BABY NOLA

We had our anatomical survey ultrasound today. Our little girl is healthy and strong and growing like a weed. She has all her fingers and toes and her organs are all functioning. It's still so surreal to me that I am a mother. I had to fight back the tears today during the ultrasound. I am so grateful for her already. Here are pictures of our little girl.

She was sleeping with her mouth open.
A picture of one of her hands. She kept putting it up in
front of her face. She didn't like that we were interrupting her nap.

My co-worker has a sense of humor and thought her

chiropractor daddy would like a shot of her spinal column.

Her little piggies I just can't wait to kiss.

Ok Ok enough baby...What have we been up to?

Devin is on break this week and next. He finished his seventh quarter of school last week and I cannot believe how fast time is going bye. He has been busy this past few weeks getting ready for high adventure with the scouts on top of preparing for finals. He will be gone most of next week. I am not looking forward to it necessarily, but I enjoy having time to myself and the house to myself. Lot's of projects I want to work on. I have just been working, working and working. We are going to go camping next weekend for the fourth so that will be relaxing and I am looking forward to that. I have been feeling good for the most part. Just getting a big belly. I have my good days and bad, but the bad are few and far between right now. We haven't really been able to enjoy much of the summer yet, but I hope we get a few adventures in before the end.

IT'S A......

We have had several ultrasounds already, but we wanted to wait until I was further along before we went ahead and announced what we are having. IT'S A GIRL ! Can't wait to meet our little Nola Jean.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEVIN!

Baby Update

I have neglected some requests from friends and family back to home to tell them how I am doing with my pregnancy so far. So I thought I would blog a little update. I am now 15 weeks and grateful to be over the nausea stage. Everyone at work joked that it would help me be more sympathetic with my patients, but it did the opposite. I had no patience to listen to them whine about not going to work cause they did not feel good. I wanted to reach through the phone and strangle them. I am grateful to be over the want to murder people as well. I am still feeling very tired although I can feel my energy slowly coming back. I know however that is only a window time and that when I am huge I will be tired and miserable again. So we will try to enjoy this time while it lasts. I am doing well and so far everything is fine. Thanks for caring everyone and sorry I have ignored so many of you for so long. Love you and miss you all.

Lot's to blog about!

Claying around

It had been a while so a few weeks ago I pulled my clay out and made a few things. My patriotic bug
Be Bug

Newport

We went to Newport for Memorial day to the aquarium.

Devin and I in the shark tunnel

A shark swimming right above us.

These we got to touch and it was cool. You can see the star fish in different colors. The little green fish that look like a plant were sticky.

This is a Spider crab and apparently it is the biggest crab in the world. This picture does not do it justice. It was huge!

These we got to touch as well. There are little sting rays and sharks. Pretty cool

Devin had to take this picture because only in Oregon do you go fully dressed to the beach.

Redsox Game in Seattle

We went to see the Redsox play in Seattle two weeks ago and had a great time. We are thinking we shouldn't go see them anymore cause the three times we have gone to see them play they have lost. Oh well.

Our little Simpson Miracle

After what has seemed like an eternity Devin and I are ready to announce that we are expecting a baby in November. I found out the day after my birthday. Talk about a great birthday present. We were so surprised because just a month before my Doctors had told me most likely I would not be able to get pregnant on my own. Well I proved em wrong. We are so blessed! The thing that is funny is that I felt symptoms but didn't think of taking a test. I was convinced that I wasn't because of what the docs had said. So I was over 6 weeks before I found out. Some OB/GYN Medical Assistant I am. The whole time we were home in Utah and Wyoming I had no energy, poor Devin could do nothing right, I slept and slept, and on the drive home I made Devin pull over numerous times cause I was sure I was going to throw up. I know I know how did I not know? It's my job to know! When Doctors paint a dismal picture you just don't go there in your head. Needless to say we are more then excited. This truly is our little miracle.

