Summer Recap

It feels like a lot has happened since I wrote about Cole getting his job. Cole worked at my hospital this summer, so we got to have lunch together everyday! Which is something I've already begun to miss.

We started the process of looking for a house in early June. We didn't really expect to find one, but we found the house we fell in love with at the end of July. Pretty quickly actually! We put in an offer and had a couple counter offers back and forth with the seller. But we had an accepted offer and then we signed our names about 5 million times when we signed our lives away- weirdly, we weren't nervous at all...just SO excited!! In the process, the sellers were painting and putting in new carpet throughout the main floor. We decided we wanted to upgrade the carpet pad and carpet which was an fantastic plan- so worth it! It's a much bigger house than our one bedroom we were renting. We have three bedrooms upstairs, 1.5 bathrooms, a kitchen, laundry room, and living room. Downstairs needs some updating- I'm not really into keeping the orange shag carpet and wood paneling in the two bedrooms, and Cole has big plans for a theater room downstairs. We'll see when we have time to start on that but we have a big back yard and a deck, so as I see it, I better be getting a puppy!

And we're loving our new ward. It's a really big ward with a lot of young couples and young families. The nursery, they've said has 121 kids! Cole and I have new callings as team teachers in the primary. We're really excited- I'm so ready for the husband of mine to be home every Wednesday night and not going on camping trips and crap with the young men- and I'm just so thrilled to not be teaching Sunday school to teenagers anymore who you can't get off their cellphones. Primary kids respond to candy. I'm all about kids answering my questions after I throw them a tootsie roll!

We finally hired another full time ultrasound tech, so I finally get to go down to being part time. It was pretty exhausting consistently working way more than 40 hours a week, I pretty much neglected grocery shopping for as long as I can remember. Whoops!

Cole has started teaching so I guess that means summer is officially over. He's pretty excited and seems to be really loving the subjects he's teaching. He's also on jury duty for 3 months (which is frankly ridiculous) so he has to call in every Friday night to see if he'll have to go in the next week....He's not really loving that.  But he's off to Utah tonight with his friends to go golfing and go to the BYU-Texas football game tomorrow night. I on the other hand am sitting at home watching my newest guilty pleasure show- I may or may not have ordered the first season of The Mindy Project and watched it beginning to end once already. It's seriously my favorite- I LOVE it.

That's about all for now.

Jamie

Grown-Ups

Odd that I'm blogging only a month later, right? I know! However we've started feeling like grown-ups at our house!

Cole found out that he got a full time teaching job at Declo Junior High. We're seriously thrilled! It's been a long time coming- my awesome husband has just been patiently paying his dues with the school district for the past two years subbing. So you can imagine how stoked we are that it finally worked out! He'll be teaching Geography, Sports Medicine, and PE, so he'll be wearing basketball shorts and a t-shirt most days. Pretty much- his dream job! He also got a sweet gig at the hospital that I work at maintaining the grounds for the summers. That's unheard of- to find a seasonal job for EVERY summer! He's pretty impressive!

I'm working full time for now since one of the full time ultrasound techs quit. Believe me- I totally love my job, but it's pretty physically demanding. My shoulder and neck really take a beating with working 40 hours a week (or 50-60 hours when I'm on call all weekend). So I'll be pretty excited to go back to my part-time position when we hire another tech!

So we're just enjoying the novelty of having careers and stuff!

That's all for now,

Jamie

May update

The past few months for the Nelson's has been pretty crazy. We've been travelling a lot and now we've just been enjoying our time at home.

In March, I took my OB/GYN registry and passed, which made me a registered diagnostic medical sonographer. It was another time consuming, emotionally exhausting exam to prepare for, but I felt like I really knew the material and I was ready for it. Since then, I've been procrastinating starting to study for my abdomen registry and just enjoying having no school and no test to study for right now.

They actually hired me on at the Burley hospital with a real job with benefits and everything. It's been pretty fantastic. I work three days a week and I'm on call quite a bit but the call isn't nearly as bad as it was in Twin Falls. So I'm really beginning to love working here in Burley but I especially love not having a 45 minute commute.

Since I last wrote, the boys basketball team went to State Basketball and lost both games. It was still pretty fun to see them play up there. He's since been coaching track and we're headed up to Boise for state track this weekend.

