Moving Day

On Febuary 27th we closed escrow. It took us longer than we had expected but now looking back it was for the best. Funny how that happens. We moved into the neighborhood we wanted and into the ward we wanted. We really love this little neighborhood of ours.

All of our neighbors are younger couples, which I love. We live about a block away from an elementary school and in the afternoon the neighborhood is lively and full of little kids. We live down the street from a park and you can see all the kids playing baseball and soccer, I love it. You see everyone walking their dogs in the afternoon too, which is pretty great. We also live about 5 minutes from the dog park. I'm telling you, when it's meant to be, it's meant to be.

There's so many projects that I would love to do. Some day this kitchen will get a little loving and actually get painted. If I can ever get around to it :) Oh and every single window in the house has shutters. I didn't really know much about shutters. Now all I know is that I'm in love with them.

I still haven't gotten around to painting any of the house. I am thankful that the previous owners left it white though. It's easier to live with than pink or neon green walls. Mike put in that new fan. They have palm tree fans through out the house. Those are going to slowly be replaced. I love the new fan though, looks much better.  

This is as far as I got with arranging furniture. This is the only room that has gotten painted. It's a light grey, I was really nervous about it but I loved the way it came out.

One day this room will have wood floors, one day

One day we will buy a couch for this room too, and the chimney will also get some loving.

I love this space. It's perfect for all of my books and for doing home work.

Down stairs bathroom

I would really love a white bathroom for the guest bathroom, I found some great diy's on Pinterest. Pinterest is gonna be the death of mike, hehe 

This is what you walk to when you come in through the garage, I think a mud room would be awesome here.

This is one of the downstairs rooms. I have no idea what this room will be. Mike says the gym, it's a nothing room right now.

This is our bed room. It's such a nice upgrade from our last room.

I still have to figure out what color I want our bedroom to be. If you've ever watched the show "Blackish" I would love my house to look exactly like that.

Nice closet space. The previous owners took out all of the shelving with them so we still have to build some more shelves in here.

Nice bathtub that we have yet to use.

Our bathroom. Even though we have two sinks, sometimes I find us both huddled around the same sink. I guess we still have to get used to the space

This is the room right next to ours, I'm thinking nursery some day. For now it just sits empty.

Stairs. I'm finally done painting this wall but I have yet to put any pictures up.

This is the upstairs guest room.

I love that I can have one girly room in the house.

I'm thinking this room would look nice with a light grey color.

Upstairs bathroom.

This room we call the game room. It's so big, it would be fun to put a projector here one day.

This room will be fun to paint.

Upstairs hall.

Upstairs hall.

There's so many projects to be done. I'm thankful that the house was move in ready because life has been a little busy. I thought that because I was done with school things would slow down but it sure doesn't seem that way. I started the BSN program already and took on 2 classes and the 3rd one starts in a couple of weeks. I'm trying to study for my boards on top of that. I should be studying 3-6 hours a day. I also have a job interview coming up and have been trying to practice questions. Oh and did I mention my back yard desperately needs to be weeded. Life just seems to keep going. I'm excited for this next little chapter in our lives. I feel like I'm at the top of a roller coaster again and don't know what's ahead. It's a little scary, but I'm excited for the future.

Last RN Final

Just passed my last RN Final! Yippy! It still feels so surreal. After taking my test all I wanted was some Chipotle and to cuddle up under a blanket and watch the rain. On my way out leaving school, I got a phone call saying I have my first job interview in 2 weeks. I can't believe I have to be a big girl and have a full time job now, Bleh. But, one day I'll work part time (1 day a week) and everything will be all worth it. For now I'm going to enjoy my weekend of no responsibilities before I have to start hitting the books for my boards. I also start the BSN program on Monday and graduation is on Wednesday. I keep thinking life is going to slow down now, but there's always something new, some new adventure that comes up. Hot chocolate cheers to the new chapter in my life! 