MOM

Last year I took a minute to share some thoughts on my blog about the dad's in my life. I thought of the idea after mother's day and now have the chance to honor the mother's in my life. Mom Searle was really sick when I was little and the Searle house was not without it's challenges. Her courage and faith in her heavenly father helped her through the darkest time in her life and I dare say mine. Dad was often away with his military job on Sundays and mom always made sure we were in church. She would march her six kids into the chapel and often got comments like "Kandi why don't you just stay home without Rex here to help you?" She was a faithful daughter of god and knew what she needed to do to raise her children and secure their testimonies. Mom sacrificed so much for her family. I know there are many things I am not aware of that she went without so the boys and James could play sports and Kelli and I could dance. She was always there to support us at these events. I knew I could always find her face in the crowd at my Dance competitions. I knew I could always count on my mom to help me have the best book report or project in the class. She is so talented and always went above and beyond and encourage us to do the same. I learned so many things from her. She continues to be there for her children even in there adult hood. Many nights she held her oldest daughter in her arms and rocked me as I cried through my challenges as a young single adult. She prays for us every day. I know cause I have felt her prayers for me on so many different occassions. I love to see her now as a grandma comforting, teaching and helping her grandchildren. It brings sweet memories to my mind. Mom you are such an amazing example to me. Thanks for always listening to me , holding me, and loving me. I love you with every ounce of my heart! Mom Simpson is the world's best mother in law. In the few short years I have had the privilege of having this sweet women in my life I have learned a great deal from her.She is slowly teaching this city girl how to survive in the country and how to be a country wife. We have crafted together, canned together, cooked together, hauled hay together and worked side by side together. She raised an amazing son that I now call my husband and I will be eternally grateful for her. She also raised six children whom are also still faithful in the gospel. Kaylene I know you know how much you mean to me. At least I hope you do. I try to remember to tell you. I love you and I appreciate all you do for Devin and I. What a blessing our grandmother's are to us. I love learning from you. What wisdom you have to share with me. Thanks you for all you do for us. I want to let all my sisters in laws know how much there example has blessed my life. I see the way you teach, comfort and bless the lives of the munchkins you are now raising and it touches my heart. Sarah I only single you out because you have been like a big sister to me and I love you so much. You being a bishops wife with three young children truely there is no better example to me and my sister's of true devotion to Heavenly Father. I think alot of my tears the day Trav was set apart were for you. I am grateful for the mom's in my life and I love you all. Today I honor you. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY !

Three years

Three years ago today Devin and I were married. It honestly doesn't feel like it has been three years. Crazy. I was thinking today that we spent the first year and a half of our marriage in Salt lake and now we have been in Portland for a year and a half. Time flies.

PASSED

The wait is over! Devin passed all his boards. The section of testing he said he felt the worst about so happens was his best score. Crazy how that happens huh! Way to go Devin. I love you lot's.

Lucky You

So we had something really exciting happen to us over the weekend. Saturday Devin and I headed to the mall to get him some more dress clothes for school. After hitting the mall I needed to take something back to Nordstrom Rack. While we were there Devin found our personal needle in a hay stack. You may think I am a total dork for blogging about this, but I seriously have been hunting for this for three years of our marriage.We had almost given up hope and had just determined that they were not being made anymore. I was standing in line to return my purchase and Devin walk up to me with a khaki pair of Lucky pants. I almost fainted. He has been wanting a new pair since I have known him.His other pair really need to be thrown away, but my sweet love has not been able to part with them without finding a replacement. Every time we go into a store, no matter where we are, that sells Lucky's he looks for his pants and we have had no luck... until Saturday. The funny part is he wore them all day on Saturday and just kept saying over and over I have forgotten how comfortable these pants are....Three minutes later "these pants are so comfortable".....Two minutes later " why did I only get one pair?". So we are headed back as soon as possible to get one more pair.

Opening day

I love this time of year. I love the weather turning warmer. I love all the flowers and trees that are starting to blossom. I love the Easter season as we contemplate change and life over death. I love that I am able to celebrate my birthday this month, but the best thing about this time of year is...........
BASEBALL STARTS TODAY! Opening day is today. I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR!

They say it's your birthday!

Thank you for all the phone calls, gifts(sarah..... I love my mickey bowl and measuring cups almost to much to use) cards, text message's and singing happy birthday's. I love you all so much and I am very grateful for the sweet angels in my life.

No place like home

Devin and I just got home last night from a week long trip home. We had a good time visitng with family and friends however, we are so happy to be sleeping in our bed again. There is no place like home.

