Many hats of Daddy

I took this picture a few weeks ago. I loved the symbolism it showed of Tyler's many hats.....literally. The last couple months have been a busy time for him! He has actually had to wear all 3 in one day going between his different duties as our breadwinner and daddy! We are transitioning into a new chapter and are now in the last pages of the current one. But the next chapter has already started writing itself whether we were ready or not!

Tyler has spent the last 6 years at our Alma mater, Red Bank. He has grown a lot in his teaching career there. He has  done many different roles as a geography teacher, technology coordintator, U.S. History teacher, dual enrollment and the list goes on.....! If you didn't already know, Tyler and I also grew in love at Red Bank years ago. As cheesy as that sounds, its true! :) I can still remember his first year teaching there when I brought Garyn, a newborn,  in to see all our past teachers. Then again, with Ansley, everyone celebrated with us as we grew to a family of four. We have a lot of new friends, as well, that we will stay in touch with and miss.

Garyn's first football game, only 3-4 weeks old.

He has been coaching football since his first year and has worked with a lot of great coaches. He has learned a lot from these guys coaching wise. As well, they have all helped him be a better person in some way or another. The last two years he was the defensive coordinator for Red Bank, making his duties even harder. But I think most of all he has enjoyed his time with the kids making great relationships that both the coach and player benefited from. This year he coached baseball, too. We have a love-hate relationship with baseball. Spending 4+ nights/days a week for hours at the field can be so tiring. As you know, the kids and I went to a lot of games. 1) It was a chance to see him, even if from a far. 2) The kids enjoyed being outside and I like the inning or two I got to see in between keeping up with Ansley. Tyler loves the time with the players, I think because he gets to act like a kid again. Yet, also be an example for them; a good one hopefully.

Garyn and Tyler 2011 football season.

Ansley and daddy 2011 season

With all that said, this was Tyler's last year there. He was contacted about coaching at Soddy Daisy earlier in the spring and after a lot of prayer and just plain waiting, he is going to be the defensive coordinator and more importantly, the ninth grade Geography teacher. Hence, the SD hat you see next to the RB one. This is an odd combination, really, since they are rivals. (Ironically as I sit here writing this, he is next to me wearing a Soddy shirt and RB shorts, haha) Seems odd at times still to think we will be wearing navy and gold. However, it is simply a new job and welcomed change. We will be moving closer to that area, as well, making his drive to Soddy shorter than from where we are now.

In the last 6 weeks or so, he has been going to early morning workouts with the football team before heading to work at Red Bank. Then, he had the lift-a-thon to attend, parents' meeting, coach meetings and the last 2 weeks he has been conducting spring practice! All while still coaching baseball and teaching at Red Bank! I still don't know how he did it without walking in a practice with the wrong colors or just plain falling over from exhaustion!

First game day (Ansley wishes she had an orange Orioles shirt!)

Lastly, there was still yet another hat he had to wear. Garyn's baseball team this year is the Orioles. Daddy has been helping coach on nights that his other coaching duties don't interfere. We love this coaching hat the most! So fun to watch and encourage Garyn. While we get intense at times, its a lot more laid back than some of the high school games we watch/coach! Tyler isn't so sure, though, that he can handle the young ones. He has to really step back and have fun when everything isn't going like he planned. Garyn has had some hard times, himself, when he wasn't able to score before 3 outs or even worse when he didn't get a hit. He has had a lot of breakthroughs in his confidence and competitiveness, learning while his team may not always win; he can be happy about his hit. Yes, this hat has brought a lot of lessons for both Tyler and Garyn this year.

All but one of these many hats he has had to wear are ending soon. He has another week at Red Bank, training the next technology coordinator and cleaning out his room. Garyn has about 5 more games left in his baseball season. And of course, Soddy 2013 football season has only begun. We will be moving into his new classroom soon and becoming fully immersed in this new chapter of his career which becomes all of ours, honestly.

