Twas The Night Before Finals

Tomorrow is the start of yet another round of finals! Excited am I not!!!! My first exam is scheduled for 2:30 tomorrow afternoon-substance abuse and addictive behavior. After that I have obesity and weight management, worksite health promotion, exercise physiology, and statistics to take. Its my second to last semester and I'm wondering why I still have 5 finals. What the crap!?! Most people have less finals when they're nearing the end of their degree...I want to be one of those people! Boy am I ready to finish this 17.5 credit semester!!!! But I am that much closer to a college diploma!

I went to Miss Tara's bridal shower yesterday....what a pretty bride she'll be and what a way to start the New Year getting married on New Year's Eve! It was great to see all my arch-house girls again...minus a few due to missions and living in other countires! In the meanwhile...Cole was coaching his girls to their first victory. I was bummed to miss it but pretty stoked for them. I get a little into the games...who would have known!?

I locked myself out of our apartment on Friday- which incidentally means I locked myself out of my car. Mind you....I am NEVER this forgetful...but this is the second time I've done this! Cole just laughed when I told him. So I walked to his school to get his keys- its only a few blocks- and when I was checking in at the office, there was a student sitting by me and a teacher came in and said "What are you two doing in the office?" Nevermind the fact I have a wedding ring and am nearly done with college! Psssssh! And then later that night- I was watching Cole's basketball game and one of the parents asked me which one was my daughter. Ouch! But I'm confused as to if I look like I HAVE a fourteen-year-old or if I look LIKE a fourteen-year-old. Curious Predicament!

And then we went Christmas shopping! Usually...I'm done with Christmas shopping by this time- I plan ahead, okay! But Cole is so hard to shop for....well kinda. Really all he wants is tools and I just think thats lame so I try to think of other exciting things. I've got nothin....so he's getting tools! Haha.

Well...I have conveniently forgot about finals for long enough. I better get back to it!!!

Listening to: Winter Wonderland by Darius Rucker

XOXO

T'was The Night Before Finals

Twas the night before finals, and all through the college,

The students were praying for last minute knowledge.

Their projects were finished, completed with care
In the hopes that the grades would be easy (and fair)

Most were quite sleepy, But none touched their beds,

While visions of essays danced in their heads.
With piles of books and a brand new highlighter,

I had just settled down for another all-nighter

My roommate was speechless, his nose in his books,

And my comments to him drew unfriendly looks.

I drained all the coffee, and brewed a new pot,

No longer caring that my nerves were now shot.

I stared at my notes, But my thoughts were muddy,

My eyes went ablur, I just couldn't study.

"Some pizza might help,"I said with a shiver,

But each place I called refused to deliver.

I'd nearly concluded that life was too cruel,

With futures depending on grades had in school.
When all of a sudden, our door opened wide,

And Patron Saint Put-It-Off ambled inside.

His spirit was careless, his manner was mellow,

He started to bellow: "What kind of student

Would make such a fuss,to toss back at teachers

What they tossed at us?"

"On Cliff Notes! On Crib Notes! On last year's exams!
On Wingit and Slingit, and last minute crams!"

His message delivered, he vanished from sight,

But we heard him laughing outside in the night.

"Your teachers have pegged you, so just do your best.

Happy Finals to All, And to All, a good test."

Peace, Love, and Candycanes!!!

HELLO CHRISTMAS!!!! Cole and I got our first tree-....we're kinda excited about it. Its just a little bitty thing but I kinda love it....okay really love it! It's lime green and christmas red and silver...with accents of basketball (gotta love the husband!)

Its been fun discussing our Christmas traditions...Cole adores Christmas...as long as its after Thanksgiving! He was like "We have to keep Santa alive for our kids AS LONG AS POSSIBLE!" His family grew up with 3 wishes for X-mas! They poured over the JC Penneys magazine (it's Elba, Idaho- ok? Penneys was a big deal!) for hours- agonizing how to spend their wishes. I thought it was so cute. I can just picture Cole debating what to wish for- more than likely it was basketball related!

And speaking of basketball...today was Cole's first game as head coach of the 9th grade girls basketball team at Springville junior high. They lost- but just barely...32-30. He was so adorable on the side of the court. Awwww...so cute. Back off 14 year old girls!!! I walked in the gym and all his students started whispering....."pssst....that's Mr.Nelson's wife" and then-defeating the entire purpose of whispering-yell at him...."Coach Nelson!!!! Your wife is pretty!" It was then that I was like- ok, I like his students! Haha.

Today at work...Kaylee's mom came bearing gifts from my dear friend down under! Awwww...it's been a great day.

We finally got home after Thanksgiving break yesterday around 12. We went to Elba- it was so fun! We spent Thanksgiving with Cole's cousins and then went and saw Tangled.....which we LOVED! And then we went shopping in Twin Falls on Black Friday....Cole wanted to show me that I wouldnt be very far from a big city when we live in Elba. It was fun...but I probably wont do Black Friday again- there just werent any deals that Cole and I couldnt pass up. And we cured our turkey at my Father's directions! It was great but it made me realize how much time I spent with my dad when he was working but how little attention I paid to exactly WHAT he was doing. Haha. And then when we were ready to make the trip back to Utah- a storm rolled in. We got to Brigham City before we had to stop and get a hotel. But we got back- and safely- so we're grateful!

Well I better get back to the studying...finals are coming fast...and I am definately not ready!

XOXO

Ho Ho Ho, Jingle Bells, Reindeer, and Cole for Christmas!!!

TuRkEy! Here we Come!

