final product..

Whenever I make something, I either love it or hate it. There's really no ground in between. If I'm not sure at first, I usually end up hating it. The first draft of this band was that way. I think it is the OCD monster in me. I have found that I am most satisfied with these bands when they at least have some kind of a pattern to them (and its much easier on my brain with shapes and sizes of the beads).

Today I ordered some new spacers on eBay today. I'm excited to get them! (Thanks Hannah for giving me some tips!!)

I'm thinking about ordering some watch faces. If anyone is interested, just let me know. I put together some pictures of some that I like or that I have seen on other people so you don't have to look through hundreds of pages of watches on this website. Just let me know if you are interested!

Watch Bands.

So, back in October,  I decided to buy some beads to make Chris' mom a watch for her birthday. I looked at one I had been given from Summer (made by Hannah Winters) and went about it. I bought more beads here and there, and then my mom bought me a bunch for Chrismas. I don't love all the bands I make, but I'm still trying and learning new things. Anyway, I'll probably post occassional random pictures of watch bands, and I'd appreciate any suggestions or new ideas. I think I need to get more chunky/big beads. That is kind of the 'in' thing, even though I appreciate a smaller, less chunky band. Hopefully as I get more beads, my bands will improve!

Here's one I made for Darcy tonight. I'm not sure I'll leave it this way- plus I just noticed the two cat's eye beads are different greens. The more I look at the picture, the more I think I need to change it. I'm just not sure how! I think I need to put some different shapes in... I'll probably mess with it more tomorrow.

Another one I made tonight.. I don't really like how it goes and I had to add the clear bead because I didn't have a bigger silver one that would fit well.

One I made quite a while ago and took apart.

I would love to hear any tips, tricks, or personal preferences concerning beaded watch bands!

Its finally here!

Spring Break is finally here! I wish spring was here for good too, but I won't cross my fingers.
Chris' parents came Saturday to stay for the weekend. It was good to have them here! We didn't do much, but we did eat some really good food. We went to the Tortilla factory (because Esmeralda's was closed) on Saturday night. Sunday, they came over and we had some breakfast and Tracey helped me with the treats for our primary lesson.

(idea from sugardoodle.net. Graham crackers for sand, blue jello for water, and swedish fish)

After church, we made some ham, potatoes, corn, and angel food cake for dinner. Ashley and Rodney came down to look at apartments in Laramie so they were there for dinner too. Then we played some mario until our thumbs were hurting.

Today, Brad and Tracey came over this morning and we all went to the park to feed the ducks (the geese and squirrels got in on the cupcakes too). I think Rodney had more fun chasing them than feeding them.

This squirrel seemed to enjoy his cupcake!

Tracey was a lot braver than I was feeding the geese.

For the rest of this week, I plan on doing some studying, cleaning and organizing. I did one set of kitchen cupboards today. They were looking pretty bad..

I was trying to think of other things to add in this post besides the usual "We are still working and going to school.. blah blah" so, I guess I can write a little about nursing school.

This semester has actually gone pretty fast. At first, I thought I was going to die. (I don't think that hearing that 2nd semester was the worst helped me out at all) I actually feel like I'm doing alright. I don't have as good of a grade as I would like, but I'll work on that. I have clinicals Mondays and Wednesday from 6:30 am to 2:30 pm. My first rotation was on the medical floor. It was good because it helped me get the hang of things at the hospital and assessments and stuff, but I really didn't enjoy it. Nearly ALL of my patients were in with pneumonia or COPD exacerbations. It got kind of old (since that's all I had). This rotation, I'm on the Oncology floor. I am enjoying it. We take care of two patients each day (instead of one like 1st rotation) this rotation so it is helping me learn to prioritize. Some of the patients on the floor obviously haven't been given the best prognoses (plural for prognosis?), so I feel like I really need to try to be there and treat them as well as I possibly can. My 3rd and final rotation for the summer will be on the surgical floor. We will see what this brings.. (to be continued)

Its getting to be around that time of year again for General Conference. We (and the other Haskells) get to go to the Saturday afternoon session. We went last year and I'm so excited to go again. I love to hear from our leaders!

This summer, Chris and I might to get to move home to work! I have to take microbiology (online), so I just have to work a few things out. We are really excited though. We feel deprived being away from our families so much! We will miss Cheyenne, but we'll be back in August!

I think..

I think I can say we're surviving, but that's about it. This semester is insane- SO much information, so much to do, and so little time to learn and grasp it. I think we are both suffering from a numb mind. Chris does better than I do (and he's got more on his plate!). He is just finishing up his excel class. It will be nice for him to have one less thing to do. He is still very busy with work and school.

