you know where you are at.

Lake Ray Hubbard. This is an awesome lake and if we are going to live here we really need a boat.

I noticed on the drive out they name towns a combinations of states of neighboring towns. Dallas and Rockwall and in between DALROCK. I also saw , Texarkana, Kanorodo. Little weird.

Better picture of Andrew with the Car.

Last night we went to watch Jeremy race his bike and this is the field we sat in to watch it was pretty. Would be a cute picture if she weren't bawling.

The Bike Race

Pretty view of the sky at the bike Race

Anna kissing Jeremy after the race

Field at the bike race. This would be awesome place to take family photos. Texas that is. I can already think of like ten places which would be great. So if anyone would like to take a trip to Texas so an extremely amateur photographer can take you picture, you can stay at my place.

Quaint, little house on Route 66. These charming houses are all over the place. I love the flag pinned up on the porch, and I LOVE porches. One day I would like to have a porch like this.

Another cute house on Route 66

Andrew at the bike race

They have this little ponds all over the place, in developments, a lot of people have them in there front or backyards.

This is the 22 million dollar High school football stadium, which the voters voted in. I guess it is true high school football is huge in Texas.

A snapping turtle we saw in the road last night. We were going to try and rescue him, and when Jeremy tried to pick him up he tried to bite him. We decided to let the sucker get run over.

Happy Birthday Jason

Today is my big brothers birthday. As a joke, Jess and I have been putting a comment a day on Nicole's blog, with a topic assignment for a new blog. We are protesting until she writes one. Anyhow, today I suggested Jason as a topic and thought I would take my own advice. (p.s. if you are looking for a topic to write about checkout the comments on Nicole's Temple Square Post, there are many.)

Jason in many ways reminds me of my Dad. There is probably not a better compliment I could pay Jason, as I think the world of my Dad. He has a tough exterior but he is a big old softie on the interior. He doesn't show this side often; actually I've rarely seen it, but I know it is there. Jason is well read, politically aware, abreast of current events. He is ambitious, funny as hell, and a nice guy.

He drove out to Texas with my family and I, and drove the big Truck. He was a huge help, and I was especially grateful he was here. The truck would probably still be sitting in front of our house if he hadn't been here. I love him and think he is a great guy. This is something which is not always easy to express to him because he has the tough guy appearance. I'm grateful for his example and wish him all the best life has to offer. Happy birthday Jason, I love you.

Love,

Kimmy, (your favorite little sister )

Chapter books!

The other day we started reading Superfudge. My mom had a bunch of books from when we were kids and sent a few home with all of us, we took Superfudge. We have been reading it and I think I am enjoying more that the kids. It is fun to see after even a few days of doing this, the kids are getting better at sitting and listening to it. I am excited about this new little tradition and have been thinking of all the books we are going to checkout from the library. It is like getting a little piece of my childhood back, reading this book. Adults really take themselves far to seriously, pick up a good old Judy Blume to lighten the heart.

P.S. Jess, Danner really reminds me of Fudge.

Today for lunch...

Today for lunch I had corn on the cob and watermelon:

Two points for Texas, I've never had summer veggies this early. I do love summer produce. It was delicious.

Randomness from Texas

This is the house in Rockwall, TX. Jeremy did a great job in finding a house for us. We are renting it but with the price of housing down here it would be great to buy. If anyone is interested in a home in Layton then maybe it would be a possibility.

I am excited to be here but feeling a bit lonely. It is a beautiful area of the country. The first night we were in the house there was a big thunderstorm. I've never heard thunder quite like that. I'm sure the humidity is going to get to me as I already think it is hot and have been informed, "honey, this ain't hot." Well that is all for now as I'm doing this on J-dogs' lap top and it sort of sucks. I will post more later and will get Jeremy to put of the real computer tonight. Oh almost forgot, Jeremy got a promotion. We found out on Friday and it is good news. We came down on the hope for better job opportunity, the chance to move up quicker, a lot of blind faith, well it paid off. Congratulations Jeremy! I am excited for you and know you will do great!

Ahh!

Do you ever lose it as a mother? I mean really lose it?

I do.

I did today.

It wasn't pretty, I wasn't proud.

Was I justified?

Yes, for being angry.

No, to losing it.

It never helps to lose your cool. I could feel my head pound as my blood pressure soared.