University of Texas-Arlington

Proverbs 16:9 "Man plans his way but The Lord directs his steps." If I had it my way, things would've gone a lot differently with my education. But, everything happens for a reason. There's a greater plan that I don't understand, but I have faith in Him and need to learn that "all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good" I was accepted to the University of Texas-Arlington RN-BSN Online Program and I'm like 😅 and a lot more like☝️🙌

Last Clinical

Michael is so sweet! This last Saturday he surprised me with flowers and food when I got home from clinical. He said we had to celebrate my last day of clinical. It was only proper that we celebrate together since this boy has been waking up before his alarm clock every week to send me to school and work with breakfast and a packed lunch. He's gotten up early to take my home work to the hospital because I had left it home (and was gonna be sent home if the teacher asked for it) and took me some treats to the hospital that I had left at home. This man of mine loves me so much and does a great job and reminding me if it every day. These past months have been so stressful and Michael has stepped up with the cooking, cleaning, walking dogs while I have my face stuck in my books. He will also give me back massages when he sees that I'm stressing about school and tests. I'm so lucky to call him mine! I have a little under 3 weeks left till finals and as long as I don't screw anything up I will be graduating soon. May 20th could not get here fast enough! 

21, Again

For my 26 birthday I woke up to the smell of roses and my mom singing 'las mañanitas to me' and grandma called me right after that and played me a birthday song on the harmonica, made my day! I felt so special that my grandma remembered my birthday and called me from Mexico to wish me a happy birthday, grandparents are the best! 

Marcia made me the most delicious birthday dinner ever. I don't know if she's noticed, but I ask for the same thing every year, funeral potatoes and pasta salad...yum! 

She even made dessert 

Grandma and grandpa were here for the celebration 

Ridgy was so nice to help me blow out the candles, slobber and all. I can't believe another year has passed. Since I'm traumatized from seeing people

pass away in the hospital all the time, I am always so greatful to wake up every morning free of sickness and with the love of my life next to me. I'm so happy I was blessed with one more year. But I don't even feel 26, as far as I'm concerned I'm still 21 :) Cheers to another year, can't wait to see what the next year has in store for me!

Nielsons

Mikes grandparents visited a couple of weeks ago. They are the funnest people to hang out with. They're so down to earth and incredibly sweet and friendly. We took them out to eat one night and had such a great night hangin out with them. They were even sweet enough to help us move into our new house and helped out with the cleaning. We love it when they come over and we love going to visit them. They always make us feel so welcomed. Grandma Nielson introduced us to a game called Tenzi while they were here and it has now become a new favorite 

We could not stop laughing while playing this game, Odin thought we were so loud and would tell us to be quiet. I can't wait to see them again. They are coming for my graduation and I'm sure a couple of rounds of Tenzi will be played :) 

12-13-14

I feel like I need to blog today since it's 12-13-14 and it'd be fun for my children's children to see their great grandma was alive on such a cool date :) So, today I was supposed to work but I was able to get the day off and go watch my friend's kid's dance recital. I'd never seen a dance program before and I thought it was absolutely adorable! I hope I can get my 5 year old to dance and perform in front of people. They all did so well. 

I had to leave early because I was meeting my coworkers in Colton to deliver gifts to a kid from our unit. A couple of weeks ago my unit all gathered together and bought presents for an entire family that had been on our unit for a long time. Their little boy had brain cancer and we had all gotten pretty close to him and the family. The family was extremely poor and probably wouldnt have any money for presents. There must have been about 40 presents for the whole family along with cash donations and gift cards. I really wanted to go deliver gifts to them but ended up having to work that day. The little man passed away a couple of days later, so maybe it was for the best that I didn't go. I have to stop myself from getting attached to these kids. I have become such an overly emotional person since working with kids with cancer. I feel like my unit is a whole different world from the rest of the hospital. A lot of good things happen on our unit. Every one wants to donate to these kids because they're fighting the strongest battles. 

So, today I finally participated in the gift giving. To see the look on that little boy's face was absolutely priceless. He had no idea we were coming. We all just showed up with mountains of presents (literally didn't all fit in their small living room) wow what a treat it was that I'm a part of this unit surrounded by people that was so passionate about their job and these kids. 

Here we are walking up to the apartment with the first load of presents. It was such a great experience. Truly brought out the real meaning of Christmas. To be Christlike. To be charitable. 

Later on in the day I took care of Katie's kids since it was moving day for them. We waiting eagerly for Mike to get home from work and went to go see the Christmas lights in Yucaipa

The whole neighborhood gets together and puts Christmas lights up and they all zinc their lights to a radio station and all of their lights and the trees light up to the beat of whatever song is on the radio. What a cool neighborhood! 

We'll I'm off to bed. We can't wait to hear about some offers we have put on some houses. We're getting so anxious. It's starting to feel like we're never gonna get a house. Our fingers are crossed :)