Uno and Alzheimers

Ever since I was little Uno has been one of the favorite games in my family. Probably because the concept is so simple. Match the color or the number. Well at my job as a CNA we are encouraged to keep the residents busy so that they are able to live a full life. So on a particularly slow afternoon one of the other CNA's suggested I play Uno with some of the residents. No problem right? Well here is a snap shot of how it went.
Me: Ok to play the game you match the cards in your hand to the color or number of the card on the table. Try to get rid of all your cards. Ok?
Mandy: Ok I think I get it.
Jane: Ok
So we go around the table and it is Jane's turn.
Jane: Now what am I supposed to do?
Mandy: Match the card or the number.
Jane: Which is better
Mandy we aren't keeping score so neither.
Jane: Is a High or lower number better?
Mandy: It doesn't matter because we aren't keeping score.
Jane: Ok I think I get it now.
Then we would go around the table again and the scene would repeat, almost word for word. Until finally Jane laid down the last card.
Jane: what do I do now?
Me: You won :)
Jane: oh really?
Then they both laughed at how many cards I had accumulated trying to extend the game. I love these old people so much they make me laugh. Not only have I have learned some pretty fantastic words and phrases like Jeepers, bonkers, and criminey, but I think or at least I hope I'm learning to be more patient.

What's a Birthday without decorations?

Wow, I think this must be a record, two posts in two days! I just thought I'd show you some of the cool pictures from decorating for Saydie's birthday.

In order to make Saydie's 17th birthday extra special two amazing decorators known for their creativity and perseverance in decorating were called in. Namely me and Cody. We began with the traditional birthday banner and then attempted some balloons, and finally moved to the cake. Cody and I learned quite a few things from this amazing decorating experiment.

1) We stink at being amazing decorators (took us five freakin times to get the happy birthday sign up)

2) Cheap balloons are extremely hard to blow up. I'm pretty sure one of my lungs almost collapsed. (All for love I guess)

3) Decorating is kinda boring...so tape balloons to the ceiling (much more interesting)

4) Cakes fall apart when you take them out of the pan. (Thank goodness for frosting....lots and lots of frosting)

5) If you persevere success may be just around the corner...maybe, if there is love and acceptance involved.

In the end Cody and I have decided that we may not have been meant to be amazing birthday decorators, cake decorators on the other hand....that opens up a whole new door.

The balloon wouldn't stick to the wall so cody

taped all around it. It finally stayed.

Balloon excercise for your lungs.

Ceiling art....we call it 'Three circle balloons

and two long balloons'

Not my best work. I ran out of frosting. Too much

surgery need to be done on the cake.

Success!!

One Good thing from College

I can't believe it has been over a year since I graduated. I remember looking at the kids who were seniors or who were going to college and thought, 'man, they are way old'. Now I'm the one that is way old, or so it seems. The time goes by so fast. I remember playing tag on the playground at my elementary school and now I have to figure out how to pay rent and who I want to be. Not to mention I have to find someone that I can stand to be around for eternity.
With the world going by so fast and everyone growing up I am so thankful for summer which makes it seem as if the world is stopping for a little bit so that I can enjoy the warm summer rains and ice cream in the shade. One thing that I especially enjoy is having all this time to spend with my wonderful family, especially my little sister Saydie. It's funny cause all through high school and junior high we really didn't talk much mainly, I think, because we were on different wavelengths so we thought we were too different. Now that I've been away at college she has realized that she actually missed me and I am more patient then I used to be. So we get to go running together and actually talk! I am so thankful she is my sister and for how many times she makes me laugh. She is amazing and if there is one good thing that came from college it is that I now have a better relationship with my sweet little sister. Happy Birthday tomorrow Saydie! I love you!

Who'da thunk old shows were so fun to watch :)

The semester has finally ended. Woot woot! I get to spend the rest of summer home (almost an entire five months at home can you believe it?). I love being home especially since it is summer. You get those wonderful summer evenings where you can stay outside and play basketball. You can go swimming and hiking. I'm way excited to go camping. :) Well along with the relaxation I have to work. I actually got two jobs this summer because I need to find a way to fund my education. I get to work at Coldstone again, mainly as a cake decorator and I also found a job at Canyon Creek Assisted Living.
At first I was really scared to take this job because it is my first CNA job and the lives of people will be in my hands (kinda). Now, though, I love it. :) I get to take care of little old people who are really sweet, but a bit forgetful. I spend my days playing solitaire, serving chocolate pudding, watching old movies (mostly black and white western), and reminiscing with the residents about their 'good old days'. It is a lot of work sometimes, but it makes me really appreciate the fact that I am only 19 and I have quite a few years before I can be thought of as 'old'. Plus it is nearly impossible not to love the people I get to take care of. It kind of goes along with the saying that you learn to love those you help. Also if I had never taken this job then I never would have known that old western black and white shows were so...interesting. :)

To think or not to think....

