Nathan is 2!!!

Well yesterday my little boy turned two! Where has the last two years gone? We had a birthday party for him at our house and ended up with between 35-40 people which was good meant not to many left overs.
He had a good day and was able to get a decent nap in before everyone showed up. Here are some pictures from his big day!

A huge leap?????

For the last 11 years I have thought off and on about going back to school for something in the medical field. Just never sure what however when asked what I want to be when I grow up I usually said Fire Fighter or EMT. My best friend on the school bus and I always talked about doing both and well she went on to college and got her EMT then to nursing school and is now an RN. I on the other hand well I took Fire Fighter One and Two passed all state exams and that was it never used it.

Over the last several months I have really been thinking about what I really want to do, I am still young enough to change careers go to school and still retire at a good age. My current job has no benefits no health insurance nadda. So I pay out of my pocket for health insurance on me and the kids. Always dreaming of a job where that was there and something that had a 401k or some sort of retirement fund I could invest in.

Researched going to school for nursing looked at online schools local ones etc but nothing really offered night classes. The more I thought about it the more I knew I wouldn't be happy as a nurse or nurses aid its not what I love. So I have decided to go to evening classes and get my EMT license I had the opportunity to take this class in Highschool but didn't (for some really stupid reasons that I have regretted for years). Most ambulance places you work two twenty four hour shifts and are off the rest of the week. You have benefits and also have retirement.

I filled out and printed my application and went to drop it off yesterday, fully thinking ok I will drop it off and be on my way. Then wait for the phone call to see if I had been accepted. Much to my surprise I got to the office told them what class I was applying for they sent me down the hall to meet the teacher. I was not prepared for that! Not prepared to ask questions I was just trying not to puke while talking to her. Lucky for me she was super nice!  Anyway I asked her when I would know if I was accepted she flipped thru the application and said I will see you in January on Monday and Thursday nights!

It took me quite a while to process it all when I left. I emailed a good friend of mine to find out what I would need for class etc. She is the same friend who works on the Phelps County Ambulance every Saturday and told me I needed to come do a few ride alongs before school starts.

Of course when I found out I would need a good stethascope I quickly asked do they come in pink! Yeah I am a nut! I have no clue what class for sure costs I have to have some money down before school starts that will cover books but as for the rest yeah I should have asked more questions.

While I am not 100% sure if I will make that my career or use it as a starting point to go on to more schooling and work in an ER or a doctor office. I am excited to finally fulfil a dream I have had since I was young!

What a weekend and busy week ahead

Wow what a busy weekend felt like it never existed!

Saturday we worked an auction in the pouring down rain. I knew it was going to be a long day when we got soaked getting ice at 6:30am. Then wet again the first round cooking, got dry just in time to cook again and guess what more rain. Of course the rain made for some grouchy people but it was still a good auction.

Sunday was the last trail ride whole hog sausage dinner of the year. The trail ride got cancelled due to weather however there was still 7 people who chose to ride anyway. Had a great turn out for the dinner which was nice and thankfully it didn't rain while we were cooking.

The boys had a great weekend Nathan stayed at home with Ashlyne on Saturday and I am sure he wasn't spoiled one bit! Blake spent the weekend with his papa Kenny. Kenny's mom was out of town all weekend so it was just a papa and Blake weekend which Blake always enjoys. Sunday Nathan stayed with my mom and had a good time and didn't want to go home.

I have so much to get accomplished this week with being gone all weekend the normal things need done. But I also have to get the house ready for Nathan's 2nd Birthday Party this coming Sunday. Have lots of cleaning to do tonight and tomorrow night. Wednesday night is when I will make and decorate the cakes. Thursday night is my monthly board meeting which is an all evening thing. Which leaves Friday night to prepare as many side dishes as I can. Saturday I have an auction to work then get up early Sunday morning and cook the side dishes and get ready to grill the hamburgers, hotdogs and brats. Geez just typing that made me exhausted!

But I know I can get it all done Blake wants to help clean which I will take up that offer any day. He loves to vacuum (which is one of my least favorite things to do) and he likes to dust with the swiffer.

To much soda... Or just to darn exhausted

I think I have either had to much soda this week or just plain exhausted from being so busy with work that I am seeing things.

It's been a super busy stressful week at work then every evening has been filled with something that keeps me from the mounds of laundry and dishes awaiting me.

Last night we all 4 got haircuts, crazy but its almost easier to do everyone at once than try to get several appointments and juggle our schedules to who has which boy when. So for 2 hours we were at the salon and thankfully the lady who does it is super sweet and loves the kids. Because I was about to be unglued they were running like crazy. They know they get candy after their hair cut, well Nathan gets his during so he will sit still.

I was the last one to go and all that time gave me chances to look thru all the books she had. Well I found a hair cut I wanted and that my hair was long enough for. My hair is super thick and as long as it is its HEAVY and getting to the point when I put it in a pony tail I get a headache half way thru the day. So I have a new hair style I am not totally sold on but my hair is lighter still has the length and I can still pull it back if I want to. Hope that when I have more time to play with it I can make it look better.

