A kiss!

I am done with Nursing school! I graduated on May 13 with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. And lemme tell ya, I never wanna go back to school. I have no idea what the future holds--work wise. As for now, I'm cramming for the giant NCLEX that I will probably take in July. Who am I kidding, I haven't started cramming yet, I'm enjoying my time with my little firecracker-whipper snapper kid.

I did it!

I finished my classes for nursing school. All I have left to do is my 120 hour practicum, which will be 10 days of 12 hour shifts at Kennewick General Hospital's Family Birthing Center! I am very excited, it is exactly what I want to do. I start tomorrow.

In nursing school, I have gained many things, including:

• about 12 pounds
• the ability to smell and see things most people could not do without barfing
• awesome friends
• even better enemies (just kidding)
• and you know, knowledge about being a nurse

I really did learn a lot in nursing school. It was about a billion times harder than I was expecting, though I did manage to get all A's and B's.

Here is a picture of me and my friend Kortney, celebrating our closeness to graduation. Kortney is awesome. And yes, I look like a mime with no legs.

Even though I still have practicum, I am already able to spend much more time at home with my favorite fella. Hopefully with the stress of school slowly dissipating out of my system (though I still have the NCLEX in June) we will be able to get this little guy a younger sibling soon.

I am baby hungry.

The End.

When a candle burns so bright, it cannot burn as long

Christy's sister in law did this sketch for the funeral. When I picture Christy in my head, this is exactly what I see.

I met Christy when we were just entering Young Women's. Just little silly 12 year olds. We were both shy at first, but by the time we became Mia-Maids we realized we both had the same blunt, sarcastic sense of humor. We spent the majority of our teenage years of Sunday School sitting in her car. We'd eat snacks, laugh at people walking by, complain about school, and talk about whatever else teenage girls talk about. I went to Girls Camp with Christy at least 5 times. The last 3 years stick out the most. She even came back my last year to help out with camp when she was too old to go. I would not have survived without her! Oh, Christy is the best. I left Anderson right after high school, moved to Washington.

I cannot remember saying goodbye.

I came back to visit 2 years later, husband in tow. She was newly married as well. We talked in the hallway at church with our husbands. Giggling about the fact we were married.

I cannot remember saying goodbye.

A few years go by. She has 2 boys, I have 1.

This past January she starts posting things about doctor's appointments, very vague. I send her a message asking if she's ok, she writes back saying it's cancer. Christy? Cancer? No way. We chatted a few days later. I wish I had known it would be the last time. I would have told her how much her friendship meant to me. How happy she made me when I was having a hard time as a teenager. How I am thankful for all the pieces of gum she gave me. How Young Women's was a blast because of her. And how all those times sitting in her car ditching Sunday School will act as precious memories with her.

Christy passed away on February 12, leaving behind her husband and 2 baby boys.

At her funeral, a group of women, including almost everyone from our class in Young Women's, got up to sing Walk Tall. We sang that song standing around the campfire every night at Girls Camp. I don't know how many times I have linked arms with Christy and sang that song. I'm pretty sure it was written for her.

Right now I have a prayer deep within my heart,
A prayer for each of you there is a special part.
That you remember who you are and him who lives above.
Please seek for him and live his way; You'll feel his love.

Walk tall, you're a daughter, a child of God,
Be strong and remember who you are,
Try to understand, you're part of his great plan.
He's closer than you know, Reach up; he'll take your hand.

Long before the time you can remember,
Our Father held you in his arms so tender.
Those loving arms released you as he sent you down to earth.
He said, "My child, I love you. Don't forget your great worth."

Walk tall, you're a daughter, a child of God,
Be strong and remember who you are,
Try to understand, you're part of his great plan.
He's closer than you know, Reach up; he'll take your hand.

This life on earth we knew would not be easy.
At times we lose our way his path we may not see.
But remember always that you are not alone.
He'll take your hand, He loves you! He will guide you home.

