Monday, July 7, 2014

Nanny Experience

My time here in Philadelphia is coming to a close and I will admit it is bitter-sweet. I still remember, like it was yesterday, the first time we moved out here and how long a year seemed from that time. I remember I didn't really like, there was a lot of people, and just a lot of things I wasn't use to and I was already ready for this year to be over with. But to be honest, I have never experienced a year that has gone by so fast. Which I am sad, but also so grateful for. I am so excited that this chapter in our lives is ending and that we will be starting a new one. I have met some pretty incredible people and had many experiences I wouldn't have if we didn't move. I also never thought in my wildest dreams that I would become a nanny to two adorable kids.
 
Around this time last year I had no idea what I was going to do for a job. I just had gotten my license to be an Esthetician so that was the first thing I wanted to look into. As I was looking into that, and all the things it would take to get my license transferred to Pennsylvania, it just wasn't worth it. It would take a few months for it to transfer, it would cost a good sum of money to have it transferred, and I would still have to apply for jobs in the area which who knows how long that would take. So by the time I really got started we would practically be coming back home.
 
The couple we rented our apartment after mentioned that she was a nanny out here and that she was looking for someone to take her place. At first I was kind of hesitant because I wasn't sure how I felt about being a nanny but it came to a point where it was my only option for us to earn money. I got in contact with the family she was working with out here and was planning on being a nanny for them. Well a few weeks later things fell through and then I didn't have a job... Talk about stressful time since we were going to be moving in a few weeks and the cost of living isn't cheap on the east coast. I got on Care.com where you can look for nannies and families and that's how I came to meet the Paist family.
 
I talked with Jessica on the phone and she wanted to get to know me a little more and did a little interview with me. I remember after that phone call I knew I wanted to work with them. I kept talking with her for a few weeks after that and she wanted me to come out here and meet them before she actually hired me to see if we were a good match. Well, in the meantime, I had been applying for other jobs just in case it didn't work out. Another family contacted me and wanted me to work for them as well. I just knew that I had to make sure the Paist family wasn't the one if I was going to work for this other family so I let Jessica know someone else wanted to hire me if she didn't. Well she got things going and basically hired me right then and there if I wanted the job.
 
The time came where I had to decide. I never thought I would have a hard time choosing which family I wanted to nanny for but I had to make a decision so whatever family I didn't choose could find someone else. I was actually in tears trying to pick because I knew either way I would have it good but something kept pushing me towards the Paist family. It might have just been where I was suppose to be but I just couldn't say no to this family. And I am so glad I listened to my gut! I have never regretted the decision to work for them. They have treated us so well and they have always made sure we had a place to go for the holidays. They've basically taken care of us while we've been here and we couldn't be more grateful!
 
So the entire year we've been here I got to spend my days hanging out with some of the cutest, and funniest kids. Everyday was something new and I had a lot of laughs while being with these kids. Here are a few pictures that summed up our days together.
 
 
 
 
We went on a lot of walks!

Always doing something funny to AJ


This picture shows my view every time I would walk up to the door. They would always be waiting for me!



We spent many days at the playground and we loved it!

Addie loved these hair pieces and always wanted me to wear them with her.


AJ's favorite spot in the entire house. He always goes and sits on the fireplace and he thinks it's so cool!

Played outside a lot and had picnics in the back yard

We liked to sit out front and watch all the cars go by. We would count how many different colors we could see going by. It was actually pretty entertaining.
 
More Fun Facts about Addie:
-Her full name is Addison
-Her nicknames are Adds, Addie Girl, or buddy :)
 -She is 3 years old but acts like she's 20
-She has a memory like you wouldn't believe
-She loves the color red, pink, purple she says those are her "most favorite colors of the world".
-Her favorite show is Sherriff Callie, and she loves to watch any Disney movie as long as it doesn't have "the bad man" in it.
-She loves Apple juice in a sippy cup. She knows when there is too much water in it because she says:"this isn't apple juice it doesn't have enough apples in it."
-She loves to eat the "fluffy waffles" for breakfast and lunch.
-Her favorite snack is the "round circle crackers" (Ritz)
-Her favorite stuffed animal is lamb named Sleepy Lovie
-She is a very particular little girl and has to have things a certain way. I've tried to see how she does when it gets out of order and she will go right back and put it where she had it.
-She loves playing the "chase game" where I run around and chase her. She asks to play this, literally, everyday.
-She loves to read stories, color, and do arts and crafts
-She loves to sing the Rainbow song, ABC's, and the Popcorn song I taught her from when I was in Primary.
-Funny memory of Addie: One time I was in the kitchen getting her lunch and out of the blue she comes up to me and says, while flicking her hair, "Kinzie, doesn't my ponytail look just fabulous?" The best part she was totally serious while she was saying this.
 
More Fun Facts about AJ
His full name is Anthony John
His nickname is Age
He just turned 1 but feels just as heavy as Addie
He is a very busy boy and loves to get into anything
I'm not sure what his favorite color is but Addie insists that it's Blue
His favorite show to dance to is Doc McStuffins
AJ loves his milk
He loves oranges and I usually can't get it to him fast enough
His favorite stuffed animal is a giraffe named Giraffe Lovie
AJ's favorite snack is anything Addie is eating really he loves food
He just started walking a few weeks ago and loves it! Addie on the other hand hates it since he gets into her stuff.
AJ loves playing the "chase game" hide and seek, and anything that keeps him busy!
AJ LOVES to read stories he gets so excited when we are reading them
Funny memory about AJ: He loves to say "Hi" all the time. He will be sitting turn around and say,  Hi! It's pretty cute :)
 
I'm going to miss these kids like crazy and wish I could bring them back to Idaho with me but I am so glad I got to be with them while we've lived here. They have been like our home away from home and have always been so good to us. Thank you Paist Family this will be an experience I'll never forget!
 
 
 
 
 
 

Saturday, July 5, 2014

4th of July Festivities

This was our first and last 4th of July here and Philly and it was a pretty good day overall! We spent it with a group of friends from our ward and we all decided to go to the Philly parade which was kind of lame not going to lie. We probably just had some pretty high expectations and it didn't even come close! But, it was still fun none the less. We got rained on at the parade and it never got hot enough for me to take off my jacket the entire day... Which is VERY unusual around these parts this time of year ....
 
The start of the parade





 

Waiting for the parade to start. Thank heavens they handed out these goofy looking hats or we would have been wet for the rest of the day! After the parade we hung around Philly and checked out all the street venders. They also had a free concert with a lot of big time singers but we all didn't really feel like going in the big crowd to the concert so we just played games, talked, and camped out in a park by the Rocky Stairs until the fireworks started.


These fireworks were INCREDIBLE... We read an article somewhere that Philadelphia was number 1 in the nation for fireworks and I believe it. They were unreal! However, Idaho Falls fireworks will always be number 1 in my book no matter what :)
 I am so grateful to be living in this great country and for those that have made it possible for me to enjoy this free land which I live.