Cruisin'

We have been counting down to this vacation for 200+ days and when the time finally came it was wonderful! Just a warning in advance this post is going to be a picture overload-- consider yourself warned!

We were lucky enough to fly out of the Provo airport to Arizona where we were staying with Matt's uncle and his family for a few days before we started our long journey to Texas with some friends of ours via driving which means 17 long hours in a car. (What were we thinking?!?) It was a long drive, but it wasn't as miserable as we were expecting. We had a lot of long conversations, silly moments, mini sing along sessions, and pit stops/potty breaks. Eric and Brenley were a blast and we were glad to have someone to share the trip with. 

First day on the ship-- better believe
we hit up the soft serve ice cream first!

Shopping in Jamaica

Kind of blurry.. But fun!

Beautiful beach in Jamaica

Toes in the sand-- Wish we were back there!

"Jamaican Jerk" chicken, pork, and shrimp
SO good!

Beautiful beach in Jamaica-- So pretty!

Beach in Jamaica again

Matt and Eric playing with the Jamaican guys

On the tender boat to Cayman Island

On our way to "Stingray City", Starfish cove, and a reef to snorkel

My cutie :)

He dove and got this one off the bottom of the ocean

Goofy snorkel gear.. I know  

Amazing Race in Cozumel--Such a fun excursion! 

The finish line of the Amazing Race

Beach/shore in Cozumel

Eric and Brenley enjoying the hammock after
all our walking in the Amazing Race

They loved being back in Mexico getting to use their Spanish again

The ship in Cozumel

The trip was so much fun and it was such a needed break for us. We hadn't taken more than a weekend get away since our honeymoon 2 years ago. I am so glad that we booked the trip when we did and that we went. I would most definitely go back on this same cruise, there was so much that we could have done but did not have the time at each of the ports. 

A big thank you to my parents who "doggy sat" while we were gone. I know how big of a pain they can be and they didn't complain at all! (Mya has decided that she has to eat breakfast by 5:50 AM each morning-- high maintenance???)  

Oh and how could I forget this.... I got my first EVER speeding ticket while driving through Texas. They say everything is bigger in Texas, and I guess that includes their speeding tickets... $250 dollars later... Yay me!

(Excuse the pictures at the end and the way they do not line up with the rest.. I cannot figure out how to fix them)

Playing Major Catch Up

Wow do I have a lot to catch up on! Since the last time I wrote I have had surgery, I graduated from school, Matt finished another semester of school, we went on vacation, I celebrated my 22nd birthday, we celebrated our 2nd anniversary, and many more things I am sure I am forgetting. 

In March we got a new bedroom set and I helped Matt move all of our old stuff into the guest room the night before. The day our furniture was delivered I lifted and moved some more stuff around to set the room up the way I wanted it. That night I woke up in a lot of pain and the next day I realized the small hernia that I already had was much bigger than it was before. I finally decided it was time to see a doctor about it and I was having surgery by the end of the week. (It was super fast, but I had to make sure I was going to be 100% before our cruise in April-- more on that in the next post!) They ended up finding not only one but two hernias, one on each side, so they fixed them both while they were in there. Matt was great and took very good care of me and while I was all cooped up in the recliner Mya was my snuggle buddy. :)

My "not so little any more" Mya

Like I mentioned Matt and I both finished another semester of school... I just happened to be lucky enough that it was my LAST! Yay! So I have officially graduated and am on my way to becoming an RN. It has been quite the roller coaster ride the last two years with school, but it has been a very good experience. In a weird way I am going to miss it but I am also very grateful that it is over. And the graduation celebration cruise was more than worth it! :)

My birthday weekend is filled with a few other family birthdays, so we spent a lot of time with family. I of course did not take any pictures (shame on me..) but it was a very good weekend. We went out to dinner to celebrate my birthday and my dad's birthday and the next day we went out to lunch with Matt's family to celebrate his sister's, dad's and my birthday. We love weekends full of family time!

Our anniversary fell on a Monday this year and Matt had to work, so we kept it pretty simple. But simple is good-- in my opinion. Matt was able to get off early and we headed up to one our favorite restaurants Los Cucos and we decided to shop at Ikea a little bit. Afterwards we relaxed a little bit before Matt played some softball that evening. Like I said nothing extraordinary but just getting to spend the day together works for me! I cannot believe it has been two years already since our wedding day! It has both flown by and seems like it has been so much longer. We never have a dull moment and I love every second of it. I wouldn't change it for the world. I love you babe, and can't wait for many more years to come! 

Pound Puppy...

**Just to clarify- this is ALL my Mom's fault. I in no way, what so ever, woke up two Wednesday's ago thinking we would have dog #2 by the end of the night. Now that that is clear-- here is what happened.. :) **

I had joked lately that Ollie needed a friend to keep him company, but most of me knew it wouldn't happen any time soon.. Well two weeks ago my mom sent me an email with a cute little 8 week old pound puppy that needed a home. Umm.. HELLO! Everything is cute at 8 weeks old! I mentioned it to Matt and he jokingly told me, "She is very cute, we should buy her for your mom!" Ha, ya right!