Any tips on how to stay calm, for those of us with a genetic predisposition to rage?

Well the day isn't over and I will try and start fresh and do better. I guess that is what life is about, improving ourselves.

All things Jessica

In an effort to get back into blogging, I thought I would write about my sister Jessica, and the Jessicaesque qualities.

Jess and her Family on Easter 2009

First a Jessicaesque quality I see in myself, is a new found love for lip stuff. A great chapstick, gloss, or stick. Especially the glosses, here a few of my favorites.

I think Jessica's love affair with Chapstick started during the high school years. It has now grown into a full fledged love of make-up and beauty products in general. I remember she once told me about a dream she had where she had, "like a hundred chapsticks, it was great". She was disappointed when she woke up and it wasn't true. I think it is true today, she may have 100 lipsticks. This is actually a great quality because when she decides she has too many she will give them to me and Jess has great taste.

The 2nd Jessicaesqe quality is something I have noticed in Lexie. This is the quality of the NOSE. Jess can smell everything. If there is an unpleasant odor in the vicinity Jessica will find it. Maybe she would be good at hunting, you know tracking and stuff. We always would tease her about this growing up, but after being pregnant and be a little hyper sensitive to smell, now I just feel bad; to have such a good sniffer all the time. Lexie is the same way; if Anna has a poopy diaper, or someone farts, she is right on it.

The 3rd thing is fashion savvy. Anytime a get a compliment on my clothing, almost always is something Jessica bought me or has given me. The bad thing about this is if you dog ear an item in a catalogue just plan that Jess will show up wearing it at the next family event. This has happened to me, and my other sister, Nicole, more than once.

Jessica is a great sister and we are lucky to have her in our family. She is a great mom. I remember when Jack was born, I was so impressed with her as a new mom. She really loved it and her kids love her. She reads to her kids far more than the recommended 20 minutes a day, and has instilled a love for books, reading, and knowledge in her children. What a fantastic gift to give your kids. Sometimes I think of the things I can't or haven't given my children and when this is something I could do and it cost nothing but, my time. Interesting that the person who is in a position to give her kids most anything, she has the wisdom to give them what they need and what is important. A lesson I will try and remember.

Jess is a wealth of knowledge from politics to fashion, best beauty buys. She is smart, funny, pretty, health conscious, all and all a WELL put together women. I love you Jessica and am going to miss you! I'm planning on 2 visits a year from you. I know you said 1 was realistic, but, I'm not a realist I'm a dreamer and I'm going to keep on dreaming.

Goodbye IMC

So where does the time go. I can hardly believe May is here. I have a lot of catch up posts, I need to write. I would like time to slow down for a little while, but I know it won't. I am working my last shift at IMC labor and delivery today. Well at least until we are back in Utah. It is a little bitter sweet. While I'm excited for my adventure in Texas, I will miss my colleagues at work, and probably will miss them even more when I start work in Texas. Here is my list of what I will miss about my work buddies:

1. Being part of a team, that delivers excellent care to our patients. It is great being part of a teaching hospital and knowing our practices are current and in line with the most recent research
2. I love knowing it doesn't matter which nurse I follow, I will not be cleaning up her "mess" Everyone is great to work with and willing to work hard
3. I may even miss the crazy days when you look back you don't know how we survived
4. Dr. Kelly Myers sourdough bread
5. The Anesthesia team in general, I think they all do a great job, and enjoy working with them and would be comfortable with any one of them caring for me or a loved one.
6. Colleen Proctor is bar none the best manager I have ever worked for. I appreciate that you don't have to guess where you stand with her. If there is a problem, she will let you know and aid you in fixing it. I really think she looks out for her nurses.
7. I love having a resident available for emergencies.
8. Having a good working relationship with the OB's. It is great to know they trust you to do your job, and give you the space to do it. (I don't like to be micromanaged, one of the great things about nursing, the autonomy.)
9. Marnae's Energy
10. Shuana Hepworth's and Cathy Cottle's say it how it is style

I could list something I love about everyone. Just know I love the nurses, am grateful for the friendships I have made, and will be in touch. Best of luck to everyone and keep being the great people you are. I am grateful to work with women, who do it all and make it look easy. You have all been great examples to me and have shaped and influenced my life. I have loved working with you and am sure I have seen the BEST.