Visit with My Mama and Wes....

This last week, I got to spend a lot of time with my favorite woman in the world! MY MOM!!!! She arrived here on the 9th and left on the 14th. We had so much fun while she was here and lots of good talks. The last day she was here, we went up to see Wes. We both were looking forward to it, but we also knew it would be emotional. When we first got up there the whole cemetery was covered in about 7 inches of snow. We had an idea of where he was, but didn't know exactly where it was at. I go up there quite often and didn't think it would be that hard to find it...BOY WAS I WRONG! We did not bring shovels, but I had 2 window scrapers so we used those. We dug for a while and came across a couple headstones, but not his. We both said, "OKAY WES! Help us out a little!" The next one I came across was his. I was so excited. I started cleaning off the snow and I found a penny sitting next to his picture. My mom and I were so happy! We had a good visit while we were up there. It is ABSOLUTELY gorgeous up there. We brought a plastic bag to put over his headstone, so it would be easier to find and so it would be easier to get the snow off of it. We also built a little wall around it to hold the bag down. My mom brought up a giant candy cane to put next to his grave site. When we were about to leave we threw a few pennies on it. Here are a few pictures of our adventure...

So..yeah, I am not REALLY a lumberjack, but....

So, we went down to Salina last weekend to visit Mike's mom, sister Rachelle and niece Gabie and Jeanette (one of his other sister's) came with us. It was SO fun to be able to spend time with the family. I love his family SO much and am so blessed to have such incredible in laws. Anyways, one of the reasons for going was to cut down some trees for firewood and to get ourselves a Christmas tree. I had never done such a thing before and it was SO SO FUN!!! I used Mike's chainsaw and he taught me how to cut down trees and Jeanette and I learned how to sharpen the chainsaw. Thanks Andrew for calling me butch. You are just jealous that you have never done it. =) jk. Well, it was a lot of hard work, but we were able to fill 2 trucks full of wood and get our tree!!! I hope this becomes a tradition for years to come. I am so thankful for Mike and all the opportunities he has given me. I have learned so much from him and I am so blessed to have such a wonderful husband! I love you sweetheart.

I am a lumberjack!!! Well, my husband is...=

Randomness...

I have not posted pictures in a while, so I thought I would just post a few from the passed few months...OK...so I apparently I haven't uploaded the newer ones from my camera, so ya'll will just have to live with these for now. Love you all!

Long time, no blog...

Alright...I am sorry to my 3 readers! I have totally been slacking in the blog department! So many wonderful things have happened this passed month. Here's to name a few: I had the opportunity to marry the most INCREDIBLE man! I had the chance to spend time with my family and best friend the week before the wedding and I have gained a WONDERFUL new family! Life is pretty incredible right now and I have SO much to be thankful for. The ONLY thing I have to complain about is not being able to see my husband on a regular basis. We are not even living together yet! IT SUCKS BIG TIME!!! Luckily, one of my SPECTACULAR friend, Tracey, is always willing to have a sleep over when I am in Orem and Mike is in Grantsville. I am not sure why I am posting today, but I just am SO happy and love my life! If you are down or having a bad day, just STOP being sad and remember to count your blessings!

Fun stuff...

Our weekend in Orem...

we had a happy playful weekend. we hope we continue to have these for many years to come. I got to teach shay some fishing techniques, and she showed me how to drive a golf ball. she made me the most wonderful fish tacos. finally I don't have to put up with my own bad cooking. It looks like the future is bright for both of us. -Mike-