 I think I'm shortening my life with my sleeping habits. I haven't been successful getting to sleep before about midnight Sunday and Tuesday nights (before clinical), and then I wake up at 4 most times to finish up some pre-clinincal work or drug cards, then head to the hospital for 8 hours. Most other nights, I do a great job confusing my body by getting about 8 hours of sleep. I end up more tired after 8 hours than 4. Enough with the complaining though..

Last weekend we made a flying trip home. We left at 10 Friday night, and came home Sunday at 8. It was fast, but we enjoyed seeing everyone. Saturday, Chris went to the mountain with his dad and brothers. I was dying to see our nieces and nehpews (since we hadn't seen them since Thanksgiving) so Lissa and I went to Burlington. I can't believe how much snow there was! We hung out, played Just Dance 2, held Kortney, dyed my hair, and enjoyed the time there. Kortney is such a sweet little baby. I think I could just sit and hold her all day.

Sunday we took Hailee with us and went to church in Burlington. After church, we played and ate a delicious dinner (BBQ beef nachos/sandwiches). Too soon, we had to leave. We really didn't want to, but I had clinicals the next day and Chris had class. It broke my heart because Hailee was sad we left and I had to run in to get Chris' glasses and she thought we were staying. When she found out we weren't, she started crying again and watched us leave out the window. I'm definitely ready to go back! We are heading back the last weekend of February.

Here are a couple of pictures from Chris' day Saturday.

 And, Jo looking adorable before church.

Valentine's day (as everyone knows) was Monday for most everyone, but not for us. I had clinicals, then Chris was gone for work by the time I got home, so I ran him some BBQ chicken and rice on my way to work. Tomorrow is going to be our Valentine's day. Neither of us have work or school, so it should be great (even though it will include a significant amount of studying..). We are excited to have a day to spend together!

 

Here and gone..

Chris and I had a nice Christmas break. We mostly worked, slept, and hung out. We had a lot of fun on the cruise and loved spending the whole week with his family and my parents. We did a lot of awesome stuff, however I regret to inform you that I have tried to start a post about it, and have given up everytime. Someday I will get to it.... maybe.

We have started school back up and are wishing we had savored Christmas break a little more. I am excited to get further into nursing and get closer to graduating, but this semester will be brutal for both of us. I feel a little guilty even putting myself into that sentence because I have one 6 credit nursing class, a 5 credit Nursing Lab (Clinicals), and a 2 credit thing at the end of the semester that will prepare me to sit for the LPN exam (so I can work this summer, hopefully). I only work occassionally at Bath and Body Works. Chris is already so busy. He is still working about 35 hours a week, and is taking Physics II, Statistics, a computer class, and an excel class. He is enjoying his classes so far, just not all of the homework that comes with it. We try to see eachother for a while daily, but sometimes there are days that we really don't see eachother unless its reallly early before one of us leaves, or really late when Chris gets home.

With a new year, brings a new sunbeam class. We taught these sunbeam kids for the last 25 minutes a few weeks before the new year so they would know us and not be so scared (poor kids, we were gone the 1st two weeks and I heard it was a little rough- crying and such). We love every kid in our class. We were sad to find out that they were splitting the class of 10 (regular attending kids), even if it does make our job much easier. We miss the kids in the other class.

A new year also brings new years resolutions. I usually don't make resolutions, but I figure its a good time to set some goals (and they say that if you post them somewhere public or tell others about them, you're more likely to achieve them or work on them for longer.) I guess I'll post a few-even if it is just to remind myself!
1. Make better meals more often- we have eaten so much rice-a-roni these past few months.
2. Spend more time preparing the sunbeams lesson.
3. Keep my house cleaner
4. Study my scriptures more diligently


I better not go much further than that.. I'll look like a failure!

One last thing, we were planning on going home this weekend, but some plans change and it looks like we may be waiting another few weeks :(. It feels like we have not been home in a year! We haven't made it back since Thanksgiving. I guess this way it will give Melissa some time to have that baby before we come. We're so excited to have another niece!

