This past weekend, my mom's friend from work invited Azilyn to her 1 year old daughter's birthday party. Weird. Well, I went with my mom and Azilyn and it turned out to be pretty fun, and not so weird after all. Quite comfortable actually.
Anyway, we have this book that Azilyn likes that teaches cause and effect. One of the pages says, "if you put candles on a cake..." then it has a little window you open and it says, "you can celebrate, your birthday!" She loves this page because she has discovered she likes cake, and she loves to sing "patty-cake" when read it, and she likes the balloons and party scene.
So, after reading this page, I always say, "Happy Birthday". Sometimes she tries to say it, but recently she's been getting a lot better at it.
Well, the night before the party, we were reading this book and she said 'happy birthday' pretty clearly! We practiced on the way to the party and when we got there, she totally performed! Yeah!! It was awesome.
Unfortunately, I can't figure out how to get the sound bit on the blog. Man, I really thought I was computer savvy, but it's all just passing me right up. Must be a sign I'm getting old!

No naps and no shower make Mommy...something something

Sooo, Azilyn is driving me super CRAZY!!!
I don't really know what's going on, but I think she's trying to bump the AM nap. Noooo!!! I most certainly do not approve.
I usually put her in her crib after reading a few stories and cuddling for a few minutes. She will often lay in my arms or on my shoulder, rub her eyes and begin to dose. Then I put her down and she goes to sleep.
The past week she's been restless in my arms, doesn't want me to put her in the crib, cries like I broke her little heart, truly devastated. I'm telling ya, it's all an act!
The past two days, she played in her crib for an hour and a half! No nap. Grrr!
Then, ornery.
Nap number two - 45 minutes, tops (she usually does 1 1/2 - 2 hrs).
Then, you guessed it, more ornery.
AHHH! I really need those little breaks. Please tell me this is just a phase. Probably those darn molars.
Darn molars!!!

Blueberries, a blessing and a curse

Blueberries:
Very high antioxidant
Anti-aging
Memory aid
Vision aid
Helps with urinary tract health
Anti-inflammatory
Delicious
Fun to eat
Notorious for STAINS!

Azilyn got blueberries on one of her cutest outfits. And, this is a big deal, because most of her clothes are just boring onesies. Anyway, I tried many "laundry secrets" suggested by everyone I know. Oxiclean, Spray n Wash, Biz, peroxide, baking soda and vinegar, various combinations, along with many I knew of, Tide stain release, fels-naptha soap, plain water, dish soap, hand soap, and lots of elbow grease.
Well, I am here to report... NOTHING works! Nothing. I think I just suck at laundry. Bleach works, but not so well on colored clothes. The thing that worked the best was soaking it in cold water and scrubbing it with hand soap.
But, now that I have the whole laundry isle, I can keep on trying until I find the best remedy on those blasted stains.
Another one I can't figure out, tomato products.

Yeah for life!

Well, Danny started school. Yeah! He's really excited for this semester. A couple of great miracles came about this semester. Well, first, it's a miracle he passed his marketing class over the summer. He really hated that class. It looked like it might be another hard semester this Fall when he was signed up for another marketing class he had to take. Luckily, the one he took over the summer counted for the one he was signed up for this semester. Halleluia! (And thank you Hilary) Double bonus!! The second miracle was that we got some unexpected grants! It wasn't a lot, but free money is always welcome. Hooray for not having to take out loans!

Another exciting thing this semester is that Danny is planning on competing in the National Home Builders Association competition in Las Vegas this February! He signed up to be in a group at school this past week. That's a start! I'm so proud of him. This is an awesome opportunity because there is great potential for recruiters to look at him and his work if his group does well! Yeah for opportunity! His group will have to put together a project developing a new subdivision, or something. Sounds exciting!
Now is also the time he will start looking for an internship for next summer, so if anyone knows of anything construction related, please let us know. Yeah for a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm beginning to see it.

And, Danny started work last week. Yeah for work! I think he is glad to be at it again. He is working for his old boss, doing pest control. It's a pretty good job for now. It's nice that he's working again, doing something fairly consistent and it pays well. Although winter is the down time in that industry; he also plans to snowplow again this winter. I hate having to drive in snow and being cold and everything, but let's all pray for a good season this year. Don't be selfish this year Ogden, please send some our way.

