How to Babysit 101

     I have watched/babysat kids since....i don't know, a really long time. I've had a an abundance of rather interesting learning experiences. From changing a baby who has, what seems like BLOWN UP in his diaper to drawing super heroes for 3 hours straight. There's been both good days and bad. Somedays when my patience runs low and other days when everything runs smoothly. I've had my share of mess ups where I feel like the worst human alive, but mostly when i look back a lll of it has taught me valuable lessons.

1. Baby's are way easy, they just stink really bad!
2. Try to change them before it gets all over everything they're wearing.
3. When dropping a child off at home, or someone else's house....WATCH and MAKE SURE THEY GET IN.
4. ^thank heavens for neighbors that walk the kid back home and waits till you realize you can't find them.
5. Don't forget you are baby sitting when the child is napping.
6. Kids can only take CHILDREN's medication. (DO NOT OD YOUR LITTLE SISTER)
7. patience is a virtue!
8. to convince a little kid to do something all you need is candy =) or in my nephew's case....x-box.
9. Don't fall asleep while baby sitting, the house will be a disaster.
10. remember that children just don't understand everything and only get mad when necessary.
11. Did I mention patience... =)
12. If a kid isn't scared of anything you have to make up REALLY CRAZY threats in order to convince him "not to do it"
13. Always remember tat stuff is..just stuff. The kid is more important.
14. Apparently style is a big deal for some kids. I wore sweats to nanny one time and the kid said, "you need to get dressed."
"I am dressed", I replied. He then let me know that I looked funny and shouldn't wear that when i come to babysit next. =)
15. time out works.
16. it's amazing how annoying they can be until you think they are gone. Then you'd do anything just to hear them whine again
17. boogers, poop, spit up, and drool are....not that big of a deal.
18. kids pick up on everything...Sorry Holli and Jeff...i didn't mean to create a little singing monster.
19. Play with them, it'll go more smoothly.
20. Last but not least......no matter what they've done, how annoyed they've made you, one hug from them and an "I love you"...all is forgiven.

 Sometimes when I babysit I feel like this song. I've been a child hater for a while and I couldn't understand why I kept babysitting and why I was so good at it...I realized, you love the ones you serve. I love kids. Yeah I may get frustrated and wish that they'd just understand why they can't have more when there's none left or why we can't buy them that really expensive toy...but that is the beauty of child hood. innocense. I think we all need to be more like kids. So forgiving. I don't know how many times I have yelled at my sister and no matter what she still looks up to me and loves me. The biggest thing i've learned through taking care of kids is, I learned what God meant by become like a child. I am entirely grateful for children. We have a HUGE responsibility to raise them and help them become the person they have full potential to be. They are innocent and we so easily take that away. I have found a new love for my job and can't wait to learn from these kids daily.

Lyrics of my life.

So I guess I don't really have an exact song standing out to me for this post. I just have a lot to say.
I'm about two weeks into 2012 and so much has happened to me. I began the year ice skating. HAPPY NEW YEAR! Then stuff just fell into my lap. First of all my manager at wet seal offered me a part time job. Meaning they were going to keep me after the "season". Of course I was so excited to be the only seasonal kept. Then not even 24 hours later my sister called me and asked me if I'd be interested in being a nanny for her sister-in-law. I apparently have a hard time saying no to people who need me. But I said yes. So I watched her kids on my days off from wet seal. I fell 100% in love with the kids. They are so well behaved and precious. After that week was over I was offered a full-time nanny job. We discussed the pay and me quitting at wet seal and I left the house that afternoon torn. I love my wet seal job. It's way fun. Plus I get a 40% off discount! I had a choice to make. (and if you know me well, I hate to make choices. Especially when it involves turning some one down). Having to tell some one no was making me frustrated. I talked about it to my mom, my sisters, my dad, and I even prayed about it. Quitting at wet seal was hard but I knew I had to because when I thought about the nanny job I just felt so at peace.
I knew what I had to do but I still was not gung-ho about it. So that Friday night I took my little sister to the Mesa Arizona temple ground's visitors center. I was really grumpy and almost didn't take her. While we were there waiting for my family to come out of their session in the temple, Emily and I walked around watching short clips and listening to gospel thoughts. The temple is mostly centered around having a family and I read the family proclamation to the world. I was over come by the spirit and just knew that life is a gift from God. I knew right then also that something was coming for me. I was talking with my mom on the next day about school. She was telling me how I need to take more classes and try harder and stuff. (such a good mommy) I just felt so confused. I don't know what I want to do. Dancing isn't really working and I just wasn't keen on the whole thing. I went home and just started looking at classes and then I thought how fun would it be to be a flight attendant...I googled it and was brought to this website...The Travel Academy.com. I looked through it and just decided this is what I want to do. So Sunday I prayed and fasted asking the lord if this would be a good path for me to be on. I received my answer that night. I talked to my parents. And Monday I enrolled. I am working full time to save for school. And I am so pumped to go to Minnesota in 8 short months.
I am so excited. This year has brought me and will continue to bring great things to pass. I am so happy to be alive. I know times will be hard sometimes but every moment is blessed. So that is why I have decided to make an awesome new years resolution. I am going to make like Anne Frank and write in my journal all the time. I am going to remember all my lovely moments, all my hard times. Heck maybe I'll even look back and realize they weren't that hard after all. My journal is called the lyrics of my life. It is actually a composer book. I began my journal on December 26, 2011. And it is going strong even today.
I love life. I love God. The savior Jesus Christ is my best frind and I'm so entirely and eternally grateful that he suffered and died for my sins that I could repent and live my life for him. I'm also great full for time and also that I can learn. I am so blessed. I have an amazing family and great friends. It is also my goal not to just have new years resolutions, it's got to be an everyday thing. You should feel like....,"HAPPY NEW DAY" everyday. I am so happy to be a daughter of God and I will live up to my potential. Happy new year everyone. Now Go get em!

I tried to post a picture of my sweet journal but I can't figure it out on my iPad.