Great Day here at the Nelson's! It is finally...officially....Thanksgiving Break! Happy Day! A blizzard however is on its way to Utah- apparently it s supposed to be the worst that Utah has seen in several years! High winds, well below zero temperatures, white-out conditions, and power outages. Boo, Utah Boo! However, this storm was supposed to be here at 2pm today....here we are at 6:48 and still no storm. Oh bless those weathermen's hearts!

Our plans have changed a bit for our Turkey Day celebrations. We were planning on just staying here in Springville- but we decided to go to Elba so Cole's mother wont be alone for Thanksgiving. We're excited for our very first Thanksgiving together! And tomorrow we will be celebrating our 5 month anniversary! Where has that gone!?! I love everything about being married! A few of my most favorite things about the life with the ball and chain:

• Not having to say goodnight
• When Cole walks in the door, he comes to give me a kiss before he does anything else
• He is always excited for what I cook
• Our apartment that is just ours
• Decorating for the holidays!
• How opposite we are...but the same in things that matter.
• That we have so much fun just doing nothing!
• That I always know what he'll order when we got out...chicken fried steak and a water with lemon (he eats it...WITH the rine....blech)
• How he is so much like my Dad
• He helps me clean... he's the greatest roommate!
• Talking about our future...our dream house...future kids names (good thing it'll be a while...we have things to discuss where our posterity's names are concerned!)

And quote of the week from the sarcastic man that is my husband....we were talking about how he'd waited until after we were married to tell me we would live in Elba someday...

"I liked it- so I put a ring on it- and THEN told you about Elba!"

Oh Beloved husband of mine....how could I say no to such an offer? Haha.

I met wit my advisor todady to make sure there would be no surprises in April. Graduation is a go! How crazy!? 5 more months and I'll be a college graduate! Awesome! My schedule is a little crazy next semester- turns out when you're about to graduate- you just have to take the classes you need when they're offered...which kinda screws up your schedule! But oh well- hopefully I'll use the 3 hour breaks in my schedule for studying...although I doubt it especially since it'll be my last semester. Senior-itis is definately something I'm familiar with! But I'll be taking Personal Training Strategies, Problems in Exercise Perscription, Basic Entrepreneurship Skills, Exercise and Wellness Certification Preparation, Women's Health Issues, and I'm currently signed up for Physics since some of the medical sonography programs require it...although I'm weighing if its worth it! 16 credit hours and BAM....college degree! Woo-hoo! BYU has been great...helped me meet my husband and all...but I'm quite content to finish and head to the next chapter!

Our only big plans for the week are Thanksgiving dinner and going to see Tangled...I'm kinda excited!

Xoxo,

Hmmmmm....Turkey!!!! :)

Just An Update!

I keep seeing all of my friends update their blogs and I love reading them but I always think to myself "I should do that...meh...maybe later!" So....it's later. It's Saturday and I'm at work...per usual. Last night, Cole and I went to Abram's apartment for a housewarming party! It was so good to see Abram and a bunch of the Burley Boys! Abram has the best decorated bachelor pad probably ever. It looks like an IKEA display apartment! It fits him so well!

Cole and I are staying in Springville for Thanksgiving. I havent been able to see my parents since my Dad got burned over Labor Day- so thats a little hard to not see them but he's doing A-M-A-Z-I-N-G and is back in good health. Miracle? I think so! But this is the longest I've not seen my parents since I wont be able to see them until January. Crazy how getting married does that! But we're pretty excited to have a nice relaxing holiday! We're both pretty worn down and the two of us keep getting colds because of stress and school and just a lot going on so the sleeping in and relaxing will be much needed! My Dad makes the BEST cured and smoked turkeys for Thanksgiving- I was pretty sad to miss out. However, my Dad (he's so awesome) is sending us the cure to make our own. Most people would not be half as excited as I am about this- but seriously- I'm stoked!!! And i'm kinda excited to have a little Thanksgiving dinner with just the two of us!

We just have classes Monday and Tuesday and Cole's girl's first game is Tuesday night! I'm excited to see his coaching skills in action! He's so funny when he comes home and talks about his students. In his weights class- apparently he modivates them by Halo 3 terminology. Ijust know that those kids walk out of class everday thinking "BEST- P.E. -TEACHER- EVER!" Yep! That's my husband!

My dear sweetheart of a friend in Australia sent me flowers the other day after a rough week AND I found out that I can text her....Awesome? Indeed! I miss her a lot.

And here is a countdown of the next month-ish that I am looking SOOO forward to finishing!

1. 1 more midterm
2. 1 physiology paper
3. THANKSGIVING!
4. 1 more physiology lab
5. About 20 medical journal readings for Obesity (I was supposed to be doing these all semester...Crap!)
6. 4 more statistics assignments
7. 2 projects and presentations
8. Another dentist appointment
9. Finals
10. CHRISTMAS!!!

I LOVE CHRISTMAS! I've secretly been listening to Christmas music....(shhhh- dont tell Cole- he hate x-mas music before Thanksgiving) ....I want a hippopatums for Christmas and Baby- It's Cold Outside are two of my most favorites!! Christmas will be so fun...we're going to Elba this year. Cole's Mom rented some large house or something- I'm not even sure what it is but its a bigger place so that Cole and his 4 sisters and all of their little ones and families can all be under one roof. I think it will be so much fun!Oh- and for all of you that knew that I put my foot down and told Cole I'd never live in Elba....haha...oh how things can change in less than 5 months of marriage! Yes- I've agreed to live in Elba on the ranch someday- not for a while though! Cole loves to ranch and I love him- so I'll follow him wherever he wants to go- I can ultrasound anywhere and Elba is gorgeous and will be a great place to raise a family!