Almost there

Believe it or not, we're about 6 days away from some freedom! Chris has a Physics final Monday and my Nursing final is Monday. Chris also has to finish his Psychology finals probably Tuesday and my Physiology final is Tuesday. We're hoping they go well. I'm quite nervous because I have crammed a lot of information into my brain this semester and I know I have forgotten a whole lot. I guess I'll be relearning some of it for the final!
We will still be working- and I see that my hours are increasing the further we get into the holiday season-which is great- I'm glad I will have something to do so I'm not home all of the time. One of the managers also asked if I would stay on through January at least- which I will be very busy with school, but it won't be too many hours, so I said I would. Chris' hours will probably stay about the same.
I'm excited for Christmas Break for a few reasons:
1- More time to spend with Chris. It seems like he is running constantly. To class, then to work, then home late and almost straight to bed.  
2- Our couch, table, and desk (hopefully) will not be piled high with books, computers, and papers.
3- A little time to relax- no classes to go to. Maybe I'll get to do some leisure reading (not textbooks..).
4- I wish I could say go home.. but I'm doubting we get to. Chris has to work Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. (Sounds like an exciting Holiday for us- maybe I'll volunteer to work Christmas Eve too so I'm not here by myself.). I was thinking about changing my schedule so we could go home the 18th, but I looked and I am already scheduled. Starting next week I am picking up a lot more hours than before (the money will be nice!). I do enjoy working there most of the time-until I have grouchy or rude people!
5- Some time to work out. Carnival.com says we cruise in 24 days! We are SO excited to get out for a while and spend a whole week with his whole family and my parents (in a warm climate!)
6- I could go on forever, but the last thing I'm really looking forward to is reorganizing our poorly neglected basement. I love reorganizing- and I'm ready to do it!
We set our Christmas tree up the day after Black Friday and I just love it. We had to push the table in the corner so we'd have room for it. 

 I didn't note it in the last post, but we finally picked out a tv! It was a wedding gift from his parents. I told Chris just to wait until Black Friday and we'd get a good deal. So, I was watching the ads, and the TV we had chosen was one of the few NOT going on sale.. so I said we could just get it. I think we got a pretty great deal for what we got. I had a hard time getting a clear picture of it. Sorry if the flash is blinding. (and it really isn't odd shaped- it was just the angle I took it at)

A whole lot of nothing..

Our lives are seemingly uneventful right now, but for part of Relief Society tonight we talked about blogging, so I got the desire to write a post (plus I really don't feel like doing any homework or studying.. my brain checked out after two terrible tests on Tuesday).

A little update on school and such- I honestly cannot believe the semester is almost over. Many times, it has been really rough and painful, but I have actually thoroughly enjoyed the learning part of it. I won't sugar-coat that any longer and admit how incredibly TERRIFIED I am about second semester. I am excited to be doing clinicals in the different areas at the hospital, but I will be putting in a lot of hours on top of the school work.
Chris has also been working very hard in school with his Physics, Psychology, Workout, and Nutrition (on top of plenty of working!). I appreciate him working, but I really hate when we has to go. He works mostly evenings/nights. He has learned working in the Pharmacy that he has no desire at all to become a pharmacist.

Chris and I also just got a new calling- we are the Sunbeam teachers! We are loving it and are so excited for our new (huge) class coming in. We will have 12 sunbeams in January! It will be a handful, but we are ready. We take them for the lesson on Sundays right now so they can get used to us.

A while ago for Relief Society, Sister Wilson taught us how to make bread (and gave us the recipe). I'm in love with it. It is so moist and delicious! It also makes really great breadsticks- I've made bread twice and it has turned out both times! It is wonderful. Thank you so much Sister Wilson!

We are SO excited to go home for Thanksgiving. We are leaving either Monday night at midnight when he gets off or early Tuesday morning. We have to be back on Black Friday to work, but we are grateful we get to go home! Hopefully the roads will be alright- we have gotten snow almost every day for like a week (i'm guessing).

Since you visited the blog, I had better make it worth your time and add a few pictures.. Life has been crazy and my house doesn't stay as clean as it used to, but I suppose I can add a few pictures of the rest of it :) Again, I apologize for the cell phone pictures, but we're getting a real camera Black Friday, so it won't last too much longer!

I rearragned the living room a while ago. I think I like it better this way, even though it doesn't fit as well.

Ugly, but delicious breadsticks with Sister Wilson's recipe :)

The hall. The further door to the right is the one that goes out and up the stairs to get outside. The door closest that is partially open leads to the creepy "closet shower." Honestly, when Chris told the landlord we thought this place would be fine, I was terrified- I didn't think I could bring myself to take a shower in it. Come to find out, its not so bad. Yes, Chris' head touches the ceiling in it.

a poor picture, but I think you get the idea.

I'm sure the next post will be after Thanksgiving, so if anyone reads this, Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!