1/2 IRON MAN!

This weekend we took a little trip to Las Vegas for G's Half Iron Man Triathlon in Lake Mead.

G has done a couple triathlons (a sprint and an olympic length) and a couple months ago he made the goal and signed up for an Iron man triathlon in May!! (He's amazing!) He has been training so hard these past couple months, which keeps him busy while I am in school at night. He is so dedicated, I could not be more proud. So this weekend he did the 1/2 iron man to help with his training. Which is a huge accomplishment.

Half Iron Man= 1.2 mile swim--56 mile bike ride--13.1 mile run

Seriously, I can't even imagine doing all of that. I was tired just waiting for him! ha (And that is only half of what he is doing in May! He's my hero.)
I spent the day studying on the sidelines, cheering people on, and waiting to see G (every couple hours). While cheering people on, an old man passed me saying "There is a place in heaven for you!" I thought that was pretty funny. 

 I really love him. :)

 Getting all set up!

 It was 46 degrees when they started the swim!! ah. I was freezing... good thing the water was warmer.  

 Now on to the bike...see ya in 3 hours! no big deal. haha

 At the FINISH LINE!!!!! 6 hours and 39 minutes! Finishing 18th overall and 1st in his age group (okay, he may have been the only one in the age group, but who needs to know that ;))

It was one of the hardest courses there is, really hilly and really windy! I was so proud of him for sticking with it...seriously, that is endurance!! He finished feeling great too. I'm a proud wife!

 It really was a breath taking view! The 56 mile bike ride was pretty lonely, at least he had a great view. 

Of course we did some sight seeing. as we were there, and visited the beautiful Las Vegas LDS Temple. It is a very unique looking temple, I loved it. And of course, the temple grounds are always so beautiful and peaceful. I loved walking around it and enjoying the spirit felt. 

After the race, we spent the night in the city. We enjoyed the sight seeing, had a great dinner and went to the Beatles LOVE Cirque Du Soleil...It was absolutely incredible!! Words can't even describe it. Blows my mind the things these people could do, and of course great music!

Great get-a-way with my hubster :) I sure love being with him. I'm so proud of his accomplishment...he motivates and inspires me. Loved being there the support him, and have a fun little vacation. 

21! Booyah.

September 13th:

I had a wonderful 21st birthday!! I felt so loved and spoiled. Hubby knows that I don't like waking up to my alarm so he told me that he would wake me up in the morning. So he started my day off waking me up and said that my birthday breakfast was ready for me... I was the most excited that I got to eat with him! He is always gone to work by the time I wake up so that was such a treat. He made pancakes and eggs (which he is VERY good at) and decorated the table and house so fun.

(he did pretty good huh?!)

This made me laugh!! People say the only cool part about turning 21 is that that you can legally drink...nothin better than Root Beer!

While we were eating I was looking at the cards and presents on the table and there was an envelope with my name written in cursive all cutesy on the front. G said, "I don't know who that is from, it was just on the door step." I thought that was kind of weird but totally believed it. After breakfast as I was opening up my presents he said why don't you open this too. I laughed so hard when I opened it and it was a letter from Taylor Swift...

My sweet hubby surprised me with a ticket to the Taylor Swift concert a month ago to go with my sister-in-laws as an early birthday present. I am SOOO excited to go, I have been listening to her songs like crazy lately!!-- I bet not very many people can say that she wrote them a birthday card! ;) haha. He's so clever...I love it!

A few of the presents I was given: G also gave me some new work out clothes, a new rug for our home, men's basketball shorts (So I don't steal his anymore! ha...still can't promise anything) and money to buy whatever I wanted :) Which I spent on more cute decorations for our home, had so much fun picking out with my Mom this weekend!!! My mom painted an adorable shelf for my house. (I'll post pics of that and all the new decor soon). Sis made me a bunch of cute headbands and accessories and I have already worn most of them the past couple days. Movie tickets from Jakester, and money from both my grandparents and parents. I really got spoiled.

For lunch I went to Chipotle with my fam and Nana and Grandpa brought a cookies and creme ice cream cake and I got to blow out all these candles in the restaurant. I

I got so many sweet birthday messages, texts, cards, and calls. I really felt so loved... I am a lucky girl :) I loved this picture my cute sis in law sent me of my newest niece.

After lunch I went to school, and my sweet classmates gave me a card, some balloons, and cupcakes for everyone. I love the girls I get to go to school with, they are so great. We are going to have a great 2 years together.

I got out of class at 7 and got to enjoy an amazing dinner at Temari's (my FAVORITE sushi restaurant) with my love! Nothing better than sushi with my favorite person in the world. We had so much fun.

Both my families had fun sunday birthday dinners on either end of the week....love celebrating all week :) I am so blessed to have two amazing families!! They are so good to me.

It feels good to be 21 :) Thank you to everyone who made my day/week so special!!

Miracles Happen!

So, as you may know I applied for Dental Hygiene School in January. I worked so hard on the pre-requisite classes to get A's in all of my classes at ASU, and MCC. Because I have known since I decided this is what I wanted to do that it was VERY competitive and that I would have perfect grades and have the experience in dental, and receive good letters of recommendation to get in. SO many people apply and only 20 students get in every year. After accomplishing all that I needed to just about ensure I would be accepted. I found out that they just changed the placement process and if you had the minimum requirements you would get put into a "pool" and the computer pretty much RANDOMLY does the placement!?! What sense does that make?!

