TwEntY yeAR tAg - -

20 Years ago:

1. I was nearly five years old and loving graham crackers with powdered sugar frosting on them which Lisa Johnson (those of you from Blanding might remember her, she had twin daughters Kassie & Nicole) would make for me because I cried every day my mom dropped me off there!:)

2. My best friends were the neighbor kids: Tiffany Palmer, Michelle Johnson & Brynne Hilton. We liked to play in the tree house my dad built in the lot next to my house and ride our bikes up & down the street.

3. I think I was in Kindergarten around this time and my boyfriend was Kerry Bayles.:) One day his mom let him come over to my house to play and we caught a whole bunch of lady bugs in the field next to my house and put them in a jar.:)

10 Years ago:

1. It was the summer before my sophomore year of high school and my best friends were Cori & Elkee. Our lives consisted of drill team, BOYS, and having sleepovers in my backyard.

2. Cori, Elkee, and I loved hanging out with the, soon to be, juniors because they all had driver's licenses and we thought they were so cool! I think they were just nice and let us tag along with them.:) We hung out at CB's alot!

3. I think this was the summer that Levi Tate moved back to Blanding and I really wanted him to like me!:) I guess it worked cause we dated (if that's what you can call it) for about 4 months.:)

5 Years ago:

1. I had just finished my 2nd year at SUU & my 1st year of nursing school. I decided not to move back to Blanding with my parents that summer so I could take a few summer classes. One of my roommates Sarah and I moved into a house in Cedar City with 6 other girls!! We had so much fun at the "foxhole" that summer!

2. This was the summer that I fell in love with Bryce and at the time he didn't know it! He lived with Mont Jones so I'd go over to see Mont all the time!:)

3. Four out of the 8 of us living in the house met our future husbands that summer! Sarah started dating Scott and we all thought she was crazy at the time!:) They are married now and have a little boy. Mel fell in love with Jay while she was dating someone else and they are now married with a kid (I think). Terresa's boyfriend came home off his mission and they were married with-in a few months! Wow- what a busy summer!:)

3 Years ago:

1. Bryce and I had survived our 1st year of marriage! We were living in Cedar City in a house that was built in the 1970's. Bryce was working for Schmidt Construction and I worked in St.George at Dixie Regional Medical Center. I loved my job in Same Day Surgery! I had also survived my 1st year as a nurse and Bryce was as red as a lobster working out in the sun all day!

2. This was the summer that Bryce was accepted to Creighton University and in August we moved to Omaha, Nebraska of all places!! We were so sad to leave our college friends and our families in Utah but at the same time we were so excited for our new adventure!

3. As many of you know- -this was also the summer that everything Bryce and I owned was stolen by some low-life thieves! As we were making the 17 hour drive to Omaha from Cedar City we stayed over night in Aurora, Colorado and woke up the next morning to find my father-in-law's truck and our U-Haul GONE!! I won't go into any detail but you can imagine how the rest of the day went and how completely bad the rest of our drive to Omaha was! The only good thing that came from that experience is that it only took us 15 minutes to move into our new apartment!:) And no, they never found any of our stuff!

1Year ago:

1. Bryce and I were living in Omaha still. Bryce was way busy taking summer classes and working at the Legal Clinic and I was working at Advanced Surgery Center.

2. I had just had a miscarriage in April and was sad & depressed that I wasn't pregnant. Every time I turned around someone was pregnant or having a baby and I will admit that I was selfish and having a hard time being happy for them.:(

3. We spent the 4th of July in Omaha and I hated it!!! I wanted to be in Blanding and I think I complained all day!! There's nothing like 4th of July in the small town where you grew-up!!:)

So far this year:

1. My husband has finished law school & graduated Cum Laude from Creighton University! It was a long 3 years of school and we're both glad it's over!

2. We bought our 1st new car together and fight over who gets to drive it!:)

3. We made one of the biggest decisions of our lives and decided to move to Nevada for an Assistant DA position. It's turning out to be a good decision too! Bryce loves his job and we think we're going to like living in Lovelock.

Yesterday:

1. My mom and I were in Holbrook, Arizona visiting my grandparents on my mom's side. We were only there 2 days but had a good time visiting and seeing a few old friends.

2. I started reading "Mistaken Identity" and it is so good! If you're at all sensitive you'll cry the whole way through this book. It's so sad!

3. My mom and I listened to the new 3 Doors Down CD all the way back from Arizona and it's so good! We both love 3 Doors down and have had every one of their CDs.

Today:

1. I went to work from 9:00-5:00 and hung out with my grandparents!

2. I will hopefully finish my book tonight so I can start on another one tomorrow. I've turned into a real book nerd lately!:)

3. I will make a birthday card for my niece that will turn 1 on my birthday June 29th.

Tomorrow:

I have the day off so I am going to try to get a few things done which include:

- go running and try to shed a few pounds :)

- get a birthday gift for my niece and mail it off

- take my grandma out to lunch for her birthday

- pay some bills

- clean the inside of the Jetta

-and of coarse watch the Bachelorette ( I love that show)!

In the Next Year:

1. I will move home to Nevada with my husband!:)

2. I will hopefully get a job as the Pershing County Health Nurse which I really, really want!!

3. And if it's in Heavenly Father's plan for Bryce and I we'll get pregnant. This I want more than anything!

Now I tag: Chelsea J., Cori C., Mindy C., Kathryn I., & Sarah G.