At the end of March, we headed to Casper for my sweet cousin, Natalie's funeral. She was only 34 and had two kids and died pretty tragically so it's been a bit of a blow to my whole family. It was definately difficult to be home for such a sad occassion, but it was nice to see my Mother's extended family that we rarely see. Those terrrible instances in our life make you really appreciate the knowledge of the Gospel- that there is so much more waiting for us on the other side of death. I'm so grateful for that knowledge that she is in a better place, even though we miss her here.

After we got home from Casper, we stayed pretty consistently busy until we headed to Orlando to see my big brother, his wife and their sweet baby boy! Super cool kid! We got to be there for his first time swimming- I've never seen a kid love water so much! My favorite thing that he does is hold himself on the edge of his stroller, leaning forward while Matthew speeds him around Disney World laughing the whole time. Seriosuly, so much fun! We spent 4 days at Walt Disney World, to my husband's delight! Anita showed us some pretty great perks to Disney and she also showed us some of the really fun resorts. We had so much fun, it was really hard to leave. Good thing we have some pretty great reasons to visit.

We're just livin the dream here in Burley and loving it!

XOXO,
Jamie

Whoops....8 month hiatus!

So I completely and utterly suck at this blog. I don't even have valid excuses because everyone is busy! But let's be honest- my poor husband is lucky if I cook for him anymore....so obviously the blog isn't high on priorities!

Since it's been 8 months since I've been on here- crap that's embarrassing- why do I have this again? We've had quite a lot happen.

I graduated....again. In December I finished my medical sonography program at Weber State so that I have two bachelors degrees. I think it's more embarrassing than something to be proud of- but it's the path that I was supposed to follow to get to where I am. I'm grateful for it but I'm also really glad to be done with schooling. I still have big, scary, expensive, three hour registries to study and take but it's kinda the beginning of the end. And it's really rare in my field to have a degree in ultrasound so it's a pretty big deal.

I've started working full time between two different hospitals- in Burley where we live and 45 minutes away in Twin Falls where I did my clinical rotations. I'm on call in Twin once a week so I have to be at the hospital in 30 minutes when they call me in. So I stay at the hospital one night a week. That stinks and is totally stressful...borderline panic attack stressful sometimes but I learn a lot from the emergent cases that come in during the night and I really miss being with Cole that one night a week.

He doesn't do too bad by himself because he's been living the dream coachin Burley Bobcat Basketball. I go to A LOT of basketball since he is an assistant coach for both the 9th grade boys and the varsity team. They're doing quite well and headed for State which is in Boise in March.

We spent a few days in Wyoming for Thanksgiving- not nearly as much as I would have liked but we loved being there! Then Christmas in Elba with Cole's family- typical beautiful cold white Christmas! Well 6 short paragraphs for 8 months...that's good right! Here's hopin I'll be better with this blog....no promises!

Jamie

Busy Busy

Alright- so our life lately! We've been really really busy!!!

We were able to go home to Casper for a bit at the beginning of June. We got to spend some time with our friends Shelly, Nick, Natalie and John. And then I got to see Amber and her cute little belly- I'm so excited to meet her little one! It makes it really hard to leave close friends, and I really do have some of the most amazing friends. And we always love spending time at home with my parents, we went and saw Men In Black III and then just spent time relaxing with them.

Then we got home and Cole got a free pass of SportsCenter for about 3 weeks while I devoted my life to studying ultrasound physics. I took my exam on Saturday, and after the 30 hours of studying I put into it, I passed! This exam is the first of my board exams to be a certified ultrasonographer, so it was one of the most important exams of my career.

During that time of studying- Cole and I also celebrated our 2 year anniversary! We are so excited- it's weird to think that it's already been two whole years but I love him more than I ever have. He's so good to me and I can't imagine being married to anyone else.

While we were in Boise for the exam, we also got a new niece added to the family-Cole's' sister Tenelle had her little Amilya. We got to go see her at the hospital when we got home, we love her already! We also got to spend some time with Devin and Claire in Boise. It had been a long time since we got to see them, so it was fun to get caught up with them and their plans for their baby that they're expecting!

Cole has begun all the summer ranch activities. He started putting up hay yesterday so he's gone early in the morning and gets home kinda late. We are really excited for the July 4th celebrations in Almo this year. I've always loved the 4th and we get to spend a lot of time with Cole's cousins that come to Elba for the festivities.

That's all for now!

XOXO,
Jamie

Currently...

