Monkey See...Monkey Do...

Okay for Halloween Bunco, we were suppose to dress up. As usual, I had nothing to wear. So Whit and I decided we would be cheerleaders and I would just get old uniforms from the cheer uniform closet. I was trying them on and I looked over and Scarlett had one on. Funny girl.

RETIREMENT!

Okay...so this is really old...but I finally made the jump and RETIRED!!! I worked at Division of Child and Family Services for three years as a Foster Care Caseworker. I was Lead Worker and loved my job...but I was burnt out and more importantly, was ready to be home with my baby.

Working for DCFS, I helped parents get their children back. Most of our clients got their children taken away from abusing drugs, abusing their children, and a lot of other reasons. I saw things that I never thought could happen, I experienced some of the most life changing events of people's lives. I watched parents relinquish their parental rights, I watched children go back home to their parents, I fought to terminate parental rights, I watched families adopt sweet children, I was there when the children said goodbye to their parents for the last time, I testified for hours in trials, I reported to the Judge, I held children as they cried, I cried, I watched parents come off drugs and some stay on drugs. I was threatened, lied to, and yelled at on a daily basis. I think a DCFS worker is THE hardest job there is. It is a thankless job and it is a hard job. But I am so thankful I had the opportunity to work there for the last three years. My eyes were opened to the real world, to the drug world.

Somehow, the children made it all worth it. They needed a voice, and I was able to be their voice for three years. But 40 hours a week was just too much. The State doesn't have any part time positions so Mike and I decided it was the right time for me to retire. So I made the jump and haven't looked back! I absolutely LOVE being home with Scarlett and I love doing the things I wasn't able to do in the past year. We love our days which include play dates and lunches. I have become a professional luncher. I go to lunch about three times a week with friends and I love it! :) We go to the park, stay in our pajamas, swim at our pool, play with friends, read books and watch Ellen. Life is GREAT.

The best part about it is I still have an out...I still help with the Dixie State College Dance Team and I am the head coach for the Dixie State College Cheerleaders. So I am still busy...but not as busy as I was. I cut out 40 hours of work a week! I have so much respect for working moms, because it is not an easy task! When working, my days were detailed to the minute. I was exhausted and I was not able to give 100% to everything.

I was scared, but as I drove away on my last day from DCFS, I KNEW it was the right decision. I KNEW that it was time for me to be home. My goodbyes were sad, especially saying goodbye to my foster children. I love every single one of them and they have all left footprints on my heart.

Here are the pictures from my retirement party. One of my supervisors, Tom Kelly had a plaque made for me and wrote the funniest poem for me. He is one of the BEST supervisors I have ever worked for. I will definitely miss my office friends.

Brook, Martha, Tara, Colette, Me, Kathi
Aubree, Lisa, Brian, Me, Amy
Nicki, Me, Kristi P, Amy
Tom doing reading his poem.
My plaque and retirement watch...
Me and Julie laughing at Tom's poem..
Scarlett, Michelle and Nickie

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Scarlett's One Year Picts!

A little behind...but SOOOOO worth the wait! Here are Scarlett's one year pictures! I wanted a classy style that would be easy to go with any house style...and I couldn't have imagined better pictures! I am in LOVE with all of them and don't even know where to start in picking them out for my house! Here are a few of my favorites! My disk had 146 pictures on it! aaahhh!!! Skye Johansen took them and did a tremendous job! A co-worker's wife made the cake and it turned out just darling!

This is a classic Scarlett look!












I think this is my favorite. I just love her smile and how happy she is.

One Year and Counting...

Where it all began...Not going to lie...I was TERRIFIED at that point. No really. TERRIFIED.
The love of my life...
Okay, the TWO loves of my life!
Simply Precious.
Love the hair!
A five month difference...
Blessing Dress. 3 months old.
Four months old.
5 months old...
Six months old and first visit to Hawaii. (First of many hopefully :))
Seven months.
Eight months.
Nine months. First visit to Paris. Most likely last. LOL.
So happy. Nine and a half months.
Ten months. Like mommy like daughter. Already sucking in. Already crazy hair.

Eleven months.
Twelve months.
My one year old. Can she be any cuter? What can I say? We love this girl.

HaPpY BiRtHdAy SCARLETT!!!

Scarlett turned one on Wednesday August 12th. I seriously can't believe my baby is one!!! I am so sad at how fast time goes by. One year old is so momentuous. I can't believe it was one year ago that I was in the hospital having her. She is the joy of mine and Mike's life. We love her like nothing else.

Fun things about Scarlett-

-She loves to "walk" on her knees

-She is walking

-She loves to put my purse strap on her shoulder and try to haul it around

-She loves baby dolls

-She is so sweet and so mild mannered

-She know milk, please, more, kiss, thank you, etc... in sign language

-Scarlett loves to give "loves"

-She LOVES food!

-Scarlett loves to make messes

-She has 2 bottom teeth that are barely sticking out

-She loves her tongue

-She is 18lbs and 29.5 inches

I'm not even kidding you!

OOOHHHHH Yeah!!!! Yep...I met Kyle Korver. Scarlett met him too! We were at Huntington Beach for Rebelette Camp and just shopping around in the little boardwalk shops and in walked KYLE KORVER! I almost died! I was really star struck! I was shaking so bad I couldn't take the picture! This is how it went down...Kyle walked in. I immediately knew it was him, but I didn't know know. So I started following him around the little shop. We made eye contact about 5 times and he was pry thinking I was a little creepy following him around. I asked my friend to ask for a picture, but she wouldn't (even after I offered her $10.00). So finally, I said, "Kyle" and looked away (just in case it wasn't him) well sure enough, it was him and he said "yeah?" I then said, "I knew it was you Kyle Korver!" I was so excited! I then told him that I was from Utah and Kathleen (my friend) piped in and told him that we are huge Jazz fans. He smiled and asked us what we were doing in Huntington. Yep, I even had convo with him! I then asked him for a picture and he was as kind as ever and said yes. Kori and I then took a picture with him and I asked him if he would take one with Scarlett! He said yes and even kindly waited while I put her bow back in her hair! :) Well, I was shaking so bad that I couldn't get my camera to work and so I told him, "I am so sorry, I'm really star struck!" He just laughed and squatted their patiently! It was funny because all of the workers in the store were asking who he was. I guess if you're not from Utah or Milwaukee you wouldn't really know. But he was kind and gracious and I MET KYLE KORVER!:) Don't worry...the first person I called to tell was Mike!

Look at how cute! He's just looking at her so sweetly!

Scarlett did not care what was going on!

And yes...he is even MORE beautiful in person than on television! What I like about him is that he is so nice and does a lot of charity work and is suppose to be just a good all around kid. I love it when they're grounded and not arrogant guys like Terrell Owens. We need more role models like this for little kids!