Tulip Festival

I have been loving my new camera. I really don't know how all the bells and whistles work yet, but I'm trying to learn. Photography is my new obsession! (You'll have to bear with all the extra trial pictures I post. ) Katie is loving it too. She always wants me to take her picture, but she has yet to figure out the "natural" smile. I suppose I should enjoy her forced grin that makes her upper lip fold under because it won't be long before she figures it out and I miss it!

The festival wasn't as breathtaking as last year. I'm sure it has something to do with the doubly long winter we're "enjoying". Most of the tulips hadn't even opened yet. However, it was so fun to get out with Aunt Lou and Grandma Sue. Katie sure enjoyed running around on all the fun paths. Unfortunately, TRAGEDY struck about halfway through. My new camera decided not to work on autofocus. It would still work on manual, but as you can see it had major issues. I was devastated! Luckily, after a few phone calls to Costco and Nikon I received a brand new camera today free of charge. It seems I had some random fluke with mine. Thank heavens I ordered it from Costco and not those shady characters in Brooklyn, NY.

The crazy smile I was referring too!

Seriously engrossed in removing those sixlets from the package.
Katie was so funny with this picture. It looks like I told her just what to do, but she wanted to sit and look at the waterfall while I took her picture. I thought it was too cute! She was pretty much the same with the one below. She was dying to lay on her stomach for a picture.

AND, TRAGEDY STRIKES~~~this picture of Joey and Katie is the worst, but if you notice all the others are still quite out of focus even on manual. Thank heavens for the new replacement!

Survival Mode

I survived my first day back at work. There were no tears and no major melt downs, by myself of course, for the whole day. I was quite proud of myself. I'm sure my calm nature was directly related by the fact my sweet mother was with the children. Also, I didn't have time to think about anything other than how to do my job when I got to work. (I haven't worked the particular shift for almost two years.) I was very relieved to finish my shift an hour and a half early, and somehow I made it through without any Dr.'s yelling at my for my post-pregnesia. I'm sure I did several things wrong, but they, the doctors, were all probably so worried about making the "hormonal, just off maternity leave nurse" have a break down in front of them they never said anything! Anyway, the kids were pretty good to my mom for her first day with them. Joey only cried for a few hours and blew out once and I think Katie sailed on through! Thanks again mom. And thanks to all my lovely co-workers for helping my through my first day back!

Now I just have to survive the next five days without a husband, and one more day of work. That's right, no husband! He left this afternoon for a trauma conference in beautiful sunny Florida. The weather in Florida is a balmy 75 degrees for the next five days. The Utah weather report calls for snow! What is up with this spring??

"In Mourning"

I've been "in mourning" all day and if I'm being honest, it's been most of the last week! Why?? Well, I have about twelve hours left before I'm back to work. It's a bittersweet thing. I am excited to see friends again, but heartbroken to leave my darling kiddos all day. I am very grateful to my wonderful mother for taking care of them while I'm gone. I know they'll be in good hands which puts my mind at ease. I'm crossing my fingers for a PRN position to open up very soon!

Blessing

We blessed Joey on Sunday, April 13, 2008. It was a very special occasion for us. Although, he's definitely had his fair share of blessings in his short life, it was nice to have the "official" one completed. It was a wonderful blessing. I sat in church listening to all the promises made to him if he lives righteously. I feel very blessed and humbled to be his mother. I am also reminded of the amazing responsibility of mine as his mother. I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who has entrusted him to me and pray He will guide me in raising this precious soul.

My Little Artist

Katie has a new passion. She loves to paint!!! She would paint every second of every day if I would let her. I love her abstract art. She has absolutely no interest in painting anything with a "name/title." I dont't know if it has to do with the paint or not. She draws all kinds of things with markers, crayons and pencils. AAAHHH, the mind of a preschooler. I LOVE IT!

Paging Dr. Clevenger

So, the benefits of being married to a doctor just went to a new level! About two weeks ago I started having this terrible pain on the left side of my upper jaw. I was worried it might be a cavity, but soon after it began radiating to my lower left jaw as well. I had had a bit of a sinus cold for a few weeks, so I started to investigate. After sometime on the wonderful internet I had diagnosed myself with mandibular sinusitis. A unique characteristic of this type is a "toothache". Well, of course, when Todd got home that night I asked him for a script. After researching it himself he wrote me a script. I filled in the next morning and am happy to say that I am well again!!! Oh, and this is my first picture post with the new camera. There will be more to come on that!!