Happy Birthday Hottie Scottie

Happy Birthday to my Husband! As you can see, we ran the risk of burning down the house tonight with FORTY-TWO candles. Scott was a good sport and blew them all out the second we finished singing "Happy Birthday to You." (I did see him close his eyes for the briefest of seconds to say a little wish.)
He looks pretty great for being 42. Of course, I am not tall enough to see the bald spot on the back of his head. But from a shorter perspective, he looks almost the same as he did when he was 32.

Things I am grateful for

A Smaller Bum

Sweet Nephews

Fun Family

My Chicks with their Chicks

The love of my life

I meant to post the pictures in the other direction (the bum picture was supposed to be the last one). But I wanted to post about how many things that I have to be grateful for.

1. The smaller bum. Really. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be smaller. This year of losing weight has been interesting for me, the things that I have learned have been so helpful. I like eating less. I really do. Honest. It feels better. When I put on a skirt, or a pair of pants and they are only size 10 (instead of 20) it is quite satisfying. And it was a matter of smaller adjustments, not huge ones. I really should start regular exercise, though. I imagine that will be the goal for next year.
2. The sweet little boys. Noah and Ian. Oh, my gosh! I wanted to eat them up! I got to spend some time with them last night, and they both have the sweetest personalities. I really want my sisters to move back to Utah! PLEASE?!
3. My sisters (even the flat one next to me). And my auntie and cousin. I am so indebted to my first family for all the tolerance of me while I was growing up. They are the best, most wonderful family ever!
4. My little girls. Look how funny they are. Scott and I actually caught them after they had brought the chickens in the house to watch TV with them. (I think the things might be potty trained-they didn't poop once. My girls give me so much joy!
5. Truly, the love of my life. I have been so blessed by the incredible gift of my husband. I am not sure what I did in my life to have deserved this blessing, but I am happy that Heavenly Father loves me enough to have given him to me.

I am grateful for many other things: my job, my bunnies, my dogs, my cats, my luckywife stuff, the Gospel, my warm house, good food and so many great friends!
Happy Holidays all!

Summer of Love

This is the new talent I discovered!

Isn't this flower gorgeous? It just makes me happy to look at it!

This is the chicken coop that we made as a family. Fun!

What a busy, fun summer it has been. I got to have 2 laproscopic knee surgeries, I have the cutest little scars on both knees! I am so glad they match! Well, one of my knees still has the stitches in it, but soon there will be matching scars. I can hardly wait until I get to ride my bike again.

Scott got to go to Germany while I did lots of laundry.

I was able to make a chicken coop with the family's help. Super fun activity, I highly recommend it! I am so happy that the chickens are all still alive and well. They are very happy in their home. I was quite sure that after we had our tragic experiences with the parakeets, that we were doomed to be an avian-free zone. But in some instances, I think the chickens actually enjoy teasing the dogs. And the cats maintain a healthy distance from the chickens. The chickens are a pretty healthy size now.

We spent a day at Lava Hot Springs at a family reunion. Great times were had by all, despite the storm!

We went to Bear Lake for a few days and so enjoyed the beauty there. We found an incredible field of wildflowers in the hills South of the lake. This was an amazing sight that I have never seen before in the mountains of Utah/Idaho. My camera's battery died, so I will have to tell the story forever as an unlikely fable. But the colors! The colors were amazing! Every color and every native flower imaginable was there in the fields. And the fields went on for miles! All the rain we received early this spring benefited the flowers this summer.

I have found a new fun talent. I have been making these cute little necklaces out of sterling silver and copper. It has been exciting to manufacture and play with the little things and discover the different styles that I can come up with. (Thank Heaven for an understanding husband that has gracefully looked the other way while I spent $$ with this little hobby.)

I enjoyed my kids this summer so much! I know that they don't think I spent as much time with them as I should, but I reaffirmed to myself that they are the perfect girls for me and I love them!!!!