Oh- and Cole and I are going to Harry Potter in about an hour! I'm not a super fan of HP but I like the movies and Cole has been excited for it for weeks! I hope its good.

XOXO,

Hogwarts Bound!!!

Thankful-ness

I have decided, with the craziness that this semester/week/month/year has been that I needed to actually perk myself up and remind me of the sooooo many things I am so blessed to have...and its almost Thanksgiving!

1. My husband!!!

Cole is seriously the greatest! He helps me do the dishes and clean. He holds me when I cry and wipes away my tears. My parents ADORE him. And all of the little things he does everyday. Like when I lay in bed fuming for hours about how someone has been so cruel and malicious to me and he just rolls over and says "I love you- I just wanted you to know!" at 3 am! I'm just so lucky! He's a hard worker, SOOO much like my Dad, he's the kindest person you'll meet, and he is ALWAYS on my side.

2. My family!!!

My parents are seriously to most Christ-like people you will ever meet. They care about those they come in contact with and they work harder than anyone you know! They would do anything for their kids and are not more concerned with being "the cool parents" than being real parents- there were times in my life I didnt appreciate that! But all of the good things in my life- my work ethic, my goals, my testimony, my eternal marriage....I owe to my parents! My big brothers are awesome! Matthew and I talk probably 3 times a week. Being newlyweds at the same time has really made us even closer! I idolized him when I was little and we had our time of disagreements, but I feel like we're back to the relationship we had when we were little when I would follow him everywhere! He has the greatest advice and is so loving and brilliant and he married the perfect girl! Anita is just genuinely sweet- Matthew hates that people in Casper think her and I look alike, but I take it as the greatest compliment...she's adorable! And Kalob is about to be a Dad!!! Whenever I talk to him he is just so excited for the future of soccer games and baseball and coaching his boys- I'll laugh when it's a girl so he'll have to start dreaming in tu-tus and ballet!

3. My friends!!!

I have had the most wonderful friends in my life! Amber, Shelly, Maren, and Kaylee are so amazing in so many different ways. Amber is soooo much fun- you can't be around her without laughing and instantly falling in love with her. Shelly is the kindest person I've ever met-she makes me a better person just by knowing her! And she will be the most beautiful bride next June...I cannot even wait for her and Nick's wedding. Maren is so grounded- I always turn to her for advice. And probably one of the most hillarious people ever- and so intelligent- but not in a way that makes you feel dumb. She's amazing and sincere and kind and compassionate. And Kaylee has been such a blessing in my life when I hated BYU my freshman year and then we became friends via Pocahontas....Thank you Disney! She was so much a part of me being able to meet Cole and I cannot wait until her and Phil move back to the US from Australia!

4. My education!!!

Though at times (many times) I hate going to class, studying for exams, working on projects, writing papers, and all of the other things that come with being a student- I will be more prepared for a career, motherhood, and basically just life in general. I've been so blessed with a scholarship and for the opportunity that I didn't have to go into debt for my undergraduate degree.

Halloween!!!!

I have always LOVED Halloween! Since I grew up on a ranch and we never had trick-or-treaters, we always went to a family friend's house, Nancy! She was the greatest- she had the thickest southern accent and she was just always soooo fun! Halloween is when I miss childhood the most!

This year, Cole and I decided to have some friends over for Halloween since it was on Sunday. I bought bread bowls at a bakery in Provo that looked like pumpkins....I was pretty excited! and I made Broccoli and Cheese Soup....DELICIOUS! It was so nice to just have everyone over! We haven't really had very many visitors since we're in Springville. I also made cookies that looked like bats, pumpkins, and candy corn! I'd forgotten how much I love baking with how crazy everything has been! I'm kinda bummed that Halloween is over....now I have to find more decorations!

These next couple weeks are also going to be pretty busy for us! I have a whole new slew of exams- one of which I took today, studied for 5 hours for it and got a less than optimal grade! And I have another exercise physiology exam at the end of the week! Greatest day of all time will be when that class is over! I also have a root canal scheduled for a week and a half- and about 14 other cavities needing fixing. Curse my teeth! I think the dentist thinks I'm nuts with how emotional I am about my stupid teeth. He was like- "I fix people's teeth because they've been on illegal drugs- at least your problem is genetics." Thank you Mr. Dentist- I'm so glad we've established that I'm not on Crack Cocaine.....(which, by-the-way, I could tell you all about because of my Substance Abuse Class- even how to make it if you're interested....thank you BYU for my education in the best ways to cook Meth, Heroin, and Crack....a life skill I'm sure I'll be using!)

Cole is just as busy as ever too! I've just realized how selfish this blog always sounds! He comes home every night and plans his lessons. Those 8th graders have no idea what an awesome teacher he is! He buys candy for test review days........if only my college professors would do that- maybe I'd have nicer things to say about them on ratemyprofessor! haha. Cole hasn't had to go back to Idaho in a few weeks, but he'll be going home again this weekend to work the cows and get ready for Winter. Someday- it will be so much easier for him when we live in Burley.

I'll be applying to the Medical Sonography Programs at Weber State in January. So we aren't sure if we'll be staying here in Springville or moving to Ogden. It depends on if I get into the regional program- where I would do my clinical training in Provo and go to classes in Ogden like 5 times during the semester or if I get into the on-campus program. We're not even sure which one we would prefer at this point! It'd be nice to be that much closer to Burley for when Cole needed to travel- but it'd also be nice to stay here where he would probably have a job with the school he's at now. Cole is trying to teach me to worry a little less....not my strong suit, and plan a little less...also Hard! Both of those things are so hard....I'm a planner and a worrier- its what I do best!

