Back to Work I go!

School starts for kids on the 13th, but I have been busy at school this week. It’s been exciting, rough, and exhausting all at the same time!

Kendall starts her new school next week, so my mom has graciously watched both of them. I really don’t know how I could ever pay her back! She cleaned my house on Tuesday and it made me want to cry. So sweet! It makes working so much easier when you know your babies are being loved on by one of their favorite people.

Tuesday my grandparents visited my house to check on Adley after her accident.

 

Clearly, she is back up to speed. Haha

I have always been a weekend grocery shopper. It makes me so crazy to not have a stocked kitchen before Monday. So, here we are on Tuesday (without a list!) buying random things to eat.

My mom sends me all kinds of cute pictures of the girls all day. They have so much fun!!!

I will be going to school every day this next week. I will take some good pictures of my atrium hallway classroom prior to school starting. I believe I have done a good job of making it a neat space. I can’t wait to share it with you all.

Chris started back to school (he works in a different district) this week so things have been HECTIC!

I’m so nervous about meeting all the kids and being on the cart. I truly feel this is where I am supposed to be, but I already miss my babies and our fun, lazy summer! When do your kids go back to school?

New (old) Job

From 2006 to the end of 2011 I worked for my dad’s company. For various reasons, I stayed home for a little while with Kendall at the beginning of 2012 and then took a position with a new company in March.

Well six months later and I’m back to work for my dad. The main reason is I love my parents and they need my help. The second reason is I HATED my old job. And lastly, six months ago I was not in an MAT program.

I am fortunate to have had worked in a different environment for six months and met some wonderful people. Some of which I hope to stay friends with! I think the experience was good for me professionally, and I have a lot of ideas I’ve brought back to my dad’s business.

For my family and myself, working for my dad will be great with school. My parents have always been my number one supporter and have encouraged me to pursue teaching opportunities while I’m working for them. I plan on substitute teaching and observing on occasion too.

So in a nutshell… that’s where I’m at. Back to my roots and happy as ever!

School

After months of prayer, soul searching, research, over analyzing, thinking too much and talking daddy’s ear off…

Mommy has decided…

to go back to school…

for her Masters in Teaching!

More details to come. :)

Oh Monday…

I uploaded pictures from my Iphone over the weekend and I wanted to share some of them. I love the convenience of taking pictures on my phone but I never do anything with them after I load them. This is important stuff people!

We bought a new (to us) car for Chris. Chris needed a 4 door car with good gas mileage since he drops Kendall off at school and drives a million miles for baseball.

I’m blonde again Ya’ll! Don’t ever let me go brown AGAIN!

I can’t remember if I posted K on St.Patty’s day and I’m too lazy to look. Anyway… I whipped up her shirt and bow in 30 minutes to match these socks I had made. She looks cute in everything but I was so proud!

New car = new stylin’ seat for the Princess! She thought it was so funny sitting in it in the house. I put my gender neutral car seat in Chris’s car and put this pink baby in the equinox! Woot! Woot!

Kendall’s 1st day of school outfit… I was pretty bummed we didn’t get a first day of school photo. It was too emotional of a morning for that.

My new office! Complete with a bathroom… since these pictures they’ve given me a desktop and a new chair. I love my new job!

So on to other things… I’m thinking about taking up reading again. After reading the Hunger Games trilogy (and loving it)… I realized I missed reading. I purchased Nicholas Sparks The Lucky One and preordered the (from what I hear mucho scandalous Fifty Shade of Grey by E.L. James.

What are you reading??

Happy Monday!

Tuesday Randoms

Hey all! On what would have been my 7th day on my new job I am sitting at home. :( Kendall got sick this weekend and when I woke up Monday morning I knew I had it too. I forced myself through my work day (a few Zofran tablets helped) and crashed when I got home. This morning I was no better so I called in. They were really nice about it so hopefully I will still have my job when I return.

