Just Dance

This last weekend my mom and Tom came to town. We got together for one night at Meri's and played Just Dance on the Wii. It is super fun and pretty much a workout if you do it long enough.

Not only is this game fun to play but it is really fun to watch people play.

Sweet moves!

Alex is so cute! What a great family bonding game! And it is physically active! :)

Cute video of Nathan.

Family and Hands

Lately:

Nick has been busy studying for the MCAT. He is very dedicated and it has really paid off. He has now taken two practice exams (they are old MCATs) and scored as high as a 36 so hopefully with more studying and practice up to May 21 when he takes the test he will score even higher! I have just been studying and working. I'm continuing my two part time jobs this summer (diet tech and nutrition TA) but I'm hoping to get another one so I can work a total of 40 hours a week.

In the past week we have seen a lot of family. Last weekend Nick's sister Heidi came in town so we hung out with her and Nick's other sister Allison and played games. We love games! On Monday my brother Brett came in town with his girlfriend Heather so we had dinner with them and Meri's family. We also played Just Dance on the Wii. Nick is becoming a really good dancer! Then on Thursday Nick's mom came in town so we got to see her for a bit. During Christmas time when we went to Washington we bought this picture of Christ but couldn't fit it in our suitcase but Nick's mom was able to find room for it. I love it!

(the computer on the couch is hooked up to the tv. We are watching BYU vs. Gonzaga but have to stream it over the internet. Go BYU!)

So, ever since October I have had some really dry spots on my hands. I started my job at the hospital in October so I think it is caused by the soap. I went to the doctor in November and got some cream but that did nothing. I have also put Bag Balm and gloves on my hands while I sleep every night and that too hasn't helped. I just went this last week to a dermatologist and he wasn't quite sure what caused it. It could be from the soap at the hospital or my shampoo (but I've been using my shampoo for quite a while now). Hopefully changing these and using a new ointment will help.

Recent Activities

I started making this shirt in the summer but then got distracted, started school, and didn't have a sewing machine. Since I got a sewing machine for Christmas I was able to finish it. (It is hard to see the ruffles since it is black, but trust me it is cute!)

I have come to realize that my camera stinks! I would not take a decent picture to show the ruffles but this is the best I've got:

Other things we've been up to:

Yes. It is hard to say that this is actually my counter top. We've been busy with homework, work, and practicing the piano for church. Hey, but at least I'm cooking and eating delicious and nutrition food! :) (FYI- I cleaned it all up but it took some time)

This week I had a craving for a food from my childhood... Pigs in a Blanket (more like piglets since we used little smokies). And guess what?!?! While eating them Nick wrapped a blanket around me so I ate Pigs in a Blanket, in a blanket! They were delicious!

This picture is from Freshmen Year when I ran my first race ever with my friend Sarah. This was the Rex Lee 10k run. I did really well averaging 7:20min/mile. At the end of my freshmen year I ran a half marathon. I crossed the line at 1:47:39, place 131/567 overall, 5/43 in my division, and 31/314 women. I began this year by running 4 times a week and I plan to continue that and increase my miles so that I can run another half marathon and hopefully improve my time! Today I realized how much I have missed running. I love just thinking as I run or not thinking at all and just admiring the beauty of the earth. I love the feeling after of being exhausted but energized. Hopefully someday I can get Nick to like running too so that we can be running buddies. As of now I just run on my own which I kind of like because I can run at my own pace. I don't run extremely fast, but I plan my miles and I try to get them done as fast as I can.

The New Year

With the new year we have experienced a few new changes. Nick has begun to interpret in Spanish at the hospital. He loves being able to speak in Spanish again and work in a hospital setting. I was recently called as the relief society pianist. Unfortunately I quit piano lessons in 8th grade to just pursue flute which means I haven't really played for six years and in the years I did play I didn't learn the hymns. How I wish I would have now. Luckily last summer Nick and I brought a piano so I can practice the hymns before having to play in church. I now have about 12 songs under my belt which leaves a little over 300 to learn.

For Christmas I got a sewing machine from Nick's parents. For my first project I made some pillows for our couch. Here are some pictures:

Christmas in Washington

This year we spent Christmas in Washington with Nick's side of the family. We had a great time relaxing, eating food, talking, playing games, watching movies, and sledding. Here are some pictures of our awesome trip:

This is Nick's mom's delicious caramel popcorn. Warning: Addicting. She also made a bunch of other delicious treats that are irresistible!

For Christmas Eve me, Nick, and the grandkids all played some Christmas songs.

The grandkids acted out the Nativity scene. Mae was Mary, Porter was Joseph, James was a shepherd, and Brooks was one of the wise men.

Isn't Brooks cute?!?!

Nick and James

Nick's dad carving the Turkey. (more like pulling it off the bone cuz it was so tender)

The kids table

Christmas Dinner

Our First Christmas

Nick's mom made this cute blanket for us.

Nick and I in our new Christmas PJ's

Coming out Christmas morning

Christmas Morning

We drove up to the mountains to enjoy a day playing in the snow.

Here we are with the kids building a snow fort.

Nick's dad made us all hot chocolate with his camping stove. It was delicious!

Nick's mom and dad

They conquered the sledding hill!

Silly faces!

Sledding

Birthday & Christmas

December 5th was my birthday! The big 21! On Saturday Nick came home from work with a rose for me and then took me down town to the Roof Top Restaurant. The view was beautiful and the food was delicious! We then walked around temple square to see the lights but that didn't last long because it was raining. Here are some pictures:

On my b-day we decorated our little tree and put up some other Christmas things. We don't have a ton of stuff but what we do have is pretty cute!

Here is our little nativity and advent calendar which is filled with Reese's and Almond Rocas.

Here is our little Christmas tree. Most of the ornaments my mom made from a cookie dough and then painted them.

Here you can see the beautiful rose Nick got me and our little poinsettia.

New Job

At the beginning of October I received and e-mail about a dietary tech position at Intermountain Healthcare in the NICU. I was really excited and started filling out the really long application and then I started to get stressed as I tried to study and finish all my projects at the same time so I decided I wouldn't submit the application. A few days later I got an e-mail from HR asking me to finish the application because they wanted to set up an interview. I was flattered and not stressed at the time so I finished it(well tried, the site wasn't working) and had the interview. I didn't think anyone from my classes really applied because I hadn't heard anything but while waiting for the interview a girl from my major walked in and I thought I had no chance. The interview went well though. I had prepared for a typical interview where they ask your strengths and weakness and all that but this interview was much more relaxed. I was asked to pretty much share my life history/background. A few hours after the interview HR called me and said I needed to do one more part of the application because I did really well at my interview. I finished it right away and then HR called the next day and said I got the job and that I would start on Monday!

Monday was a full day orientation at the hospital for all new employees. The orientation was kind of boring but later that week I began training. Two weeks ago I started the real thing. I have to wake up at 5am and be to work by 5:30. Myself and a few other diet techs gather information from each baby's chart from the previous day and condense everything it says so the doctor and dietitian have an overall picture of what is happening and how the baby is doing (the babies are so cute!). There are a lot of little rules and exceptions to remember so I think it will take me a little while longer to really get it all down.

It is fun to work in the hospital! It is cool to see what actually goes on and how doctors, nurses, and dietitians all interact and contribute to helping a tiny baby. We are so lucky to have so much medical knowledge and technology. So many lives are improved and saved because of it!