Thursday, August 25, 2011

Nursing School - Day 1

WOW! It's so crazy to think that I've finally started! After 3 1/2 long years of waiting I'm finally one day closer to being done. It was so nice sitting in my classes and knowing that everything that was being talked about I actually needed to know. Unlike all those pre-req classes that you have to take that you don't really care about and thinking "when am I ever going to use this" and "I don't really care about this".

A cute lady in my class made everyone in our class bookmarks with a "feel good" quote. It is something I'm going to carry with me everywhere and possibly make multiple copies of just to have!


"You will be mentally stressed. You will be emotionally challenged. You will learn how to work together. You will learn to work alone. You will learn when to speak. You will learn when to be silent. You will learn when to lead. You will learn when to follow. You will be constructively criticized. You will be praised. You will shed a few tears. You will share in each other's laughter. You will learn the need to help each other. You will learn to help yourself. You will learn to be part of a group. You will learn to be yourself - an individual. You will learn responsibility. You will learn discipline. You will learn these things because someday someones life will depend on you.

You are a nursing student. You will graduate.

You will be in all its wonder and glory, a Nurse."

-Anneliese Garrison, RN,

"You are a Nursing Student"


~HERE'S TO TWO CRAZY YEARS~

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Angel's Among Us

It has been so nice being able to count down to an actual starting day for Nursing School. I've gone from, I'm not sure when I'm starting, I have an estimated start date of the Spring semester 2014, to I'm starting this Fall. I've been totally fine with the idea and honestly, pretty excited to start up. I haven't really been all that nervous or anxious or worried......


.....And then today came.




While giving Braxton his morning bath I had to let myself have a little break down. It all finally feels real now. It finally hit me that this is really happening. How Crazy life is going to be for the next 2 years through the program. Taking classes and having clinicals and going to work, while trying to find time to study, clean the house, make time for my boys, and still support Nate with his job, school and church calling. Needless to say, I got a little overwhelmed.




Then I was reminded of a testimony meeting I attended at the beginning of the year. It was one of the first testimony meetings I had been to in a few months because of having to work. A lady in our word who I just love and really look up to got up and started talking about her and her husbands newly married life. How they were both working while her husband also went to school as well as having a new little one along with some other things they were going through at the time. She says looking back now she doesn't know how they got through that crazy time of their life. She said the only way they made it through was with the help of the angels in their lives. Both the angels here on earth as well as those on the other side. She then went on and talked about some of those angels in their lives.




Sitting in that meeting made me think about the many angels our family are blessed by. We are so lucky to have such WONDERFUL families who love Braxton so much and are always so willing and eger to help with him whenever they can. Our moms are the BEST. They do so much for us and Braxton and a lot of times at the drop of a hat. Our brothers and sisters who volunteer to watch him even before we ask them. Grandmas who ask when Braxton gets to come to their house again to play because it has been a long time since they saw him last. Neighbors and friends who are always reminding us that Braxton is always welcome to their home. And Grandma Davis who I think about quite often and know she is on the other side watching over us.




Grandpa Davis has helped us out so much with school and is an angel in our eyes. We also have great friends and cousins who are so positive and encouraging; it is also nice to get together with them for those much needed fun and carefree evenings. There are many more angels we have been blessed to have come into our lives. Some have come and stayed, some come and go. Some come for a little time and don't even realize the impact they are leaving behind.




During Spring semester while taking Pathophysiology there were a couple of times I got a little over whelmed. Everytime I prayed to Heavenly Father to help me get through what I thought to be a difficult time, these angles were brought to my mind and I was reminded how blessed and loved we truly are. We aren't going through this alone and we have so much support around us to help us get through this. I also would be reminded that we aren't the only ones doing this. How many other people have been in the same situation we are in now or worse? What about those single mom's working and going to school while trying to raise their kids by themselves. Or those who don't have their families to rely on because they live in a different state than everyone else? We truly are so lucky!

Thank you so much to all of our angels - both those here on earth as well as those on the other side. We love you and appreciate all of you~

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Helping Hand

8/2/11


While I was out pulling weeds Brax was running around absolutely enjoying himself. He loves being outside! After a little while Brax came over and sat right next to me. He watched me for a minute to see what I was doing and then......



....he reached down, grabbed some dirt and threw it into the bag
over and over and over again!






When we went up to empty the bag into our green waste garbage can he decided that he would help out the neighbors by pulling some of their grass....