As I think everyone has now accepted, this blog is RARELY current. In truth- I forget about it much of the time, and the other times I that I do remember, I don't have the time and more often- the energy to write. But every once in a while I feel like I should throw out a little update- even though there isn't too much to report!

Cole is still at the high school nearly everyday and has started coaching the sprinters on the track team....He was a sprinter in high school....I was not. (So if our kids are slow, have bad eyesight, and are cavity-prone...sadly I won't be able to blame him for any of it!) After track practice he heads to Elba to feed the cows and check on the baby calves since it's calving season. While I do love baby calves, I hate that Cole is usually gone when I get home from the hospital at night.

However, my whole life I've wanted a baby calf to be born on my birthday! Even though it seems like it should happen all the time since the first part of April is still calving season- it has NEVER happened. Until today...my Dad called me to tell me he had a little bull calf born this morning. Yeah- I sound like a country girl...but I'm STOKED! Judge me!

I'm nearing the half way point of my ultrasound program and I'm learning a lot- I still love ultrasound and I love going to the hospital everyday. I have some great ultrasonographers who teach me a lot and are so encouraging. I love every minute of it! I'll be heading to L.A. in May for a conference on ultrasound physics...sounds fun doesn't it? It'll be preparing me for an ultrasound registry exam... basically like and ACT exam...4 hours of how Physics pertains to ultrasound. Jealous?

Last week, I did get to go to Provo for a bit. My friend Maren and I have our birthdays 5 days apart so it's kinda been tradition the past 5 years to go to dinner to celebrate! I've missed her so much. And I got to go see her teach her 2nd graders! She's spectacular! It's a good thing some people are made to teach...because I was exhausted just watching her teach 25 2nd graders for an hour and a half!

While I was in Provo, I also got to see my old roommates Kaylee, Jordan, Chelsea, Corina, Cathryn, and Melissa! They are seriously some of the neatest people you could ever know! I love seeing them so much and they always seem to make time to see me when I come to town! I couldn't ask for better friends!

And tonight...for my birthday- Cole is making me a cake....and I'm thinking about giving in and letting him watch the college basketball championship....we'll see! This is a real predicament if this will be a yearly occurence.

January Update

Wow...I even fail at keeping this a monthly update blog! My apologies. I sometimes think that I should write another post, but honestly- it doesn't cross my mind too much. I frankly don't have the time to be a daily poster nor do I have the exciting adventures to warrant such frequency. Even when it's been almost two months, I don't feel I have too much to share.

As proven by this blog, it has been a long time since I last wrote. Cole and I did move into that little house in Burley and we are loving every single minute of it. We are loving our ward and received new callings this past week. Cole is the new Gospel Doctrine teacher and everyone has already gushed to me how excited they are to have him. Natural born teacher that husband of mine. And I was called to be the Sunday School teacher for the 14 and 15 year olds- they aren't responding to candy which is my go-to technique. I'm in trouble!

I have started my clinical work in Twin Falls- so I drive 45 minutes every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. I'm up at 6:30 and for those that know me even a little, know that I am not a morning person. But I'm getting better. Shocked? Of course you are...so is my husband!

It's a daunting profession I've chosen but I love it more and more every day and I love being in a hospital. Most people think it's easy, that you just set the probe on someone's belly and take pictures. I can assure you it is a million times more complicated than that. But I'm getting better and understanding more and learning to love learning. It gets hard because I want it to be a year from now, working in my field and making money. But right now, I'm proud of the fact that I'm doing what I've always wanted to do.

Cole is still subbing mostly at the highschool and some at the junior high. He is busy nearly everyday. I think he misses being the actual teacher but he enjoys being with the kids. We are avid Burley basketball attendees...which Cole loves! And he'll also be coaching track and field in the spring.

See, we really aren't too exciting. Busy, per usual and living the dream in the thriving metropolis that is Burley, Idaho.

XOXO,
Jamie

November

It appears this blog has become more of a monthly update than a regular occurance!

Meh- oh well! Life is busy, right?

RIGHT!

Well, Cole and I have just barely....as in today...signed a lease for a little house in Burley! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
I mean... its alright... I guess.

But seriously- we're SO SO SO SO SO SO excited! It's a little bitty thing. One bedroom is all- who knew such tiny houses even existed? And who even knows if all our crap will fit!

We, however, are confident...ish.
And what we lack in confidence- we make up for in enthusiasm...so yes- all our junk WILL fit!

How dare you doubt us?