I lost 65lbs! I must admit that it took much longer than the summer to do this. I have been actively trying to lose weight since November '08. I couldn't believe I let myself get to the 65lbs overweight point. I have learned so much about myself, but I think the most important is that I can't eat like a pig. It is still a little hard to believe that I have lost so much. But clothes don't lie, and I have a whole closet full that used to fit me and don't anymore. (Thank goodness! I looked like a cow!)

School is about to start next week. I am also looking forward to this strange new chapter in my life! This is the first year in 12 that I will have no kids to take care of during the day. MY YOUNGEST IS STARTING THE FIRST GRADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I thought this day would never come, but here it is!

Can I say that I am a little excited about this prospect? I am trying to think of the many things that I can accomplish while I have all this time at home! Well, I must add that the girl's first day at school is also my first day at school. So, I will be having my fair share of homework, too. Also, I am going to volunteer some time at the school, so there will be more time gone. But, I think that perhaps I will be able to get some real deep cleaning done in the house. Like carpet washing. And maybe one day when Abby gets home from school, she won't have any carpet in her room (her room is the animal-designated toilet-it is so so so GROSS!) So many plans..ha ha ha (evil grin and hands wringing).

Life is good, you know?

Kristie, Queen of the Tile

Kristie Queen of the Tile
& her sidekick, Murphy

Hallway Tile

Hallway Detail

Front Room

Well, finally, I am finished with the tile. My one week job ended up taking 3. But I think I am learning that home improvement jobs usually take 3 times longer than you expect, so I guess I am right on target.

I am still weak and weary from the whole project and my hands may never fully recover. I know that I will be having bilateral knee scopes this summer, so I am pretty sure that they will be okay.

Today is our 17th Anniversary and this is Scott's present. Happy Anniversary!

My Funny Leila

My puppy Leila has the cutest personality. I caught her tonight playing in the sprinkler system. I really do give her water to drink...just wanted to clarify!

My First 4.0

So, I can hardly believe it. It took me until I was nearly 40 years old. But I guess at least it did happen before I was 40 years old.

I got a 4.0 in my first semester back in Nursing school.

I have always been a mediocre student. My philosophy in school was "Why worry about it? A 'B' is good enough." So, the fact that I really wanted to do well and understand concepts was a little refreshing to me.

Oh, if only I could help my kids to see the wisdom.....I guess maybe that will take until they are 40, too.

My little runners

Before the race

During the race

After the race.

Meg and Abby ran today. They did a 5K in the pouring rain through N.O. I am so proud of them! There were a few tears after it was done, but they were well deserved. I am tired just thinking about it!

Blisters on blisters

Meg and Nell in the front room.

Here are some little details between the kitchen and the front room.

Here is the view to the front door. I really thought I would finish this last night, but I just couldn't do anymore.

Well, I have so much more respect for my husband today.
We have a little duplex that we rent out about 2 miles away from where we live. About a month ago, one of our renters moved out. She was not a clean person, and she had 2 teenage sons who were not clean, either. She also had a cat that did not adhere to the convention that cats use a litter box. So, as you can imagine, the place was filthy when she moved out. Well, I must admit that the place was not in the best condition before she moved in, so I don't think we can be too upset with her.
Well, Scott has been working so hard, fixing this place up. He put in new cabinets, sink, fixed multiple holes in the walls, ripped out carpet, fixed plumbing issues, painted, put in new doors, and countless other things! I have helped a little mostly with cleaning, but not too much with the hard labor stuff.
Well, Scott is at Ft. Sill right now for Guard Artillery School. I told him that while he was gone, I would install tile in the front room and hallway. I also painted the front room. Well, for the last 2 days, I have been on my hands and knees playing with thinset and laying tile. (This is the basement apartment-about 15 stairs down.)
Okay, so the point of this story is "OUCH!" Oh, I hurt! My hands are so sore! I have 2 blisters on my right hand and several red sore spots. My right index fingernail got thinset stuck underneath it and my fingertip is so swollen 'cause I can't get it out. Every muscle from my quads to my sternocleidomastoids is crying out for a deep massage, and my skin is so dry from the thinset sucking the moisture out of it. My knees are pretty sore, I think the red spots are permanent.
I think I have about 2 more days of this. One to finish laying the tile and another to put the grout in. I am not sure if I can make it. I will be so greatful when I am done. At least we will never have to pull out carpet from the front room/ hallway because of cat pee issues. Tile is so worth it in the end.
If I survive.....