I wanted to get into school so bad that I applied to MCC, Rio Salado, and Phoenix college. My preference was MCC but I'd take anything! When they did the placement in the spring, I didn't get lucky...I was devastated. I didn't get in to MCC or Phoenix college which both start this fall, but there was one more chance that I could get into Rio Salado which starts in February but would finish at the same time. I tried not to get my hopes up, but the placement team told me that I had a very good chance of getting placed at Rio, since my number was going up on the list due to the fact that I hadn't been placed yet. A couple months later I got an email saying that Rio Salado was not going to accept any students this year because they were changing campuses so the next class would start in 2013!!! Once again devastated. I was thankful for the support of my family and friends who kept reminding me that the Lord must have a different plan for me, and that we don't always know the reason for things. Just have faith and everything will work out. So, I learned a lot of faith and patience these last couple months (which must have been a lesson I really needed). I called and talked to many advisors and directors of the school and asked if there was any possible way I would get placed if someone were to drop out. They told me no, since there was too many people ahead of me on the list...And they told me to just plan on next year, or 2013. I settled for this and made different plans for my life until I would get placed.

Monday I was at work and started my lunch break, I had a missed call and voice mail that I had just missed by five minutes. I listened to it in shock! It was a man from MCC's dental hygiene program that said that he was trying to fill a spot in the dental hygiene program starting in TWO WEEKS!! He continued saying that he was calling a couple people and whoever would respond first he would take....I was so thankful that I had barely missed the call. I hurried and called him back, got all the details, made sure Grafton was okay with it (of course he supported it 100%, just had to make sure since it will affect us both the next two years :) ) and I ACCEPTED!!! I seriously could not believe it!!...actually still can't. All of a sudden everything changes and I will be starting school in less than two weeks. I have been getting prepared, had to tell my jobs that I only have 2 weeks left, been buying the essentials, and getting medical stuff taken care of. I am so excited, and feel so blessed. It really is amazing how everything works out, even if its not exactly in the way that you wish it to.

Dental Hygiene School here I come!!!!!!

Camping Getaway

G and I decided to get out of the heat (115 degrees is killin me!) and spend the night in woods :) We had so much fun getting away and camping out. I haven't done much camping in my life, so I thought it would be a fun adventure.

We packed up the car and took off. It was a beautiful drive and took only about an hour and a half.

We searched for a quiet, private camping ground so that we could just be together and enjoy the peaceful woods. While Grafton gathered wood for the fire, I helped set up chairs and our sleeping bags. I was pretty proud of our camp!

G started a big fire and we sat and talked and enjoyed it for the rest of the night. We brought our tin foil dinners with ground turkey and veggies. I know it looks gross, but it was delicious. We also made S'mores of course...thats what camping is all about right?!

We had a couple neighbors that wandered through the woods (COWS!) I thought it was hilarious. I guess I just always picture squirrels, bears, bobcats, and deer when I think of animals out in the woods...but we saw probably about 15 cows wandering around.

There is something so peaceful and relaxing about a campfire. I loved just sittin around it with my love, just talking and telling stories. We fell asleep in the tent watching the stars. It was incredible.

It was breathtaking how beautiful it was up there. I couldn't stop taking pictures. I loved being out in nature, and getting away from all distractions to just be together. It was very refreshing.

I would definitely do it again. We really had a great time. Perfect little get-a-way. I sure love that I get to do everything with my Hubby :) He makes everything so much fun.

I'm back :)

UPDATE:

Sis made me promise that I will blog often since she will be in Ohio...I know it is lame that I haven't blogged since October. I promise there has been a lot of exciting things going on in my life, just a bad blogger. ha ;)

I am still loving being married to the most amazing man in the world! We just celebrated our 1st anniversary and we couldn't be happier. We went to San Diego/Coronado, California for the weekend and had so much fun.

So, we'll start with this crazy, eventful week and see how i do :)

The most exciting parts of the week:

Say Hello to my beautiful new neice... Maisy Jane Milne

So happy to have a new member of the family, and so happy for Ang and Stu, they will make wonderful parents to this precious little one.

And this little beauty is our new home :) We just closed on it on wednesday and we are so excited for move everything in this weekend. It was just recently remodeled and is beautiful inside. And the neighborhood and area are great, We love it!!! Its so perfect for us. It is such a good feeling being a homeowner!! :) Yay!

...and the NOT exciting part of the week: My Sister/Best Friend just moved to Ohio. :( :( :(

It was really hard saying goodbye. 4 years is a long time!! its 20% of my whole life!! I'm trying not to think about that. I am really going to miss spending time with her. There is nothing like a sister. She knows more about me than anyone since she has been apart of everything in my life since the day I was born...SEE:

I know that we will still be close even though she is now 2,000 miles away... but it will definitly be hard. Is it weird to count down 1,440 days (4 years)?! ha!

Mitch also left the same day sis did. He's all grown up and off to BYU!! I can't believe he's that old!! He'll be back in six weeks so it wasn't as tough as a goodbye...I'm excited for his new adventure!

Since sister left, I am taking over her babysitting job with Mia every friday. She is so cute, she's my little friend (easiest job in the world) this is what we did today...HAHA!

Since Nana is on the road with Sister, I get to spend time every day with my adorable, almost 91 year old Great Grandma. She is so sweet, I love just laying next to her holding her hand and talking. She has such a good heart, she's so brave being so strong even though she's weak and tired. Sure love having her around.