Well- thats all for now!

Xoxo,

Jamie

"Hey Life!!! SLOW DOWN!"

Just a little update of why I've fallen off the map the past few weeks! Here's a list of my adventures:

• Married Picnic courtesy of Aaron and Ali!
• Drove to St George for two weeks in a row for my internship
• 7 Statistics Homework Assignements
• 6 exams (Exercise Physiology, Worksite Health Promotion, Obesity and Weight Management, Substance Abuse and Addictive Behavior, and TWO statistics exams
• Reading for well over 100 pages for Exercise Phys
• 5 Quizzes
• 7 papers
• A trip to Elba and Burley Homecoming (first time in FOREVER that we actually got to go TOGETHER)
• Work was thrown in throughout the mix
• A Beer Handler's License Meeting (its for a class!)
• Dinner with my scholarship
• babysitting for Cole's sister
• and Homework Homework and more Homework
  

And all of this at the expense of the husband! No time to grocery shop or clean the apartment....not ideal! Poor guy! Good thing I lucked out with him!

Last night- we went to Herriman. Cole watched Maddison, Bryson, and Dawson and I went to a Young Womens night with Brooklyn. There was a speaker there who, though she was a bit odd, was a very, very powerful speaker. She talked about the role of being virtuous women in the world and that these girls are the women of tomorrow and the need the world has of them to be strong, courageous, completely converted women that teach their sons with the same power that the mothers of the Stripling Warriors.

She quoted Alma 56: 47-48.

47. Now the never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.

48. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.

What a great perspective that I needed! After the craziness of life and the constant stress of school, what a great reassurance of peace and of purpose. She said something else that really struck me that I realized needs to be a greater focal point in my life. She said that when she was younger and if someone asked her what she wanted to be-she would have never said a Mother. Not that she didn't want to be one- she knew she would be- but she had other life ambitions. But with all the power of her voice she said "I am a Mother! I was sent to this earth to be a Mother! All of my life ambitions and education prepared me- not for a career- but for Motherhood."

I have an awesome Mother! She, individually, is the reason I have an eternal family, an eternal marriage, and that my two brothers have temple marriages. She alone! What a great woman I someday hope to be like...but in a few more years! Haha.

XoXo

Jamie

Busy Busy!!!

Is there a pause button to my life? Because lately it feels like a big NO! Last week, I took two exams on Tuesday before heading to St. George for the World Senior Games. I was there until Thursday night and then came home to take yet another TWO exams and a quiz for exercise physiology! I'll be leaving again tomorrow to go back!

I love St. George and I love the Senior Games.....I DONT love the grad student doing her study on the carotid ultrasound so it is a HUGE mess! Since I'm the only one who had been there before and knew how it worked, people can sense the one person who has a clue what they're doing. So....all the old people came to yell at me because of the disaster she had made it. So I was calming them down and explaining why it was a mess when the grad student comes and tells me to stop telling them its a mess. For those that know me you know this about me: A. Dont tell me what to do and B. I'll say whatever the heck I want to when I'm the one having to problem solve the mess you created! It ended badly for the grad student when she tried to yell at me, we'll just say there were some tears....and they weren't mine. Those poor people. For her study, she made them fast- they're all participating in sporting events, mind you, and they're old- so fasting until late in the afternoon was basically just cruel. AND they had to have 7...thats right SEVEN vials of blood drawn for her study. I was not on the Grad Students side, these poor people were mad and had every right to be.

Alas, I still had a great time in St George once we were able to get it organized! I got to visit a couple that used to live in Casper- Wes and Aubrey. She was actually the person who talked me into coming to BYU. It was so fun to see them again! They just had twins and I loved seeing them! They are the kind of parents I want to someday be.

And then I drove home! It really sucks to spend as much time apart that Cole and I do with him usually going home on the weekends and these two weeks with me in St. George but I am so grateful for him always- and when I do get him for the weekends, I LOVE it! I came home to find that he had put our bookshelf together and cleaned our apartment! He knows how stressed I get when I dont have time to clean! Seriously...the best husband EVER!

With everything I have yet to do tonight: laundry, quizzes, reading, grocery shopping, packing, and finding some time for sleep- I better quit blogging and start checking everything off my list!

And lastly a few quotes that are how I'm feeling

"In times of great stress or adversity, it's always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive"

"It's not so much how busy you are, but why you are busy. The bee is praised. The mosquito is swatted."

Xoxo,

Busy Bee

Date Night!

Last night- Cole and I decided on somethings we needed to do- rather wanted to do:

1. Ikea...Bookshelf
2. Tai Pan...Home Decor!
3. Gardner's Village... Fun!
   

We've been putting off getting a bookshelf- mostly because Ikea is far! So we went and got our black bookshelf for the living room....assembly and pictures to come!

Second stop was Tai Pan....ps- can we just say that I have the best husband and the fact that he grew up with 4 sisters- he doesnt mind going shopping with me or going to places like Tai Pan- because he spent hours in those places growing up! Thank you Cole's sisters! So we got some more Halloween Decorations....I LOVE Halloween- my favorite of which are three Halloween pillows that say "Bippity" "Boppity" and "Boo!" They're cute...I love them! Also...pictures of our Halloween Hollow of a home to come!