I am so happy that he is called Daddy in our house. He takes that role very seriously, along with being my husband. No matter how many hats he has to wear, we come first on his priority list. We love him more than words can say and are excited for this next chapter, and hopefully a less cluttered dash!

Rich Updates...

I haven't been blogging as much lately. I thought I would update a little through some pictures of what all we've been doing the last couple weeks...

We have been swimming some these last couple weeks. Garyn is enjoying it and is able to stay afloat with just his arm floaties, instead of the whole garb he had to wear last year. These pics are when Lakelin stayed with us after the Memorial day gathering and we went out to my dad's pool. We have also been to a neighborhood pool that Tyler's mom got us a membership to. I am pretty excited about it. It's Stuart Height's pool, only 5 mins from our house and they give swim lessons to members.

I have also been working a lot lately. I just finished 3 nights. During the summer, I try to sign up for some extra nights. I always wonder why I do it though, because its hard to work 3 nights and Tyler is still busy during the day. Nana and Poppa like to keep Garyn more in the summer, but it doesn't always work out for them to. However, we are trying to save up money for our trips, as you know. More importantly, I am going down to just working 3 days every two weeks this fall! I am currently doing 4 days a pay period ( twice a week) so it is going to be so nice to have that one less day every other week. I'll explain why in a minute... 

This picture is from last week when our pastor's wife, Heather, had her baby. Garyn and their oldest Carson were born 40 mins apart and had their first baths together. Heather and I have been friends since and I had the privilege of giving their second his first bath!

After working all those nights, I came home to this today just waiting for me to attend to......

There was another one on the floor, too. But I am not complaining one bit, because at least they are clean and not dirty all over the floor.

My sweet hubby has been helping out a lot with such things, I even came home one morning and he had clipped my coupons! They were even divided up into piles of like products. He knows what grabs my heart!

Speaking of my sweetie, here are some pics from our anniversary day

We went down to Ocoee to go White Water rafting. We used to love doing that sort of stuff, but now with Garyn its harder. I arranged for Nana and Poppa to watch Garyn while we went. I didn't tell Tyler, until the night, before what we were doing. This is us in the car waiting because I wanted to leave 2 hours before our scheduled time. Ocoee is only 40-45 minutes away if you didn't know. We had time to enjoy each other, though, I tried to convince him I planned it that way.

Here we are in our rafting attire! We look pretty goofy. We enjoyed the trip, Tyler voluntarily jumped in once and involuntarily fell out another time. I was holding on for dear life because I really didn't want to get in involuntarily. Actually, it scares me a little, especially now with Garyn. I felt really safe with the guide and such but those waters are powerful and rocks are everywhere! When Tyler fell out, he fell backwards head first with his legs and feet still in the raft. He tried to pull himself back up but then let go and went under the raft! The guide grabbed his life jacket but couldn't get him out from under so he let go. Tyler popped up quickly, BUT boy was I freaking out a little on the inside! The guide was very cool and nonchalant about it so I guess it happens all the time. The whole event lasted maybe 1 minute, that was 1 minute more than I could stand, though! I was pretty close to screaming "Help him!" or something similar! Whew, definitely an adrenaline rush! lol! Tyler said he was a little worried at one point, too.

Here we are after, on the bus ride back. You can tell that even though I did not go into the water, I was drenched!

The rest of the day was spent consuming way too much food and donuts (it was National Donut day which equaled free donuts!) We also got to see a movie, Prince of Persia, which was unplanned and good.

That same weekend, I got to go to Goodwill half off day and yard sales. I have been finding some good toys for Garyn. I got both this Woody and Buzz for him at yard sales. He is getting into Toy Story. I think that is what we will be doing for his birthday. I also can't wait to take him next weekend to see the new movie.

Isn't he such a cutie?

Garyn has been doing awesome with potty training. He has been getting to play lots of Wii games which means he has been pooping in the potty a lot! We still have some issues when we are out and about but I am not complaining! He has gotten pretty good at playing Wii and can do more games now. This is him playing swords, that's his favorite.