That handsome husband of mine has been substituting this week. He comes home with the most random, hillarious stories from these tweens who just love him. Apparently, one little tyke of a kid gushed to his substitute teacher about how he wanted to write romance novels that weren't just romance- but had action and mystery too. His theory.......that his mother had read romance novels when she was pregnant with him- so naturally he wanted to write them. Completely logical in his little 6th grade mind!

I'm not sure how Cole kept a straight face with that one- he couldn't when he was telling me about it!

I have been busy as ever with ultrasound school. Projects, image labeling, observation hours, lab time, book work, and exams have pretty much dominated my life these past few months.

I've taken 32 exams this semester. 32! And I'm not even done- I have probably 10 or 11 more before the semester ends.

That sounds like they're dinky little tests but I can assure you they are not! Every single one of those takes between 2 and 3 hours to study for- some take more...like all day!

But I am looking forward to finishing these classes. Abdominal sonography, imaging pathophysiology, superficial structures, sectional anatomy, and patient care and assesment- not quite picnic classes.

On the bright side- It's nearly Thanksgiving....I LOVE Thanksgiving. Stuffing, Turkey, Dinner rolls, and pumpkin pie...I could live off it!

And I'll be done with classes on December 2nd and then I have an entire month break!

HOLLA!!

And I'm really excited to start my clinicals at the hospital in Twin Falls in January....I get to wear scrubs----TURQUOISE scrubs! Okay, they're called Carribean Blue- but basically they're turquoise!

That's the designated color for the ultrasound department!The whole hospital is color-coded! Oh, how I love it there!

Other than that- about the only thing we do is go to church. We're primary teachers- team teachers- which, by the way, I'm convinced is the greatest calling.

A bag full of tootsie rolls...easy peasy! This Sunday is the primary program. I love those kids! They're all yellers so I love it when they sing the songs!

Well that's the crazy and ever exciting life with the Nelson's!

FALL!!!

Per usual...it is after midnight when I decide it would be a good time to blog.
(which I am obviously so incredible at since it's a rare occassion that I do it!)

Cole and I made the journey to the thriving metropolis that is Burley, Idaho today. That 40 minute drive was gorgeous! Don't believe me? Come Visit!

Seriously...COME VISIT!!!

But it definatelyreminded me why fall is definately my favorite time of year! Here are some of my favorite things about fall!

I love that burned copper orange color.
I love hot chocolate and home-made biscotti.
I love fall tv shows.
I love snuggling up with a blanket...and the hubs. (I love this year round actually!)
I love love LOVE Halloween...it's my all time favorite holiday.
I love trick-or-treaters.
I love breaking out my long sleeved shirts and jackets.
I love everything with pumpkin...cookies, pie, DQ blizzards.

Cole and I are still planning to move to Burley, but the place we're planning to move into keeps getting delayed. Originally, September 1st. Then October 1st. Now they told us November 1st.

Patience is not my strong suit!

But someday...ahhhhh someday....we'll be in our own place again. Poor Cole- I am a terrible housekeeper in a tiny place. You know- even when everything is put away- it's still messy! Discouraging since there's nothing better than a clean place!

Thats how it is moving into your husband's high school bedroom. I DO NOT recommend it!
Good thing I love him or something!

Restless Nights!

Do you ever have one of those restless nights when you just CANNOT sleep? Like you can feel the hours ticking away while you're staring at the ceiling wondering if that commercial for restless leg syndrome is reality and if you need a perscription? Or you can't tell if its been 30 minutes or 2 hours because you can't squint hard enough to see the time- sadly, I'm THAT blind without contacts!

Yeah...it's one of those nights!

Even my ever-trusted Mulan that can nearly always lull me to sleep has failed.

More than likely it's because I've been terribly sick for the past week and I've totally thrown off my sleeping schedule due to somehow having two completely separate colds this week. One for three miserable days simultaneously with the husband. And then we both got better and a day later I was sick again. Priceless.

Meh- What can you do?

Sleep!!! That's always my answer!

Until I can't....Which is now!

Blast!

So...here I am at 1 am watching PSYCH and thinking back on how a year ago today, I was taking my Father to the emergency room for a propane explosion. My dad...totally awesome man that he is....is a little bit accident prone. You don't believe me? He's broken his right leg four times, has broken ribs, cut off part of his finger, gotten blood poisoning, and burned himself and all of those happened either at his work or because of his cows.