Half way through school how nice is that. So for being half way I guess a gift is needed!! Among the purchuses was a NO FEAR Helment (preperation for the graduation present), tickets to hear NICKELBACK in concert in August, and tickets to watch RED SOX play the Mariners in Seattle.

Now just to clarify things, my wife only got the Nickelback tickets, the rest I bought on my own, to all you thinking about doing something like this here is some words of advice.
1- Make sure you only let you wife know a day before so she doesn't have time to think it over
2- Make sure your wife has a great job, which mine does
3- Make sure to purchase online, that way you can't return what you buy very easily
4- Convience your wife it is a must need, to make you happy, (especially around the time you take Boards or around Finals time. Tell them it will help relieve the stress from the all the tests.
5- Make sure you have a great wife.

Thanks Crystal
p.s. I have a great wife!!

AAAAHHHHH

Well Devin still has a weeks worth of finals to take, but I cannot describe the relief our house feels now that boards are over.(Chiro wives you know what I am talking about) As soon as he is done this Friday HOME HERE WE COME! I cannot wait to see everyone. Even though I got to see some of you in January I am still excited to see you. Our lives have been very hectic and we are both so excited to see our families and have some down time. One of my co-worker's is on maternity leave so I have picked up extra hours which has not given me the time to run errands, clean my house, do laundry and take care of the other full time job I have of being a wife. Devin has been so busy with studying that I know he is looking forward to this break with great anticipation. So I breath a sigh of relief that we are almost there and that we are half way done with school! YIPPEEE

Boards UGH

Devin has two solid weeks of studying and test taking approaching. He has his first round of boards all day this Saturday and Sunday. I keep looking at him and thinking " I am so glad it's not me". I have done my part in helping him. The fridge has Pepsi in it and I am going to do my best to stay away from him. On the other hand I cannot believe he is already half way done wtih school. Time flies. GOOD LUCK HONEY!

BIGFOOT

Did you Know?

Bigfoot, also known as Sasquatch, is an alleged ape-like creature purportedly inhabiting forests, mainly in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Bigfoot is usually described as a large, hairy, bipedal humanoid. Many believers in its existence contend that the same or similar creatures are found around the world under different regional names, most prominently the Yeti of the Himalayas. Source: Wikipedia.com

Ivie commented on my blog leading to this post. It seems the little Parker man, who knows all about Bigfoot, keeps telling my nieces that I have been eaten by Bigfoot. He told me when I was home in January he hasn't come to see me because Bigfoot lives in Oregon. I spent my few days home in January answering questions about Bigfoot. I said but Parker if you come visit me we can see the ocean and he immediately asked does Bigfoot swim in the ocean? GEEEEZZZ kid!

AAAAAHHHHHHGGGGG!!!!!

My cold from two weeks ago has come back in full force. My nose is so numb from blowing it that I can't feel when it runs until it's too late. I went through a box of Kleenex at work and now I am working on the one at home. My head is pounding and nothing I take it helping. I HATE BEING SICK! Thanks for letting me vent.

The Fantastic Four!

These are the girls that I blog about all the time. My friends I miss and love so much. Joette posted us on facebook or I would have never remembered this event. This is one of the few pics I know of with all of us together back in the good ole days. Thanks Jo.

Emily, Me, Joette, Kristin

Random thoughts and promises

So my thoughts have been fueled by those girl hormones again. How else can I explain my post about dogs? Anyways so many of you had questions about my cupping post that I thought I would give a quick follow up. It's been a week and my back has not given me much grief. It did not hurt at all when it was being done and later it just felt like I had been adjusted or worked out. The bright red rings are gone and they never did hurt me. So I would say it's painless and those who are thinking about doing it should try it. For my promises portion all I have to say is Emily Reid I PROMISE I WILL CALL.

MY CUTE STEELERS FANS

Do you think my brother's kids get to choose who they cheer for?Not when they are World Champs. I love my cute Steelers Fans.

Excercise and Senior citizens

So my New Year's resolution of exercising got of to a rocky start. With work, church, Devin, let's face it Devin is a full time job as well as the Doctors office, and my unplanned trip home this month I finally got my butt to the gym. I have taken some classes and there is nothing like old people making your sorry out of butt shape look bad to keep you motivated. I am talking 60-70 years old keeping pace in Step Class or doing more reps with the weights then me in our power flex class. I started to feel a little discouraged , but then it just motivated me to keep going and get stronger. It is kinda funny though.

