Busy...busy...busy with busy boys, sweet little girls, and grandma!

This past week I was up North for a few interviews and had some time to spare to visit with my friends and Family. It never seems to be enough time however to get to see everyone and to spend as much time with them as I would like. I got to color with my Niece Oaqulee for a little while on Sunday when we arrived in West Valley. She and I are good coloring pals.

On Monday I got to spend a good portion of my afternoon with one of my Best friends Billie and her boys (that includes her husband). We met at Build-A-Bear at the Gateway and I got some Christmas shopping done. Ethan made a Koala bear, dressed him up like a police man and named him Woo-woo bear. To cute. Ethan being the great big brother he is picked out a puppy dog for Benny to have. Both boys were so cute with their new found friends,Woo-woo and Barkley.







On Tuesday, My mom and I met one of my other best friends,Lisa with her girls and her husband at the Newgate mall for lunch. We had a good time visiting over lunch and I loved playing with Natasha. We played with this thing at the mall where you put pennies, nickles, dimes or quarters in and they go round and round until they eventually fall into the box below it. I am not sure how much change we put into that thing but we had so much fun. Little Nathasha has the sweetest little voice and every time the penny would drop in she would say "See Ya!" So cute, and i couldn't help but to smile. My mom was handing her the pennies and she would be looking for another penny before the last one had disappeared. When mom ran out of pennies, Natasha looked at her and said "See ya!" We also went to see Santa. Natasha, was scared to death of him and didn't want anything to do with him. It is amazing how quickly kids change in a year. Baby Patricia, is growing and changing so quickly. She is beautiful just like her big sister and her mommy. Tricia didn't seem to mind Santa in fact she slept right through her visit with him.






The last full day I was up there I spent with my mom and my Grandma Spencer doing crafts. I really enjoyed the time I got to spend with my Grandma and mom. I am not sure if the craft or taking the pictures afterwards was more fun. I don't think Grandma knew that you could set up a camera a timer to take pictures. My grandma laughing had train effect cause then both mom and myself her laughing too. We had a lot of fun. I love you Grandma and Mom!


I am so glad that I have time to visit with my friends and family and wish that the time spent didn't go by so quickly. I love you all very much! Oh and to Lisa and Billie, Thanks for sharing your sweet little ones with me. If I didn't have the three best friends that I have I don't know what I would do. I love being Adopted Auntie Ashie

This Thanksgiving

When this time of year comes around every late fall I find myself reflecting on my many blessings during the past year. Sometimes when life gets so busy we forget to be thankful for the things that we have and the the good things that have happened in the year past as we approach a new year. So I would like to say I have many blessings to be thankful for.

First my Family. My loving, caring, and hardworking husband to whom I have been married to for three years and share our life together with our dog Ayce and kittens Izee and Harlee. My mom and dad who sacrifice so much for myself and my two older brothers. I know they often don't get the credit they deserve. My brothers, each of whom touch my life in ways they will never know. I am thankful for Pamela, the woman in Nathan's life, that makes him happy and has shown him GOD, and helps to get him through some of the trials in his life. I am also thankful for My Mother and Father-in-Law, they have supported us through school and then moved us to St. George after we graduated this year. I am grateful for my two Grandmothers both whom I love so very much. I am thankful to have known two of the most influential men in my life, my grandfathers, and even though they have both been gone for awhile now I thank God everyday for the time I did get to have with them, knowing them, loving them and having special memories with them. I so very thankful for the precious little children in my life who are my nieces and nephews. I have two very beautiful nieces. Diana, who is growing up to quickly.We like having sleep overs at "Grammy's House" when I am up visiting from St. George and taking pictures of ourselves in the mirrors. Oaqulee, who loves to dance, pretend she's a puppy or a kitty, and colors with me when I visit. I also have two handsome nephews. Russell, a quiet, bright and strong little guy who can't help but put a smile on my face when I see his eyes light up. He likes to have me pick him up and swing him upside down then do a flip and tickle him. Bubba is getting to big for me to do that now but I am thankful for the memories of playtime. Then newest little one is Hawkins, he is a cute, chunky, happy baby. What a sweet smile he has. I also am grateful for my three sister-in-laws Laura,Amie, Michelle, and my brother-in-laws Brett and Russell. My family consists of many more people for who I am grateful for.


