This week of work has been an interesting and fun filled shift. It was wonderful outside, mid seventies and so we have been spending most of our time outside with the girls. I got a bit burnt but the nice thing is it has turned into a wonderful tan after a few days. :) Which makes me laugh because the same time I was getting a tan my family was getting 14 more inches of snow back home. I guess I moved just in time to miss the crazy weather. And so one of my days it was like 86 degrees out (I know mid April crazy!) so two of our girls decided they wanted to challenge us to a basketball game. Now let me set this up...on of our girls had a family visit and so her and her family were sitting outside on the deck just hanging out. The two girls who are 17 and 18 years old, one is 5' 2" and one is 5'10" and so they are all talk and saying things like "Ok old ladies come on we may even go easy on you!" etc., so Becca and I decide ok we will do it. So Becca goes up against the 5'10" because she is pretty tall herself. Well we start playing and getting our competitive juices going, and let me tell you Becca and I both get VERY competitive when it comes to things...especially sports! So we are going and kicking the girls butt. Well they decided to pull another of our girls in who is 15 so it is now 3 against 2 and we are beating them...so I may have accidentally elbowed the 5'10" girl in the face...which is a miracle in itself because 1. we somehow ended up against each other and 2. because I am only 5'5" so I don't even know how I ended up reaching her face! Well she got me back on accident so I got poked in the eye by her hand as well....fare enough trade....we TOTALLY kicked all 3 of the girls butts!!! IT was fabulous and the whole time the other girl and her family were just sitting and watching the game and laughing. They were all like "man we had never seen you guys this crazy or competitive!" and at the end of the game the 5'2" girl goes "Man remind me never to play basketball against old people again!" HAHAHA! That is what you get! We are good players...not to mention we are NOT that old!

Well the rest of the week was a pretty decent week. We spent it getting one of our girls ready for prom. That is crazy to think of yourself as a parent especially when it comes to prom! The emotions come from all over as you help them get dressed and all fancy. Then the snapping of pictures and walk through! IT was amazing. You never expect to get emotional until it happens. I saw her getting ready and it overwhelms you...the feeling of "this is what it is like to be a mom!" Never would I have thought I would have that feeling at the age of 23...almost 24, especially about teen kids! But being a parent is definitely something I am and it takes over you no matter what kind of parent you are. And it is a great feeling! I am looking forward to more of these moments. I got to experience the mom feeling with Becca and Caitlain as we stood at walk through before prom began with our cameras...snapping away it was like "oh boy we are those parents who yell stop so I can take a picture!" But I honestly wouldn't change one thing about it! I grow each day as I work with amazing friends and although days are rough with the kids...it's the moments like this that make it all worth while! These little pleasures and happy tears are what make this difficult job worth it...it is what keeps me pushing through and waiting for that next moment! And I am glad to say I have some pretty awesome friends to go along this ride with!

Love,
Ashley