Save room for DESERT?

Well we are here. We officially live in Vegas. Quick update: we thought that we would have to search for weeks and go through a hairy process before we got a home here. We got to Vegas on Friday and the blessings flooded us! We had a house on Monday and moved in on Wednesday!! Crazy, I know. I was ecstatic when we got it for $1 over opening bid (through the auction. Another huge blessing.) The video is on my facebook if you want to see it.

The one thing that I wasn't comfortable with about Vegas was the fact that it was so deserty. I love the mountains and trees, and when I hear the word 'desert' I think of heat, sand and cacti. So I tried so hard to not think of Las Vegas as a desert. Well it would just be my luck that we moved into a community called DESERT Willows. We live on DESERT Lavender Avenue, we attend the DESERT View ward in the DESERT Springs stake. Haha, the irony makes me smile.

We are more happy than I can say! This is exciting to be in our VERY OWN HOME!!!


Pouring the bubbly to celebrate our first night in our new home!




Painting our pad!

There you have it. Life is good. It is so so good!

Vegas BABY!

We are packing up the truck today and moving to Vegas. I feel weird. It's not real. I am obviously procrastinating right now and not packing. I think I am over-tired and emotional, and I might cry when I say by to my mommy. This is hard. I am sure it will get exciting sometime. So that's my life. We don't have a house yet, and we will stay with Jason's aunt for a few weeks while we look for a house. I will keep you updated. Fun fun! All my Utah peeps, I will miss you like crazy!

A Change is in the air!

So much has happened lately and I haven't posted anything about it. It is interesting when you have something planned and then... KABLAM!! Everything changes! Let me tell you a little story about Jason real quick. He wanted to apply to grad school for this coming fall, and his first choice was UNLV, because he could get his masters in Biology and then we could just stay for dental school. So he was talking with a professor from down there, Dr. Lee, back in January before he took the GRE. Dr. Lee was super cool and would respond to all of his questions and emails, and it seemed like he was really rooting for Jason. So Jason goes and takes the GRE and sends his scores down to UNLV, as well as a couple other places, then let's the Dr. Lee know that he took it. So Dr. Lee asked him to send him an unofficial transcript, and once he did that, Jason received a sad email from him that basically said "I'm sorry, I didn't understand that your undergrad is not in a science. Frankly you just don't have enough science classes. You better just save your money and not even apply this year because there is no way that we'd even consider you to be interviewed, so why don't you take more science classes over the next year and apply next year." Needless to say that was a huge punch in his gut. But we started making other plans, I quit my job and went part time, back to school full-time, and found a program that is great for me but requires me to be here in Utah. So the application deadline for UNLV was on Feb. 1st. That date came and went and Jason took there advice and didn't apply. About a week later he received an email from Dr. Lee saying, "Uuh, we received your GRE scores and you are a genius and we want you to come and interview." That's how I took it, anyway. So they asked him to come interview without even applying because he scored so well on the GRE. I am so proud of him! The average score to be accepted is 1100 and he scored a 1440. I can brag, right? Because it's not like I took it. I would have maybe pulled a 500. Maybe. Okay, so this short story is getting long. Apologies. He went and interviewed and they loved him and accepted him into the masters of biology program. He starts in August!!


On with the story. March 14th we celebrated our two year anniversary, and decided to drive to Vegas just to start checking out the area. We of course had a celebratory lunch..


And we went and saw Cirque Du Soleil 'Mystere' which was SO fun! Of course it inspired me to change my career when I get to Vegas and become an acrobat. I'd say I have it in me.




Okay, so here is the kicker. While we were down there we encountered an job opportunity for me that we were not anticipating. I am going to be the nanny of a 10 year old girl whose mom is buying four casinos and going to be mega-rich and super busy. The only thing is that she needed a nanny NOW, and I couldn't stay, so Caitlyn, the little girl, actually flew to Utah and has been with us since last Wednesday, and will be with us for another week or so. We will be packing up and moving to Las Vegas in two weeks. Yeah, I know. I said TWO WEEKS! Talk about stress! But it will all work out, and Jason and I received confirmation this morning that this was the right thing to do. So now we just have to make it happen. There is my update on life. Aaah, the joys of growing up.

Dinner's on me!!

