Family Picture May 2022

Family Picture May 2022

Friday, April 23, 2010

Handbook for Nannies


Karli is the greatest nanny, I just wouldn't be able to do all I do without her. She wrote this awesome poem about her experience as a nanny for her creative writing class. I had to share.

Welcome to this job you’re about to undertake
To make a good impression, you better not be late
When you’re a nanny you play the role of mother
It isn’t very hard if you use these tips together

The first step to embark on in this particular profession
Is to memorize each child’s name in the very first session.
When you know their names their love for you will double
And you need to know what to shout when they are in trouble

The second step to know in this job is to always be prepared
Make sure you know how many children are under your care.
This is crucial, I repeat, if you don’t want their parents’ hostility
You’d better keep track of those who are your responsibility

You cannot just idly sit back, read a book or watch your shows
Keep tabs on the young ones, they will keep you on your toes.
They can and will get into anything fragile and breakable
Once the crime is done, they’ll hide under the bed or table.

They will accuse each other, make up lies, stories and fables
All you can do is judge who’s right as best as you are able
Never believe the first story you are told during accusations
It’s seldom the truth, listen to all the stories and have patience

Fights will occur throughout the whole day
It’s a common kid instinct, do not dismay.
Stay composed and steady, don’t get perturbed
Here are some phrases that are frequently heard:

“She pinched me!” “He shoved me!” “She pulled my hair!”
“Hey, this is mine!” “No it’s mine!” “Make her share!
Whether these countless gripes are false or quite true
Just separate them to their rooms, it’s all you can do

When the kids are not in trouble you can have lots of fun
Playing games in the house or running about in the sun
Forget yourself, think of the kids who need your care
Give them full attention and let them know you are there

There are many more duties than the children that are yours
There is cooking and cleaning and many more chores
When you are not playing with kids or breaking up fights
Tidy up the house, make sure it is clean, white and bright

There will be clothes to be folded, pots to be stirred
Floors that need vacuum, dust to be observed
Bathrooms to be scrubbed, mopping to be done
Toys to be picked up and the dishwasher to run.

One thing that will definitely occur most every day
Your body will feel tired, your mind start to decay
The best way to make sure your sanity won’t snap
Is every once in a while, lay down and take a nap

Yes, nannying requires a lot of effort and hard work
The cleaning never ends and the kids might go berserk
To help relieve stress when the day is spent and done
Go outside to gain fresh air or go on a rigorous run

You should know, it’s all worth it when the day is through
When a child comes up and wraps their arms around you
“I love you nanny.” Words that make your affection grow
And that’s all about nannying that you need to know

By Karli Sue Barrett, aka nanny

Holly, Heidi, Karli, Heather, Rachel (missing Kynsie and Krystal)

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Dear Future Kids
























Dear Future Kids,
I hope you will be reading this some time in the future, because I am writing these blog posts every week for the future yous. We had such a busy week I wanted to write what you three have been up to, and hopefully it will put a smile on your face.
Soccer is back in action this spring, and Savanna and Weston are busy making their practic once and week and games twice a week. I am frantically trying to get you to these games while Daddy is very busy (already in the "busy season") with his real estate. I had Savanna go to a game with a friend Maleeha so I could take Weston to practice, and on Saturday I wished I could clone myself because you both had a game at the same time and Daddy was at scout camp. I went back and forth trying to be there during your game-time. Savanna you played goalie the first half and didn't see a lot of action so I ran over to see Weston score one of his 4 goals that game. But I had to leave Weston to go watch Savanna after half time be a forward. Then I had to go back and get Weston because his game was over first and bring him back to watcht the last 3 minutes of Savanna running in the sun. I got a sunburn that day, it was nice weather. Good thing Fiora isn't in soccer too or I would really be running around like a chicken.
Speaking of Fiora, you had a dance rehearsal for your dance concert coming up. I had to dish out $47.95 to pay for your costume, and I almost cried in front of the receptionist when they told me that. But you look adorable in it and you have a talent at dancing so I'm happy to make the sacrifice. I enjoyed watching your rehearse your dance yesterday. Sorry I didn't buy a dance portrait, but I snapped one myself when you were posing.
Savanna you got really sick with a stomach bug this week. I was heading off to campus to take a final when you woke up sick, so I hurried home right after my test to take care of you. I held your hair while you threw up and set up the laptop by the couch so you could watch TV while you rested. I ran to the store to buy you popsicles, made you toast, and read you a book. You told me that night how happy you were I came home instead of staying at school to study.
Weston you are doing so good at riding your bike without training wheels, you can do it on the sidewalk and turn circles now, and got really mad at me because I wouldn't let you ride it to school. Sorry buddy, your may baby and I will walk my baby to kindergarten. You will be six in two months and you are getting so smart, reading so well, and not really a baby at all.
This week we've started vegetable seeds growing in cups in the window sills. You are all so eager to help water them, and have your own little plant that you are responsible for. Next week we will work on the garden and get ready for planting.
Savanna you lost another molar, wow! And even though we watched "The Tooth Fairy" movie that night, the tooth fairy forgot to come.
Kids I love being your mom. I am really nervous to start my internship, not because I'm worried you will be ok, I know you are independent and smart and will be fine, but I will have to spend so much time away from you I don't ever want you to think you are not my number 1, because you ARE my number 1! My three number 1's. We will have a great time together in California and make great memories.