Are you a Ute?

Here is one of the funniest things that has ever happened to me!

As you can see, during our vacation we stopped at Four Corners. I had never been there, and it was a short stop, but a lot of fun.

Well, behind the girls you can see that there is a row of booths where the Navajo sell trinkets, pottery and jewlery. Behind one of the tables, there was a man standing there and he was wearing a University of Utah sweatshirt. Since I work at the U, I got a little excited-thinking that he went to school there. I said to him, "Oh! Are you a Ute?"

He looked at me and said, "No! Navajo!"

After I quit laughing, I explained that I meant his sweatshirt, and he said a bit sheepishly, "Oh, I am a fan."

Family Vacation

This is near the petrifed trees that we found. This picture is looking westward on the West side of the Swell. I really had no idea it was so beautiful down there.
We found this petrified tree in the Swell. We had to be cautious about getting near and touching these things because they had uranium in them.

This is us at the Natural Bridges National Monument last night. It was getting pretty late and we had had a long day!

My little family hanging out in the Little Wild Horse Slot Canyon. I think this is where most of my sore muscles came from.

Well, we are right now sitting in a trailer park in Blanding, Utah! (I am so surprised that I am getting internet) The kids are having a great time and I am supposed to be doing homework. But I am taking a bit of time to share some photos of our fun. We have been gone since Friday, we spent some time exploring Goblin Valley, the San Rafael Swell, Natural Bridges Momnument, and Little Wild Horse Slot Canyon. I am sore, tired, and happy. I think everyone else is, too. Here are some pictures......

Now, we are on our way to Four Corners!

My Dad's Toy

My cute father has been working on this '60 MGA Coupe for the last 4 years. He has built the thing pretty much from scratch. Isn't it the cutest thing ever?

CEN

Well, it only took me 10 years of ER nursing, but today I took the official "CEN" (Certifed Emergency Nurse) exam.
I bought the Review Manual when Scott was in Afghanistan about 2 years ago, and took the review course last summer, but I finally got up enough courage to take the test.
Well, after prayer and study, I PASSED! I finally now can have 3 letters after my name and license that says that I really do know what I am talking about! He he he......

Bathroom Remodel

So, we don't like white walls. Earlier this weekend, Scott and I wanted to do something nice in our bathroom. We went ahead and decided to be bold! We went to the local home improvement website and played around with colors.

So, along with being bold, we picked some bold colors! When we first put them on the walls, we were a bit shocked! It looked like "diarrhea brown" on the counters and "Wicked Witch of the West Green" on the walls. Of course, paint dries a little differently than it applies.

It is slowly drying a little better.....I am posting the pics...What do you think?

Scott thinks we may need to tone it down a bit......

