FT. LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA

This last week I had the opportunity to go to a National Neonatal Nursing Conference in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. My Work sent me, and they picked up the bill, so it was extra nice!!! I flew into florida on wednesday the 24 of sept. and I flew home on sunday the 28 of sept. Short and sweet, but fun filled. I was able to attend several classes, and talk with nurses from all over the country who work with severly premature, and sick infants. It was an experience I won't forget.

This is me with my friend Molly. I worked with Molly when we lived in New Mexico, and Molly pretty much taught me what I know about neonatal nursing.

We usually always had the same schedule, and we lived about 5 minutes from each other so we car pooled along with another nurse. The three of us always had a good time on the way home, and managed to keep each other awake for the drive. This picture was taken in front of a fountain by the convention center where the convention was held.

This is taken in front of the beautiful Atlantic. The tide was coming in, and there was record tides the entire time we were there because of a hurricane hitting the carolinas. Notice the overcast sky, yup it stayed that way, and rained a little bit too. However, it was still hot, and very humid. The ocean was warm too. It was even warmer than the pool at the hotel. I swam out past the breakers, and that was my favorite part of the trip. I loved swimming in the ocean.

We walked down the beach and looked at all the shore front stores, and restaurants. We ate at Bubba Gump shrimp company. It was pretty good shrimp. In true tourist fashion I took a picture of the store sign.

This is the beach, I promised Jenna that I would take pictures of the palm trees. It was beautiful!!

This is looking out into the atlantic, there was a big tanker ship out at sea.

We also made it out to the Everglades!! We went on a swamp boat ride, and got real up close and personal with same alligators.
At one point there were 6 alligators all around our boat. The guide kept saying to watch for fights, because of how territorial alligators are, and how many were in such a small place. However, we did not see an alligator fights.
We also went to the Hard Rock cafe, which was actually in Hollywood, Florida. This Hard Rock is one of the few restaurants that is actually part of a casino. My friend Molly won 20 bucks, and then quickly cashed out her winnings.
I had a blast in Florida, and I loved getting to see Molly. It was a perfect girls weekend away!!! It is always good to get home to your family though. In the end there is no substitute for your own bed, and family. We were both anxious to get home in the end.

Baby Grace

We had a new edition in our family. Aaron's sister had a beautiful baby girl. Here are the proud big bro and sis, along with the proud cousins. We miss Lydia and Carter!!

W

An APPLE a day keeps the doctor away!

Beautiful organic Gala apples!!!

We have learned this summer that Payton loves fruit!! He would be perfectly happy to live off fruit and chicken. He has loved harvest, and getting to "Help" dad!
Jenna went to school on the first day of harvest and came home to find the apple bins full of apples, she also loves to help "direct" dad on the fork lift and be daddy's special helper!
After enough apple bins are filled a huge truck comes, then aaron loads the truck with the fork lift, and off the packing plant the apples go. Payton loves big trucks, so he really gets a kick out of this part.
Payton and Jenna help collect tickets, and level bins "with a lot of adult suppervision" here they are taking a break. they love being farm kids!

DOMESTICATION at it's finest!!

Those of you who know me well, know that I am not "DOMESTIC." The big joke in our family is that Aaron knew of my homemaking skills before he married me!! However, I have attempted to learn some new things this summer. Canning, jamming, and gardening in general have led to many new experiences that I swore as a child I would never do!!! for three days straight I have canned Peaches and pears. This pic is of my very messy kitchen in the process of canning!! And of my very nice g-ma that came to help!

More pic's of my kitchen to help you truly understand the mess I was dealing with. On this day we canned 2 big boxes of peaches, and one big box of pears.
Jenna was sick, and home from school in these photos, she had a long day in learning how to can! In three day we canned 63 jars of Peaches and 48 jars of pears, and we still have 2 peach trees to pick, and 2 boxes of pears to can. We have made a lot of strawberry, raspberry, and apricot jam. frozen corn, green beans, raspberries, and boysenberries. And I don't think I will ever be the same.

KINDERGARTEN IS HERE!!!

The day that has been anxiously awaited all summer has finally arrived, and boy was Jenna excited!!! I even let her have her own alarm clock to wake her up this morning. (although she woke up before it even went off ) Aaron and I took her to school this morning, and then waited in line to take her picture in front of the school sign. Apparently I was not the only parent with this idea!

Then all of the kindergarten kids go to the gym to put their backpacks in the line with their teachers name on it, and then play in the gym till class starts. I guess the kindergarteners don't get to play outside till school starts.

When the bell rings the kids line up and head for the classroom. This is Jenna getting in line to start her day.

It was hard to watch our baby start kindergarten, it seems like yesterday she was born. However, I think it was the hardest for Payton. As we walked out of the school Payton kept saying "I don't have my Jenna."