I love you Savanna
I love you Fiora
I love you Weston
You Mom, aka Heather

Monday, April 12, 2010

Miss Fi loses a tooth








I love it when the kids lose their top teeth, they look so cute! Fiora finally finally pulled out her top tooth yesterday. She was very brave. Of course, Daddy bribed her with 2 dollars if she could pull it out before Savanna pulled out her lose molar. So Fiora got 2 dollars from Dad and 1 dollar from the tooth fairy. Lucky. I guess that makes up for her not getting a 3 dollar allowance last week, she didn't do her chores so no allowance. Savanna and Weston did their chores though, the laundry vacuuming dishes and bathrooms were all done by the kids last week. We are really serious about them doing the chores, as mom will be at a spring/summer internship soon. If they do every chore every day, they get 3 dollars on Saturday. If you miss a day or pull a fit about it, no $$. I opened a bank acount for Wes and Fi on Friday so they could save all their summer earnings. They are getting so big.








Karli made sloppy joes last week for dinner and the kids pulled a fit about eating it initially. Karli is going to make a great mom, because she knew a great mom secret. Don't force them to eat it, make it a game. She had a contest to see who could be the messiest eater and the kids dove right in. I thought it was pretty clever. Savanna, obviously, won.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Easter Weekend

Jared and I started the weekend off by going to the temple with Wendy and Keith Friday and leaving their kids at our house with our kids to color Easter eggs. Saturday General Conference was wonderful of course, and we went to the Snow's that evening for pizza and movie night while Jared went to Priesthood. Sunday I hid the kids Easter baskets with their dresses and chocolate bunny for them to find. Weston got a spidey toy instead of a dress. The girls looked so pretty in their dresses. Then we literally pulled Great Grandma Rappleye out of bed and took her to my parents house for conference, an egg hunt, dinner, and Sophie's (Holly and Bill's daughter) blessing. The kids had a lot of fun hunting for eggs, and I decided instead of buying a $8.50 bag of candy I would put $8.50 worth of quarters in plastic eggs. My kids were excited about the money. I'm thinking their cousins were like, "Where's the candy?" My mom always does an egg hunt for her adult kids too. Since it SNOWED this year on Easter we had it down in her unfinished basement. And there are lots of nooks and crannies in an unfinished basement! We were finding eggs forever. It was lots of fun. Sophie was just an angel for her blessing and we had lots of soup and homemade bread. Now the weekend is over, sigh.










Savanna told me something cute and funny the other day. Her friend Teagan (a boy) at school was playing a game that involved jumping and afterwards Savanna said, "I'm hot." Teagen said, "Nice to meet you Hot." And Teagan thought that was clever so he started calling their other friends descriptive names. "Jill you are black, Josh your are short, and (pointing to Savanna) you are hot." Then he blushed because he realized he called Savanna "hot" and she laughed and laughed.

In Memory of Lillian

In Memory of Lillian
Our Family