Letters to Lyla and Lottie

So since Todd and I don't work Fridays anymore, we've decided to do away with the whole "Friday night date night" and have "Friday, date DAY!". While admitting this reveals the nerd/freak in me, in lieu of the new date day I spent a good three hours last week researching different fun things we could do and made a list to check off when we do them...haha like I said, freak. I guess its my attempt not to go crazy here, where it seems like there is NOTHING ever to do (don't ask how I survived 18 years of it). So...this Friday we went to Zion National Park. Since we got married Todd always tells people, "my wife is from Southern Utah and she's never taken me to Zion". I decided to change that! I guess I just take advantage of things I've grown up around. Zion is such an amazing place, with plenty to do and see. We had a lot of fun and came home worn out! Here's some pics from our first date day adventure!

One of about a billion slick-redrock mt sides that surround everywhere you goZion Lodge...a random tree (still alive) w/ a huge hole in the middle of itThe SHUTTLE on the way to our hikeMy map-guide extraordinaire (his map navigation skills are amazing!)The start of our hike to Emerald Pools The view the entire way was amazing! Like I said...amazingWe saw a few signs of life...this squirrel, two deer (1 buck), and a few lizardsA side trail led to this red rock where erosion formed these random holes (at least I think that's what happened)...it looks almost like a bear clawI'm really not trying to show off my butt in this picture...haha I don't know why the crap I was sitting like that..but the rock is coolWe made it...! They call it the "Oasis in the desert" the lower pools are shadowed by this huge wall...you can't see but a very small water fall runs off it and fills the poolsThe pools. You can hardly seem them bc the wall darkens that area and makes it hard to photographA better shot? The sun is glistening off the waterfallI thought this wall was coolOn the way back...Todd mocking my picture taking needs...quite the pose huh?The start of The Narrows Soooo beautiful!After spending all day in the park hiking, we went to "Treasure of the Gods", the IMAX. I had seen it before but forgot how cool it was. Todd liked it a lot. In the gift shop before the movie started, Todd pretending to be Indiana Jones...what a nerd right?

So that's the end of our adventure in Zion. We saw a lot and enjoyed the time to appreciate nature at its finest...CHECK!

So I've gotten a few requests that I post about life in Cedar for us AND Ty so here's what we've been up to since moving (aside from unpacking and working). BTW we are officially moved in...yippie! Todd says he likes his job working in the obscure parts of Southern Utah. He has a coworker (who he calls Lew bc he reminds him of my dad) who has taken him under his wing...which I appreciate. The last few days Todd has been manning the shovel (for what reason I don't know) he definitely hasn't enjoyed that too much. I guess it's not strenuous, he just clears out the backhoe (I think)...but it gets old. Also, his truck doesn't have AC... BOO! Aside from those woes, he says the job is pretty good...it seems that him having Fridays off trumps any woe. My days here, I must admit, have been quite foreign and lovely. I wake whenever I want, eat breakfast, walk Ty to my sisters, throw the ball around and then work on the computer doing research for 5-6 hours a day with intermittent "breaks" to play Mario Cart on the WII with my sisters. Pretty rough right? It's so lovely!!! I thought I'd go crazy after working 50 hour work weeks and going to school full time...but the insanity hasn't really set in!! The guilt however has (Todd working his butt off while I leisurely "work") and anticipate looking for a job within the next couple weeks. Todd doesn't want me to though bc he wants me to have Fridays off and thinks I should just relax for a while....ha! Okay, enough riveting updates....here's some pics.

We had my dad and sisters up for a BBQ of steak and dutch-oven potatoes...delishWe've been having play-dates with my dad's dogs Annie and LB (stands for "little bits"...she''s the huge one). Melissa, her friend and I took them on a walk the other day...my was that an adventuredventure!The way is should be...The way it was....I LOVE THIS PIC!!! All two lbs of Ty ran off LB and Annie from their own water after the walk. What an idiot dog.Ty thoroughly enjoys Grandma's house....she has a huge yard where we play ball everydayTy helps Melissa with her ball-handling skills. I'm not kidding they seriously play soccer together...I joined in yesterday and got a serious work out.Ty also loves Grandma's floor-to-ceiling pantry...He fully got his head stuck in the granola bar box and could not get it off...like I said, what an idiot dogMario Cart on the WII has definitely been another highlight of our time here....Sad as it is, we've had sooo much fun playing it! The other night we played my Friend Tiffany using WIFI...she lives in California...it was so fun!

