Favorite pictures of the week

shout out to all the women widowed by professional schools

I am a dental school widow. I have many friends who are either dental (or some other professional school) widows too. I have to say that it is TOUGH to raise a family by yourself. They say that it will be worth it in the end... I hope they are right.

Then I think about the fact that there are REAL widows out there with young kids and I realize that I don't have it so bad. At least there is a light at the end of my tunnel. And at least I have a husband (even if my kids and I rarely get to see him).

But here is to all of us who are counting down the years of professional school. 2 years 4 months......

The difference between Utah and California (LDS and general population)

Having lived in both states, I tell it how I see it. Feel free to voice your difference of opinion should you have one (or add to my list)

1. In California it is either black or white: either you are LDS or you are not; In Utah there are all different shades of gray.

2. If it is 50 degrees in Utah, people are wearing shorts and flip flops. If it is 50 degrees in California people are wearing coats and cute little matching hat/scarves/mittens sets (and they probably own more of them than the Utahans).

3. In Utah they will tell you on the news if it is a "red burn day" so that you know the air quality is too poor to exercise or spend much time outside. In California almost every day is a "red burn day" so they don't bother to say anything about it.

4. In Utah, Wal-mart is a nice place to shop. In California, it is infested with white-trash or strange looking people. I wouldn't recommend going there after dark.

5. In Utah, the LDS folk are busy packing their basements full of food storage. Californian LDS: what basement? And food storage doesn't seem as emphasized, it seems

6. In California it is unheard of to see a homeowner doing any sort of yard work or gardening (especially a female-- people freak out that I mow my own lawn). Many have hired latinos that do everyone's gardening. In Utah, almost everyone does there own gardening practically with the exception of hiring the neighbor boy to mow the grass. I have to say that those Latinos do a much better job at it than the Utahans.

7. Girls Camp in Utah consists of sleeping in a tent and cooking over a fire. Girls Camp in California from several stories I've heard, consists of sleeping in cabins or dorms or something and having catered food with an hour or two of "camp certification".

We're back

I was supposed to be in Utah for another week but I cut my trip short. There were tons of people that I didn't get to see since I cut my trip short, but poor little Kiera was very homesick and missed her daddy (and I missed him too). So, I crammed all my clinicals into 2 very rough weeks. I have to say that I am NOT an ER nurse, and I do NOT like working graveyards!!!
Kiera was not a fan of the snow once again and wouldn't touch the stuff.

DESERET INDUSTRIES

I know that there are many of you out there who are probably appalled that I would admit to shopping at DI, but I'm going to admit it nevertheless. In fact, I'm going to say that I love shopping at DI.

Shopping at DI is like a treasure hunt-- you have to dig through a ton of junk to find treasure, but the treasure is there. Successful shopping there is an acquired skill.

There are some people who make a living off of finding treasure at DI and selling it on Ebay. I think that this is wrong.

It is nice to get a cart full of treasure for $20 and know that I just spent $20 supporting a great cause (humanitarian aide and such).

Every time I come to Utah I go to DI. I figure I don't have to worry about being prideful if I shop at DI-- right?? My favorite things to buy are children's books and large toys (yes, I lysol them well).

I love being a nurse.

After a nearly 4 year hiatus, I have stepped back into the hospital in the role of nurse. I was a bit nervous that I've lost my skills, but I'm happy to say that I was able to care for an ICU patient completely independently and confidently yesterday. At the end of my shift my patient's family members thanked me profusely for my help and told me I had made a huge difference for the patient. I love working as a nurse....I just love working as a mother more.

I think everyone should be a nurse. I'd like to think that I was the one who influenced my 2 younger siblings to go to nursing school, but I probably can't take all the credit. Nursing is a great field to work in. It is very rewarding to help people and the pay isn't too bad either (well, outside of Utah anyway). And, if I ever want to use it again I could work like twice a month or so. I love the flexibility. BE A NURSE.

Hangin' in Utah

My girls and I are now in Utah. We will be here for 3 weeks for the purpose of me doing my clinicals in a local hospital (AF) in the ICU and ER so I can finish getting my BSN.
Me n' my girls flew to Utah and it was a pretty easy trip except for when we were boarding the plane. Picture me carrying Lydia in the baby carrier in front of me down the narrow airplane aisles while wearing a HUGE backpack with all their necessities while dragging my 2 year old who is screaming/crying "no ride a blue airplane! no ride a blue airplane!" Luckily once we got seated the stewardess brought her an "airplane snack" and she stopped screaming as if I was trying to kill her.
Kiera ventured outside to see the snow just once so far. We bundled everyone up and went outside and I showed her how we could make footprints in the snow. She finally got brave enough to try it (with her new princess boots on), and was fine with it until some snow got on top of her boots. After that we had to go in. It took more time to get everyone bundled up than the time we actually spent outside (about 3 minutes).