And I- his only daughter- am either always in the right place at the right time OR I'm bad luck! But either way, his little medical emergencies always bring us closer- even if he is on percoset! So today, he's been on my mind a lot.

My dad is most definately my hero. His quiet intelligence is almost always overlooked because of his strong cowboy persona but his humility and kindness could never be mistaken. People respect him, love him, and his friends would do anything for him. He graduated in microbiology but he's a butcher and I love that. He always wanted to be a Veterinarian, and boy would he have been a fantastic one! He loves his cows and he taught us as his children how to work hard and to love ranch life. He got that love of ranching from his Father, Walter. And his greatest decision was my sweet mother, Diane. And the thing I love most about him is his testimony- I love to hear him talk about spiritual things because he has the most incredible perspective!

Not only that, but he has always been so supportive. He believed I could do or be anything, even when I didn't. He told me I was smart and was always there to help me with my math and science homework- usually relating the concept to ranching and cows- I told you he loves it- and whats worse is I adore hearing him talk about his cows!

When I left for college, it was his voice telling me "You will always be my only daughter, make me proud!" In a tone that said I could never disappoint him. My name is because I am a part of him and my firstborn son- however far in the future that may be- will be named for him! And it was him that I turned to in times of crisis and heartache, and later I realized why. His quiet nature is what calmed me down. It was my complete opposite. And it was that quality that made me realize my Cole was my perfect companion.

Ok...you get it...I love my Dad! And I'm pretty sentimental about the fact that a year ago I realized he was not invincible. But I like to believe he is!

XOXO,

Jamie

Missing In Action

Woof! It's been a long time since I've last blogged!!!

I have been MIA these past few months due to my handsome cowboy of a husband moving me to Elba...which- until only recently- had no internet! Heaven bless us!

Let me tell you something...you honestly don't realize how convenient the internet really is until you don't have it!

BUT we have been busy.

Rephrase...COLE has been busy!

Taking the cows out on the forest, putting up the hay, watering the fields, repairing fences etc.

I -on the other hand- have been sleeping til noon! Yes yes, my schedule is PACKED!

Alas, it lasts only a short time! Because I will be starting school again August 22nd. Which gives me mixed feelings.

A. ugh....I seriously JUST graduated! Why am I going back?

and

B. Ummmmm....it's ultrasound and kinda like a life dream or something...no big deal

So I had orientation for my program in Ogden this week.

Greatest EVER! I am so very very very excited.

Here's the deal. BYU was awesome and I'm glad I did my undergrad there. But from day 1, I accepted the fact that I was definately not going to be competing with everyone for the A's. I was just not as smart as many of the other students nor was I willing to devote my entire life to studying. I was still a good student...but I still had social skills. It's kinda a give and take at BYU... usually.

But the professors of my medical sonography program think I'm a genius since I already have a bachelors degree and a pretty good basic knowledge of ultrasound. Here's the difference between my classes at BYU and Weber state.

BYU

Student: "Professor, I think everyone scored too high on the last test. The TA gave too good of a review. The next test needs to be harder to reflect our knowledge of the subject matter."

Implication: I'm smarter than everyone else and they need to know it!

Weber State Ultrasound Program

Professor: "Ultrasound is made up of high frequency soundwaves"

Student: "WHAT!?! How does that even work?"

Implication: How the heck did they even get in the program!

I am SO excited to feel like I'm on the high end of the curve for once! But mostly I am just so excited to finally be starting ultrasound. It's been nearly ten years since I first discovered ultrasound and completely fell in love with it...even though it was done on cows when I first found out about it! And I can't believe- after waiting for so long- that I finally get the chance to do it.

Life is good. I have an amazing husband...he's the greatest! I love him a lot! AND I get to pursue my dream of a career. Best of both worlds!

Xoxo,

Jamie

Life has been just crazy as ever. Cole and I came back from our trip in Florida- a chaotic trip which resulted in an emergency landing back in Salt Lake, spending the night in the airport, lost luggage, and coming home to a broken back window in our car....someone had thrown a garden knome through our window- yes... a garden knome! Classic.

But- we had a great time in Florida, got to see my big brother and his sweet wife for a little bit and we enjoyed Disney World to the fullest. Here are some pics!





Magic Kingdom

Epcot

One of our fave rides. Cole started lots of Jimmer talk around Disney World.

And yes...I got to meet Meeko. Pocahontas is the greatest...right Kaylee?

