This is why I wanted daughters...so I could have beautiful pictures like this. Thanks Judy!

SISTERS

So I just realized that Josie is almost a month old and I haven't taken any pictures since I brought her home. Probably because I'm just in survival mode at this point, so I decided I better take at least a few while she's still a baby because before I know it, she'll be a "big girl" like Charlie.

Charlie likes to give Josie her "paci"... well she likes to pull it out of Josie's mouth, then try to give it back to her... backwards...

Charlie loves her blankie and minky SO MUCH that she has earned the nickname Linus. She loves to share her minky with Josie- usually while Josie is in the swing and Charlie basically smothers her with it.
Charlie does not like when Josie cries/screams and sometimes she'll cry right along with her. All in all, she is quite fascinated with her baby sister. She likes to give her kisses which is so cute to see.

New Blog

Hey Family,

So a long time ago I promised to stop posting novels on this blog bumping off everyone else's posts and to start a blog for my family. Well I was in the process of writing a novel post on to this when I remembered about that promise. So...I started a blog for my family. It is obviously nothing fancy at this point. I just threw a couple of things together to make it work. I would like it to be mostly private so send me your email addresses so I can put you in as authorized users. For now, it is open to everyone, but I will be changing that soon. Here is the new address.

http://lisonbeelifelessons.blogspot.com/

-Matty

Missionary Skills...

Had a great week working in the hospital. I had 2 spanish speaking patients that challenged my rusty spanish skills. The patients absolutely love students because we'll pretty much do anything for them because we have time. I got to sit in a patient's room and chat with her for quite awhile yesterday...she hadn't had any visitors and she was the nicest lady. We have the patient for two days in a row so by the second morning they are so happy to see us. It is a great ego boost for me because I really know little to nothing about being a nurse. But, I can sure shoot the breeze. It has been so amazing for me to realize that many of the skills that are so useful for nursing I learned while serving as a missionary. The Spanish is very helpful. IT's rusty, but it's getting better quickly and the patients are really appreciative that someone speaks their language and after establishing some sort of a repore with them, I can get them to teach me how to say things that I need to know. Perhaps the best skill that I learned though is just how to talk to people. I can take anybody, pretty much, and find something to talk to them about by watching their body language, observing what's important to them, and checking out their surroundings. And...inevitably, the spanish speakers ask where I learned to speak spanish which opens up doors to talk about all kinds of things. Loving it. Missions are fantastic for so many reasons...

BabyX and Kristin...

So since not all of you (ahemm...Tammy) have access to Kristin's Facebook Page, she asked me to post the pics here.
Enjoy,
Stephen

Gotta love kids...at least they're honest

Scenario: 7 AM. I have just returned from my morning workout. I am upstairs waking up the girls in their room.

Malia (very groggy) says, "Mom, can you carry me downstairs?"

Bella "Malia, she stinks."

Me, "What?"

Bella, "You stink. You smell like sweat."

Me, (to Malia) "She's right."

Bella (to me) "Finally you agree with me."

Malia "I don't care. Will you carry me?"

I don't know why this stuck with me. I thought it was funny that Bella would point out to me that I smelled. She thought it was crazy that I would agree with her. And Malia, oblivious and sleepy didn't care. That about sums up our mornings. I smell. Bella is quick to point out the obvious. And Malia, she just wants to go back to sleep.

Good news!

Last week I passed of my catheter insertion and dressing change on wounds. You know what that means? If you are a patient at the hospital I am at, I could be the one sent in to do your catheter! Does that weird you out? Me too...but still excited about it! After a week and a half in nursing school! If I were a patient, I'd be frightened right now...