I love my Sisters

Sister's by chance.....Friends by choice. I miss you guys already!

Thank you

I just wanted to thank everyone for your thoughts and prayers.

I felt them. I appreciated the calls, text messages, emails, and

comments on my blog. It helped comfort me so much.

Thank you

The Grand son's (minus one serving a mission)

Payten, Misty, Ryan, Parker, Sarah, Trav, Dad, Kelli, Danny, Jami and me

Ivie, Claire, and Parker
They are my sunshine on my cloudy days

Laughter

When I was home my brother and I went to lunch with his two kids. My nephew Parker is four and the following is a conversation I thought I was having with my brother.

Ryan and I driving down a busy road with houses on both sides.......
Ryan: "I don't know why anyone would want to live on this busy road. I hate this street."

Me: " I know I would feel like if the kids were playing outside I would have to be outside all the time to watch them if they were playing in the front.

Little man: Slapping his head "WHAT?..........YOU HAVE KIDS!........WHERE ARE THEY?

Made me laugh when all I really wanted to do was cry. Thanks little man. I love you!

Grandma

This is Grandma Searle. She was not the typical grandma. She danced to the beat of her own drum and for that all of us loved her. When most grandma's were baking cookies for there grand kids she was yelling at us to "stay out of those cookies they are for grandpa's lunch". She wasn't the timid grandma that would sit on the sidelines and watch at our sporting events. She yelled the loudest. In fact many officials knew Grandma. She loved watching her grandchildren play sports and I can still hear grandma's voice ringing in my head while my brother ran for touch downs "GO Travey baby GO". That name stuck. Even as a father of three he was her "Travey Baby". Grandma loved football and there wasn't very many Sundays that we would go to visit that she wouldn't have the game on mute while we sat and visited. BYU games could never be watched without a blankety blank blank blank blank coming from the living room. When she was 16 she sent her sweat heart off to fight for his country. I can not imagine the worry and heartache she felt every day waiting to hear from Grandpa. She then went on the support my grandpa through countless church callings that kept him away while she raised her young family. Grandma seemed at times to have a tough exterior, but as an adult I can look back and see that she had acquired that through many trials that she so bravely faced. I was heart broken when we lost Grandpa in November of 2005. I remember on my wedding day grandma came up to me and willingly put her arms around me and said " we are so proud of you" and I knew it was heavenly father granting me a tender mercy and allowing grandma to fight through her disease for a short moment to be my grandma on the most special day of my life. Especially because it was so hard to not have Grandpa there. He gave me another tender mercy when I was home last September and I went and saw grandma. She looked at me and said "where have you been? It's been a year since you last saw me". I couldn't help, but apologize to her because she was right. It had been a year. She was so happy and was talking and laughing with us and I even heard her call my brother by his nickname that she had so lovingly called out so many times at the baseball fields and football fields. She was herself. She was the Grandma I knew and loved. I even looked at Devin at one point with tears forming and said " that's my grandma". I knew leaving that night it was the last time I would see grandma for a very long time. I cried the whole way back to mom and dad's. So I was not surprised to get the phone call from Mom last week saying it was getting close and to prepare. She is with grandpa now and so many others who I am sure are rejoicing that she is home. I am grateful to have this amazing women as my grandma and I will miss her so much.

New Year

I have never been big on setting myself up for failure so I never really set New year's resolutions, but this year I decided that maybe it was time I made some changes. The big 30 birthday is coming and I decided that I wanted my thirties to be better then the twenties so here goes.

My Resolutions.
-Love Devin better-He puts up with a lot people trust me.
-Sing in the car more-I love to jam to the radio. I have forgotten in my adult hood how much fun singing out loud to a really good song is. Therapeutic as well. Try singing your favorite chick ballad song when your pre menstrual and mad at the world. It feels great doesn't it?
(Check out my play list box for some of my favorites)
-Love my family better-It's a long distant relationship for now but I don't take as many opportunities to call as I should.
-Do my family history-I have realized that one day I would hope my great, great, great grand daughter will want to know her crazy great, great, great grandma who loved to sing in the car. So I should get to know my family whose choices lead to the wonderful life I have today.
-The always cliche resolution of getting healthy. That's the grand daddy of em all. I need to change some bad habits I have spent my twenties building. So good bye Taco Bell. I will see you when I am a little thinner!

