Final Results

Well, here they are: our much talked about family photos! I think they look pretty great :) Josh says he hates the way I did Steven's hair (he is SO picky about the strangest things!) but I like them :) These were taken at the International Peace Gardens near downtown Salt Lake. I had no idea they were there but the gardens were so pretty. Thanks again to our amazing photographer from http://atminaphotography.com! Enjoy :)

Family Photos 2

On Saturday (the 12th) Josh, Steven, & I had some family photos taken. We went with Atmina Photography & had a lot of fun with them. Their website has a few of the pictures they took of us so you can get a sneak peek. I'll post more as soon as I get them (hopefully today!!)

Thanks Jill & Jenn!! :)

http://atminaphotography.blogspot.com/

ONE YEAR!!

Today Steven is ONE YEAR OLD!! Ah! That's so crazy!! How can that much time have past?? He is such a huge joy in our lives & I am SOOOO grateful that he is in our family!!
About to devour a lime

He seems to like it! Although that's probably due to the fact that it was sitting in Dr. Pepper for an hour & isn't all that sour anymore... ;)
Trying to stick a huge soup spoon in his mouth

Steven LOVES books :)
...and being read to

I love this morning hair picture!

I think he wants to tackle a real cup...

Right before his first hair cut

Right after his first hair cut. He was pretty traumitized by the clippers but the lollypop at the end made it all better ;)

For whatever reason, Steven LOVES to put things (shirts, towels) around his neck. Here he has my purse at shirt...

Oh, and he loves his toothbrush! I hope that's a good sign...

Two favorite things: toothbrush & soccer ball

Ahhhhh!!!!

So about 2 minutes ago I just submitted my application as a transfer student to Utah Valley University. Why? You may ask. Why am I seemingly turning my back on BYU to apply to the Utah Valley rival (not the biggest rival, obviously, just the closest one)?? ;) Well, I will tell you.
A few months ago I just had this really strong feeling that I should apply to Nursing school & finish my long-ago started degree. I always had the intention of getting my Nursing degree but when I got pregnant with Steven & after having him I felt fine with waiting until my kids were a little bit older. So I was VERY surprised when I started having this feeling like I needed to finish school NOW. I couldn't get the thought off of my mind, I couldn't sleep (which I very rarely have a problem with) & I just couldn't let it go until I made up my mind that I would apply. I don't know why I had this feeling; call it divine inspiration or premonition; whatever. I just know that this is something I should do. I know it's going to be harder than anything I've ever done but I think the sacrifice will be well worth it. What if, HEAVEN FORBID, something happends to Josh? Even if he's just injured, he doesn't really have the kind of job where he could just sit around at a desk. Even if that doesn't happen (let's hope it never does), what if times get even rougher & there's not as much work for Josh's company? Or what if I simply get bored when my kids start going to school? I really have no idea what the future holds; I may not even work very much when I get my degree. All I know is that I feel really good about this decision.
So on to why UVU. Firstly, BYU's Nursing program is EXTREMELY difficult to get into. While I was a full-time student I (hate to admit it) was not a very good student, simply out of laziness. I know I wouldn't be able to get into BYU's program so I had to look elsewhere. I have looked into the U of U's program & their's is very good as well. I had also considered SLCC but they only off an Associate's degree & I already have all of my prerequisites done for a Bachelor's degree (once I get my RN) so I really didn't want to have all that time & money go to waste if there was an option to get a BSN at the same time as an RN. I looked into UVU & found that they now offer a BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) & their tuition is HALF the price of the U's. So there you have it. It'll be an annoying commute but well worth the money I'll be saving. Once I get "accepted" to UVU (it's an open enrollment school; I HOPE I get in! ;) ) I can apply to the Nursing program. By mid-November or early December I will know if I am accepted & if I get to start their program in early 2010.
I'm pretty excited, nervous, & anxious for this opportunity. Wish me luck, all!! I will definitely need it!

Is this inappropriate?...

