New Pics!

Make sure you check out some of my previous posts to see the new pictures I finally figured out how to add!

Holiday Fun!!

Thanksgiving was a blast! We had three dinners! It was a ton of turkey! We started with my Mom's side! We ate dinner at 1 and then it was off to Dan's family dinner! That was at 3! Finally we finished with dinner at my dad's family! We lucked out that it was a little later than planned. It was around 6:30! We tried to refrain from eating but it all looked so good! We were stuffed by the end of the night! Here's some pictures of the family! I forgot to take my camera with me to all the dinners! Next time I'll remember it!

Dan, Dad, and Me

Me and my cute Grandma H.
Aunt Nonnie, Aunt Kaye, Grandma, Dad

(We missed Aunt Ginnie)

The three favorite men in my life!

Me and my Daddy!

I know this post is a little late... but better late than never right? Anyway, It's now December! WOW! Time flies. Soon it will be Christmas! I have to say that this is my favorite time of year. I love how happy people are and how cheerful it is! I love seeing the faces light up when I give my Christmas presents! I think that's my favorite part is giving! I also like all the Christmas lights. This year Dan and I decided to get our own little Christmas tree...It's four feet! We decided to make it a tradition to by an ornament each year to put on the tree. Since we did spend last Christmas together we decided to make up for it and bought a few extra! It sits in the corner of our itty bitty room! Surprisingly it fits perfect! I love it!

YES!!!!!

Just thought I'd update you all! I recieved my letter for nursing school and..... I GOT IN!!!! I can't tell you how excited I am. 2 1/2 years and I will have my BSN in nursing. I was so relieved to find out. I just want to thank all of you for your support in my times of high stress. Just a warning though.... there are most likely more to come! I hear the first semester kis absolutely crazy. Bear with me... I'll try my best to keep sane! It'll be well worth it in the end! Again thank you to my family, friends, and Dan for all your love and support... and for believing I could do it!

Quick Update!

I know you have all been waiting for a new post... so here's a quick update on the past few months of my crazy life! As usual school has been crazy! I've been working so hard this semester so that I can pass the two classes I need for Nursing school. I am still waiting for that letter that changes the rest of my life! (well at least for the nest 2 1/2 years) I will update you with the answer you've all been waiting for. (After I get over the shock of getting in OR the depression of not!) As for the wedding planning... it hasn't moved along too quick, but I did order my very, very cute bridesmaid dresses! Seven were able to show up on the same Saturday and we got things taken care of! They were all so great. They all loved the dress... (and if they didn't wore a smile anyways)! My maid of honor went the Wednesday before, due to another wedding obligation (quite popular!). Thank you girls! It was a blast and you all looked absolutely beautiful! I love you all! Now to brag about my amazing fiance! He's been so sweet! Ill admit some days I'm so exhausted that I'm ornery and take it out on him... BUT he's there to tell me that everything is going to be just fine! He supports me in everything and always listens to my frustrations. I love him so much and am happy that I found my knight in shinning armor! We went to the UTAH vs. BYU game! It was a cold game but worth every second! GO UTES!

Halloween passed...yes we did dress up!! Fred and Wilma Flinstone! We looked awesome! We had a little family party! Here's some pictures!

Debbie and Kenzie

Cute little bummble bee Maddie!

She thought that's how witches were suppose to fly on their broom!

Little poodle Carly!

Fred and Wilma! I love his hair!

We also bought a new bed! Queen size! HA LOL! we both sleep much better! It's amazing what 6 inches does! It's Thanksgiving tomorrow! So just to let all of you know that I am thankful for my Dan! He's the love of my life and the PERFECT MAN for me! I would not be able to make it through life without him! My Parents! They have given me life and have supported me through thick and thin! Thanks MOM, DAD, And LES! I love you all! My Little Brother! He's the best friend a girl could ask for! He's always the one that I can count on to tell me the truth! I am so grateful that he's MY brother! Keep truckin' bubba! Life is full of lots of surprises and journeys that are waiting for you! Love you! My HUGE family and friends! They are always cheering me on and rooting for me! It's nice to have a cheering section! I think everyone needs one! You guys are the best! I hope that I can return the favor and support that you all have shown me!
I will be updating more in a few days! Pictures to come as well! I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving!