Miss you like crazy

So my last entry was induced by a little pre menstrual syndrome so I thought I would blog about something a little more happy.My gal pal's. I have three of the most amazing BFF 's(as Paris Hilton would say) a girl could ask for. These girls have been my sanity when life was insane. I miss em like crazy. Life has thrown me a lot of lemons, but as cheesy as it sounds these three taught me how to make lemonade. Girls I hope that when we are 80 years old we can still tell each other to our faces that our butts look big in those stretchy old lady pants. I need you in my life. I love you and I miss you guys every day!

Frustrated in Portland

The snow was fun at first. It reminded me of home, but a snow storm in Oregon is nothing like home. No one can drive in it.The plows only plow major roads. Our garbage has not been picked up in two weeks. It seems no one here thinks it's rude to just shovel and pile snow where ever they want. In the street or behind your parked car. So at first the snow made it feel like home, but now it just makes me miss home. I am frustrated.

Flex Those Wyoming Muscles

So Church was canceled again today. We had a real bad ice storm last night and the roads are snow then a thin layer of ice and then some more snow. Anyways my dear sweet Hubby was getting a little anxious to do what the opposite of everyone else was doing today and that is go for a drive. So he De iced the truck slowly and we piled in his four wheel drive to go for a ride. We headed down the road when he saw a fellow student stuck in a bank of snow. So he pulls over and pulls him out. We head on our way and down a few more blocks is two guys stuck. So he pulls over and pulls them out. We went on our way again and low and behold two girls stuck. So he pulls them out. Two more pull outs later and we finally headed home. So five in all and that was just down the road from us. Serious people don't drive in it if you don't know how. Devin was beaming. Can you believe he loves doing that kind of stuff. He loves snow. He loves to drive in it, shovel it and anything that has to do with it. Anyways he sure was flexing his muscles today. He even got some Cat calls from the girls when they saw him hooking up and pulling. I guess I have to give old Red some credit to. She is just used to driving down the road to school. She got to do today what she was born to do.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

So Devin took one final before school was canceled for the rest of the week.It has been crazy here. I, unlike the Portlander's, have enjoyed the snow. One of things I had a hard time adjusting to when we to moved to Oregon was the seasons. I didn't feel like they changed. It's rain or sun. So it has been nice. We are still getting snow and lot's of it. Here's some pictures from my office window from yesterday.

And this just in.....More cancelations

This week has been a trip. Devin's finals were canceled for Monday and today. School has not been in session for many schools here in the area. My work Christmas party was canceled for tonight and I am scratching my head. I guess I have always taken for granted having to learn how to drive in snow. My co-worker Matt grew up in Bountiful Utah and he said to me at work yesterday "I bet they don't cancel Christmas parties for a little bit of snow in Utah huh?" I laughed and said "no way man". We just put a good cd in the stereo, take our time and drive slow. Devin has been happy, but frustrated with the situation. He still has to take his finals, but now he will have to wait until after Christmas break to take them. He is happy for more time to prepare, but it's kinda nice to not have to think about school over breaks. He too is scratching his head. This morning the roads were perfectly fine. A little snow was falling, but no big deal. AAAAHHHHH it's so weird for us. Missing church was nice. Were taking votes on if it will happen again this weekend, because they say this weekend will be worse. Apparently an ice storm is supposed to roll through. Good luck to all our student friends traveling this weekend. Drive safe!!!!

Church Canceled?.....Are you serious?

That's right folks. We woke up to this this morning. Portland has been below freezing and our rain turned to snow. Since Portland only get's storms like this every few years they are not equip to handle them so we did not have church today! This is the view from our upstairs spare bedroom at the beginning of the storm. It snowed pretty much most of the day. It was pretty awesome.

Our back yard as the storm was at it's worst.

Super Saturday

We had super Saturday yesterday and we made so many things I was like a kid in candy store trying to decide what to make. We learned how to Etch glass which was awesome. Here is some of what I did. The top stares Modge Podge frames, Vinyl signs, and my candle holders.

Here is a better picture of my candle holders.