I will confess to the public blog world that I am not the world's greatest cook. I am okay with that, but I would like to at least know how to make a weeks worth of dinners. Honestly, I don't. Jason teased me when we dated that I only knew how to make chicken, rice and vegetables. I convinced him that I just happened to be making the same thing every time he ended up at my house around dinner time, and the few times that I cooked for him. I assured him that there was lots more that I could cook, and my meals were amazing. I flat out lied. And now that we are married he has surely realized that. So yesterday I decided that starting today that was going to change. I made a two-week menu and grocery list last night, got all of my necessities today, and ventured out into this uncharted territory. Tonight I made meatloaf, mashed potatoes and salad; a meal that I have never attempted before, though it seemed easy and something that most people know how to make. I got super into it, chopping, dicing, singing, stressing, saute-ing, and like ten minutes into it my kitchen looked like three four-year olds were left unattended to play chef. I have not yet mastered keeping a kitchen clean as you cook.

Time started speeding up and I was uncomfortable in my new element. Jason was coming home soon and I really wanted to have made a great dinner before he got there. I was mixing everything together, but instead of finishing one portion and moving on to another, I found myself jumping all over the place. Before I knew it I was a complete wreck! I somehow splashed meat juice in my face, getting in my mouth and eyes, and making me want to throw up because of the thought of it. Then as I got a knife out I nicked my palm, causing blood to start gushing. I didn't have time to aid it, so I just stuck a paper towel in it and added a potato on top for pressure, then started peeling the potato. Jason was almost home, and although he could care less if dinner was ready or not, I really wanted to surprise him. In my panic to get the potatoes peeled, I completely slipped and peeled my finger, causing more blood than I could handle. I needed to pause to get enough pressure on it to try and stop it from bleeding... but I didn't have the time! So I stuck my throbbing finger into a paper towel and in between my legs as I stabilized the grater against the counter with my chin and started to grate some carrots. Of course I grated my finger on my right hand this time, and the blood started flowing, although not as heavily as my first two wounds. By the time Jason walked in the house I was standing there in the middle of a royal wreck with the water for the potatoes boing over and hissing as it hit the burner, the water still running in the sink, seasonings, meat juice, measuring cups, bread crumbs, and sauces spilled all over the counters, floor and myself, make-up running down my cheeks from my onion-provoked tears, my hair in a ponytail that was falling out and in my face, and blood EVERYWHERE! I am sure he looked at me and thought I was just the greatest wife he could have asked for. So talented. =)

My poor meal was suffering. I managed to get the meat together into a nice little loaf. There is ketchup in there, but I am not going to say that blood wasn't mixed in. Eew, sorry for that. What am I saying? I'm so gross


My mashed potatoes came out gummy..... uhh.... can anyone tell me what that is? Do they just know that am nervous and are playing tricks on me? Geez! Oh, and I think that my meatloaf was fed up with how it was treated. I put it in looking normal, and it came out looking like it was going to get revenge and kill me!



No, really though, my meatloaf actually tasted good and I was proud of my first attempt. I just can't believe that I intend on putting myself through this every night for the rest of this week. Would anyone care to hear how it goes? Eh, probably not. The experience wore me out and I am sure that reading about it does the same. Goodnight!

2009 in a Nutshell

Since I am not the best at posting, I will post a little recap of 2009, although I really didn't take too many pictures of events this year. And I must be getting old because I can barely remember what happened last year.

February

We started the year off by welcoming our new baby nephew Noah Shelton into the world. He is now almost 1 year old and terribly addicted to soda. No one can figure out why....



March

Our one year anniversary



April

My little brother got home from his mission to the Cordoba, Argentina.



May

I went to Hawaii for my first time ever! I had to leave my husband behind, which I had no idea how hard that would be. It was the longest 12 days of my life! I know, I am a dork, and all you military wives are shaking your heads at my wimpyness. Regardless, Hawaii was so incredible, and I had a great time with my family!






The day that I left for Hawaii was the same day that Jason got in an accident on his scooter. He tried to keep it from me.... that lasted ten minutes. We are still paying off medical bills.





July

Although Jason and I had been married for almost a year and a half at this point, I had never met my brother-in-law Dallin. Jason and I met like RIGHT after he left. He came home from the Belen, Brazil mission in July. I LOVE having him home, and even though I have known him the shortest time, I feel the closest to him. He maketh me laugh!




August

We took the longest plane ride in the world to visit one of the coolest places in the world. AUSTRALIA!!





September

Devon, Jason's youngest brother, and the last to serve a mission, received his mission call. He is called to serve in the Cordoba, Argentina mission!! That's right, the same exact mission that my brother Chris came back from this year! He reported to the MTC last week.




November

JAZZ SEASON!! We got to sit on the VERY front row at one of the Jazz games! And we got to invite my sister Kristen and her husband Josh, which made the experience 100 times even more better for me! Josh made sure that we got a picture of his bald head blocking part of the court so he could prove that he was that close. It was AMAZING!!!





On November 20th my little brother (yeah... the one that just got home from his mission in April) was married to the cutest girl, Leah Michelle Stoker, for time and all eternity in the Bountiful temple. It was a beautiful day!!