Tyler is taking 2 classes right now and will be finishing up his masters by August. He is having to work really hard on these classes because one is supposed to be done after the other but he got approved to do them together. They are his research paper classes so the different chapters of his paper are due at the same time. Thankfully, his mom helps him a lot! I have no interest to write a paper or do research. Nursing school did me in!

Tyler also is busy with football and now baseball! The head baseball coach is leaving and the previous assistant is now the head coach. That opened up the assistant spot. Tyler had been thinking about coaching baseball for awhile so this was the perfect opportunity. Graduating with his masters and getting an extra supplement check is the reason I get to work less in the fall. I am happy for him to do baseball for that reason!!

Well, that's what going on in this "Richest Life" for us

SIX FLAGS!!

Remember my goal to go to Six Flags? Well, we did Monday and it was so much fun!!

I had not been in a long time, like 8 years. I have always had motion sickness, without throwing up, in the car, airplane, roller coasters......But had not been on a roller coaster since the last said trip. Well, my motion sickness has gotten worse! I rode the Ga Scorcher and was feeling a little dizzy and had a headache. {Which I came in with one from the car ride and am so used to the headache since I get it everyday when in the car, especially if I am not driving! If I am ever rididng with you and we are talking but I am looking straight ahead, I have a headache and looking about the car makes it worse. So don't feel that I am being rude.}

So we rode the log ride next, nothing bad there. Then we get on Goliath, and ride it twice in a roll since there was no lines. My name is definitely not David because Goliath defeated me!!! I felt a little nauseous and dizzy after the first time. I thought, maybe I shouldn't push myself but it was fun and everybody else was doing it!! LOL

So when the ride ended I looked over and told Mandi, friend from work, that I might throw up. And I really thought I could have, thankfully though, I held it together. However, I was not able to ride anymore rides for a couple hours! Everybody said I looked pale. I was spinning so bad, I had to lay down on the bench to try to stabilize myself. Whew! I will never push myself again and thank God for dramine!

Lessons learned: 1) Take dramine before riding rides

                       2) Only ride Goliath, or anything that flips you upside down and around, once

7 girls went from work and 1 was pregnant, Sandy.

So we rode some calmer rides for her; I benefited as well. :)

Above is Tiffany and Chrissy on the Carousel, below is Sandy and Sommer.....

Then myself and Ashley, who actually now lives in Atlanta and only works a couple nights a 

month with us now. It was great to see her!

Here is everyone on the raft ride, I had just started feeling better so I decided not to ride.

I secretly also didn't want to get soaked!

Sommer, the one in the pink & white stripes with her hand up, was the one that did not want to ride and get wet. She wasn't just wet, she was trenched! Poor thing!

We also rode the Antique Cars...

Sandy, the prego, and myself were chosen to drive since we weren't getting to ride much!

It was such a fun girls trip though! We just acted goofy, ate like pigs, and had a great time. This was the second annual trip, we said, and we'll be taking the third next year! I guess you are never too old to enjoy Six Flags!

Switching Gears....

Summer is pretty much over so now we are switching gears into new routines....


Tyler is back at work, not sure he ever left, but now he must be there all day everyday.


Football season is in full swing. I love the games and Garyn seems to, as well. Every Friday will be spent at football games for awhile. We haven't missed a game yet! After every game, we always go down and see Daddy, that's Garyn's favorite part! Here is a pic of Garyn his first football season. Daddy couldn't wait to get him down on the field.







Here is a video of him dancing last year.....he loves to dance (sorry for the sideways view, note to you moms: you can't flip the image around when you turn your camera to take a video vertically)

Other changes in our routine is that I am working 2 nights in a row, in order to go to the football games. This makes it harder for me in that I don't see Tyler at all from Sunday lunch time until Tuesday after football practice. And I only see Garyn for a couple of hours on Monday before going back to work. I dread working now, but like having 4 full days off in between.

I have to admit, I was craving routine again. I love the summers when Tyler is around more and we get to go on vacations. However, things like cleaning, sticking to the budget, devotion time, and eating at home tend to get pushed aside. I am trying to bring all of those things back in focus now.