Movies + Lines from Movies= Memories

Ryan has been sending me movie lines to my phone that are what we refer to as Searle classics. It has been so fun to hear these movie line he finds and sends to me. It also brings a flood of memories to my mind and it has been a fun thing for him and I to share. So I thought it would be fun to have my blog readers leave a comment about movies that remind you of memory you have. I would love to hear. Searle classic include and this is just to name a few: Tommy boy Lot's of one liners, Tombstone: Val Kilmer played Doc Holiday and he had a killing of one liners we loved growing up and quoted all the time like......"I'm here Huckleberry" with his country drawl. The three Amigos:My little buttercup dance. Are you kidding..... hilarious. Kelli learned to talk watching this show I swear. She loved it.

Black Friday

Well today is about the only day I can get Devin out to shop. We are not the early birds, but we did get out early today and got some good buys. We usually look for good prices on things we need as well as gifts. We got a air mattress to go camping with for under ten dollars. Some movies for four and we always have to hit Home Depot. We also upgraded our cell phones and got an awesome deal. So we are pretty happy. Black Friday is like ultimate coupon day for us.

GRATITUDE

Well folks it's Thanksgiving week and that always brings to the front of my mind things I am thankful for. I think one of the key things in staying humble is gratitude for all we have. Here is my list. First I am thankful for my testimony and knowing that Heavenly Father knows me. I am thankful for Devin and his love for me. He puts up with me and loves me even when I don't deserve it. I am thankful for his priesthood and his worthiness to call upon the power of Heaven and give me a blessing when I need it. I am thankful for his willingness to sacrifice things he wants to do to attend school, study and learn a skill to provide for our family. I am grateful that he is my best friend. Maybe not the best girlfriend, but my best friend. He keeps me grounded, he reminds me who I am, and he calls me on all my crap pushing me gently to be better. I am thankful for my parents and the pieces of them I have in me. Dad and I share a love of history, music, movie lines and I call him to be my sounding board more now then I ever have. Mom I have my compassion for others, and the willingness to see them as they should and could be and not as they are. Mom always looks for the good in others. I am thankful for my brothers and sisters. I don't know what kind of person I would be without all of your personalities and traits rolling over into my life. I am grateful for all you do for me and the person you have helped me to become pushing me in your own way to be the sister you need and know is inside. I am grateful for the munchkins (Searle and Simpson).They make me laugh and I am thankful for that. I am thankful for Ivie and our friendship that is getting stronger since Aunt Crystal moved away. Ivie the other day I was thinking about the day you were born. I can remember your daddy bringing you out of the hospital room and I immediately tried to imagine the person you would be. You were so little as you looked at us your family for the first time I remember that I loved you instantly and I had never felt that feeling before. So I am grateful for you my oldest and wisest niece. I am grateful for my in laws. I have said it before and I will say it again. I could not have asked for a better family to marry into. I am thankful for all you do for Devin and I. I know I could call upon any of you to be here for us and you would be and I am grateful for that. I am grateful for my friends. Old and new. Some of us have been through alot together and some of us have journeys still to take, but I love you each so very much and I am grateful for you. I am grateful for music. I am grateful for this country and all it stands for. I am grateful for modern medicine and the blessings bestowed upon us through Heavenly father's guidance in Science. I am not grateful for trials, but I am grateful for the polishing of me that they render. I appreciate the person they help me to become. So this is my small gratitude list. I say small because my list really could be much longer and go on and on. What I really wanted to accomplish was to say I am grateful and I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving.

Blogs

I was looking at my list of blogs today and I had a thought I thought I would share. I love reading the stories and experiences people share and one today in particular got me thinking I wonder if I would ever hear that story if they didn't blog about it. It's such a blessing to my life. I have felt prompted to call friends and family after reading between the lines on their blog posts. I love hearing about people's happiness and triumphs and on the other hand feeling humbled as they blog about there fears, trials and disappointments. I love being able to see pictures of family and friends who are far away and hearing what they are up to. It has truly been a blessing to pull up a blog and see the faces that make me smile, particularly on hard days or getting a comment from someone that really makes me laugh. This is my life story even if it is random. Just like our thoughts and the things we are grateful for one day to the next. Today I am grateful for blogging and the wonderful Internet that keeps me seconds away from Utah and Wyoming and all the things and people I love. Miss you so much Utah and Wyoming!!!