...... and putting it into the garbage. It wasn't exactly the right one but he meant well!

I can't believe how smart he is and how quickly he picks up on things!

After we got back inside and washed up he was very ready for a drink!





He slowly slid all the way down to his bumb.


After getting the energy to get up, he walked over to his couch to relax and finish his drink!




Puddle Jumping

7/31/11

We went over to my parents for an early birthday dinner for Grandpa Jeff. Just after we got done eating dinner there was a sudden DOWN POUR of rain and papa decided to take Brax out to teach him how to jump in puddles.



Jason, Lexi and the dogs had just as much fun playing in the rain as papa and Brax did!



He caught on pretty quick






After coming in and getting dried off and warmed up it was time for some birthday dessert......




.... and some relaxing



Ward Summer Social

6/25/11


Our ward did a ward summer BBQ social this year. It was nice to get together with our ward family, enjoy some yummy food and treats, get to know each other a little bit better and play some fun games with the little ones.



The parachute was a HIT!

Yes, that is Braxton in the blue on top of the parachute. He decided it was way more fun to be on top of it than to hold onto it and wave it up and down.





Nate did a great job trying to get him interested in playing the right way




Brax quickly learned that running around under it would work and was just as fun as climbing on top of it.



Everyone finally got the hang of it....

..... and got it up really high.



Braxton was really frustrated with the fact that he wasn't able to play on top of or under the parachute - and he let everyone know!


Nate decided to take him over to the swing to distract him.


Boy did it work!









Before leaving Braxton ran around with Porter for a little while


and finished off the night with some


"Ring around the Rosies"





Zoo and Swimmin


6/23/11

What a day!

We started our day with a trip to the zoo! Our friends, Nick, Jaley, and Mason, invited us to go with them and their family. It was so much fun! Luckily, we went early enough that the weather wasn't too hot until just before we left.



Baby Zuri (1 week shy of being 1 year old)
with her mama.



She is getting so BIG!




Baby Zuri last year only a couple of weeks old



Taking a little snack break




Checking out the Elephants


Yet, another snack break

Getting ready to get in the car - totally exhausted






Our next stop was Grandma Donna's club house pool! It was Braxton's 1st time swimming. He did pretty well and really enjoyed it for the most part.


Hanging out and getting used to the water with Jason and Lexi



Getting a little splashing in


Standing on the stairs with mom



Getting a little more comfortable



Ready to take a little rest




Until Grandpa Jeff shows up, that is

then it's right back into the water



Flying like an Airplane - complete with sound.

Braxton's favorite part was when he crashed into Jason or Lexi.

He would giggle so hard.


Exhausted after such long day of fun in the sun!


There is always a little bit of energy left when it comes to modeling sunglasses



What a fun day! Thanks to everyone for all the invites and for Jason, Lexi and Grandpa Jeff for swimming with Braxton so that his mom, who isn't such a fan, didn't have to and instead was able to take pictures (which I enjoy so much more!)

Father's Day 2011

6/19/11


This year for Mother's Day and Father's Day we said "no gifts"! We didn't really need anything and decided that spending time together was all we really wanted.


Despite the "no gift" rule, Brax and I decided to make Nate a candy bar card to let him know how much we love and appreciate him! With the help of my mom we would make these all the time while growing up but I hadn't made one for Nate for quite a while. I love making them so we decided it would be perfect!



This "MAMA" and "BABY" thank their lucky "STARS" everyday that they have the best dad all the way to the "MILKYWAY"!



  1. You are always making us "SNICKER".

  2. You are one "BIG HUNK"!

  3. Our "POP DROPS" everything and anything for his family.

  4. You have "MOUNDS" of patience (putting up with a couple "AIR HEADS" isn't easy)

  5. You have so much "JOY" and are always sharing it with others.

"YOU KNOW" what? Our "POP ROCKS"! It's all these amazing qualities and many, many more that you posses that make you the Best dad there is! You are always doing so much for your "SNAPPY" wife, your "KID" and "M&M" so make sure and "TAKE 5" for yourself today. If anyone deserves it, we all know that you do!


Happy "DADDY's" Day! We love you~



-The end result-




I even got a little help from Braxton. He decided to draw a pretty picture for dad.






-And then we traced Braxton's hands on the bottom to finish it off-



The card pretty much said it all! We are so lucky to have such an awesome man in our lives and are so grateful for all that he does for us everyday!

Love you babe~