I sat and looked at her picture all day long-- I couldn't help it, she was adorable. And part of me just kept thinking that I needed to bring that puppy home, but I knew Matt would never go for it. Long story short, I mentioned it to him and he told me he would think about it. I didn't want to pressure him and have him regret it later, so I just let things happen as much as I could. He finally told me that we could "go look at her" and then decide from there if we should get her or not. Maybe I am crazy but I CANNOT go to the pound and just "look" at a puppy and then leave it there, no sir, not happening....

To make an even longer story short, we went to the pound and both fell in love with her! (Ok, maybe more me than Matt- but don't let him fool you, I saw that big smile on his face!) Needless to say, we brought pound puppy home with us that night.

Don't mind the blue collar-- it has since been replaced with pink!

Her name is Mya, she is a Dachshund Chihuahua mix. She has been a blast so far, and Ollie has loved having someone to constantly play with. I was a little worried about puppy #2 and whether or not it would be harder or easier, but I am happy to say that thus far (knock on wood....) she has been much easier than Ollie was, yay!

Just thinking about these ladies today, love them so much! I would not be what I am today with out them. They are the greatest examples and are there through thick and thin. Love you guys! xoxoxo

Fire Academy Graduation

In December Matt graduated from the UVU's RCA (recruit candidate academy)- aka: fire academy.
Not going to lie, I was one proud wife! He worked his butt off this semester and definitely learned a lot. Class consisted of Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights from 5-10 and all day Saturday's ALL semester long. Talk about lots of lonely nights for me..and of course busy nights for him. At graduation he received the Physical Fitness Award with a few of the other guys along with his RCA certificate.

Earlier in the semester they did a "Family Day" at the academy. Family of the students went down to the campus BBQ'd and then watched the guys in action. It was awesome to see them do what Matt came home talking about each day after class. It was great to see him doing something that he enjoyed so much.

Building they practice on.

In action

My Firefighter :)

Everyone who came to support Matt

Matt is now on to new adventures and is working towards getting into the Paramedic Program. I'm so proud of him and all of his accomplishments! Plus, who wouldn't want a firefighter for a husband?!? :)

Love you Matt!

Quick Update

Well hi again! I know it has been forever since I have updated the blog and it is not because of a lack of fun things in life, we just have been so busy and now that school is back in full swing that is not going to get any better I am afraid.

I know I know, all I seem to post about is school, but it controls our life right now (or so it seems). However, I am in my very last semester of nursing school! Matt and I were talking about it the other day and in ways it had drug on and on but at the same time it really has flown by. Weird, right? To be completely honest I don't feel ready to be done, but hopefully that will change with this semester. As a 4th semester student 135 hours as a "preceptor" is required. We have to work along side an assigned nurse for all of their shifts; think free labor for the hospital we are at. :) I am excited that I get to do mine in Labor & Delivery at Timpanogos Regional in Orem. It should be a lot of fun and I know I will learn a lot!

Matt graduated from the UVU Fire Academy in December (post to come, promise!) and is now taking the Advanced EMT class along with some others too. He is going to start doing all of his IV's and such, so we may need a few volunteers, as much as I love him I can only let him practice so much on me. :) When he finished the academy it seemed like we had all this time on our hands that we didn't know what to do with, unfortunately that didn't last long, we are back to busy busy busy. 

We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and got to spend lots of time family and friends! We had a very good Christmas and Matt spoiled me rotten. He surprised me with a fancy Cannon Rebel T3i camera; it is all a little over my head, but I love it! It is going to be so much fun to learn and to have around. Here it is:

We also got to spend a lot of time with both of our families. We took a trip to the Heber Valley Camp with Matt's whole family and stayed the weekend. Very cold but fun! This time of year is our absolute favorite because of all of the things we do with family and friends!

I will work on posting more than once every three months.. Promise! 

P.S Our cruise leaves in just 107 days; but who's counting. :)

All Of Our Hard Work Will Pay Off.... Someday!

School is still the story of our lives (or so it seems). We cannot wait for the end of the semester, December cannot come quick enough! (Plus, that means Christmas. YAY! I cannot wait to decorate our house!) 

Matt is working extra hard at the Fire Academy but is really enjoying it! This semester is extra busy for me, but once it is over I'm on the down hill side. (I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!) Since I graduate in April I have been telling Matt we need to plan a vacation for shortly after the spring semester. 

We went back and forth with a few ideas till we FINALLY decided on what we wanted to do......

April 28th, 2013 we will be here:

Grand Cayman Island

On this:

Carnival Magic

We are going on the Western Caribbean Cruise! The ports include Jamaica, Grand Cayman Islands, and Cozumel, Mexico. It will be such a nice vacation after such a crazy year. We can't wait! 

P.S Anyone is welcome to join us, you know you want to!

P.P.S Only 207 days, just in case anyone was wondering.. :-)