Stress!!!

It seems to be the topic of conversation lately! I've watched my mother come home and cry because that's all her body can do! She can't fight, she can't talk, she just crys. Dan comes home and can't even sleep because he's been so stressed and his stomach feels like acid! My step-dad comes home and plays xbox til the wee hours of the morning because he can't sleep either. My friend Jenna has mental and physical breakdowns and is so exhausted that she doesn't get time to spend with her husband! My dad gets stressed and run down that when it's gone to far his body won't let him move for a few days at a time! I feel for all of them because stress is not something that can easily be dealt with. We talked about the tols of stress on the human body in my Pathophysiology class. Let me tell you people stress can majorly affects a persons health over a long period of time. It's been proven. A few people have made the comment to me that I have it so easy because I never get stressed! Well I do! They think that my job isn't stressful or that only working part time and taking a few classes isn't that difficult. Here's the thing... I did the full time job, 40-45 hours a week, a second job, 24-30 hours a week, and 9 credit hours of school! I think I was lucky to learn so young that life isn't all about money! You need to take time to smell the roses ( or LILIES in my case!)
I think people have very different ways of handling stress. I don't get stressed over things I have no control over. I do what I can and when things are done I can't do anymore! I believe that things happen for a reason! Any time I get so stressed I take a step back and ask myself is it really worth all the trouble to dwell on the past and what I could have done! Next time I'll know better. I do get stressed but there comes a point and time when I just have to let things go! If there is something in my life that is causing me stress I try to fix it and eliminate it! I want to enjoy my life, family and friends!
Working in the hospital and in the health care profession my outlook on life is much different! I take care of children at work and everyday it reminds me that there is more to life than school and work! It's love, family, friends, and most of all happiness. Kids are grateful for the simplest things... a Popsicle, a favorite blanket, and a loving person to hold them and talk to them! When I think about life through a child's eye my stress seems so small!
I encourage everyone of you to take a step back when you get stressed and ask yourself "Is it worth it!"! If it is then fight like hell but if you can see the big picture and it's not worth the sacrifices then just know that you've done all you can and you're leaving it into the "bigger hands" to take care of it! Like I said my life motto is "Things happen for a reason!" I love you all and hope that life seems a little easier!

Washington D.C.

I went to Washington D.C. on the 29th-31st. It was a short trip but I went to see my two new cousins! Yes Twins. My aunt had twin boys on the 26th of July! They are so cute! They are about 5 weeks old and they are both doing very well. Little Avery was born first and when he came out his little heart wasn't beating. They rushed him away and after a blessing from his dad his heart started beating! He spent 4 days in NICU (Newborn Intensive Care Unit)! After about a week and a half he was home! He's a miracle baby! Little Issac was second! He had some jaundice, but he went home with mom after a few days in the hospital. They are both doing very well! The little stinkers cry, poop, eat, and sleep! Go figure! Ha Lol! I caught the late flight on Friday....the really late flight 11:59p.m.! I got to D.C. around 9:00 a.m.! It was a long night. But well worth it. Luckily I got there at the boys nap time! I took a little nap with little A! Then the rest of the day was the routine! Feed, change diaper, sleep and the next hour was the same! I took night shift that night with little A! WOW what a way to test out having a baby! I got a total of two hours of good sleep! I can tell you that's a great form of birth control! I love those boys to death and I just want to thank my Mom and Dad for doing all that stuff for me! I love you!

This is little Issac!

This is little Avery!

Me and Avery!

Here's me, my Aunt Julie, and my Mom

UGH!!!!

You know those times when you feel like you are being walked all over! Like you're being taken advantage of.... I hate that feeling! BUT I'm the type of person that doesn't like conflicts so I just keep my mouth shut! UGH!!! It gets so frustrating. I try to help people out and try to fix things so that everyone is happy... I guess I just have to realize that things don't always work out! You just have to grin and bear it cause it's a part of life! There's always another tomorrow!

School is Here!