I made us an appointment and sure enough Kendall has another ear infection. This is so tough not having the luxury of just staying home with my baby during these times.

Anyways... other than the sickness that attacked our household, things have been pretty good.
I survived my first week at my new job and Kendall survived her first week of school. She even made it Friday morning without crying when Chris dropped her off. I'm so proud of my big girl.

• I got to see the HUNGER GAMES! I talked Chris into taking me Saturday night.  I want to go see it again. It was really good. I love this story so much and they did a great job capturing the novel on film. What am I going to do until they make and release the second movie??? I may have to read the books again or something! 

• I'm avoiding facebook this week. Our BIG state rivals Louisville ( my alma mater) and Kentucky (my husband is their #1 fan) are playing against each other in the FINAL FOUR! This is a big deal ya'll! There is so much trash talking going on right now. I wish I had lots of money to buy tickets and the vacation time to head to New Orleans for the weekend! GO CARDS!

Play office

I bring Kendall to work sometimes. I am extremely blessed and fortunate to be employed by my father and work in the atmosphere that allows me to bring my sweetie to work.
She's not with me today (she's having a blast at Grandma's) but I wanted to share how my office easily converts to Kendall's play area. I took this picture last Friday when she accompanied me to the office.  If you look very closely to the left you will see Kendall in her pack and play. I usually bring a lot more toys than what is pictured. I have to keep her busy!

This is kind of random and boring but I wanted to make sure I recorded these memories for when I print my blog for Kendall. :)

Working again... :(

My first day at work without Kendall went okay. I stayed pretty busy and it went by quick... granted it was only 8:30-3. It wasn't a full day but it was still hard. I got upset before I even left her at my mom's. She was so happy after her morning feeding and it just made me cry knowing we would be separated. I'm pretty sure it affects me waaaay more than her. I cried again on the way to my mom's, at my mom's and walking out the door. But two minutes into my drive to work I was okay. I knew she was in good hands and would have a great day.

When I got to work I almost lost it again when I saw her bouncy seat I'd left in my office from Tuesday.

Kendall had a great first day with Grandma and Aunt Amanda. This is a picture my mom sent me of Kendall in her bath. You can tell from this picture she's not thinking about missing me!

I pretty much held her every second last night. It's hard being away from her but I know she still knows who I am and knows I'm her mommy.

However, this is going to take some getting used to... waking up early, getting her and myself packed... getting my pump together is a whole other story!

It's so easy to just "whip it out" lol I don't know how else to put it. Cleaning bottles, pumping, freezing milk.... etc. etc is so much more work! Thank goodness it's just during the day!

Kendall is at work with me today and will be tomorrow too. Isn't she cute asleep?

One of the benefits of having everyone work out of town on job sites! We are all alone in the office... well my Uncle David (my bro) is here too!

Tomorrow is Friday! Yay!

Jobs: Past, Present & Future

Because bloggy ladies I follow post such fun things... I will copy. Katie over at Cleared for Takeoff posted a fun blog today about all the jobs she has had so I thought it would be fun to talk about the jobs I've had, have and would love to have!!!!
PAST Jobs

1. A specialty pharmacy (15 years old) - I don't even know if this really counts. My mom worked in the office/pharmacy at the time and she got me a job working in the medical warehouse. I made $6.75 which was more than all my friends at the time (I was SO cool) and I just rode to work with her a few days a week during the summer. All I did was file papers, put together insulated medical boxes and gather/put away shipments. Looking back I just loved that I worked with my mom. :)

2. Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom (16&17 years old) - This was my summer job for 2 years. The first year I was making $5.75 (talk about a pay cut from my 1st job) and I worked in a corn dog stand as a Team Member. Summer #2 I was promoted to Unit Manager of a Hamburger stand and I made $7.25. I got first hand experience of being a supervisor. I had to order stock for the stand and over see all my employees breaks, schedules, tills, etc. I felt pretty cool working the register with my register key. I flirted alot with boys while working at Six Flags and wore red polos with short khaki shorts. Haha!!!