And here we are at the Daytona Race Track...that's and hour and a half long tour I wont ever get back! :)

But look at how happy my Cole is at the start finish line. Oh NASCAR!

Daytona Beach!!! Corina...here's a foot pic just for you!! ;-)

Oh Yeah...and then we graduated from college...WOOOO! Yeah- we're educated! BYU says so!

Now Cole is at Lagoon with his junior high kids and I'm packing because we're moving...THIS WEEKEND!!! Here we come Idaho!

XOXO

Soon-to-be Real Housewife of Cassia County, Idaho!

Final Finals!

Well...I still haven't had time to post about our Florida trip....and boy is there something to talk about with that trip. That will have to be another time when I have time to post the pictures.

On an exciting note....I just finished my last...yes my LAST final ever at BYU!

Wooooo! Greatest feeling! I dont ever have to go up on campus again!

BYU has been a great school and I'm so grateful for the education that I've had the chance to get at this school and the spiritual aspects of the Gospel and how its incorporated in to the classes. And I also met my husband at BYU- so thats definately a bonus.

It's been great but its wonderful to be done!

My parents are coming into town tomorrow because we graduate on Friday! My poor parents- we've really run them around last year for weddings and this year for graduations and such. Their real troopers! And I'm really excited to see them!

XOXO,

BYU Grad

The big 22!

This past weekend was the big Twenty-Second birthday! How weird?

I dont feel 22.

Although...what does 22 feel like?

Anyways-my birthday was Saturday....yes General Conference Saturday.

Blech!!!!

As great as conference is and as awesome as birthdays are....they are most definately NOT awesome together!

Maybe I'm not as spiritual as I should be...

But it is kinda sucky to share your birthday with the conference- and then send your husband off to Priesthood Session! Happy Birthday!

So...my mother in law and I made Easter Wreaths! Crafty? Quite!

It turned out simply adorable!

And later Cole made me a cake!

His first cake ever in fact!

New tradition? I think yes!

Both of us also had colds for the entire weekend!

But that is quite alright because we'd rather have them this past weekend then the coming one!

Because we'll be here:

With this guy:

And then here:

Florida...HERE WE COME!!!

XOXO, Disney Bound

What Steak Cant Fix...Can't be fixed!

Last friday was a bit on the crazy side. And when I say a bit....I mean admit me the looney bin type crazy!

Cole's financial things were all a mess....his pell grant had been taken away, it showed us owing a gastly amount, and BYU will not talk to spouses unless they have it in writing from the student themselves...and Cole teaches in Springville about 20 minutes from campus. I found out about this mess on Friday at 3:30...and everything closes at 5- oh~ and I work from 3-6. So I had to take work off!

Lovely!

Did I mention my husband never EVER checks his financial account?

Lovely two times!

Oh....and when I found out all of this- does he answer his phone? Pssssh....why would he? So I'm sitting in the student services office...who will not talk to me about my husband's finances...and he wont answer his phone. Spectacular!

So he got a text message to this effect:

"CALL ME! I'm coming to Springville to get you!"

Accompanied by about 72 missed phone calls- alright, I 'm exagerating! (but only slightly)

Needless to say....Cole knew I was upset.

After two hours spent in the student services office and two headaches later... it seemed we had it figured out about as much as we could for the weekend!

So- for the craziness of the day, we decided to splurge and go to Texas Roadhouse for dinner...we've been wanting to try it for a while. It was delicious.

When our waitress started talking to us about cuts of meat and marbling and medium rare....I felt like home!

Mmmmmmmm....I am definately the daughter of a butcher!

Only the comfort of red meat, loaded mashed potatoes, and buttery rolls can cheer me up after a rough day!!!

XOXO

Everything's better with Steak!

Happy Day!

Yesterday was a crazy long day with running all over campus, filing our taxes, getting Cole's paperwork for his internship, going to class, working on a ridiculous class project (still working on the 1500 dollars for a class...blech!), studying for an exam and then work!

Phew!

But then I got home...and checked the mail to find....

A letter

...rather- a manilla envelope (is that how you spell that??) from Weber State!

WOOOOOOOOOOT!

They've invited me for an interview!!!!!!

Granted- it is for the on campus program which I wont be attending and am planning on the regional one- but this is a HUGE deal to get an interview!!! It means- if I get accepted on campus- that my chances are even better for the regional program...practically 100%!

ECSTATIC?