Well, I was not expecting him to come out until Friday morning. I got a text from him in the early evening that said he was off!!! I was SO happy! He was nice enough to drive all the way out here Thursday night. So, Thursday night we went to the hospital so he could meet my co-workers. I was actually more nervous about him meeting them (and by them I mean Dirty South). He taught some of them how to start IV's...and Leigh Ann questioned him about everything....like I knew he would, he passed with flying colors. They all were very impressed with him and liked him so much! (but what's not to like?) So, Friday morning we woke up and headed to Riverwoods Urgent Care to meet my other co-workers. Again, they were all impressed and loved him. They are all so happy for us. It is nice to have the opportunity to work with such amazing people who care so much about me. After RUC we went to the driving range. Mike got to use my pretty pink driver. He actually preferred my pink one over the black boy one that was given to him. After the driving range we went to the market and got stuff to make dinner. We came back home and had lunch, watched Transformers (I fell asleep) and then we went to Deer Creek Resevoir and went fishing. I had not been fishing in like 15 years. It was SO fun! Mike taught me so much. There were so many fish out there! We didn't catch anything...=( well, we did catch some weeds!!! Does that count? We also had a rock skipping contest. Guess who won? Well, let's just say it wasn't Mike. =) He thinks it's because he gave me "the perfect rock" (we will let him think that) We came home after fishing and cooked. I LOVE to cook for people. I was SO nervous...it was my first time cooking for him. Now, it is Saturday and I have to go to work in 5 hours...=( Our weekend is coming to an end, but it was SO FUN! WAIT....it's not over yet! We are going to have sushi with Paige and Mike. So that will be fun. OK...enjoy they pictures....

uS...

...there we were, talking, lying on the couch and just enjoying each others company....

Me: "You're the best"
Him: "Because I have the best"

...I can get use to this...

Life is great!

I don't even know where to begin...

I have not blogged in over 2 months!!! For my 2 readers, I apologize. =) Hmmm...well, I have just been working ridiculous hours. I have been on a couple dates in the passed 2 months though. I am very impressed with one guy in particular. His name is Mike. We have gone out 3 times, and they have all been so WONDERFUL! I have never been treated better. I am looking forward to seeing him again when I get back to Utah. Right now I am in Cali visiting my family. There is nothing better than being with family. We have so many plans while I am out here, I hope we are able to do all of them. The most important thing is that I get my Light and Healthy sushi fix while I am out here. HAHA jk. Ok maybe I'm not kidding.

MANDI!!!

20 tHiNgS i LoVe AbOuT mY bEsT fRiEnD!!!

1. She is the most obedient woman I know and has set an incredible example for me.

2. She is beautiful inside and out.

3. She is not only my best friend, but a part of my family.

4. I love how her husband is just as supportive as she is.

5. She is always there not just for me, but for ANYONE in my family. She and Derek drove from California to Utah as soon as she found out about Wes' passing.

6. I love her hair in the morning. It's just as bad as mine if not worse.

7. I love how her family is my family.

8. She is also a hard core LA fan...GO LAKERS AND DODGERS!!!

9. When we were younger she would always lie on the couch across from either Curtis or Wes and "gaze" at them. They would catch her doing it and say, "Mandi, STOP GAZING!" LOL

10. She is very compassionate and understanding.

11. She is EXTREMELY thoughtful!

12. She is an incredible stylist and she is very passionate about her career.

13. I love how we had the SAME routine for the 4th of July for like 20 years and it never got old.

14. When we were teenagers we use to talk about our lives and how I was going to marry Sam and she would marry Wes and that way we could be sisters forever.

15. My mom use to babysit Mandi and Sam and Dirty Dancing was our favorite movie to watch.

16. When she would come over when we were about 2 and 4 we would swim in the horse trough and then come inside and eat spagetti.

17. My favorite New Years was when we hung out with "the boys" and broke into the jr. high and played basketball until like 4 in the morning, but first Curtis did doughnuts in the dirt lot next to the school and he got pulled over. HAHA

18. Curtis was getting his hair cut and Mandi and I were in the Amigo listening to Savage Garden and eating ice cream from the Acton Market and Mandi dropped her ice cream on the carpet of Curtis' car.

19. When I told her I was getting a divorce, she showed me NOTHING but love and support and understanding.

20. Mandi, I have no doubt that we were best friends before we came to Earth and I know we will be friends even after this life. You are without a doubt the most amazing woman I know. I love you and am so blessed to have you as MY BEST FRIEND!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

SHAY'D

So, for some reason the girls at the hospital started calling me Shay'D. Actually, it was Leigh Ann that started it and it just kinda stuck.

Last weekend I went with Julie to St. George to go see a former patient of ours. When we were out there we went to the outlets and I found this shirt. I could not believe it! I really had no choice but to buy it.