First haircut

After much internal debate, I cut Lydias hair (and not just the mullet). For some reason it is sad to me to cut baby hair off, but I'm so glad that I decided to do it. She looks much better without the crazy 4inch hair that was never tame for more than 2 seconds.

Behind every cute picture of a child...

Behind every cute picture of a child is a exasperated parent who is doing cartwheels and pulling faces trying to get the child to smile for one precious moment.
Lydias pictures turned out beautifully, but after 2 different photo shoots I had to settle on this picture of Kiera (although not very good at all). I'm embarassed to think of everything I did in order to try to get that little lady to smile. The photographer probably thought I was an idiot. Oh well. I tried. Good thing I have lots of cute non-professional pictures to make up for it.

My dancing experience

1999: Made it onto the Ballroom dance team in high school but graduated a year early so never got to do it.

2003: Made it onto the Country Western Swing dance team at UVSC but since I also got accepted to the nursing program I had to forgo dance.

2009: Made it onto the Nelson-Family-Dancing-With-Tutu-In-The-Kitchen team. Enjoy it thoroughly.

Warm weather and mullets

So I'm just writing this to make all of you non-Southern-California folk jealous. Yesterday we had a picnic and it was beautiful and warm (75 degrees-- I have no clue why Steve wore a jacket-- he said he didn't want to be itchy from the grass). Today Steve and Kiera read books in the hammock outside. I put a little local weather thingy on the side of our blog so ya'll can see how warm it is here and have incentive to come visit us in the cold winter months.

If your daughter had a bald spot and a mullet like this would YOU cut it? I've seen some pretty funny looking babies out there and thought "why doesn't somebody tell those parents that their baby looks ridiculous?" I just don't want mine to be in the same category. So, let's be honest folks-- would you cut her hair?

Somethin's gotta give.....

Next week I will be starting school again online through BYU idaho to finish my BSN in nursing. No, I don't have extra time on my hands-- in fact, I still don't know just how I'm going to be able to achieve it since I'm going to be taking the BEASTLY critical care class with nasty nasty papers and 60 hours of required clinical time.
Basically, something else in life has got to give. So here are some the things I'm going to do to make room for my schooling--

1. No long distance running-- I'll stick with 2-3 miles only.
2. I'm no longer in charge of my local babysitting co-op. I handed the responsibility back over to my friend.
3. I can't blog as much. I have a new goal of only blogging once a week (sundays).
4. No entertaining this semester. I LOVE having people over and hosting huge events. I'll have to wait till the semester is over to take it up again. (I'm doing a very simple baby shower this weekend, but that's it).

The crazy thing about all this is that I never PLAN on using my nursing degree again. But you never know....

Christmas and Steve's birthday

First of all, happy birthday to Steve who turned 30 on Christmas eve. Yes, my poor husband has to endure a birthday on the 24th of december. He is a great sport about it though (much more so than I would be). Not only that, he spent his birthday this year caring for our barfing Kiera (who had the stomach flu) and then got the stomach flu later on that night himself.

Christmas this year was spent with the majority of my family in Albuquerque New mexico at my sister Christa's house. It was an interesting Christmas as we had 4 different state's germs converging in one location. 3 different colds and the stomach flu converged in one household to make for an intersting Christmas. I've surrendered to the fact that any time we travel to visit family we are going to get sick, but I didn't expect to get THAT sick. Then, on the 26th we traveled back to California to spend time with Steve's family. Not only did almost everyone in his family have a cold, but my poor little nephew was diagnosed with RSV. We are still crossing our fingers that we don't get that one (for Lyida's sake).

Dispite illness we had a good Christmas. Kiera was more excited about the Christmas lights on the house across the street then she was about opening presents. Her favorite new toy I'd say was her shopping cart. Lydia got milk for Christmas.

Rain rain go away....

Little Kiera wants to play (and mommy wants to be able to run outside), rain rain go away.

(well at least it isn't snow).

I cried the day that I take the bassinet down

I don't like my babies growing up. Nope, not one darn bit at all. I took Lydias bassinet down today since she is outgrowing it. Babies grow too fast!!!