Eight Is Great

Camille has tagged me about a hundred times and I never do them. Sorry Camille! So this time I decided I should do one just for her. Here goes.

8 Things I am obessed with right now:

1.The show CHUCK- I can't miss an episode
2.Carmel apple cider from Starbucks- Thanks to Penny and the 25$ Gift card I won from work.
3.Blogging and looking at other peoples blogs
4.Taco Bell- I have never grown sick of eating there
5.Victoria Secrets sweet sugar lotion. I bought a bunch when they were on sale
6.Getting updates on my neices and nephews
7.Polymer Clay
8.Sleep- can never have enough

8 Words or Phrases I often use:

1.DAGG NAM IT!
2.Pretty sure.....
3.Devin can you_____?
4.Oh man
5.What the?????
6.WHATEVER!
7.Stink
8.Sweet

8 Shows that I love to watch right now:

1.Chuck
2.The hills
3.Jon and Kate plus 8
4.Rock of Love charmed school ( don't judge me people)
5.Little people big world
6.Big Bang theory
7.The Office
8.Anything on the history chanel

8 Things I did yesterday:

1.painted my nails
2.Worked
3.Watched criminal minds with Devin against my better judgment. That show scares me
4.Thought about starting laundry..... that's as far as I got
5.Picked my pig skin pick em's
6.Remembered I need to mail dad's birthday present
7.Checked craigslist for Wish list item numero uno
8.Checked the family blogs like I do almost every day

8 of my Favorite places to eat:

1.Chilli's
2.Taco bell
3.Out back
4.Red Robin( just recently became a favorite for the fries yum yum)
5.Asian Thai Bistro
6.Home ( sometimes nothing beats a home cooked meal)
7.My mother in laws (She is a good cook)
8.Pretty much anywhere that I don't have to cook or clean up

8 Things I am looking forward too:

1.Seeing Devin graduate
2.Twilight the movie (next week)
3.Christmas music
4.Being a mom (someday)
5.Seeing our families again hopefully next spring
6.Having a house (also someday)
7.The end of this day
8.Sleeping in tomorrow it's friday

8 Things that are on my wish list:

1.A black chev Tahoe leather and a sunroof
2.Red Kitchen aide
3.new wardrobe
4.A raise
5.I could always use new shoes
6.A new bag
7.A new hair style
8.A personal trainer

WHAT DO POOR MORMON GRADUATE SCHOOL STUDENTS DO ON A SATURDAY NIGHT?

Answer: Rock Band party!

Devin and I

Steve, Devin , Parker, and Chad as Broken Brain Stem.

Travis on lead Guitar, Alisha on drums, me on vocals, and Nachelle on Base. We Rocked it.

Our youngest groupie Kylee.

HALLOWEEN 2008

I can't say that I care to dress up for Halloween, but this year I decided to dress up for work. Good thing I did because I won "most creative" costume and a gift card to Outback Steakhouse. WWHHHOOO for me!!! I was Sally from "The nightmare before Christmas". My family loves that movie. Seriously the nieces and nephews are obsessed. Anyways I made the costume a few years back, but did some upgrading and sewed some sleeves on it this year. I didn't have my wig on for this picture. There is only so much costume you can do when you have patients to take care of.

Kristy and me. Kristy is my co-worker and has easily become one of my very best friends. She was JUNO. She really is pregnant. I know hard to tell isn't it. She is a tiny little thing. Anyways Kristy won "funniest costume". Here are the two winners.

Our way of passing out candy. Devin's skeleton for school made a great Halloween decoration.

Devin's costume!

Things to smile about.

After the week I had I reflected today on some things that made me smile. Thought I would share. I called my good friend Emily on my way home from Spokane and she told me her four year old thinks I look like Rachel Ray. Every time Emily watches Rachel Ray Josh asks her "mom is that Crystal"?

I don't think I look anything like her, but it made me smile.

This was the second thing this week that made me smile. I got on Devin's oldest sister's blog when I got home and low and behold a post just for me.