And finally- Gardner's Village. This is where Cole took me 1 year ago on our date when we had our first kiss. Its this little place where they have awesome little shops... the Wild West Shop is Cole's favorite, and a Christmas shop, and a quilt shop, and a fudge shop. And they go all out for Halloween- women dress up as withces and wander around! I love it! And we also went to dinner at Archibald's which is a restraunt there that used to be a mill in the old days! So fun! Date night was most fab with my handsome husband! I love him....A LOT!

Xoxo,

Halloween Lover

Awesome....BYU Testing Center Said So.

That's right....I'm Awesome. You know how I know? The BYU testing center said so!

I've started my last fall at BYU. Hooray! And all this time, I have never- not once- gotten an A in the testing center. And for those of you who dont know about the testing center, you take your test on the second level, turn it in, and walk downstairs and there is a tv monitor that displays student id numbers and the percentage you got on your exam. If you get an A, next to your percentage it says "Awesome!", "Good Job!", or "Well Done!" something to that effect. I'm not going to lie, I sat there and waited for the screen to change and give me all the affirmations of my intelligence! I was so proud... I called my parents right away! "So I'm kind of a big deal!" Basically- thats how the conversation started. And here is the crazy part- it was my statistics exam. I've taken a lot of easy classes these past few years- and statistics is the one I finally get an A on. I guess being married is better for my grades! I'm kinda waiting for an email telling me they graded it incorrectly. Haha.

So school is school. Busy and crazy but I'll be done in April...so close...but so far away! Next week, I'll be going to St. George for my ultrasound internship at the World Senior Games. It is simply one of my most exciting things I do every year. First of all- its basically Olympics for the elderly and people come from all over the world to compete in these events. Seriously- women from Africa who play volleyball and a guy from Brazil last year who was 92 and playing tennis! Healthy healthy people! And we do ultrasound on the carotid artery in the neck and analyze the Intima Media Thickness- basically, we look at how clogged their arteries are which is a huge predictor of stroke! Its amazing! Ultrasound is seriously the coolest technology- and it saves lives! I love it so much!

And Cole is the new 9th grade Girls Basketball Head Coach! He told me I'm going to have to behave when I come to his games- like if parents get mad at his coaching I can't just yell at them "well your kid sucks at sports!" Which- lets be honest- I probably would do. Haha.

Thats all for now.

Xoxo The Coach's Wife

Home Sweet Home

We LOVE our cute little apartment! It just our little slice of heaven after a long day of school and work! We are soooooo happy here and I finally decided I should put some pictures up. That....and I'm avoiding studying for the Statistics Exam I have tomorrow.

Ugh doesnt even begin to explain my feelings toward that class!

But.....on to Apartment Love!!!

This is as you walk in the front door. Cole's little head it there in the corner....he has just been loving that 42 inch tv of his. I dont know what is on the tv in this picture, but I'd almost put money on that it is ESPN of some sort! Thats his baby- thats for sure! Our living room colors are tan and black.

We looked FOREVER for some pillows we liked! You cant tell the design very well- but three of them have a sort of leaf design and the other two are zebra! I love them! They add a really cute accent and some texture to the couch!!!

And our kitchen colors are- you guessed it...Red and Black! My cousin gave us the adorable table and my Uncle Rory and Aunt Judy recovered the chairs so they would match our kitchen! I have awesome family!!! :)

We dont have very much counter space....but tons of cupboard space! And I'm still getting used to the oven- it doesn't cook very evenly, but I can usually make it work pretty well. Cole hasn't complained about my cooking- so thats a plus! He told me the other day that he's glad he married someone who can cook! Haha! I love cooking for him!

And I love that he loves my cooking!

And here is our bathroom- it also is our laundry room! Boy- do I LOVE not having to go anywhere to do laundry....things like that you are so grateful for after being a single college student! The bathroom changed quite a bit since this picture...we have rugs and a towel rack and a cute little picture hanging on the wall that matches just perfectly! Its quite adorable!

I'll add the rest of the pictures later- apparently, I dont have them on my camera. Weird....and I've decorated for Halloween!!! We still have some little things to add....a bookshelf is the next thing we want in our living room and we still need to hang up our words and pictures from the wedding. Its just amazing how busy we've been with school starting. I miss the old days of just working and coming home to relax (hahaha- the old days....we've been married for 3 months!)

Thats all for now!

XOXO,

The Mrs.

Labor Day Weekend

What a weekend it has been! Cole and I decided to go home for Labor Day since I'd been pretty homesick. This is the first summer I've lived away from home. Married life is awesome....but I was missing my parents.

While we were there, my dad was smoking a barbeque hog for his customers for Labor Day. He goes to check the hogs at 11 at night usually. But this time- the fire had gone out, but not the propane. When he went to re-light the fire, an explosion caught his clothes on fire. His clothing was just shredded. He got the fire out and he went to make sure they were still cooking before he drove himself home. My mom woke me up to help. I knew they were 2nd degree burns on his face and hands and his lower back had some spots that were 3rd degree. I called my friend Shelly who had just started working at the hospital as a nurse to make sure I was right. We took my Dad to the Emergency Room. But they kept us there from about midnight until 3 am and they really didnt know how to handle burns. They ran tests and an EKG to make sure my Dad's lungs and heart were okay and then gave him pain medication. Since it was a holiday weekend, there was no plastic surgeon that could see his hands until Tuesday, so they were going to fly him to the burn center in Greeley, Colorado. Since we knew that cost would be tremendous, i asked the doctor if I could drive him. So, at 3:30 am, my dad and I took off for the 4 hour drive and I had to leave Cole and my Mom in Casper to watch the BBQ hogs.