Well, I am hopeful to find something for work too. Although I would really rather stay home, it would be great to better position ourselves for the future. Debt sucks, ya know!

Azilyn has been especially onerey this week. I don't know what the deal is. She's sleeping poorly, probably cuz she's eating poorly. I just dont know what to do! It's very stressful. Here is a picture of her first ponytail! Yeah for growing hair! Maybe she won't be called a boy now, when she wears this yellow shirt with a bow and puffy sleeves! I just don't get it.

Exam results :-o

Ok, I've left you hanging long enough.

I PASSED!!

I am officially Ashley M Hall, ATC!! (Certified Athletic Trainer)

For those who don't know, an Athletic Trainer is not a personal trainer.

Athletic trainers are health care professionals who specialize in the prevention, assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of injury and illness, especially those which are musculoskeletal in nature.

Athletic trainers are commonly know for taping ankles, "rub-downs", and on-field emergency response during a football game, but we are much more than that. Football, and other traditional sports are a familiar setting for Athletic Trainers, but they can also be found employed in Military, Physical Therapist offices, performing arts, occupational settings, professional rodeo, and other extreme sports. The industry is really expanding! It's very exciting.

Athletic trainers are educated in injury/illness prevention, first aid and emergency care, assessment of injury/illness, human anatomy and physiology, therapeutic modalities, and nutrition. A bachelors degree in Athletic Training is required, along with current emergency response certification, a national certification and various state requirements (in Utah, one must be licensed). However, 70% of Athletic Trainers have a Master's degree or higher! Once certified, one must complete CEU's - continuing education units to remain up-to-date.

I really love being a stay-at-home mom, but if I have to work, I would really love to be at the High School level. I would really like to get more experience in the rehabilitaion aspect of athletic training, so I may try to find something at a PT office to start out. We shall see!!

Anticipation of results

The past two weeks or so have been crazy. After I studied like crazy, I took my AT cert. test, then the next week Danny had finals for his Summer semester. So he was working like crazy to finish up his classes. This week, we are in Cedar City. Danny is helping our friend frame their new house (and getting paid, Yea!). We have been staying with them while we're here. It's good for Azilyn to have some playmates, but there is a reason God only gives us one child at a time. They have three kids, ages 6, 4, and 18 months. It's enough to make you crazy! I have found that things really are different when you have your own kids and I'm glad for that. Azilyn really is such a good girl!

So, among all that craziness, I find out that Danny is going to fail one of his summer classes. But of course, lucky Danny gets an email from his professor, on the day grades are due, saying, 'you can still turn in all the assignments which you never attempted this whole dang semester. I will accept them, minus 10%!' ARE YOU KIDDING ME!??? Only Danny gets so lucky. So, in order to not have to pay all our financial aid back and get probation for Fall semester, my friend and I go to work to do something to attempt to pass this class. We get almost all his homework done in 5 hours and turn it in at 3pm! I was sick with worry, hoping she would get the email before she had to turn in grades.

So, like my test, we have to wait for results. Two to four weeks for my test results and just days before grades come our for Dan. Ahhhh!

So, I have just been trying to get some sewing projects done for my (step) sister before she has her baby, anytime now. I am about half way done with some car seat blankets and still need to make a hooter hider! I just need to find some fabric I think she might like. And, that's impossible! It's always hard doing stuff like this for someone else. I hope she likes it! :-s

So, just before bed the other day, I checked emails, mine and Danny's. Danny received an email from his professor saying, 'I got your assignments and applied them to your grade.' LUKCY!! I got an email saying 'exam scores are posted.' Ahhh! My nerves. So, I log in and I'm frantically clicking on every link trying to find where my results are posted. Can you believe they don't even tell you where exactly to look!? Unbelievable! Well, I finally find it, and it reads...

...wait for it...

Did I mention we need family pictures?

...oh, were you waiting for something? I'm oh so forgetful these days...

...speaking of pictures, we were suppose to get family pictures with Danny's family, and it has been rescheduled like 3 times, and ultimately canceled.

Anyone know of a good, but inexpensive way to get some family picts?...

One last Exam - *fingers crossed*

My Athletic Training certification exam is this Saturday! Ahhh! I'm so nervous. Everyone pray that I pass. Please!!! I'm totally cramming this week.