My friends are people who I am so happy to have in my life. I have three very best friends We have been friends for a very long time growing up together and sharing in each others happiness, sadness and and life's joyous moments such and Wedding days and births of children. These girls are all sisters that I feel God forgot to give me, but I am thankful for their friendship. Kimberly, the one most like me is always there for me and I know that I can count on her for anything. She came to to St.George with me when I had a my job interview, she was at my graduation, and she came to our going away/graduation BBQ. I have missed having her close by, but thankful for cell phones, and Guitar Hero (on the WII) so that we can still play together though we are miles apart. I am so happy that she found Wes and that they are making their own life together and am thankful that she and I will always be able to share my life with her matter how many miles may separate us. Billie another hometown best friend whom shares her sweet little boys with me to who I am Adopted Aunt Ashie. We agree on most things but not on football teams. Utah VS BYU may be the only thing that can separate our friendship for jsut a brief moment in time every year. I am thankful for being able to win Dinner bets against her team. She too is a friend I know I can always count on. Lisa, a childhood best friend and also another friend whom I know I can share my secrets with. She has two beautiful little girls and how thankful I am to know them and to love them as my adopted nieces. All of my friends are people I am thankful for. I am also grateful reconnecting with old friends through Facebook and Myspace.


I am thankful for the opportunity that I had to work at the University of Utah on Bone Marrow Transplant Unit what a humbling place. The people, I worked with who were patients, were just amazing people. I loved each and everyone of the those people I served. What strength they had in the most difficult of times. I really do have a lot to be thankful for. I will never forget their battles and their strength to live. I am thankful for my job at Dixie Regional and the opportunities I have had to learn and to grow as a new Respiratory Therapist. I am thankful for my co-workers who teach me and mentor me every night. I am thankful that we can work as a team when things get tough. I am also thankful for my health.

I am also thankful for the Utes Winning 2008 season but most of all I am thankful for the win against BYU.

I have so much to be Thankful for this year and even in the uncertainty of times I know that I will always have the love and support of my family and friends. It doesn't matter what kind of house you live in or the car you drive, the clothes you wear or how much money you have in the bank, if you are surrounded by the people that love you then you are blessed with the greatest riches of all.

Happy Thanksgiving 2008!

Be Thankful

By Unknown
Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire.

If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something,for it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times.During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,because it will build your strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes. They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary,because it means you’ve made a difference.
It’s easy to be thankful for the good things.

A life of rich fulfilment comes to those whoare also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.

Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,

and they can become your blessings

"Even though we can't have all we want, we ought to be thankful we don't get what we deserve"

VOTE FOR ME!

Okay everyone here is the deal. My company is having a photo contest for the What makes you Smile promotion of Select Health Dental plan. Anyways there is a chance for me to win some extra cash which would really help out right now. So I am asking a begging PLEASE vote lots for me Between now and December 4th. You can vote once a day every day. :) Just folllow this think and it will take you to the picture I submitted. Tell your friends too!

Here is the link: Ashley Thomas has entered a photo into the SelectHealth "What Makes You Smile?" Photo Contest. Now, you have a chance to help Ashley win! Just visit the link below and vote for Ashley's photo.
http://www.protecttoothy.com/smileContest/photoDetails.aspx?photoID=660

This is what is new in my life....only its not new. I feel horrible and I just want to crawl in bed and stay there until my head feels better, which by the looks of it doesn't seem like its going to happen anytime soon. I hate HEADACHES! My left side of my head is just throbbing with pain and i am nauseated. I have one more night of work after tonight--I am not sure i am going to make it! Anybody have any ideas? I can't stand it anymore!

"Migrain"

slightly twisted

a bit depressed

just out of touch

from all the stress

feel what I see

write what I feel

looking for life

from inside of me

my vision is blurred

as my sight starts to fade

my head starts to explode

just another day

no relief in sight

lose the will to fightyour sanity flees

the pain so intenseI'm down on my knees praying to God

to give me strength just another day like all the rest

maybe tomorrow the pain will subside

I'll find away out and let you know

if I'm still sane or lost in the snow

I didn't write this poem but it describes pretty much how i am feeling right now.

Here goes again

I was so happy to have graduated school and start my new life and career as a Respiratory therapist but life since graduation hasn't gotten any easier. I will have had to pass three tests to become a full fledged Registered therapist. My no means did I expect the task of passing three tests to be easy but I wasn't expecting it to be this nerve racking. Let me tell you I would much rather be studying for one of "Crazy Max's" midterms or final exams in critical thinking or even give me math. YUCK!! Max's tests were absolutely insane but now I know what he was preparing us for...I think!