This afternoon I had two files in a row one with the name Wallace who I wondered about him being related to Rusty Wallace's family. Next one I picked up last name was Edwards immediately thought of Carl Edwards. Maybe I have had two much soda or watch to much NASCAR.....

Good news is the weekend is almost here and I have a busy one but glad it won't be filled with staring at a computer screen and files.

Ten Years.....

I was going to write this on Friday and then on Monday but my mood was foul and it just wasn't a good time to write.

Hard to believe that its been ten years since the attacks on the world trade center. I do remember exactly what I was doing that day. I was 18 and worked at Al West I had Tuesday's off, I had ran errands early that morning then came home and found the the tv covered in news coverage of the horrible events. I sat there the entire day watching, well minus when I had to take Kenny and his friend lunch. Since they were both working outdoors they had no clue what was going on.

I remember that same week we had our fire training meeting and it was the talk of the training class. Some of the people were on lists to go to New York if needed others wanted to be put on the list. I wanted to be on a list to go and help but being only 18 they thought it would be to much for me to handle (honestly looking back yes they were probably right)

Every day I watched the news about it and felt bad for the fire personnel who lost their lives the law enforcement and all the others who worked in those buildings.

Sunday I watched the different specials on and off all day recorded a few to watch later. None of them really talked with any of the fire departments that responded. I liked watching the ones that had real footage gathered from people who just happened to have a camera with them that day. Then Sunday evening I found a special on CBS and the whole show they talked to fire personnel that been there at ground zero and how their lives had changed. It was heart breaking to hear how they were still affected ten years later how some retired or changed careers and how others stuck thru it and remained on the fire department.

Honestly I couldn't imagine seeing what everyone saw that was there those days weeks and months after. Just watching it on tv gives me the chills and goosebumps but to be there seeing it first hand well I think I am glad I didn't put myself on a list to go.

My boys and their girls.....

Wednesday night we were invited to a BBQ at Amanda and Ron's house for Amanda's birthday. Blake told me he would go with me as long as Amanda's niece Elizabeth was going to be there! So after picking the boys up from daycare we headed to the BBQ of course Blake took off with Elizabeth and well Nathan found a few girls to chase. He had a crush on one who just turned 16 and fed her cake and ice cream, pretty sure Amanda has pictures but I haven't seen them yet.
Then he wanted to be like the big kids and ride the power wheels four wheeler.

The girls liked taking him for a ride, although I think he thought he was in charge and taking them for the ride. Either way all the kids had fun. Notice the bike Blake is on, well he now wants a dirt bike bicycle for Christmas....

Hard to believe that at the end of this month he will be 2 where has the last two years gone?????

The Maries County Fair/Labor Day Weekend

I took off work Wednesday, Thursday and Friday last week to work at the Maries County Fair. Going in to the weekend I wasn't sure what to expect. I was told to think of it as a 3 day Auction and honestly it wasn't bad at all. We had a good time, Blake got to watch the Demolition Derby with his daddy and watch the truck and tractor pull along with the burn out contest.

Wednesday night Blake and Nathan got to ride some rides and it was Nathan's first time ever getting to ride! He loved the train roller coaster thing and didn't want to get off. I rode the spinning berry go round ride with the boys. Blake and I rode the swings together and of course as I am on them I see a million people I know watching me ride. Just a wee bit embarrassing....
Blake also got a tattoo of a bullrider on Wednesday night then went back with his Papa Mitch on Saturday evening and got a bull skull tattoo.

Saturday was the parade. Blake had a choice to ride with me on the Fire Truck or ride with Papa in a big John Deere Tractor pulling their church float... Well give you all one guess of what he decided.... he drove the tractor in the parade! So I rode in the Fire Truck and threw candy there was so many people lined up along the parade route some had been sitting in their spots for several hours.

Nathan was at the fair Wednesday night with me and then my mom watched him Thurs and Friday afternoon and evenings. Friday was going to be a late night so I went and picked him up and brought him back to the fair, he was happy to see his Dwayne and watched a few tractors pull.

It was a very long weekend but a good weekend knowing that my hard work helped the fire department make money to go towards equipment and maintenance for the department.

5 Question Friday

I still need to post about the fair and Labor Day weekend that will come soon I promise.

 

1. What ringtone do you have on your cell phone?

When Kenny calls me it plays a country boy could survive, I have sweet home alabama for some friends then I have several nickelback songs, as well as Black Betty and Copperhead Road. Yes I know its a strange collaberation

2. What is your favorite memory from this summer?

I think it would have to be this past weekend at the fair, knowing that Nathan is old enough to ride the rides with Blake and loving it.

Oh and throwing candy at the parade.

3. Paper books or ebooks?

Paper

4. If you could have one home upgrade what would it be and why?

Would a housekeeper count??? If not then I would love to have the Kenmore Elite series stove that has two side by side ovens and a huge cook top.

5. When was your first serious boyfriend/girlfriend?

Well first serious mutual crush was when I was 13, then first serious relationship was with my hubby at 15.