We had Thanksgiving at Jason's family's house in California. We had a great time with all of our family, and even got to help decorate the tree before we went home.




December

December went by way too fast! I decorated my home for the first time for Christmas, and I thought it was so cute, but I don't have pictures on my computer yet, so I hope what you imagine is even cuter than it really was. We celebrated Christmas with my family this year, and we had the WHOLE family together. We wore our Christmas pajamas, which we always love, and this year all of the boys got snuggies. Jason played a great Ghost of Christmas Present. We had WAY more fun giving each other our gifts than getting them. This was a fun Christmas!!




The day after Christmas we flew down to San Diego and met Jason's family to go on a 7 night cruise to the Mexican Riviera! I don't have pictures from that yet either. So sad. But we did celebrate New Year's Eve on the cruise, and we had a blast dancing the night away!! (Who am I kidding? We danced like two or three songs and then called it a night while his younger, single siblings danced the night away. We are old, married, boring... I like to call it matured! =)




That concludes our 2009. Let's pretend that it's not February, but more like January 4th so it makes more sense as to why I am posting this. Last year was a great year, but this year has already started out SO MUCH BETTER!! Now all we need is a bun to get in my oven! I have been keeping it warm and I think this might just be the year!!!

I QUIT!!!

Anyone want to hear my little tender mercy story? If you keep reading then I will take that as a yes. So I have been feeling really unsettled for a long time, and I have not been able to figure out why. Some of you may know that Jason and I have been trying to have a baby forever, and it's been over a year and a half since I miscarried, and still no baby. So I have started to do everything that I feel would help prepare me and my body to be able to carry a baby, i.e. eat better (I have been really good on my low-carb diet for two weeks now!), exercise, get enough sleep, but still I couldn't shake my unsettled feelings. I have such a wonderful job and I love it, it just happens to be an extremely high-stress job. I wouldn't consider it negative stress because it's the kind of stress that I like, that motivates me to hit my goals, but regardless it is still stress. So I started wondering if the immense amount of stress that my job provides, as well as taking classes, is having a negative effect on my body. I started contemplating the idea of leaving my position and finding a part-time position, going back to school full-time, and lessening my stress load. At first it was just an thought, but this thought grew and grew in my mind. Jason just finished school and could go to work full-time until we go off for grad school, which means that I really could leave my job if I really wanted to. But did I really want to? I LOVE my position, and it is the best paying position that I am sure I will ever have. I was in turmoil over this decision. I couldn't recognize answers, I was totally confused and hot and cold, I just could not decide what I should do. I finally decided to turn in my two weeks, and I did it, but then corporate stepped in and gave me a counter-offer that seemed idiotic to turn down. Then I was back to my distress. I went for days trying to make a decision and my emotions were all over the place. One early afternoon I talked to my boss for awhile and left feeling even more confused. I went out to my car and called Jason and just sobbed to him. He said some things that made me feel better and see things differently, and I hung up and prayed. I felt the best, most warming sense of peace about leaving the company and showing the Lord that I was going to do everything on my part to help my body be ready, that way if it still doesn't happen then I know that it is the Lord's plans, and then we can confidently turn to other options. I felt so good about my answer that they could have offered me any amount to stay and I wouldn't have. I took a deep breath, dried my eyes and went back inside. I sat down at my desk and said to myself, "okay, now I need to find a part time job." I pulled up craigslist and all of the jobs were for sales, telemarketing, or customer service $8-$10 an hour jobs that I could not imagine going back to. It made me cringe to think about that (not that those jobs are bad, I just don't think it would lower my stress levels). So I refreshed the page and a new one popped up for an office manager/admissions part time! I called right away and she explained the position to me (it was made for me!!!) We set up a time to meet that night! There was probably ten minutes in between the time that I had called Jason bawling, and called him completely ecstatic. We met that night and she offered me the position right then! I just couldn't believe how incredibly blessed I was. As soon as I had made my decision and received an answer, the Lord was like "okay, here you go." I am so so grateful.

So now we only had to worry about Jason finding a good full-time job. It started out rough and he interviewed with a lot of places, but it has paid off. He interviewed for a position with Stevens-Henegar to go meet with businesses and build relationships, (something that he would be perfect at) and he made it into their top ten candidates. On Friday they said that he was in their top three candidates and interviewed him again, and then this morning they offered him the position! We are taken care of and extremely blessed. So that's my tender mercy story and my testimony that once you give up your fears and trust the Lord, He makes things happen. My last day of work is February 8th because they won't let me go any sooner, and I'll start my new job on the 9th. Jason starts his this Wednesday!