Walk tall, you're a daughter, a child of God,
Be strong and remember who you are,
Try to understand, you're part of his great plan.
He's closer than you know, Reach up; he'll take your hand.

Christy, you are a daughter of God. I know you were called to the other side of the veil for a great, great purpose. You will be missed by so many, and you are loved by so many. Thank you for your smiles, your laughs, and all the memories I've shared with you. I love you.

*I am raising money for Christy's husband to buy a beautiful headstone for his wife. He and his boys will be visiting her grave for years to come, and I want it to be a place of beauty for them. Click on the donate button on the top right side of my blog to help out.

The Big 2!

Have you ever read the Berenstain Bears and Too Much Birthday? I have. I remember as a kid reading that and thinking, how can you have too much birthday? It just didn't make sense. This weekend I learned the true meaning of that wise children's book, and wish I had paid more attention.

Aunt Jamie drove all the way from Seattle to celebrate Jake's Happy Day. (He's been saying Happy Day for months now, every time he sees a candle of any kind). We had Jake's party on Friday the 21st even though his birthday is the 22nd, because my parents work at the temple Saturday nights. Jamie showed up around 5:00 on Friday at the same time as my parents, and that is when the hyper-ness began. Jake ran around non-stop for HOURS. The rest of the family showed up at 7:00 (there were 24 people in attendance). Jake loved the cake and ice cream. He devoured it. He also received some Toy Story fruit snacks from his thoughtful cousin Emma, of which he ate like 4 packs that very night. Jake played and played and played. He scored tons of presents, and ran around with his cousins until 11PM! What, might you ask, were we thinking? I don't think we were "thinking." We put Jake to bed at 11:30. Jamie was spending the night, and after watching the latest episode of Modern Family (thank you DVR) we both decided to call it a night and went to bed. 2:30 rolls around and Jake wakes up screaming bloody murder. He pretty much didn't stop until about 4:30, and he didn't go back to sleep until 6am. He woke up at 9:30 ready to roar.

And thus commenced Jake's actual Happy Day.

We learned our lesson.

Blowing out the candles on his Thomas the Train cake, a la Grandma. I had to help him a little. I personally think this is a super cute picture.

Yuuummmmmyyyy!

Buzz!!!!!!

Tonka trucks & airplanes

Jake scored for Christmas. The picture below is what Santa dropped off, and he got lots of gifts from Mom and Dad, grandparents, and Aunts and uncles. He was kind of a pooper on Christmas Day, but all in all it was a good day and it was nice to be with family.

I think Jake's favorite Christmas present was Duplo legos. He spends like 20 minutes laying on the floor building towers. And let me tell you, 20 minutes is a LONG time for me to have free time.

As for super exciting news...last semester of nursing school started today! Hooray!

super-monster

Honestly, this Halloween sucked. We decided to dress Jake up as Superman, but he decided he wanted to be a monster. Seriously, I think he cried the entire weekend. He's going through a phase where he screams absolute bloody murder at bedtime. As soon as we even walk through his bedroom door his body goes rigid and he tries to squirm out of my arms. It's HORRIBLE every night and drives us nuts!!!

I think you'll find his costume...obviously last-minute.

Here is my awesome Jack Skellington pumpkin. Carved it alllll by myself, while watching Hocus Pocus with my mom and sister.

Here's a sneak preview of our counter top! Britton actually installed it this weekend but we didn't take a picture of the final product yet.

And here is our CARPET! It is so nice.

We will be moving in to the duplex this coming weekend, the 13th. Finally!!!

Pants Optional

Jake was born with really weird nails on his big toes. I cut one of them too short, thinking I would fix the issue.

Instead, he got a nasty in-grown toe nail that got infected and oozed brown puss. Antibiotics, soaking it in neosporin non-stop for 2 weeks, and still no better. We won a trip to the podiatrist where Jake got his toe nail ripped off. Believe me, I have seen some nasty things. That was one of the worst.

Here he is, showing off his bandaged foot.