Whit's Wedding!

Way back in March I went up to Utah to help throw Whit's bridal shower for college friends.  It was so fun! She got great gifts and it was tons of fun spending time with her.

Then a month later (I don't have pictures to prove I did anything during the month of April before the wedding, so it's like nothing happened then! I really made some awesome friends and we hung out every day, but no one actually takes pictures...I'll work on it!) I went to Utah for the wedding! It was so fun.  I'm incredibly blessed to have the family I do, and here is my family for now! 

A few weeks later I drove to Washington for the Manson reception and Apple Blossom.  This is the sign that was waiting for me on the door when I got home.  Rock made sure to ask if I knew what that said.  I'm the proud aunt that taught him how to spell! :)

We got right to work making homemade apple cider.  SO good.  It did feel weird to be making cider and not be freezing, because we usually make it in November, but it was just as good! 

This kid is a character. Seriously, he's always in costume.  His imagination is amazing to me haha. He can even talk in his "Batman" voice, which sounds pretty dang accurate.  

So now I'm back in Arizona, more job interviews and having fun. I am loving it here!

Spring!

I have LOVED the last couple months in Phoenix!

 In February I ran the Ragnar Relay with family and had a blast.  The house was crazy with people sleeping everywhere and at random times, but I loved the chaos.  I never thought I'd go running at 4 am in the middle of the desert, but seeing the outlines of the cactus against the moon was definitely a cool sight while I was all alone. I got to hang out with Whit all weekend so that was an added bonus!

The week after Ragnar my dad, Aaron, KC, Nick, and Rock came down for their annual Mariners' Spring Training trip.  I was lucky enough to get to spend the entire time with them. I love my family!

My friend Ashley had a birthday and took the day off of work, so we went with Wendy and got pedicures, had lunch, and I swam while they lounged by the pool.  I got multiple warnings by people there not to get in the pool because it was so cold, but it was 90ish degrees outside and the pool was warmer than Lake Chelan in August, so it was still warmer than what I was used to!

Joel just left yesterday morning, and I miss having him here already.  I'm so grateful to have a cousin so close in age. He got to meet some of my friends and stayed up until who knows when just talking like we always did growing up.  I love this kid.

Last Saturday I went hiking with a couple friends and realized that Arizona hiking is a LOT more rocky than in Utah and Washington! It felt like a freaking stair climber the whole time. Ha I'm excited to try some more hiking trails here soon though!

Next weekend I get to make a trip up to Utah and I can't wait to see more of my friends and family.  I feel so incredibly blessed in life right now!

Small Things

I was lucky enough to be able to be home for Christmas for about three weeks and I loved every second.  It made it so much harder to leave though.  I love the little ones at home.  Rock and I went sledding a bunch in our "sledding park" and even invited the rest of the family out to experience the ride. I seriously love these kids more than anything right now. They are the best.

I'm so incredibly grateful for my family.  I honestly feel blessed every single day to be born into the family I was.  As I've been away from home and see more things, I realize more and more that not everyone is as lucky as I am.  Having such great support is definitely something that I will never take for granted.

Just a warning, this part gets long, and probably kinda gross. Read on if you want!

I flew back into Arizona on Saturday night, and then on Tuesday morning at 4 am I woke up with an awful pain in my right side.  I've become pretty good at recognizing kidney stone pain and knew that's what it was. I took some meds that I had from the doctor from my last one and waited for the pain to go away.  It didn't. I called my mom at about 5 am because who doesn't want their parents when they feel sick? haha She told me to go to the ER and get it fixed.
 I woke up Janae (sorry!) and she was able to take me right in.  They asked me the usual questions, and finally got me in.  They blew a vein in my arm which gave me a pretty sweet bruise, and Janae was having a hard time with the needles, which didn't bother me at all. haha They finally got an IV in and started the morphine and fluids.  I waited for the pain to go away. It didn't.  It was so awful, I couldn't get comfortable in any position.  I think they thought I was a drug seeker, saying the morphine wasn't working. haha I also couldn't pee when they wanted me to give them a sample.
 I had a CT scan and the doctor came and talked to me about it when the results were in, and told me it was a teeny tiny stone and I shouldn't even feel it, and that there was a weird pressure behind it.  They kept me on a regular schedule of morphine, even though it was doing absolutely nothing for the pain.  Finally after 4 hours a new doctor came to see me and gave me Motrin and Flomax.  It was the greatest haha. I could literally feel the pee fill my bladder and relieve the pain. It was so great. The doctor came in after the meds and commented that I actually looked human now. I gave them my sample and waited for the results and then we were free to go.  I got sent home with a nice toilet hat to pee into and a strainer.  So lovely. Then the doctor and nurse went on to tell me how I probably wouldn't even notice the stone because it was so small and if it didn't pass that day it would definitely pass the next.
I had instructions to see a urologist, and was able to get in two days later.  The stone still hadn't passed, but I wasn't in pain like I was before, mostly just at night when I wasn't constantly drinking water. He made me feel way better about my pain, explaining that the CT scan doesn't always get all the stone, it could have cut some off and that most likely it was bigger than they thought. He got me set up with some awesome tests to figure out what it causing these dang stones, and a follow up appointment.  Then sent me home to pass this sucker.  Well, I waited. And I waited. And I waited. A week went by. Then finally by the next Friday I woke up at about 5 with a very sharp pain.  I peed and YAY! I saw my little stone. So happy to get it out of me! It's not a large stone by any means, but definitely bigger than they told me it would be! And it's poky. So, now I get to finish up all the tests and see why I'm the lucky recipient of these gifts. Hopefully I find something out to stop them!
I completely understand the scripture, "That by small and simple things are great things come to pass."