I have already taken two of the three tests. The first test I had to take was the written CRT. It wasn't to bad of a test to pass. I then began studying for my written RRT. This test wasn't to bad either but still none the less my mind was packed full of anxiety and I thought for sure that I wouldn't pass--but I did and I was proud. By the time I had actually walked the walked and received my degree I had passed two of the terrible three tests. My confidence level had been boosted and I felt like I could conquer just about anything.

So I started studying for my RRT Clinical simulation test as soon as I was all settled into my house and job in St. George. I studied for nearly a whole month daily before going back up to Salt Lake to take the test. I was feeling very nervous and anxious but felt like I would do okay. As I drove from my mom and dads in Kaysville to HR Block in Salt Lake City, where this one and all my tests prior were administered, I prayed that I would make the right decisions and not kill any of my computerized patients at the NBRC Medical Center. I tried taking deep breaths but rather started hyperventilating and crying. This was not good but by the time I reached the testing center I had calmed down and felt good. I guess praying really does help one to feel better. I along with two other people who I had never met in my life sat nervously in the parking lot waiting for the doors to open. There was one other person who was there taking the same test as I and then the other girl was taking her RN. We all sat down and started the test. I felt things were going well for the most part. The RN girl wasn't there very long then it was just me and the other poor Respiratory therapist. Just about every other word from his mouth was f--- or Sh--( you get the point). At this point i was really beginning to sweat even though i wasn't half as worried as the guy sitting next to me. I was just minutes away from finding out my fate that rest in four words YOU PASSED THIS TEST, well that's what I was hoping for anyway. I was on the last question of the last scenario and click I made my decision and was done. I took the quick little survey and calmly and collectively got up and waited for the printer to print out my score sheet. It seemed like hours before the printer turned on and spit out my results. I quickly picked up my result and read YOU FAILED THIS TEST. I looked it over not really realizing what I had read only to realize I really did fail--I failed my two points, that's one percent. I killed one of my patients at NBRC Medical Center and probably a child at that. What a way to start off your day--failing a test by two lousey points.

So here I am studying continuously again for my Clinical Simulation whenever i can because i am headed up to Salt Lake tomorrow morning to retake the test on Wednesday. I have even fell asleep studying at my computer. I am already $800 into this test taking thing not to mention the cost of all my study materials, my license, and gas money to get up to Salt Lake all for a stinking credential. One letter difference in my Credential "R" instead of a "C". So here's to praying for good judgment, eased levels of anxiety, and thoughts and prayers of friends and family. Wish me Luck! Here Goes Again!

CONGRATULATIONS!

Congratulations to my VERY BEST FRIEND KIMBERLY! She Got engaged tonight at Sunset! Kimberly, for those of you who don't know is my my childhood friend forever. We became friends at my dads work party in Kemmerer, Wyoming just shortly after she moved there with her family. We went all through school together and her mom was my babysitter during kindergarten. I even shared the chickenpox with her and being as generous as i could i even shared them with her big brother and little sister too! We have always shared these big moments with each other. She was my Maid of Honor in my wedding and now I will proudly stand in her wedding line when she marries the man who will make her a very happy and beautiful bride! So congratulations Kimberly and Wes! I love you very much!

Harleiquin

Harleiquin

Harlee was a starving little kitten that I found one night when Joey came to share my lunch break with me. We were eating and heard this pathetic little meow. I went and found her in the bushes and offered a piece of my chicken she was so hungry that when she finished it she bit my finger. So much for the saying "don't bite the hand that feeds you." I made Joey take her home and feed her some kitty food and give her some water. He said "you are not keeping this one!" Well, the plan wasn't to keep her but to give her to my mom. My dad was going to decide that weekend while he was here visiting. We fell more in love with little Harlee everyday. Izee enjoyed having another kitten to play with so Joey decided that we could keep her if my dad said mom couldn't have her. So you can guess what dad said. Harlee got her name from Joey. He named her Harleiquin because she reminded him of a bat...and that made him think of the Joker's girlfriend from Batman named Harley Quinne thus her name Harleiquin. Joey says it's the perfect name for her because she is a little joker--she teases Ayce and Iz. She is such a sweet kitty. She loves to play with Izee and is getting more use to Ayce everyday. She cuddles with anyone and everyone and has a lot of love to give.