We got to the ER in Greeley at about 7:30 and saw the specialist. They gave my dad some more pain medication so he was feeling better and the burn specialist looked at his burns and said Dad should make a full recovery. His hands and face will begin to heal within the week. It is amazing to look back and see the tender mercies and the blessings that we are so grateful for. His injuries could, and probably should have been much worse for the type of injury he sustained. I'm so grateful for my Dad and his strength and I'm grateful he'll be recovering soon!

Xoxo

Daddy's Girl

College Football Season

It's Saturday! So I'm at work and Cole is in Idaho. Not the ideal Newly Wed Weekend but we're beginning to adapt. We still hate it, but what can you do. Good think he's worth it! It sucks having him gone....but I knew what I was getting into when I decided to marry that handsome little cowboy of mine!

We've been married just barely over two months now!! Crazy, eh? And somehow we've only been to our ward a whopping 1 time. So time number 2 will be tomorrow!

This week, I've recently found out that Wells Fargo lets you design your credit card! How awesome is that? I changed my cards to have our wedding pictures on them...and I've only just recently changed my name at the bank. So I'm waiting for my cards to come, and somehow I just assumed that I my cards would still work until I got my new cards- even though my name has changed. I was wrong. And at the worst time. I went to Subway....made my sandwich all delicious and perfect and then I tried to pay with my debit card- wouldnt work....then my credit card. Still nope. I had to walk away without my sandwich! I told Cole when I got home- he was like "Were you embarassed?" I was like "No- I was hungry!" lol. Worst ever! Pssssh....changing your name sucks! Good thing I'm so close to being done! I got a new drivers license, changed my name 0n the transcripts, on the bank account, social security card, and my school id. Now BYU doesnt even recognize me as Jamie Komma. A little sad! Its like I didnt exist when I was single. haha.

Cole and I are looking into getting a second tv. College football is about to start....and Cole tells me the other day "I'm going to need the tv on Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Saturday nights" lol. So we're going to need two tvs. lol. I love him....but we need some alone time- me with my private practice, greys, chuck, smallville, and desperate housewives. That sounds like a lot of shows....but it about equals his sports! What a pair we are?

Xoxo

Miss Komma....uh....I mean Mrs. Nelson

AKA soon to be NFL Widow

Cassia County Fair

Last weekend, Cole took me back to Idaho for the 100 year celebration of the Cassia County Fair and Rodeo. It was so much fun! Complete with fried foods, dutch oven cooking, corn on the cob on a stick, my beloved cotton candy, wild cow rides, rodeo, and mormon rodeo clowns!


Apparently, the maple bars of the Cassia County Fair are infamous. Everyone waits in line for like an hour for the deep fried little treasures. Everyone....except the Mexicans. Which by the way, there is an exceptionally large amount in Burley. They cut in line. Cole says "When you cross the border illegally, whats cutting in line?" I got a little feisty at the counter when I "Cutters" were at the counter, we had been in line for about 45 minute- her like 10- when I thought I heard the cashier say it would be an hour after "the cutter's" order! I about stole her doughnuts right then and there! Cole was pulling on me back- "Jamie- shhhh, let it go!" Hahaha. I guess I embarass him. We know I'm the feisty one. If you're wondering, no we didnt have to wait an hour. And they were worth it! Delicious little beauties! I've been searching for recipes to see if I can try to make some! I think it can be done!
We went to the rodeo on Friday night with Cole's mom, sister, and brother in law. So much fun! I had no idea what to expect when they announced the Wild Cow Ride. Yeah...pretty much exactly what it says! They have like 5 or 6 teams of 3 guys and one "Wild Cow" to each team. They open the gates and release the cows and the first team to saddle one of the cows and ride it through a set of cones wins. Sounds a little odd....but hillarious. Also dangerous! Basically, all of these cows were just dragging these guys all over the arena. Cows kept charging all the kids and running them over....all for a belt buckle. Suffice it to say...Cole won't ever be participating in such an event.


















I've also been making diaper cakes lately.... I for some reason know a lot of people having babies. I made one for Heather Blevins who's expecting her little Baby Alice here in mid September! And Cole's mom had me make one for Abram Jone's sister, I've never met her but I guess she's having a girl! And I'm making one for my cousin who is having.....you guessed it...A GIRL! haha.



I just really love this ultrasound picture. Cute little baby feet! Ps....Per Kaylee- I have decided to add that no- I AM NOT PREGO!

There is an ultrasound tech that works at the Health Center who's been letting me job shadow her at her private office and teaching me how to do gender checks....its awesome! I still have so much to learn but I love every minute of it! It is so much fun to be a part of every little family that comes in, even for just a second to share in that exciting moment! One of the best I got to see was a couple who came in and all FOUR of their little boys filed in after them! So I got to see her check for all of the healthy signs of the baby and then, at the end, she told them it was a girl! The cute little mommy just started crying....she was so excited! The dad was happy too, but he said he was hoping to have enough for a whole basketball team! I thought instantly of Cole. We better not be reliving that in approximately 2.7 years! Haha I want mostly boys...but I at least want one little girl. Good thing that is still a while away!

Cole has started teaching at Springville Junior High this week! He's so cute when he goes to school! So handsome! Psssssh...if he were my junior high teacher- I would have had a major crush. Haha. Ok...so I'm a little biased! But I helped him decorate his room last week. That was fun! We put up pictures of the presidents and the consitution and his Michael Jordan picture. And he started of Tuesday! So today is day 4! It's fun to be on the other side....the teacher's perspective! He comes home and tells me about his students, how some like to talk, some think they're funny, some who dont do the work, the ones who are quiet. I just have to look back at my schooling and evaluate what my teachers thought of me!

