Last Days of Summer

Everyone loves summer, but especially for a teacher, summer time is the best time of the year.  Sometimes it goes by so fast!  I only had a few days left of summer.  By this I mean, days that I didn't have to go to work all day. 

 

We decided to do as many fun "summer" things that we could, before we wouldn't be able to any more.  Here's a few pics:

 We went and got a shaved ice one night.  Here's Kendrick patiently waiting for his.

 Not sure what he is doing here?  Maybe pointing up at the sky?

 I was trying to get him to look at the camera, but he kept looking away.

 This was his "cheese" grin.  But again, he was looking away!

 Our shaved ice was huge!  But it was yummy.  The table had holes in it to hold your shaved ice for you. 

 Here's mine - so yummy.  Tiger's blood on one side, pina colada on the other.

 I had ordered this topper of sweetened condensed milk - they had a name for it, but I can't remember.  They had forgotten to put it on, so they came and put it on.  I think it was called a snow cap?  It was pretty good.  We also had ice cream inside the shaved ice.  It was so good.  My ice cream was coconut ice cream.  It was heaven!

 Yummy!

 Kendrick liked his too!

 Afterwards, we drove over to Salem to watch the fireworks.

 They put on a pretty good show.

Kendrick loves to watch fireworks.

 Another thing Kendrick and I had been doing this summer, was going to Gold Gym.  I was trying to work out more, so that meant Kendrick got to go to the Gold's Gym Daycare.  Here he is showing the stamp he got on his hand while he was at the daycare.

 He was pretty proud of it for some reason.

 Luckily for me, Kendrick liked going to the gym.  In fact, he got so he would ask me if we were going to the gym. 

 We got some zinnia seeds from my dad flowers last fall and we planted them by our fence.  It was fun to watch them grow and I couldn't wait to see how they would do.  I thought they looked great.  They filled in a lot more as the summer progressed.

We'll plant some more this year too.  I love flowers!

Kendrick's Tubes in Ears Surgery #2

 At Kendrick's ear check up in June, the tubes that had been put in his ears in 2011, when he as 1, had fell out.  But, there was still fluid in his ears and there was a little bit of infection.  So, the doctor made a follow-up appointment in 6 weeks, gave us some ear drops, and we would check then to see if the infection went away and if the fluid was gone.

So, we went back in 6 weeks, and there wasn't any infection, but there was still fluid.  We also checked Kendrick's hearing and the doctor determined that it would be best to have tubes put in Kendrick's ears again.

I guess this is pretty common, to have tubes put in a child's ears two or more times.  He gave us a couple options of when we could schedule it, and it worked best to get it done before school started for me.  So August 8 was the day.

We didn't have to be over there quite as early this time.  I think we met at 8 a.m.  We waited in the waiting area until they called us back.

Kendrick had fun playing with Daddy's phone and looking around.

 Waiting at the table that was just his size.

 When I asked him to look at the camera, this is what he did.

 He was a little bit excited, not sure why?  He didn't know he was there for surgery.

 They called us back and checked his blood pressure.  Kendrick was telling the nurse how old he was and that his birthday was soon.

 He didn't really care for the monitor they put on his finger. 

 Then we changed him into the hospital clothes.  The pants were a little short on him!

 He brought his doggie along to comfort him.

 He didn't want to lay down, so they came in and gave him something to calm him down.

 We layed down and relaxed for a bit until they came and took him away for the surgery.  Not only was he getting tubes in his ears again.  He was also getting his adenoids taken out.

 

He was gone for about 20 minutes or so.  It seemed like forever!  They had to wait until he came out of the anesthesia and then wait until they brought him to us.  I kept listening for his cry, I figured he would be crying.  I remembered from the last time, that right after the surgery was the worst part.  They don't really know what is going on and where they are, etc.  

 They brought him in and he was crying and disoriented.  He just wanted to lay in the bed.  We gave him his doggie and the blue gorilla he received that day, and he wasn't sure if he wanted them.

 I tried to comfort him, but he just cried for a little bit.

 Poor little guy!

We had to wait there for a while and then they came in and checked everything.  They also gave Kendrick a popsicle.  He started to calm down and we were able to change his clothes and get ready to go. 

 

We headed for home.  With his last surgery, Kendrick fell asleep on the way home and slept for a while.  This time, he stayed awake.  Scott left and went to work.  I stayed home with Kendrick.  I was thinking he would be tired and want to just rest.  But, no, we layed on the couch for a few minutes and then he was up running around and ready to play.