Aunt Crystal, this one is for you!
Tom was getting ready for work this morning and Connor comes in with the most serious face you've every seen.
Connor: "Dad, who is Aunt Crystal's friend?"
Tom: "I have no idea, buddy."
C: "Yes, you do. You know that guy...he is Aunt Crystal's friend."
T: "You mean Uncle Devin?"
C: (face just beaming now) "Yeah, that's who I mean!!"
and that was the end of the conversation. just random thoughts running through his head and he could remember you and couldn't remember your "friend"!!!
It made me smile, so I thought I'd share!

Thanks C-man Aunt Crystal loves you!

Our Jounrey

It's late and I should be sleeping , but I am afraid I cannot rest until I have shared a few thoughts rambling around in my head. First I feel gratitude for a God that I know knows me and knows each us personally. I know not all my readers share my beliefs so if you haven't already stopped reading please don't. I have a story of two friends and their journey together I would like to share. It all began five years ago when I walked into my friends office and I sensed something was wrong. With great hesitation my friend shared with me that she had just hung up with her mom and that she had been given the news that her mom had been diagnosed with breast cancer. I watched her eyes fill up with tears as she said the Doctors are only giving her three to six months to live. The weeks that followed were of great sadness as my friend made the decision to move home to Washington to be near her mom. Three to six months came and went and I decided to make the road trip from Salt Lake to Spokane to see my friend. It was August and we had decided to drive to Idaho to hit some shopping. My friend saw this little cafe and decided to go inside. There was a band playing and she wanted to stop in and listen a while. As we stood there listening our attention was drawn to this man who walked in and my friend immediately recognized him. She gasped and graped my arm and then walked over to this man and exchanged a few words with him. Later she told me that the man was the Doctor who had helped save her mother's life and given her family a little more time. This Dr. through no short of inspiration was in the office on a usual day off. He looked over my friends mom's chart and realized that the course of treatment was not what needed to happen. He immediately contacted my friends family and told them of his findings and the changes in surgery that needed to take place. My friend told me of the fasting and prayers that they had pleaded to Lord to prolong there mother's life and there prayers were answered. She felt so humbled seeing this man that I first hand got to witness the exchange where she thanked him for saving her mother's life. How strange that he would be in the exact place in a completely different state and walk into the same little cafe we did. As we reflected it was not strange at all. It all goes back to God knowing us personally. My friend's life had been blessed because of this man listening to a still small voice he may not of even known was heavenly inspiration. She needed and wanted so much to thank him for what he did for her family and her mother. A year or so later I felt inspired to go on a whim to see my friend. I did my best to shake the feeling, but I could not. Married now and poor I was not sure Devin would agree to fly me all the way to Spokane, just because. He seemed to have sensed the same urgency I did and knew that once again a dark hour had come and that my friend needed me and he even booked my flight for me. It was an amazing visit to be able to hang out with her and her mom and be silly girls. That was almost two years ago. Now some may call it coincidence that I now live 5 hours away, but this may be all part of the creator's plan for me and my friend. So many conversations, treatments, frustrations, triumphs and tears later my dear friends mom passed away today. Spokane is again calling me. I have so many things going on I heard myself muttered to her today, after she said "come soon",well I can come then or there but I have to be home here or there. AAAAGGHHH Why do we do that? In the shower tonight I felt prompted to just go "just go Crystal". Devin and I have known it was coming and we are prepared to be apart for a few days. I guess I share this because I have felt first hand the love Heavenly father has for my friend because he has provided so many ways for me to be there for her. So when I reflect upon this I think if he loves her that much how much does he loves me. Then I reflect upon all the people and friends that have been blessed in my path during my darkest hours. God is aware of us. You cannot witness what I have witnessed and not know this to be true. He loves us and his tender mercies are what he uses to testify to us that he knows us. People are not perfect, but God is and so is love. I am very sad and upset right now. No 29 year old girl should have to journey to her friends side to comfort her as she goes through this. It's so hard. The words escape me, but I find comfort in the word's "just go Crystal".

The Random Corner

I ordered this book shelf a year ago before we moved to Oregon and when we were home Devin's sister Amy mentioned she was curious about how it looked. Here ya go Amy. There are two more glass shelves I don't use because my dolls wouldn't fit.

Latest Polymer clay I did a few weeks ago.

He's not finished, but he is close. Just got bored one day.

All the Simpson girls made these when I was home. Dad Simpson cuts these out for us and then we create. I didn't finish mine when we were there so Simpson girls here is my finished BOO!