Yearly Christmas Update!

Once again, it's Christmas time and we're looking back at yet another year gone by. This has been quite an eventful year that started with Max continuing to work on his degree with Weber State University and me applying for nursing school with Weber State for the second time.

Fast forward to April which is when I got my letter from Weber informing me of my position as an alternate for the program that started this fall. My mom and I attended a meeting at the school to look at what my points were and see how close I was to the top of the alternate list (because they will not tell you specifically). As it turned out, my points were the same as the student who got the 90th spot so we knew I had to be close to the top! We asked the advisors what I should do and they said to relax and know that if I didn't get in this year that I'd for sure be in the next year. So I patiently waited and on Tuesday, April 28th, Max brought in a small, uneventful looking letter from the box that turned out to be the letter I'd been waiting for 5 years to come - the letter telling me I'd been accepted to Nursing School! It seemed that it was never going to happen, but it did and I along with all of my family are so glad it has! Two days later, my sister got HER letter of accpetance to NIC's Nursing Program so not only do we both want to be nurses but we get to do school togther!

The next month was all about dad and his new wife, Mona. They married the last weekend in May and it was quite a party! It was a beautiful ceremony with a wonderful reception full of fun and dancing. His family came and it was nice to have some time with them over the weekend. The fantastic four (Gary, Carli, Laura and I) had a great time together. We haven't all four been together for quite some time so it was wonderful.

This summer Max and I went up to visit my family in Idaho, including my sis and her awesome boyfriend, Scott. My mom and her new husband met us up there and we all had a wonderful time together. Laura, my mom and I were lucky enough to be able to scatter my Grandma Carol's ashes while we were there and that was a wonderful experience.

In July, Max's mom celebrated the end of cancer treatment!!! She had her last round of chemo and threw a fabulous party to celebrate! That was a long, hard fight and we're all so proud of the attitude Connie had the whole time and are so thankful for the support from EVERYONE!

The rest of the summer was filled with a few weddings that I photographed and I'm looking forward to shooting many more next summer too! My photography has really taken off and I'm so grateful to all my many subjects (especially the regulars, Karalee!) who keep me in busniess!

The summer wrapped up with mom's fantastic wedding! She and Larry got married the last weekend in August (literally two days before nursing school started for both Laura and me!) and it was wonderful! Laura and I gave mom away and stood up there with her as she married a man that loves her more than any of us knows. The ceremony was perfect and the reception ("It's not a reception, it's a party!" as mom puts it) was a party in a can! We danced, drank, ate, made toasts and had a great time! It is so nice to have both of my parents happily married and loving life.

I started Nursing School with Weber State two days later and am finishing up my first semester with two finals tomorrow! It's been a lot of work but I've enjoyed it and am still so grateful to finally be in! Max is also finishing up tomorrow and the one-year countdown to his graduation begins! He'll be graduated this time next year and we are looking forward to it!

As I said, it's been a busy, wonderful and eventful year. We want to wish all of our friends and family a wonderful Christmas and happy New Year and will make sure to keep you all updated through our blog as our life unfolds! We love you all!

P.S. I decided not to post pix with this particular post - but scroll down to check out older posts and see the pix from this very eventful year! :)

ThAnKsGiViNg!

Max and I had a wonderful Thanksgiving with his family at his sister's home! She put on a wonderful spread and we ate til we couldn't anymore and spent a nice afternoon with some of our favorite people. I just want to take a minute to tell all my family and friends (the family you choose) that we are so thankful for all of you! We are so lucky to have people to go to when we're having bad days and celebrate with in times of joy! This holiday reminds me that I have infinite blessings from God to be grateful for every day. A few of the best blessings are pictured below, and I'm so thankful for these and many others.

Hope you all had as wonderful a holiday as I had and I wish many blessings upon you all as well.

A wonderful husband who never ceases to make me smile and laugh!

The love of my life

My brother-in-law and his wonderful girlfriend (who is also one of my FAVORITE friends)!

My Fantastic sister-in-law!

My loving mother-in-law who would do anything for me.

Max and his awesome dad who loves us very much!