So school starts this week! I can't believe it. I took two classes in the summer and I had the past 2 1/2 weeks off and it wasn't long enough! However, I am kind of excited to start at Wesminster! It's one step closer to the nursing program! I am taking 14 credit hours! It's the most I've ever taken! That is one thing I am super nervous about! I'm afraid that I'll be a hermit crab because I'll have so much homework! I am definatley going to try my best and hope that I can balance it! Actually there is no other option! HA HA!

I've also added working out into my schedule! Last week was my first week! It was so hard to get my butt out of bed! But I did it! I had a good modivator! Dan and I joined Gold's Gym for a year! We decided that we wanted to look good for our wedding! Go figure! Ha Lol! I thought I was going to die the first week, but I'm still here! It's actually getting easier. I hear that if you make it through the first three weeks you are good to go! I actually feel a lot better, and I have more energy! It definately is a good stress reliever and it's fun to spend time getting fit with my soon to be hubby!

Wendover! Yeah Baby!!

This weekend my family decided that since I turned 21 they would take me out to Wendover! It was a blast! It was quality time well spent with the fam! We gambled a bit, ate a bit, and drank a lot! All in all it was the first time in Wendover and the best time in Wendover! We came back with more than we took! And lots of fun memories to go along with it! Some may be a little blurry but they're there! Just want to say thanks to my family for having a blast with me! I can't wait to do it again! I'm glad we all learned CHOCOLATE CAKE is the best! :)

I'm not the type of person that get to stressed about things! However, there have been two things the past few months that I had what I think was an anxiety attack. I got a tight feeling in my chest and I felt like I couldn't move! The first thing was when we were talking about a price for our wedding! They are freakin expensive! The next was when I applied for the nursing program! They both happened within two months of each other! And when I think about it they are both huge life decisions! I can't ll you how excited I am to get married and it wasn't getting married that caused my tight chest feeling it was the price! When you think that most places are wanting you to pay more for food than any other part of your wedding! Ugh it doesn't make sense! But it's one day that you can't just settle and skimp on things! As for the nursing program I have to wait 5 months to find out if I'm in or not! To find out if the reason that I've been working so hard in school will pay off! It's hard to wait but I guess Good things comes to those who wait!

Finally!

We finally booked a place for our wedding! We had been to look at so many places and we always left saying "Eh it's okay!", "I like this... but not this". We spent about two months looking at places and still not happy with anything! FINALLY, we booked at Millennial Falls in Draper. From the second I walked in I was sold. It was absolutely beautiful! We walked to the outside patio and the waterfall was amazing! Then they showed us the brides room! AHH! It was huge and so pretty! Other places had me using a public bathroom! EWWW! We then saw the grooms room! I was so happy that they had a grooms room! NO other place had one! They even have a kids room so those with kids can bring them and enjoy the wedding as well! After touring the whole place we looked at each other and said this is the place! We loved it! And to be truthful I'm so glad that we found such a great place. I didn't want to just settle. I wanted to have my fairytale wedding that I've thought about since I was little! And it made my day when Dan turned to me with a huge smile on his face and said I'm sold!

I am new to the blogger world and am still trying to figure out how to make my page cute and put cool things on it! I decided to start blogging when my friend said " Hey you should get a blog!" I haven't had the time to sit and actually make one til now! It's actually pretty fun! I love the fact that I can stay up to date on the new things going on in my friends lives. Sometimes I feel like life is flying by and I'm struggling to keep up with it! I am currently going to school and have just applied for the Nursing Program! Ah! It's a big thing to finally be able to see a light at the end of the tunnel! I graduated high school three years ago and jumped right into prerequisites for nursing and am finally finished with them. I work at Primary Children's Medical Center and I love it! I mean who can say that they get paid to hold little cuddly babies and get kids Popsicles! It's the best job ever! So between my job and school that takes up a lot of my time! AND I now am engaged to Daniel Cuvelier! I like to say that! He takes up pretty much all of my time! He is my best friend and love of my life! I always asked my friends and family how would I know who I'm suppose to spend the rest of my life with. I always thought it would take forever! They said Erica you'll just know! I didn't believe it. How can you just know! Well it happened to me when I was least expecting it! And after a few days, can you believe it, just a few days I knew! It is the coolest feeling! And now I know what they were all talking about. I can't imagine my life without him! I love him with all my heart!