Izee

Izee

Izee is our six month old American Bobtailed kitten. We adopted her in May of this year. She was a little miracle. Izee came to us after we lost our first kitten Demee who was with us for just a very short time. Izee was a very sick kitten when we adopted her. She had the feline flu, which affects the respiratory system. She couldn't breathe very well because she was so stuffed up and so she wouldn't eat. We had to give her antibiotic for ten days and really nurture her to health. Ayce was such a good dog, he helped us to teach her to eat. She had been taken away from her mom to early. She did everything Ayce did and that is how she learned. I think that she doesn't know that she isn't a dog and that Ayce is not her mom. She loves to play and to cuddle with him. Izee also loves her new little sister Harlee. She has taught Harlee how to be another cat that acts like a dog. Izee has grown up to be such a beautiful kitty. She is so sweet and cuddles with me and Joey on her own terms but usually that comes early in the morning when we want to sleep. She especially loves Joeys scruff on his chin--the best way to get her ears scratched! Izee will get extremely affectionate if i sing You Are My Sunshine. Its funny and I find myself singing it allot just to get some cuddles from her.

AYCE

Ayce

Ayce (All You Can Eat), our black lab-who knows what mix, who we adopted in March of 2006 just shortly after I lost my little Jack Russel Terrior Daizy May. Ayce was nine weeks old when we adopted him. On his adoption card it says he is a black lab newfoundland mix, so we thought that he was going to be big and hairy. As you can see from his picture he definetly not big or hairy he most definetly does not have any newfy in him. We didn't care what he was he was so cute and he really helped me to feel better after Daizy died. He continuly makes me laugh and he does some really silly things. Ayce earned his name because he literally ate everything from my favorite slippers, a bag of dark chocalate m&m's to sprinkler heads and garden hoses right down to carpet in the sun room at my in-laws house. It seemed like he was never going to stop misbehaving but he has really turned out to be a pretty good dog. What makes Ayce special is that he loves the kittens. He really looks after them and takes care of them, sometimes they don't love him as quiet as much. We love Ayce very much and know that he will continue to bring happiness and laughter to our family for years to come.

In the begining there were two.

This is OUR Love story!

For those of you who don't know Joey and I will soon be celebrating our third year of marriage. WOW, time sure does fly fast. We were married on October 21, 2005 in Layton, Utah. My Wedding was everything I ever dreamed it would be. Joey, along with our parents did everything they could to make it a dream come true.

Joseph and I met at Brighton Gardens Assisted Living where we were both working at the time. Joey had been working there for about a year before I started. He did maintance and cleaned carpets at the time. I was hired to work in as a "care manager" glorified name for a certified nurse assistant. When I started working there Joey instantly took notice in me and introduced himself. I wasn't quiet looking to get into a relationship but things fell into place and there were soon sparks. By sparks i meen a little old lady named Cecile, who was suffering from dementia but still had many years of wisdom to offer a blind man. The story is one night when the two of us were both working Joey had come up the the "office" to visit with the assisted living crew. Cecile liked sitting in the office as well so there we all were and just out of the blue she asks to me " Now do you have a Beu?" I what I thought to myself...it didn't take me long to realize she was asking if i had a boyfriend. So i answered "No, not exactly." She quickly then turned from me to Joseph and asked him "Do you have girl?" He responded very quickly not hesitating a bit and said "NO, I am still looking!" Well then Cecile looked straight at him and said "well if you would open your eyes you would see that what you are looking for is right there in front of ya!" So from that moment on Joey and I can't agree on the story but I know how it really happened and that is all that matters.

We began dating and just a few months later we were engaged to be married. The purpsoal was absolutely insane but so romantic all at the same time. It was Christmas morning and I had just gotten off of a graveyard shift at Brighton Gardens. I was very tired and somewhat in coherant at the time. It is hard to explain in words how Joey purposed but he had me all in dither and even had me thinking he was going to break up with me. LOL! Anyways he had me chasing a maze of twine throughout his house, outside then finally back into the house where he had a build-a-bear cat dressed in a tux and a build-a-bear pink poodle dressed in a wedding gown sitting. The cat had a voice box in his paw that had Joey's voice recorded asking me to marry him. Okay everyone now you can say "OH....How Sweet." My ring was and is beautiful. What a wonderful Christmas present.

Pete the best photographer ever

pmphotoart.com