So Grateful

Hey, I have to say that I am grateful for the wonderful people, Heavenly Father has brought to me and my husband. We have a beautiful little girl who makes us smile every day. Stephen and I were looking at pictures of her when she was born and looking at her now you can't tell my sweet girl had such a hard beginning in this world. She is a beautiful light that I never want to disappear. I am also grateful that I have a wonderful husband who loves me for who I am. I am not perfect and often I keep things silent about people outside our home until I am home. I tell him my frustrations and things that bother me to the core for an hour or so. He just smiles and listens to every problem. Not trying to fix it all for me. I am grateful for my mom. When things get tight she not scaried to help us out or even just take us out to dinner when she's here. She wonderful with Ginny and loves taking care of her. I am never nervous about leaving Ginny with her as she loves her with her whole heart. My mom knows when she needs to come visit during the school year and doesn't mind taking Ginny out of the house so I can get homework done. I am also grateful to have such a wonderful sitter for Ginny. I am jealous about her and Ginny's relationship. For once I wish Ginny loved being with me but she loves being with her sitter. I am grateful that her sitter loves her and will never hurt my baby. I am grateful for a wonderful friend who knows when I need help on homework. Also she keeps me on track with my schooling. Even though she is super smart she doesn't mind pushing me to be who I am. -Kendra

Bad News

Hey, So not long ago I had to be taken to the doctor because I had extreme pressure on my left leg. Come to find out that I am also having trouble with my spleen and having trouble with my blood flow returning back to my heart. So...my doctor is putting me on a special diet. Which Stephen is going to be on it with me. It's where we only eat meat, veggies, and fruit. It's suppose to make us lose a lot of weight fast. Though I am going to miss bread and pasta. I am not a veggie eater or even a fruit eater. I love eating cereals in the morning. But all that's gone for my health. I need to make self better before I have a heart attack in my 30's. I am about to turn 25 years old a lot can happen even now. It's going to be rough, but I am going to need to do it. I am going to need people encouraging me to excel at this. Don't be surprised if I am losing weight fast and that's the whole point of this. _Kendra

Sadness

Hey, It's so hard to not be around for things. Ginny is growing up so fast and I am missing most of it while at school. Sometimes, I just want to cry and stop going to school just so I can be with my little girl. But I remember that the prophet wants us especially women to get an education. I know in a year I will be less stressed out as I am hopefully teaching my own classroom by then. Then helping Stephen with his homework. Once Stephen graduates college I am going to pray that we can make it on one paycheck so that I can be a at home mom. I would love to be able to stay at home with my kids. The plan right now is that I start a preschool at our house to get the kids ready for kindergarten and home school my own kids. I can't wait for the day. I also can't wait to be less stressed. But we are blessed by those who love us. My mom came down this weekend and took Ginny out shopping for a couple of hours so I could get some homework done. Then we are blessed by those in the church who don't mind stepping up to help us out. It's just hard to see Ginny's babysitter has more time with her then I do. -Kendra

Trip to the Zoo -Family Time

Hey, So since this year is going to be my hardest year. Already I have seen a lot of behavior changes in Ginny. Stephen and I decided that we should take a family day trip somewhere and just enjoy it. So we took Ginny to the zoo in Topeka. We really enjoy the zoo there and it was a great day to go. We got there and there was a line to get into the zoo which has never happened to us before. But we had to much with Ginny and she loved it.

-Kendra

First Week with Kids

Hey, I can't say much about my first week with kids as the internet can take whatever I say and change it. But I have learned a lot in my first year with kindergartners. I know for sure that I wouldn't mind teaching in this grade. It's never a dull moment with them and it's so much fun. We have some challenging kids in my classroom and I just love them. I love their little minds and how sometimes when they do something I just chuckle. I am at a very diverse school with the students. I am learning so much being in such a diverse area. I am not all upset that I didn't get the elementary school that I wanted or that I didn't go to Olathe. I don't think i would have some of these experiences in other areas. Like I said it wouldn't be right to talk about them so really can't say what I learned. But I am more blessed then I have ever realized. I learned that my mom was one of the best in teaching me and pushing me. Never saying I couldn't do anything and I am grateful for that. I am grateful that I had food for three meals a day more then anything. I did learn though that kindergartens who don't know how to tie shoes need to go to school with velco shoes. I can't tell you how many shoes I have had to tie in two days alone. -Kendra Loving life.

Kindergartners

Hey, It's amazing to me that I get to spend time with these cute little kids. I was so excited the night before going to meet the kindergartners that I get to spend half time this semester. I kept thinking in my head, "Will they like me?" I have always worked with 1st grade in high school and never ventured in the younger grade. Then I became a mom and of course she's still really young to be in school. So I was nervous. At the Open House the kids were really shy and not wanting to get to close to me or my mentor teacher. Today was another story to say the least. I was tying a ton of shoes and teaching them as I did it. Two rabbits one goes through the whole and then pops out. Then I was also walking kids to where they need back and forth. Of course going outside and pushing them on a couple of swings and the tire swing. We have some challenging kids in our class but who doesn't have challenging kids. I was in charge of two centers yesterday though. One was just sitting on the floor and reading books. I had two kids reading with me and I used some of the techniques that I learned last year to read them the books. Then I did a math center which was teaching them patterns. I didn't know what about patterns to teach them so I just went with what I thought kindergartners need taught. All in all I am now sure the kids like me...and I get to go back today. Kendra