THRILLED? JOYFUL?

DELIGHTED?

hmmmm....about all of those feeling plus some?

And miraculously, my interview is for Friday April 8th at 10:15 am...Cole and I fly out for Florida at 5:04pm!!!!!!!!

So- no matter how hard school is-

how completely exhausting,

seemingly unending,

and ever stressful it appears....

Cole and I have an amazing future to look forward to and ultrasound gets to be a part of it! This is something I have been working torwards since I was 14! It always seemed so far away- almost unattainable. But I am so grateful for the education I've had at BYU, the opportunities it has lead to, and the amazing people I have met in the field of ultrasound that have encouraged me to continue on. I have definately been blessed in so many aspects of my life.

OH! And...Cole's sister NaShai just had her little boy this afternoon! I can't wait to meet the little tyke! That little guy owes his mother some dang easy teen years after the difficult pregnancy she has had!!!

And of course- BYU is playing tonight! Come On Cougs!!!!

Rarrr Rarrr Rarrrrrrrrr (that was the cougar growl....just in case you were wondering!)

XOXO,

Freddettabout it!

The Madness of March!!!

Somehow, I just get worse and worse about blogging. Life has been crazy as ever! Another round of midterms and spring just around the corner means there will be many trips to the ranch in Elba in the coming months.

There seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel. Graduation is actually a month from today!!! Woooo! Cole and I count down by big events. March is basically one big event for Cole....good ole March Madness. In a few weeks is my birthday. Then we head to Florida for a little fun in the sun. And then BYU graduation! I'll be going home intermittently after graduation. May is Amber and Jorgen's wedding. June- Cole and I move to Idaho. Then we have Shelly and Nick's wedding. So- pretty much- its go go go until July! I'm exhausted just thinking about it...but at the same time sooo excited! I CANNOT wait to be done with my bachelors degree!

On the topic of March Madness... Cole had me make a bracket. Yeah yeah... I grew up with two big brothers and a father who all love the madness and I had never made a bracket. It did make me enjoy the games a little bit more having an actual interest in who won. But I'm about basketball-ed out! And it basically just started! I'm also a little competitive....ok...a lot competitive! So when Cole wins a game that I lost....its less good on our marriage. haha.

Since it was St. Patrick's day last week, I made Corned Beef and Cabbage like my mother always did. I LOVE corned beef and cabbage. But let me tell you...Cole was NOT impressed! I dont think there has been anything that I have made since we've been married that he has legitimately hated....but corned beef and cabbage definately would fall into that category.

Well- I think that is all that is going on in our crazy life. It's busy. It's stressful. It's chaotic. But it's our life! And I wouldnt have it any other way!

XOXO,

March Madness Widow

Moving To Burley!

Well, I'm pretty awful at this blogging deal. It's been a crazy few weeks. I've had a bunch of tests and Cole has had a teacher work sample portfolio due. Mind you- he's procrastinated it...so he's been having REALLY late nights these past couple nights.

However, even with the craziness of our lives....we are so excited about our future! With my ultrasound schooling- our futures have been pretty uncertain...well- the immediate future anyways. We didnt know if we would end up in Ogden, stay in Provo, or have to wait it out a few years for the intermountain healthcare ultrasound program in Salt Lake.

Weber State has a regional ultrasound program where you learn mostly hands on at a clinical site and come to campus about 5 times a semester- but you have to find somewhere who will agree to be your clinical site- if you can get that- your chances of being admitted are about 90% and the other 10% is only if the site doesn't meet Weber's standards.

So basically...if you can get a clinical site...you're in! Exciting right? Most definately!

Cole told me that if I could find a way to get back to Idaho, he'd let me get a puppy. Which sounds dumb...but thats a HUGE incentive for me. haha. I love love love puppies! I want one...and I want to name him Cowboy! Cole told me that was a dumb name. Pssssh- I think its a great name!

So, I called the hospital in Twin Falls! I talked to the head of ultrasound "Gordon Lemon...Lemon like the fruit!" He said! Nice fellow! Anyways- he told me that they would be able to be my clinical site and that they have graduated students from the regional Weber state program before (so that 10% I mentioned earlier doesn't apply)

It was pretty easy- frankly- too easy! So I'm a bit worried about things falling through- but I have a backup plan of doing the radiology program at College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls.

So...we're moving to Idaho!!! About 2-3 years sooner than we ever thought we'd be able to! We are so blessed...it was definately an answer to our prayers.