 

I guess that was a good thing, especially since I had drill later that afternoon and I had to take Kendrick with me until Scott could come get him.

 

You would have never known he had been in surgery earlier that day.  He was running around and playing all day like nothing had even happened. 

 

Hopefully this time the tubes will work better and there will be no issues.  Kendrick's speech is already improving and it seems like he hears things more now.  He notices things that he didn't as much before.  Everything was right back to normal and we went on with what was left of summer.

Our 8th Wedding Anniversary

This year was our 8th wedding anniversary and this year August 6 fell on a Tuesday.  Because of Scott's new job, he wouldn't be able to take time off, so we just decided to celebrate it low key this year and as a family.  Also, the fact that it was Shane and Whitney's wedding the weekend before our anniversary and Kendrick was scheduled for a ear surgery the next week.  So we went bowling! 

 

Kendrick has been talking about bowling ever since Max's birthday party.    Kendrick had a ball bowling at Max's party.  So, we decided that would be a fun way to celebrate and then go to dinner afterwards.

 Kendrick getting his ball.

Scott - he was the champion bowler of the night!

 

We had a great time.  It was fun to do something that Kendrick could enjoy too.  It wasn't a trip to somewhere cool, but we had fun spending time together!  We're planning on going somewhere for our 10th wedding anniversary, and that is only two years away.

 

After bowling, we went out to eat.  I don't know why I didn't get more pics?  I will definitely have to be better about that next anniversary!



Shane & Whitney's Wedding

On Friday, August 2, 2013, my cousin Shane Blackett and Whitney Penrod were married in the Manti Temple.  Scott and I went to the wedding.  It was a special day and I'm glad we were able to share it with them.

 

I knew Whitney from Payson High School.  She had been one of my students and her sister, Ashlee Penrod, was a member of the Paysetters when I coached there.  So, it was fun to see her family there and talk to them a little bit. 



 Here they are, making their grand exit from the temple to greet family & friends.

 They were both so happy and excited!

 They were all smiles from ear to ear! 

 These pictures are of all of Shane's cousins and spouses that were there.

 It was windy, if you can't tell by our hair!

 Shane's family

 Sibling love!  My cousins Brady, Marci, and Shane.

 More sibling love - my mom, Sandra, and her sisters, Barbara, Lisa, and Judy.

 

After the wedding, we traveled to Mona and went to the wedding luncheon.  It was very nice.  They had Marci tell a little bit about Shane and Ashlee told a little bit about Whitney.  They also had a DVD that they played for us.  We had a good time.  Afterwards, we went to Levan to my parent's house to relax for a bit until the reception.

 

The reception was held in Mona too.  It was at the home of Whitney's sister, Ashlee Jarrett.  They had a nice back yard.  When we pulled up, there was a very long line!  We waited it out though.  Then we had refreshments and visited with family.  I was able to see some more former Paysetters.  

 Britney Stanley, Camille O'Driscoll, and her daughter, Denzli.  Both Britney and Camille are good friends with Whitney.

It was fun to see them and catch up a bit.  Camille's baby is so cute!

Spending Time with Kendrick

After the 24th of July parades I had a couple week off from drill team practice.  This meant I could spend more time with Kendrick!  Summer is great anyway, because I don't have to stay at school all day, just in the early morning for drill.  But I didn't have drill for two weeks, so Kendrick and I had more time to have fun!

 Here he is showing off his project that he made at the cousin sleepover at Paula's house.  His guy has hair now!

 Kendrick is usually pretty good to pose for a picture.  He likes to look at the pictures after we take them. 

 He was pretty proud of this project.

 My sister Emilee organized the activity.  Thanks Em!  Kendrick loved it.

 

Since I've been home in the mornings and we have time in the morning, I have been having Kendrick help me make the beds.  One day, I asked him to go make his bed.  I got doing something else, and then a little while later I went by his room and saw his bed.

 This is what I saw!  Kendrick had made his bed all by himself.  It wasn't perfect, but he did pretty good!  He even put his Teddy bear on the bed.

 I called him into his room and he told me, "I make my bed, mom!".  He was very proud.  So we took a picture with him on the bed too.

 Because he had been such a good boy that day, we decided to go redeem his perfect patient reward that he received from the dentist.

 This meant an ice cream cone from Sonic.

 He was a happy boy!

He is growing up so fast and talks more and more each day.  We're so lucky to have him!  He really completes our lives and family.  Love you Kendrick!