And BYU starts for me on Monday! Ugh! I can't believe that I'm starting my fourth year of College! I'm a senior. How weird!? Its gone really fast....but I hope this year goes even faster! I just went to the bookstore to buy books yesterday....490 dollars! Wow- I'm not going to miss school! If everything goes according to plan....which it never does (I dont know why I still have plans) we're hoping to move to Burley next year! If the programs I'm looking into for ultrasound work out the way I'm hoping them to. Well....thats about all for now!!!

Xoxo,

J-me

Mostly, I wanted to put up some more pictures of our families at our wedding and some pictures of our reception in Elba, Idaho! It was perfect...so cute and I loved every minute of our outdoor reception in Cole's backyard!

I LOVE this picture- Cole and I are trying to get Bryson to sit up for the picture but my favorite part of this picture is Tenae acting like its not her kid. Its just so hard for the little ones to sit still.

Cole and his sweet sisters: Tenelle, Tenae, NaShai, and Megann.

Cole and I with our parents. His Mother- Paula and my Mom and Dad- Jim and Diane.

And this is my whole family...finally complete. Kalob & Elise, Cole & I, Dad & Mom, Anita & Matthew! Anita wasn't sure she'd be able to make it....greatest gift ever! It was the first time our family had been ALL together!!!

And here's the cake! Crazy adventure that it was! But I loved it! Our initials are hidden in the scrolly decoration all over the cake- I thought it was neat and you could never get that kind of personalization from a bakery! And it tasted good.....I LOVE cake! But we had so much left over!!!

My mom's friend JoAnne gave us (and both of my brothers) an awesome gift! It was the cake cutting set- the knife has our date on it and the server part has our names!











I can honestly say I have no clue why I'm making this face. Lovely! Sophia says its because I was looking for a plate or a napkin to put the cake on. Yep...didn't have any! Classic facial expression though....slightly embarrassing. And I LOVED the lanterns!!!



These are the doors that we stood in front of as people came through the line! Our initials were hanging with turquoise ribbon and in the trees are some of the words that we had all over the reception! I want to hang these letters in our apartment but Cole thinks their too big. We shall see!!!


And more lanterns!!!!


And this....is the antique car of Cole's uncles that he brought to be the backdrop for our gifts!

So cute!

This is what all the tables looked like but we had all kinds of different words like kisses, dance, laugh, love, together. They'll be hanging in our aparment!!!! Amber took these pictures....her and Maren and so many others drove the three hours from Utah to Elba! It meant so much to have them there!

This is the guest sign in table with just some of our pictures!

I owe a big thanks to my sweet roommate Sophia and Amber for taking all the pictures at the reception! I'm so glad they did!

XOXO

The New Mrs. Nelson

Wedding Day ~ Mount Timpanogos Temple

Yeah....We're Married!!!!

I wish I could say it went off without a hitch...but that would be the furthest from the reality of our perfectly imperfect wedding day!

They're had been a lot of chaos with the wedding. To start...it goes back to way before we were ever married!


My friend Kaylee got married in February to her awesome little Aussie Phil....I was a bridesmaid (the first wedding of the 4 I would be in in 5 months...including my own). I also made her wedding cake during midterm exams.


After that....my brother Matthew married his southern beauty, Anita to start off the weddings for the family! They got married in the Orlando, Florida temple! It was beautiful. My family was nearly late- per usual. But nothing could ruin their day. After that we went to West Palm for their Open House at Anita's home...Her parents by the way are wonderful....AND brilliant! Their children will be little geniuses! But a big congrats to my big bro and his amazing wife!

After the craziness of flying to the other side of the country for Matthew's wedding, Cole and I wrapped up our Winter Semester and he moved back to Idaho until we got married- which, by the way, was less than awesome. That was followed by Kalob & Elise's wedding. They got married in Boise and the weather was beautiful. Elise decorated their reception amazingly- apparently she had had it planned for a very long time. Black and Red made for beautiful wedding colors.

During all of this, I had decided to take spring classes while I was working, planning a wedding, and making my own wedding cake. It all got crazy a couple of weeks before the wedding when the turquoise boots I had ordered weren't going to be here for the wedding. I thought that was the biggest of my problems...boy was I wrong! I got white boots instead and I thought the rest was smooth sailin! Again--very very wrong! The week before I had finals, while working, moving out of my apartment, making my own wedding cake, travelling back to Casper, and finalizing all the plans. The day before the wedding, I drove to Utah- picked Matt & Anita up from the airport and began all the little things like picking up the flowers and my dress. Sitting at my Aunt's house is when I got the worst possible news for a wedding- (well I guess other than the groom or something wouldn't be there)

- my photographer wouldn't be there.

Not quite according to plan! Haha

She found a random photographer in Utah to take her place who turned out to be simply amazing and actually knew Matthew from before. It worked out but I went to take pictures with her the morning of my wedding and didn't even know her name and hadn't seen her work. But a big shout out to Natalie Meibos of Captured by Natalie Photography! She was so fun and I'll forever be grateful for her willingness to commit to shoot a wedding at 11pm the night before the actual wedding.