That's all for now!!!

So we've been "moved" now for going on five days. I say "moved" because we're definitely not settled in yet. I'd say we have about half of our things unpacked with the major things left being the entertainment center and most of our bedroom stuff. The major set back is that I'm insisting on painting and touching up a bunch of things before we assemble them etc. It seems that most things survived the move. The only casualty? My new red sectional. It won't fit down the stairs. They will remain in the garage until we move. I cried and am still not over it. As far as the adjusting thing... it's going pretty okay. I definitely have had some existential crisis over returning to my home town. I cringe each time I see an old high school buddy or what have you. I don't know what my deal is. I feel like I'm in a giant fish bowl 24-7. I am too. I see everyone and their dog everywhere I go. I also think it's been a bit odd for Todd living essentially with my family. All in all, though, it's been pretty good. It's been really great seeing my family so much and my sister has really welcomed us into their house. Also, our apt is ginourmous compared to our old apt. That rocks. Todd started his job today and thinks he will really like the work. However, he got word today that he may have to spend nights away from home on certain jobs...that was definitely a huge bummer and we're not quite ready to acknowledge that. Despite that, he has every Friday off and we look forward to some good summer trips.

***this is only one portion of the crap***.

Other random note: around Grad time my sister surprised us with a night's stay at a condo in Jeremy Ranch. It was so stinkin fun! We got food to go and watched AI. Then we just stared at our amazing view! For Mother's Day we visited Todd's mom and fam. It was such a nice getaway and was really fun to spend the time with his family. It was however, kinda sad bc we felt like we were saying goodbye. We'll miss being able to zip up and visit! Ty loves his grandma

Until next time!

Today may be one of the greatest days of my life. Okay, maybe I'm overstepping myself a bit but I am just so relieved, elated, and utterly ecstatic to share with you all that I PASSED MY LICENSURE EXAM TODAY!!! I didn't tell anyone I was taking it (except Todd and some of my SW buddies) for fear that I wouldn't pass it, so if I've been ignoring your calls or just acting a little ornery towards you in the last little while that's why! I've really been so super crazy the last three weeks trying to study and prepare to move. I'm not sure if I've ever had so much anxiety! Driving to the test I thought for sure I would pass out or at least throw up, but I survived! All four hours of thinking my life was over. I thought for sure I hadn't passed, but I did with a 78 which doesn't sound that good but it actually is pretty good. Phew. It will be so nice not to have to make a separate trip up here for the exam and to just enjoy the summer without worrying about studying, etc. Ah, I'm so pumped. Hallelujah.

We finally have some concrete plans for the next little while (we don't like anything too permanent)....we've decided to move to my hometown, Cedar City. Todd was offered the Forest Service Job he applied for several months ago. We had convinced ourselves it was a no go since we didn't hear anything too promising for sooo long, but then we got official word last week that it was a go. The job is too good to turn down and I can work at my job anywhere that has an Internet connection. Plus, we will be living in my sister's basement apt for dirt cheap. The plan is to do that for awhile to save money for a house. Another pro is obviously being close to my family...especially because Jenny will be having a baby while we're there! The cons? We have to be there in two weeks! I was planning to take the licensure exam in two weeks, which makes life REALLY stressful...in fact, I'm currently diagnosing myself with some type of anxiety disorder to practice for the test. Wrapping up everything here, packing, and studying and taking the exam may not all happen, but I trust that it will all work out. Here's to living in two states and four cities in less than two years! Cheers!

So the day finally arrived! Graduation went off without a hitch. While it was nice to have a physical and symbolic ending to the last two years, the nicest part about graduation was being reminded of what a loving and supportive family I have. My family and Todd's family drove a great length to watch something that can't be that scintillating. I was especially touched that Todd' mom drove clear from Idaho in just one day after being sick...just for me! It was just great to see how much support I have and to spend the day with everyone. We had a graduation lunch at Mimi's that afternoon, which was lovely. It was also wonderful to be with my friends from the program and to celebrate with them. I've said it enough but they're really great! The ceremony itself was just okay. Not too long at least! That part didn't really matter too much to me anyway. Now that its all said and done I'm happy I walked....ya happy mom!?! So..thank-you to everyone and especially to my honey...he really has held me up the last two years.