So now- we get to start REAL LIFE....like Cole get a permanent job and we get to look for a house and settle down in the place that I always called a hole!!! Oh- the things that come back to bite you! But Burley has grown on me and I can't wait to start our life there!

XOXO,

Movin' to the thriving Metropolis of Burley!

We Live, We Laugh, We Love!

So our first married Valentine's day was a little bit less exciting than how most people celebrate the holiday as newlyweds.

My sweet husband had a double header- well thats what they call it in baseball...you think they call it that in basketball? Well I say yes. Anyways he had two basketball games and he was coaching at 7pm. I had school and work all day until 6 and then went to the game. The girls parents were pretty sympathetic- "Awwwww"- they said "I'm sorry your this is your valentines day- thats so sad!" I wasn't really feeling too bad about it- not until then anyways! But there are couples who have it worse. A girl in one of my classes wouldnt see her husband at all- he worked at a restraunt and was working from 6pm to 1am- her plans were going to the gym to watch the Bachelor. I was grateful I at least got to sit from the bleachers and watch my husband!

I also lost my phone during the day- which really should not seem like as big of deal as it is but I was freaking out. But I would like to state for the record that I didnt realize I lost it until I was done with classes....which MEANS- I was NOT texting during class. Yeah- thats a big deal...I've got senior-itis to the extreme, OK? Don't Judge! But....like always- I was getting ahead of myself thinking "What am I going to do tomorrow to wake up...I dont have an alarm clock!"....it was 2pm when I lost it. Alright- I admit it- I'm a little dramatic!

But the girl who found it got ahold of Cole (he mocked me later- dont you worry!) and she brought it to me at work. Bless the little hearts of honest BYU students!

So after the game- we had to go to Provo to pick up my car and then spent a little quality Valentines day time with the Burley Boys. We live quite the life of romance, do we not? But its always fun to see them. And then we headed for home.

By the time we made it to our apartment, we were ready for bed. We crawled into pajamas and I washed my face and brushed my teeth along with the rest of my nightly routine...I swear it feels like hours when you're that tired! When I came to lie down- Cole had chocolates and his Valentines Day Journal on my nightstand and he was pretending to be asleep! I love my husband! It doesn't matter what we do, how simple or crazy or hectic that our Valentines Day was- he knew just the perfect way to show me he loves me. I have the greatest husband and I'm so lucky to have him. We laugh a lot, we love each other more every day, and we can't wait for what the future holds.

XOXO,

8 months in and still Head Over Heels!!!

Sledding, Crab legs, and Bull riding...What could be better?

Ok...so I thought that I would put up some pictures from the beginning of January when we went home to be with my parents and Matthew and Anita. We took Anita sledding...Komma style. First of all- we don't like to be cold- none of us. We dont camp and we dont spend an excessive amount of time in the snow. So we had all predetermined that whoever got cold first... we were done! I love my family!

My friend Amber came...I think her fiance was snowboarding or something so she came with us! Jorgen missed out!

This is my first time going sledding in seriously...YEARS!

And here's my big bro with his sweet Floridian wifey! Awwww...I love them! Poor Anita got to experience Wyoming's brutal winters. The day we all left- it was 20 degrees below zero! Brrrrr! But we're pretty excited to go see them in Florida in April with a bit of a different background!!!

While we were all home- we celebrated in the best Komma way we know how...with crab legs!!We love our seafood! And then we had a bunch a friends over...it was basically a big couple party. Shelly and Nick, Amber and Jorgen, Matt and Anita, My Mom and Dad, and Cole and I. It was so fun to be with that many couples. Shelly and Nick and Amber and Jorgen are getting married about a month apart- it was so fun to hear about all of their plans and I cannot wait for their weddings this spring/summer!

And when we came back to Utah-we spent some time with Cole's family. This is NaShai's little boy Parker and he LOVES Uncle Cole. Every time Parker sees Cole laying on the floor (which is a lot- Cole likes to lay on the floor! haha) Parker comes and climbs on to "ride the bull" The picture is Cole getting him in position and then he says "Give em' to me boys!" And Parker just lights up when he starts being rumbled around.

When he's done with his 8 second ride...he looks up to the rest of the family for applause- which we give him. Then he climbs off Cole but then remounts to do it again. Cute Little Cowboy in the making!

XOXO,

Lovin the Fam!!!