Awwwwww, so sweet!

I thought this photo of Joshua and Samantha was super cute, so I am posting it! Those two are so meant to be ;-)

Candy Corn.

What is it about Candy Corn? People can absolutely hate it or they love it. Me? I grew into it. I always dreaded getting it in my Trick or Treat bag as a kid...there was always plenty of it...but now...it is a sugary tasty treat! I just purchased a bag at the Cracker Barrel yesterday. I am in the Autumn mood already. I am thinking about decorating my house full of Fall items this weekend. It could happen. I would say wait until at least Sept. 1st, but I will be at work that day. Yes. My schedule has been bumped up. I start working on the floor on Tuesday, Weds. and Thursday this week. I don't have to work on the 5th anymore. I have to do my shadowing for two weeks before they cut me loose. Oh yeah and another thing, I have a cold. Again. Kent received it from school, no doubt, on Monday. Now Samantha and I have it. I am trying to recover before I get to work next week. Brother. Our family has been sick so many times this year, it is not even funny! So this is the end to my random post of the day.

P.S. I forgot to mention that I had Angela and Adi over last night for a movie, brownies, popcorn evening! It was fun. Jeff even sat through the movie experience with us..because Adi made the brownies, knowing that would temp Jeff. It did ;-) So cute.

Dad Jenkins...doing alright!

I am not going to get into the details, because one's health is private; but I do want to comment on saying that my Dad Jenkins is doing well. He had to undergo surgery. The situation started back on Aug. 17th, and ended with surgery early this evening. I just got off the phone talking with him, and he is in good spirits (and he gets to eat, which always makes him happy) I think I get that from him...needing to eat, or else :-) May God continue to help him heal and recover.

Already the start to Kent's 2nd week of school!

We are so proud of Kent. He seems to be adjusting just fine with school and his new schedule. His teacher, Mrs. Oleson, has made it clear that she likes Kent and that he is a good student. On Friday, when I picked him up, he received a "Good Attitude Award." She wrote the reason, for "being a sweet student all week." Talk about adorable! We have been telling Kent how happy we are with him and that we are proud of him obeying the rules and being a good student. He lights up! Positive feedback is so important and kids thrive on it (as do we all). Samantha is being a good little girl at home. She wants to come along to drop off and pick up Kent from school. Makes her feel connected to him that way. I can tell she wishes she was also in school, but in time...lets not rush now :-)



Tomorrow I have my PCT training day. I am curious about it, especially since the RNs that have been teaching us with the orientation; keeps "suggesting we do the training class AFTER we have been on the floor. I feel otherwise. I want to be trained before, so I can learn and understand when I shadow another PCT. I finally got my schedule through October, and my official start day in my unit is on Sept. 5th. So after tomorrow, I have almost a two week break before I get rolling. I shall take that break in, for it will be my last long break for a very long time!



Yesterday I went to Flagstaff with my very good friend Adi. We made a trip to Bath & Body. It has been so long since I have shopped there! I missed it so. Anyway, they have their Fall preview scents in; the hand soaps, wallflowers and candles. Oh my! I am ready for Fall! I am ready for my all time favorite season. Smelling the "Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin" and the "Autumn" and "Leaves" scents just put me under their spell. So I purchased a couple of wallflowers and a few hand soaps. They don't have the "Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin" body spray, lotion or wash out yet, but when they do...I am all over that! Look out!

First day of kindergarten!

Just a few pictures of Kent before leaving for school, and before I had to leave for work. He is facing to the side so his backpack could be seen :-) His hair looks wet, because it was...had to brush down all of those cow-licks! So since I wasn't around for taking him to school on his first day; I told Jeff to fill me in with all of the 411. He said the morning went very well. Jeff said he was excited and already meeting new friends. A little blond girl named Isabella (Bella) and a little boy named Troy. Jeff said Troy reminded him exactly like his childhood friend Ryan; and Kent was like Jeff. Like going down memory lane for him. Now Isabella is a pretty little thing that Kent seems to fancy! Oh my gosh...kindergarten crushes! I was able to pick up Kent with the family because I got out of my training early...so I was very excited! I got to meet Mrs. Oleson, and she told me that Kent had a very good first day. She also told me that in his backpack he had some drawings that he did today and a couple of other papers for us parents. When I asked Kent how he liked school, he responded saying, "I love school! I can't wait to come back!" Oh good. So it was a successful day :o)

As for my week with work...it has been full and busy, but I am enjoying the process of getting established. Tomorrow is my last training day for this week. Tuesday is my last day of PCT training and I will most likely start work on the floor after Tuesday. I talked with my clinical manager last night and she was working on my schedule. I have met a lot of really nice people. Today, there were just five of us PCTs (a far cry from the first two days of orientation with 50 people)! So, I am surviving my first week...anxious to see how it will go when I actually get out on the floor. I was informed that I will get to shadow another PCT for two weeks or more (if I need it). So that made me feel less stressed about jumping in right away.

I forgot to add...

My copyright for my original music came through. I received the certificate in the mail earlier in the week. I am so excited! No more " copyright pending," it is the real deal! Knowing that my music is protected and certified original makes me feel so happy. My music is my passion...always :0)

The boys and the girls

The first picture is of my new employee badge. I picked it up yesterday. The other pictures are from the camping trip that Jeff took Kent on. An over-nighter at Cave Springs campground, down at Oak Creek Canyon (just outside of Sedona). The boys had a blast and Kent was trying to bargain with his Daddy to camp one more night. Kent looks so cute in all of his pictures! What a little man :-) Jeff wanted to do something nice with Kent before he starts school next week; so it was a really sweet thing for them to get out and bond. Samantha and I stayed home, grocery shopping, cleaning, then Adi came over to have dinner and watch a movie. So the ladies had a good time as well!

Job update...

Today I went to the hospital to fill out my employee paperwork, get my photo taken, do the fit test for a mask, have a TB skin test, blood work and urine test. I have to go back on Weds. for the health nurse to okay my results of the TB test, then I get my hospital security badge. I also received my itinerary for the next week of classes and training. Getting excited!

I am going to get all lovey-dovey here, but I just want to say how much I love and appreciate Jeff. He is so amazing in every way and I would be lost without him. Jeff is a gift from God, and I thank God everyday for my husband. That's what I wanted to share because he is awesome!

YES!!!!!!!!

I received the call from HR this morning and they offered me the job at the hospital! I have one day next week to fill out paperwork and do the drug testing, then the following week, I have it full of classes and training. The one part that has be totally bummed...missing out on taking Kent to his 1st day of kindergarten. I am sadden by that, but at least Jeff will get to be there and I told him he will have to take pictures for me. As for the start of my work day...still don't know. I am so excited and so is Jeff! What a blessing!

Rain drops falling on my head...

I can't believe the rain we have been getting! This is one of the wettest monsoon seasons I can remember. The pictures are from Friday...one crazy storm with lightning, thunder, and rain. Our seasonal creek was flowing again. It was awesome. It feels like we live on a tropical island because the moisture and humidity is so high. Jeff put up gutters on the back part of our house, off the deck, to collect all this amazing rain water, and we have been loving it! Talk about money being saved. It feels so good to shower with rain water. I am so proud of Jeff; he is so handy.

Joshua and Samantha arrived for a visit late Friday night and stayed through this morning. We took them to the Grand Canyon because Samantha had never seen it before; and it is always a place Joshua likes to return to. After that we went to the Beaver Street Brewery for a good dinner. That night we played Monopoly, and Jeff and I dominated, of course. Don't mess with the Staffords!

P.S. Tomorrow is my Dad's birthday...so Happy Birthday Dad.