Then...the women in the temple were- well, less than cordial. They were yelling at me, but whispering...because it's the temple- nevermind the fact it was my wedding day. They kept saying "You're so late- why are you so late?" Which, for the first time in my life- I was not....I know- Shocker! I was there at 1:00 and our sealing was scheduled for 2:00 And then they kept saying "well you have to hurry or we'll miss the session" and "you cant wear that dress- we have to get permission from the temple president" and then "you can leave your stuff right there in the bridal room" and then five minutes later another lady yells at me "why are you leaving your stuff there- you can't do that- you have to move it and we have to go" So all the rushing and then we had to sit for 20 minutes and wait....But then we went into the sealing room and everything

was finally peaceful for the first time in I dont even know how long. I knew thats where we were supposed to be and all of the difficulties of the wedding made so much sense. Satan had been endeavoring to ruin the most important day of our lives. Of course he would, we were doing exactly what we were supposed to be doing through God's authority given to that Temple Sealer to seal us together for not only time but for all eternity. It was beautiful. It was wonderful. And it was worth it.

And then we walked out of the temple...Mr. and Mrs. Nelson! I was so happy. And then we found out that someone had hit the Olive Garden where we were going to have our dinner with their car. At that point- I just laughed... of course it did! My dad said "For all the planning you did- it's amazing how everything went wrong!" So true- but it made the day more memorable. The important things were still what were important. We had amazing friends and family there to support us and I was finally married to the Love of my life! Nothing else mattered.

Well...thats our wedding! Perfectly imperfect....but it's ours and it's forever!

XOXO

Mrs. Head-Over-Heels

Our Engagement. January 30, 2010

Cole and I had known for quite a while that we would be getting married. In fact- we had decided on our wedding date in December. Since both of my brothers would also be getting married- we were also busy working out when would be the best time around those important events as well. I had taken Cole back to Casper to meet my family the first weekend in January because Matthew and Anita were there and I wanted Cole to meet them too. I knew he had talked to my dad so I knew we were basically just waiting for the ring. The week before he proposed- we were at the jewelry store and they said that a wax molding would be ready on Monday. Cole and I were leaving town for the weekend to go to Elba- now I know it was to propose- but I dont remember what the reason was that he told me we were going for. I was not expecting it at all because Cole had told me we would go look at the wax molding of the ring on Monday when I got out of class.

When we were in Idaho, we were watching TV on the couch in the living room with his mom. He asked me if I wanted to go check on the calves with him. I was like "Sure- I like cows!" Its almost embarrassing how I didn't see any of it coming.... and I'm usually so good at that- figuring out things- I hate secrets and surprises...but I guess this one was worth it. So we were driving in the meadow and he said "I need to go look over there for calves. Will you get in the box in the back seat and get the medicine out for me?" I said sure, but inside my head I was thinking- I wonder what

kind of medicine he has for the calves, we dont have medicine for our baby calves. I'm so clueless. So I open the box and take off the top shelf of it and there in the bottom is a ring box with a big turquoise ribbon tied in a bow. By this time- he had come to my side of the truck and I turned around and said "What is this?" He told me I had to open it to find out. The next thing I had to say was "You lied to me!" He laughed and got down on one knee. He had picked that spot special because it was his favorite spot on the ranch and that we could always come back to where we got engaged. I loved it. It was perfect! And the bow was turquoise....he knows me so well!

After that, I tried to call my family- of course none of them answered. But when they finally did and I talked to my Dad, he just laughed and said "Only you-Jamie would get engaged in a cow pasture!" How true that statement probably is! I always dreamed of marrying a cowboy. Who knew I'd get what I wanted? Calling dibs on the boy with the buckle in my ward was the smartest thing I ever did!

The Story of Us...How I Met Cole

There are a lot of things that were put in my life that I'm convinced were preparing me for Cole. And quite a few events as well. My friend Amber and I always played a game we called Dibs- basically we called "dibs" on attractive guys and said "pass" if they were less attractive. It sounds stupid- but it was so much fun. That "dibs" information will be relevant later. My freshman year at BYU, I hated it. School was hard, I didn't really have that many friends here because I was in a freshman ward- which I despised, and I always thought when you came to BYU, you were supposed to be going on dates like every weekend. Which I wasn't. I felt like I was doing something wrong. But I did make two friends that year that would play a role in my meeting Cole, Kaylee and Allison. Kaylee was my next door neighbor in the dorms and we bonded over Pocahontas. Allison was my biology TA that I became really good friends with throughout the semester that she would help me study. The summer before my junior year, where I was planning on living kinda fell apart. Kaylee randomely texted me to ask me if I would want to live in the house she was living in. She was surprised when I said yes. When I moved out to school, I met up with Allison on campus and we ran into one of her friends she had known from before, Jordan (who is now engaged to my beautiful roommate Corina...also from the arch house). That didn't seem like an important encounter- Allison introduced us but that was pretty much it. The next day I went to our ward- the BYU 243rd ward. I remember being in Sunday School when I saw a really good looking guy with a belt buckle.... this goes back to my usual instincts with Amber....and I called dibs. But jokingly- I could have never known what that would have turned into. That night Jordan invited my roommates and I to their house. And I met Cole. I'm not sure how we wound up together- I was getting ready for bed before we decided to go over there- I was wearing my glasses, basketball shorts, and a t-shirt! Haha. Weird how things work out. And that was the first time I met him. He was so funny but quiet, so not everyone knew how funny he was. And I loved that! Everything was just so easy with him. It fell right into place and he was what I had always looked for. I remember we held hands like a week after we'd met and I asked my brothers- as was my usual routine with anything relationship guidance I ever needed. They told me to stop holding his hand until he took me out on a real date. Ok...so I always asked for their advice....but but that didn't mean I followed it! :-) It was hard...and he was so cute!