3. Texas Roadhouse (19 years old) - I didn't work my senior year, summer or first year of college so this was my summer job after my first year of school. I don't think I was a terrible waitress but this is a job I NEVER want to do again. People are so rude ordering you around for more ranch dressing than one person should ever have and then you have the people who do not tip well. I always tip well now... unless it's totally rude/horrible service - but even then I tip the appropriate amount because you never know if someone is just having a bad day. This job was fun because most of the people I worked with were my age and all in college. We hung out alot after work that summer!!! Good times! 4. UPS (19-20 years old) - This is the place where I met my husband so it will always have a special place in my heart. I started out as an admin working the night shift 11pm-3am. It paid for my tuition that year and really wasn't horrible to get used to. It was difficult for me to sleep on a normal schedule on the weekends though and forget hanging out with people who didn't work the nightshift too! I was promoted after 6 months to Part time supervisor and chose to work outside on the air ramp. Normally I would have chosen some inside gig like I had but my friend Molly and cousin Adam worked out there already so I thought it would be neat. I just drove a crew of 10 guys around in a van to different planes and watched them load packages in the belly of planes. There was alot more to it I promise... like learning to drive a stickshift, working longer hours and putting up with disgruntled employees. I had to write people up!! Eeek! But three weeks into the job I was dating Mr. Chris Ryan - he is also part of the reason I quit this job because I didn't want us to get in trouble for fraternization. :)

(Circa 2006 - about to leave for work with my honey :) )

PRESENT Jobs
1. AST, Inc. (20 years to present) - This is the job I left UPS for and have stayed since. My father is the owner, ceo and my boss. It's an interesting gig sometimes working with family but I feel like it's the place I'm supposed to be in my life right now. It was a wonderful/flexible job when I was finishing up my undergrad and it will be a blessing when Kendall is here. I'm not saying I take advantage of the situation it just allows me a better quality of life. I do many different things here and I like that because I get a taste of all facets of a business. My favorite part is planning a trade show exhibit every year and going to different cities I normally wouldn't travel to like Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Boston etc...

(This photo was taken my first year with the company at my first tradeshow in Philadelphia with my boss a.k.a. Dad)

2. Mary Kay Consultant - this is my side job/hobby. My main purpose of doing this is getting all my products at cost. I am a Beauty high maintenance kind of gal so it's nice having all these products at my fingertips. I service a handful of customers too.
3. Wife & Future Mommy :) My favorite jobs so far! I won't elaborate because I talk about these everyday...
FUTURE Jobs
Okay I have been thinking alot about what I would like to do in the future since I graduated from college. Here are my thoughts...
1. Teacher
Go back to school in one of those transition to teaching programs and become a teacher so I can have summers off with my husband and kids. Chris thinks I need more reasons to teach besides just having summers/holidays off. Maybe he is right... I will give this one more thought.
2. Occupational Therapist
Go back to school for 3 years (and $60,000) to get a Masters in Occupational Therapy. Sounds challenging and I feel this would be really rewarding. Not to mention I would make a great salary and have job security in the medical field. Not sure about $$ and extra schooling...
3.Food Stylist
Okay... I was watching one of those cooking contest shows and they had a contest between food stylists. The food doesn't have to taste good - it just has to look good. You know how the pictures in the menu always look better than what actually comes to the table??? That would be my fault!!
4. Work for Dave Ramsey or be a radio personality like Dave Ramsey
I recently got XM radio in my new ride and I listen to Dave Ramsey every weekday 4-5pm on my way home. I have always loved Dave Ramsey's philosophies on money and debt. I find myself giving people that call in my own advice when I hear them anyway so I'd fit right in. I'm also very passionate about living the best life financially and I'm always planning how we are going to accomplish our goals in this area.



There you have it folks!!! You should write about your past, present and future jobs and give me your link because I would LOVE to read about them!!!!