Sunday Ramblings

Here it is, Sunday afternoon and I was reading my wonderful friends’ blogs. Thank you all so much for writing such fun blogs to read. I love hearing how you are doing and what is going on in your lives. I hope that you have as much fun reading my stuff as I do reading yours.
Scott had a little surgery a few weeks ago; he had his left ulna shortened and a plate added. He had been having some pain in his wrist and the orthopedic physician determined that the ulna was too long and was jamming up into his wrist. It makes sense, actually. His grandfather would periodically complain of pain in his wrist when he held it just the right way. Scott asked what the cause of this was, and the physician called it a “manufacturer’s defect.”
He has had his arm in a giant splint until this past week and now he holds it in a little splint. He almost has his full range of motion back. So that is good. It seems to still be pretty swollen, though. It is coming. He has almost no strength in it. So, bless him, he has been working on putting family photos and movies on the computer. I am so happy that he is doing that, it has needed to be done for about 15 years.
I am in the very middle of my first school semester. I am having fun, I think. It is taking quite a bit of time to do the homework, but I think that all is well. I am taking a difficult class about research and a pretty piece of cake class about assessments.
Kids are doing great. Nellie finally told me that my bum is getting smaller. (I have lost 25 lbs-I guess that is something) I think it is funny that she is the only kid that noticed. She smacked my bum and said, “Hey, that thing is getting littler!” Oh, the joy!
I found out why my knee has been hurting me so much. It is a little thing in there called a “Baker’s cyst.” It is like a little outpouching of fluid behind my knee. I imagine it has been there for a couple of years, I think I just kept hoping it would go away. But, no such luck. I imagine that I will have to see an ortho to get it removed or reduced, or whatever they do. Maybe I will when school gets done this semester.

Diet Coke Free!

Well, I can't believe it. It has been over 2 weeks since I drank my Diet Coke! I was counseled 2 weeks ago by my physician who told me that I had to quit.

I told him that I would decrease my intake to 1 diet coke a day. He said, "You can't, you are addicted." I am pretty sure that he meant I wasn't able to, and I think he was right, unfortuately!

So, I took the drink that I was drinking and put it in the garbage. I came home and drank one last D.C. and then said, "Goodbye."

It has been slightly painful, but I have known for some time that I needed to quit. I think knowing that, has helped me to quit. I am slightly proud of myself. It feels pretty great! But I just keep going one day at a time!

Oh, and my good husband has been d.c. free, too. What a good man to help me so much! Yea! Scott!

I wish I had a picture!

Boy, oh Boy! I was walking up the stairs to go to my bedroom, and I saw my cat, Bluebell on the toilet. At first, I didn't think anything of it, but then, I realized that she was facing me with her bum inside the toilet and her tail sticking straight up!

Her expression clearly said, "Excuse me, a little privacy, please?"

THEN I HEARD IT!!!! A LITTLE TINKLE!!!!!

She jumped down and walked out of the bathroom. I went over to the toilet and sure enough, there was a little pee pee in the toilet.

And the punch line.....The litter box is next to the toilet! (My cat is a genius)

Husband Tagged

So, I guess there is this thing in the Blogging world, called "Being Tagged." I think it is great, but I have never done it, mostly because I think I am pretty boring. But since I got tagged to talk about one of my favorite subjects (my husband) I will do this gladly!

1. What is your husband's name? "Hottie" Scotty
2. What is your pet name for him? (too private)
3. How long have you guys been married? Can you believe 16 1/2 years?
4. How long did you date? Two (too long) years (I asked him to marry me after 6 months, but it took me another 18 months to convince him that we would do just fine!)
5. How old is he? Ha ha ha 41!!!!
6. Who is taller? Scott, by 5 or 6 inches.
7. Who can sing the best? Scott. He told me once when we were newlyweds that I couldn't sing, and I still haven't recovered. Even if he is right. Oh...there was that one lady that one time at church when I tried to go join the church choir. She told me that, too.
8. What is his biggest flaw? He is too honest and can't hide anything from me.
9. What is his strength? See #8
10. Who is smarter? Because I am so wise, I refuse to answer this one.
11. Who pays the bills? Definately Scott. But I offer to help, just so he thinks I care.
12. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Whoever has to get up first...that is where the alarm is...Usually Scott.
13. Who mows the lawn? Scott or the scouts in the neighborhood.
14. Who cooks dinner? This goes both ways. I must admit, the older I get, the less I want to cook! The kids are learning pretty quick.
15. Who is the first to admit they are wrong? Scott--but only because he is the only one that is ever wrong.
16. Who kissed who first? Kristie kissed Scott first. I usually do everything first--except apologise!
17. Who wears the pants? It is pretty equal in our home. I do defer to him a a lot of things. I trust and respect him!

Anyone who has me listed on their blog friend list is tagged! Answer if you like, I would love to read your answers!