I love to think. Especially about conundrums that no one else understands. My friends sometimes get annoyed when I watch movies with them because I ask too many questions instead of just being patient and watching the movie all the way through. Or I get up and leave the room when the characters are frustrating me because unfortunately they can't hear the 'wonderful' advice I am giving them. :) The sad part about this love of thinking is that I haven't been able to do it lately because my brain has been so swamped studying for finals. Learning the citric acid cycle, glycolysis, and the endocrine system can really take it out of ya.
Luckily (although some people might think the total opposite) my Bishop has asked me to talk on Sunday. Now you may be thinking 'Oh no someone get a doctor McKayla wants to talk'. But listen for a sec. I was given a choice between a parable or to talk about love. I chose love because it is a bit broader topic and I can choose a variety of different angles to approach it. The reason that talking is going to be a good thing is I get to think. :) I am not sure exactly what I am going to say, but I know I want to use Elder Wirthlins' talk about love. I'm not sure if you remember it, but it was fantastic and just reading it made me happy so if you want a good talk to read go to this site http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-775-10,00.html .
So if you have any ideas or good anecdotes to add to my talk I would be very happy because my previous talk was only 2 minutes and this talk needs to be 8 to 9 minutes! Kinda scary. Well I'm going to go think or maybe sleep and then think some more tomorrow. :)

Star Soaking

So the other night I had nothing to do, the natural thing would be to go to bed early and get a good nights rest, but that is really boring so I decided to star soak with Becca instead. What is star soaking you ask? Well it is where you lay outside on those amazing summer nights and soak up the sparkles from the stars into your eyes. Once you have soaked them up you have beautiful sparkly eyes that will dazzle the next guy you date. Then maybe, just maybe you will stumble upon a fairy tale romantic moment...or so says Becca. :) She proceeded to tell everyone that as they passed by our blanket while we studied (or star soaked) under the sky.

Our sparkly eyes must have worked, though, for who should come upon us, but Cory. He was so smitten by are sparkling eyes and witty personalities (at least we like to think so) that he asked us to join him for an 'authentic' Irish dinner of Corn beef and cabbage on St. Patricks Day.

So the next day I showed up for dinner. (Because of the free food. It had nothing to do with the fact a cute guy would be part of the dinner as well:) Not only did Becca and I get an amazing dinner, but he even showed us some of his dance moves that I'm sure my Dad would be proud of. I'm not exactly supposed to share that part, but I don't think Cory will ever read my blog so it will kind of stay a secret. Overall it was a very swell St. Patricks Day.

P.S. The above is a picture of Cory at the Halloween party in case you're curious (he doesn't really wear those glasses).

P.P.S He isn't technically single so we are just buddy buddy.

Why I'm Single

So I have discovered that there truly is a 'whole new world' when it comes to blogs. My friend Melissa showed me a very interesting one recently. It is entitled 'why Mormon girls stay single'. That really is a very important question since a lot of LDS girls are amazing and have the light about them. So I decided to read a little bit. It ranges from wearing too much makeup to not belching at the dinner table. I have discovered that according to this author I am in trouble of reaching spinsterhood all too quickly:) But no worries I have the perfect answer to this little conundrum I will just refrain from my belching, making my date wait longer for me to get ready, and whatever other skeleton qualities I have hiding in my closet. (The famous saying 'wait till after the vows' goes perfectly with this plan)
This made me think, though, isn't Mr. Wonderful supposed to love you despite your 'interesting' habits or personality traits? After all we are supposed to love this Mr. Wonderful despite his love affair with his car and 'gasp' should I even mention his other love... sports:) Plus they have the entire belch thing under control.
I do agree with what this other author is trying to do, because a lot of girls really don't know why they scare away the guy on the first date (me included), but maybe the real reason they scare that guy is because there is another around the corner that will be the one. The one that can handle their 'interesting' personality, the one that may have an 'interesting' personality of his own, and the one that will love them for who they are. Maybe this is a little cheesy, but cheese goes good with almost anything why not add it to writing every now and then?