Josh, Steven & I went to dinner on Friday. While we were there Steven just kept doing this pose & we thought it reminded us of something...

Family Photos

Right around the same time Steven turns ONE I want to get some pictures of Steven, Joshua, & I done. I'm going to get them done outside for sure & would prefer to get them done surrounded by some awesome fall colors. The problem is that I'm not sure where a great place to do that would be & when the colors start changing. If anyone knows of any good spots in Utah or Salt Lake counties, PLEASE let me know!!! :)

More on Disneyland

I just thought I would expound a little...because I like to hear myself talk (or type...?). ;)
My sister (birthday girl) Ginelle, my brother, Marc, & I all drove down together to California in my oh so awesome ghetto-licious car. Dave & Mary left at about the same time, too, and we probably should've just gone with them but hindsight's 20/20 right? Anyway, we left at about 5 am and got to Cali at about 3 pm. Yeah...11 hours. Yuck. I had planned on it taking about 9.5 - 10 hrs with stopping and all that so not TOO much longer. The reason it took us that long was there was a TON of traffic on this really long hill just west of the Nevada/California state line. Apparently they were merging three lanes of traffic into one. When we got down to one I didn't really notice any big construction or reason to do it... Since we were in first gear the entire 45 minutes or so it took us AND because it was about 100 degrees outside...my car started to get pretty hot (the engine) & we were VERY afraid the car was going to die on us because it was too hot. Fortunately, it didn't, but we did pull over for a few minutes to double check everything & Ginelle made me drive. We the stopped at the Victorville, CA Costco for about 30 minutes & "ate lunch" a.k.a. grabbed all the samples we could ;) We arrived at the hotel almost exactly as everyone else did so it worked out well. It would've been lame if we had gotten there & had to wait an hour sitting around before we could check in.
That night (Thursday) my fabulous hair-dresser sister did hair for those who wanted it done & we all gave each other pedicures. (I love pedicures...) The boys (Don, Dave, & Marc) went to the park while we did that & Dave's wife, Mary, joined them after she was done. Around 9:30 we heard the fireworks going off & went to watch them from the balcony. Apparently my sisters & I were so loud that our mom could hear us through a closed door one floor down & around the corner...
Friday we spent mostly at Disneyland. The "Disney Guru" (aka my brother, Don) knew all the ins & outs of the park & we wizzed through lines & went on a ton of stuff. He defintely knows how to work those fast-passes! That afternoon we ate at the Blue Bayou (restaurant inside of Pirates of the Carribean). Even though we had a reservation we ended up waiting for about an hour...I'm not sure why. The manager was a bit flustered at that (another lady who had waiting much less time yelled at him while we were waiting..maybe that had something to do with it) & tried to make it up to us. The funny thing is that we didn't even complain...but he gave us free appetizers as well as fast passes to Indiana Jones & Thunder Mountain. Woot!
Saturday we went to California Adventure as well as Disneyland. In California Adventure there is this ride called California Screaming. That ride is AWESOME! It also has this INGENIOUS new feature: the single-rider line. Even if you're in a group, you can go in that line & sit with someone who is alone or in an odd-numbered party. I think we went on that ride about 6 times that day & every time only waited less than 5 minutes. We also went on the Tower of Terror SIX times, three of which were right in a row (yay for saved up fast passes!). That is hands down my favorite ride!
Sunday we went spent a few hours in Disneyland but didn't get to ride many rides. We were in line for Indiana Jones when it broke down & it was closed the rest of the time that we were there. :( Bummer. Even though we got home very late Sunday night it was suuuccchhhh a good time! I was suprised a little at how much I enjoyed myself. I am SO glad I was able to go!! Sammy & Don are thinking about going again as a big group for their 40th & 50th respectively (same year...2013). Since I am a ways off from 40 I think I'm going to do something big for my 30th as well as my 40th...I may not go to Disneyland, though. Anyone up for joining me for a Thanksgiving cruise in 2015?? ;)