Garyn is switching gears, too, as he is forever growing and changing. Sleeping patterns are at the top of the list as of late. We are still having nighttime troubles and now naps are getting shorter and harder. He is talking like crazy; singing a ton; loving puzzles and his trains; and constantly trying to get his way!

I love the fall season because of these changes and because it means Thanksgiving/Christmas is around the corner! YIKES!

My Love/Hate Relationship

Don't we all have these type of relationships?


Well the last two days has made me realize I have a bittersweet relationship with my job, yep, no surprise, huh? I am sure most of you could all say the same...but let me tell you about my bittersweet job as a mother/baby nurse.

Love Aspects

I love that I get to spend those first hours with moms (sometimes dads) and their newborn...the smiles, tears, amazement. Reminds me every time of my own moments. More importantly, it reminds me how awesome the miracle of life is....God is a genius!

Our first family picture

Having said that, I love the babies. Getting to hold them, feed them, smell them its all the perks of the job. Another perk is that they stay at work, and I get to come home and go to bed without being awakened every 3 hours. (Although, by the way, I can't wait to have another, its all worthwhile :) )

Garyn while still in the hospital

I love the camaraderie, friendships, adult conversation, basically having time away from my daily routine in toddler world.

Dinner out with coworkers

I love that I get to serve others through my work, even though sometimes I complain about being busy and on my feet all night. Doing simple tasks for others and helping them when in need is something I have always enjoyed doing.

Which leads me to the fact that I love knowing God approves of my job...its one thing that I followed His lead on. Nurses' job duties extend from saving a life to helping someone to the bathroom, and everything in between, if you know what I mean. Nurses see it all and don't think twice about it. I think Jesus would have made a great nurse. He continually served to those who were in their darkest hour. So I love doing what God wants me to do.

My nursing class

On the contrary

I hate leaving my boys....I know everybody feels the same about their job, it would be great if "work" was always a family endeavor; however we would probably not like each other as much. But working nights means I occasionally leave when my husband is just getting home. Also, I tend to work weekends (in order not to have to send Garyn to daycare) and so I miss that Saturday morning breakfast, lounging together, playing in the yard, hitting up the yard sales. I even miss going to church sometimes, like today.

Garyn riding his truck around

Garyn and Tyler at the ballpark

I hate that holidays are still work days. Tyler gets off for holidays constantly; I tend to have to work them or use my sick days to get paid if I'm off. Flip side is that I do get paid more for working the main ones, so maybe I can't count that one. But you can't ever get back those Christmas mornings, Thanksgiving get-togethers, and awesome New Year's parties! Priceless, they are!

Christmas Eve

And now to the most frequent occurring reason I hate working....a little thing we call push-back and low census. If the census (a.k.a. patient #) is low, less nurses are needed and you may get low census or LC, if its your turn. Push back is worse because it means you aren't needed at 6:30 but may be needed later in the night and you have to be ready any minute they call usually until 11pm. AND you don't get paid for being "on-call"!! Half the time you never go and have spent all evening limiting what you can do.

BUT on to the point, this Saturday night was plagued by being pushed back. Tyler was/is out of town and both grandparents were busy so Garyn was going to have a babysitter (aka Molly) until Tyler's parents could get here around midnight. Needless to say, as soon as I got told I was pushed back, I was ecstatic to be able to stay home with Garyn. Then right after calling off Molly and heading out to dinner, I was called back and told to come in. Imagine the breaks going off, the rewind button being hit...... Ohhhhh...I wasn't happy, the emotions were everywhere, that sinking feeling of UGH I don't want to got to work now! Indian giver!! But I did my duty and flipped the plans back to original order and went to work.

Now for the love side again.......I got low census tonight and now get to be at home with Garyn and tomorrow be here (& awake) since Tyler is off! He will be getting home around 10:30 am and if I had worked, the in-laws would have Garyn again or something of that sort.

Rambling aside, I love my job (most of the time)!