You all better do it too!!:)

SuMmeR. . . .Picnics & BBQs

After being couped up in the house for a week while I was in Nevada grandma & grandpa were more than ready to get out when I got back on Thursday. The weather has been really nice in Blanding so we decided to take a drive up the mountain. We packed a picnic and off we went!

We drove up to Johnson's Creek and got out to enjoy the sounds of the rushing stream and smell the wonderful fresh air of the Blue Mountains! Blanding is such a beautiful place and I never really appreciated it until I moved away. I'm very grateful to be able to enjoy & appreciate it this summer!

We found some picnic tables at Nizhoni camp ground and completely enjoyed our chicken, potato salad, chips & salsa and of coarse grandma's favorite- -donuts!:)


Above all else the company was great!! I really enjoy being able to hang out with my grandparents and I can't believe that I'm getting paid to do it!:)


* * *
My mom planned a Father's Day BBQ for my grandpa so we all got together on Saturday to visit and eat some yummy food!

I will admit- -my dad makes some mean dutch oven potatoes!! They turned out great and I'm pretty sure we all gained a few pounds that day!

These are the things I missed while I was living in Nebraska! Little family get togethers like this are priceless! My only wish would be that my husband could be here with me! My parents are amazing and wonderful people! I really, really love being able to spend this time with them!

All of the kids pitched in for Father's Day to get my grandpa this cabana for the back porch so that he can enjoy being outside with out baking his poor bald head.:) Three of the four living children of my grandparents (my dad, Vicki, and Jeff) were there and it's been a while since we've been able to get together and visit. We had a great afternoon but I think we wore poor grandpa out because he slept almost all day the next day!:( I'm not even kidding. He woke up to eat breakfast and lunch and that's it. So we have to remember that though he's starting to feel better, he still doesn't have the energy or strength that he used to. I'm sure he'll be ready for more picnics and BBQs next week!:)

My hardworking career man.....and Jack :)

So I had a wonderful weekend in Nevada with my husband!! It was so good to see him! Three weeks is a long time away from your husband!! We seriously just tried to enjoy every minute together. I think it's true.....absence does make the heart grow fonder!:)

I missed a very important occasion (in my opinion) while I was 700+ miles away from my husband and I'm a little upset about it! Guys just don't understand that kinda stuff! My husband was "sworn in" as Assistant/Deputy District Attorney and there was no one there to hear it or take pictures besides his boss and the judge! I don't know if I'll get over missing that any time soon! So anyway- -it's official......he's a career man!:) And if you don't believe me just look at the sign below!!:)

Isn't that cool?? Well, I think it is anyway!! So official looking! But wait.....it gets better! He has a badge too!! I never knew that he would be getting a badge so when he showed it to me I thought it was so funny and cool! What a stud!! You'll have to just take my word for it cause he wouldn't let me post any of the pictures I got of him because he felt stupid.:) I went to his office the day before I left and made him pose for all these pictures and he was a little annoyed. Love ya Bryce!:) There's nothing wrong with a wife being proud of her husband, right??

Well, I was also happy to know that Jack didn't forget about me while I've been away! He definitely didn't and snuggled right up over my shoulder quite often while I was home. I felt bad leaving him again!

This is his favorite little place to perch! What a cutie! I can't believe how attached you get to your pets! I love this little guy!:)

I MISS MY BOYS!!

I have really been enjoying my time here in Blanding with my family! My mom and I have been hanging out together as much as we can: going running, watching our favorite shows, screaming every time David Cook is on T.V. or we hear one of his songs:), shopping when we're in Salt Lake City, and planning other fun activities for the summer. It's definitely weird living at home again without my husband. I feel like I'm in high school again!:) I haven't had to spend more than like $20 dollars since I've been here! But don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining!

I will complain about one thing though and that is: I miss my husband.....and my cat!! Everything is going well for Bryce in Nevada: he really likes his job (yeah!), he has the whole apartment to himself, he found some guys from church to play basketball with every Wednesday night, and he has plenty of time to study without interruptions from his wife! One thing he tells me every time I talk to him is that he is getting way too much attention from our cat Jack! Let me just tell you a little about our cat- he's a spoiled, affectionate, baby. When there are two of us there his affection is split between us but now that Bryce is the only person in the apartment he can't be anywhere without Jack sitting on his lap or wanting to be picked-up. Our cat is more like a dog than a cat. He greets you at the door when you come home, he turns around so you can pick him up, he loves to be held, and he sleeps in our bed with us! Bryce would rather have a dog than a cat so this is our compromise....a cat that acts like a dog!:)

I am so excited to go home this weekend and see my boys!! I miss them like crazy!! I am not excited for the 10 1/2 hour drive or even having to get in the car again but it'll be all worth it to get to hug and kiss my husband again!!:) I leave on Friday so the countdown is on..... 4 more days!

I am so blessed to have such a great husband! We don't always see eye to eye but he definitely possess the qualities that I don't have but wish I did! He is working and studying so hard right now and I want him to know how proud I am of him and everything he has accomplished! I love you Bryce and I can't wait to see you!! Enjoy these last few days as a bachelor..... well, not too much!:)