Back to the Grind

Hey, So I have come to the conclusion that this school year is going to be rough to say the least. I get up at five in the morning to get ready and come home at four most nights to spend time with Ginny till eight. Ginny goes down for bed and then I work on homework till ten. It's going to be rough but it's going to have to work at least this semester. Ginny so far is doing okay with not seeing me all day. The jury is still out on how I am taking it. I miss her like crazy as we had a lot of fun this summer together. Anyways, I really do like my mentor teacher. She's super nice and pretty layback. I have heard some horror stories from others who have had bad mentor teachers. So let's just say I was scared to meet my mentor teacher. But it looks like we will be having fun with the kids in the classroom. I am doing everything I can to put me above the rest in the field. I know that sounds wrong but if I want a good recommendation then I need to be above the rest. Even if that means working my butt off and doing some extra things. Kendra

First Day of School

So I just finished my first day of my last year of college. It amazes me that how much information that they can give you on the first day. I swear they try to make you scare when they tell you everything that you need to do for the semester on the first day. Anyways, I found out that I will be interning in a kindergarten class. I am really excited to meet my mentor teacher tomorrow. Then helping her on Wednesday set up the classroom. -Kendra

Dear Sarah

Dear Sarah, It's not to long ago since I was the little girl who moved to Olathe. I was a scared little girl sure that I would never meet any girl my age. I felt alone in my own family as I was the baby of the family. When I met you it was like Heavenly Father knew that you would push me to become the person that I needed to become. It was like he knew that our friendship would be one of a kind. That we could live right down the street from each other to living over hundreds of miles are apart. When we moved to the Montclaire house I was sure that we would stop being friends. But we still found the time to spend with each other. Then when I found out that I had arthritis and lost so many friends through it. It didn't bother you that I wasn't normal. No, you decided to see what it meant to have arthritis. You supported me through it all. When I hit my long time low and you found out that I needed a friend it was like you just knew. No one thought our friendship would last. Why would it be...your close to straight A girl who loves science and i wanted to be a teacher but a B C student. When I went off to college we were both nervous what would happen to our friendship. I mean we lasted only being across town could our friendship last to different towns. We proved the world wrong as we called each other over the phone and talked as much as we can. Thanks to the internet we were able to spend time together and still play stupid games. Such as yahoo pool over and over again. Then you headed out of state and it would shock our friendship yet again. But we held strong. We were able to take our first ever road trip together. Sure it was a rocky road trip at the start but it was nice to just talk. It was so much fun. I loved having you apart of my wedding. Knowing that you didn't mind taking the backseat of my life as my husband took the front. You traveled just for my wedding and you don't know how special that was to me that weekend. To know that my best friend would be next to me as I married the love of my life. You were one of the first to know that I was expecting my baby girl. You just knew she was a girl. You were so excited to be apart my life as well as my daughter. In November, I will be standing next to you as you marry the love of your life, Todd. Just as I have stood by you since I moved onto our little street. I always know that I can count on you even if you are a million miles away. I can't wait to watch you say I Do. I can't wait to be the first to wispear, "Welcome to marriage-hood." Then it gets fun from there. I will be one of the first to come see you when you have your first, second, third, and how many you want kids. I just hope our kids are friends with each other as much as we are. I hope Ginny finds a friend that I have always had since I was little. Because I would not have made it out of all of this without you. You are amazing friend and I just want to tell you that. I love you so much and I am so happy for you. I hope you enjoy marriage like I am. Kk P.S. Todd if you hurt her...I will hurt you...

Playing with Cousins

Hey, Since we were up in Olathe we had the chance to spend time with some family. We stay at my mom's house so we see her quite a lot. But we had the chance to go to my sister Christy's house for a bbq. Anyways, my sister and her husband have three kids. Calvin who is twelve, then Abriana who is nine, and Abbi who is two. My sister Christy was excited when I found out I was pregnant because she was worried that Abbi would never have a close cousin like her other two. The girls were able to play together and really enjoyed each other.

Then today we had the chance to visit with Stephen's brother Jimmy and Natalie with their sweet daughter Addi. Addi is only two months older then Ginny so I wanted the girls to get some time to hang out with each other. The girls were so funny around each other. For awhile they did not want to play with each other but then they warmed up. We really want to be able to see them soon.

-Kendra

Hot Air Balloons

Hey, I was able to get most of my school things so that I could be ready when school starts on Monday. Anyways, we are having the pleasure of being in Olathe this weekend to spend time with family before life gets hectic again. Since Miss Ginny broke my last camera and I need to have one for student teaching. So that I can build a portfolio of my work and pictures for when I get a job. I have a very nice nice camera now. Of course that means better pictures of Ginny as well. Also tonight, My mom and me took Ginny to see Hot Air balloons that were at the mall. She loved it and we enjoyed it as well.

-Kendra

Towards the End of Summer

Hey, Can you believe that it's the end of summer. I start school on Monday, my last year of college for awhile. At least until I start getting my masters. Anyways, we haven't been up to much lately. Which is fine by me. Through I wish Stephen was getting more then two days of work a week but that's another story. We are enjoying the extra time with Stephen though as we been more focus on each other as husband and wife. Also more focus on spending time with Ginny as she getting older. She really enjoying the extra time we are spending with her. Here are some pictures that we have taken since.

Hanging out with Aunt Christy

Sitting on Grandma's head

Dancing with Daddy

Going to the fair

Saying Goodbye to Aunt Johanna and Uncle Karl for Three or More Years

Trying Nutella

Playing with Mommy and Daddy

Blowing Kisses As you can tell we have had a lot of fun this summer. We are planning on going to spend more time before school starts on Monday. Then some more fun that will be different will be happening. -Kk