Sorry if you read all that, I just wanted to get it down in writing. :) Weird I know.  Life is good right now, enjoying the 75 degree days and sun right now.  Excited to see what else happens down here!

Life's Blessings

Two weeks ago I got a phone call that my good friend Anna had passed away.  It is heartbreaking to me. We had met up with her and her husband for lunch at The Oyster last August. It was SO good to catch up with her, and I'm thankful that they took the time to come meet us.  She was definitely someone who could make anyone laugh, and although we lived across the country from each other, it felt like no time had passed when we saw each other last. Yesterday while going through my old journal I found a note she had written to me from when we lived together talking about our jokes. When I read it I can just picture her talking and laughing. I definitely miss her. 

 

On Monday I got this picture of the sunset from Elder Ascanio in Chile with this message: 

"After a day of walking not being able to enter any houses, it's incredible how our Father in Heaven shows His love for us by placing this incredible sunset as we were walking up a hill." 

I was driving from Utah back to Arizona today and got to be witness to one of the most beautiful sunsets.  The picture taken with my cell phone does NOT do it justice at all.  The blue was a gorgeous baby blue and the pink in the clouds was amazing.  It just reminded me that Heavenly Father is there, looking out for us, showing us His love every day if we look for it.  

 

Arizona

So I moved to Arizona the middle of September.  It was about 110 the first week I was here (according to my car) and it was HOT.  It's cooling down, and today is only 86, which feels pretty cool.  Who would have ever thought that I would be cold at 80 degrees? I'm staying with my cousin Janae and her family and I love it. I've found more than one picture her girls have left me hidden somewhere in my room.  They are tons of fun to play with, and I'm VERY thankful to them for letting me stay with them.

My dad drove down with me and we stopped and saw everyone for a day in Provo.  It was good to see everyone, weird that I wasn't staying though. We were going to stop by and see the Grand Canyon but it was POURING rain so we decided to do it a different time. Kellie and I decided to drive to California the first weekend I was here to go to Disneyland.  It was tons of fun spending time with her and playing at Disneyland. I seriously feel like a kid when I go there.

Other than that I've just been looking for a job, going to the young single adult activities and finding all the free/cheap deals at the local shooting ranges.  There is a place here where on Fridays they have Ladies' Night (but it's all day).  They have free handgun rental, free lane rental, the only thing you pay for is ammo.  It's pretty sweet.  I like the indoor one because you get to use the fun targets where they move with the push of a button. haha It's a stupid reason I know, but it's fun. There is an outdoor range here that has free skeet shooting for women on every other Thursday night.  I went last week and LOVED it. It was so fun. I've got some of my friends to go with me next time too.

It's Olivia's birthday on Wednesday and Emily and I have been planning her present for a while now.  I got a sewing machine for my birthday (thank you mom and dad!) and have used it pretty much everyday.  We decided to make a quilt for Olivia.  We picked out fabric and came up with a pattern together, and it's the first quilt that I've made without any help.  It's obviously not perfect, but I actually really liked quilting it.  I'm excited to work on my skills.

I know there is probably a lot more that I missed, but that's it for now.  Arizona is going great and I'm meeting a lot of fun people, so hopefully I get a job soon so I can stay!

Summer

This summer I was lucky to be able to come home and play with babies and nephews, go swimming, play in the lake, and quilt with my mom. We welcomed baby Hudson into the family a few weeks ago, and I'm pretty sure he never gets put down.  I love being able to see my nephews and niece every day, and not just for a week or two out of the year.  It's going to be hard to move!

I've also been quilting, and trying to perfect my applique technique.  I was at the fabric store with my mom when I saw a monkey fabric that I loved.  The polka dots were on the next shelf over, but I just loved the blue and green together.  After the fabric lady told me they didn't go together I was determined to make it cute.  It's a busy quilt, but I'm really happy with how it turned out. I figured out this pattern and practiced my applique on the back with the monkey.  It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, but it definitely isn't perfect! I'm excited to get the two sides put together and quilted!

My applique monkey on the back in the corner

The fabric up close

Lots of Good News!

I have been SO lucky and blessed lately! Here is the run down:

I finished finals and came home just in time for Jensley's birth.  She is beautiful.  She was born the day before my dad's birthday and has been VERY loved by everyone around.

My dad got a new helicopter! We go flying at least a few times a week and I still get excited to go.  I love the view.

I got to get together with my best friends from high school for a little reunion. I love that no matter how long it's been since we've seen each other we can still catch up and have a great time. I love these girls!

I got a new car! I love it.  It's a 2012 charcoal Mazda3.  So if you know anyone who wants to buy my old car let me know! :)

I flew down to Utah with Whitni and my parents on May 8th for my nursing graduation and pinning ceremony.  It was fun to see everyone a last time and get to have my parents meet everyone I've been talking about for the last two years.  My parents, grandparents, Whit, KC, aunt Sherry, and my friends Aaron Carmack and Junior went also.  It was fun, and thank you mom and dad for everything you helped me with!

I took my NCLEX test (National nursing boards) and found out the next day that I PASSED! It was nerve-racking but so relieving now that it's over.  I'm officially a registered nurse!

I've been to a few Mariner games with my family and love the atmosphere at the stadium.  We got half priced tickets and got to sit in the nice area, with cushion seats and carpet in the corridors.  The bathrooms were empty and actually clean! I don't know if I can go back to the normal sections now...

The next upcoming event: HAWAII! I'm SOO excited. It will be my first time there and I can't wait.  My cousins Tiffany and Jarrett are going to New York and needed someone to watch their two kids while they are gone.  I leave on Tuesday and will be back a week and a half after that.  I can't wait!