NO MORE CHEMO!

My mother-in-law was diagnosed with the worst type of breast cancer over a year and half ago. She has been doing chemo and radiation for 18 months and is FINALLY done! She had her last treatment on Thursday, July 16th and we are all so thrilled. She has been a trooper through it all, keeping our spirits up by being upbeat and positive. I love her so much and I'm so proud of her for making it through this so strong and I'm glad to say she's beating cancer! She hosted a party to thank everyone for the support she's gotten over the last year and half. She got 100 pink balloons and we all took one, yelled "Save the ta-tas" (a breast cancer awareness organization), and let them all go to signal the end of this! It was a beautiful day and so many people came to show how much they still support not only Connie, but the rest of us as well! I thank God for all he's done for all of us through this trial and for pulling us through to other side of it!

Connie (mom-in-law) and her husband Dave (father-in-law)
He's been wonderful through all this and he loves her so much!

Max, Tracie (his sister), Art (his brother) and Dave and Connie
What a wonderful family I married into!

Connie and Me
I love her dearly!

"Save the Ta-Tas!"

All the wonderful women who worked at her cancer treatment center who were there every step of the way! They were magnificent and we were so happy they came!

Summer!

I was at my mother-in-law's house the other day and just shot a couple cool pix of the bees enjoying the summer flowers in her beautiful garden! I love summer!

iNdEpEnDeNcE dAy!

So we went down to South Jordan and had a bbq with my mom, Larry and his son's family! It was so much fun. We played with the baby and the kids, ate good food, had some drinks and watched some darn good fireworks! Max helped the older boys fill and tie water balloons and in the process got totally SOAKED! (front and back) But he dried out nicely because the weather held and didn't rain like the silly weather man said it would. Hooray for that! The hightlight of the night was probably when Cayson, the youngest got ahold of Larry's wrapped cigar and knawed on that for awhile (pix below). It wasn't anything fancy or big, just friends, family and good times! What a great way to celebrate our wonderful country! God Bless America!

Look ma, No Hands!!

Cayson with grampa Larry's cigar enjoying fireworks.

Carter with the LAST water balloon that all the big boys wanted him to pop.

Carter thoroughly enjoying his hotdog that he DIDN'T drop on the ground.

Max & Baby Cayson!

Thank God for Best Friends

Isn't she just gorgeous? Beautiful Bee!

Kiss, Kiss!

I wish I didn't look pregnant in this one, but it's my fave!

Trying to keep it together to do a serious picture. Not happening!

So my best friend, Brittany, surprised me and flew in from Florida a couple weeks ago. We got to get together and took pictures and had dinner and we talked into the wee hours of the morning like we used to when she lived here. She was my maid of honor at my wedding in 2006. Max hasn't seen her since then and I've only seen her for a couple too-short visits since then so it was so fantastic to see her for more than a couple hours this time. Thanks to my wonderful husband for taking pictures for us! I've missed her so much since she moved away 6 years ago. She's the best friend I've ever had and even though we live so far apart now, when we get together nothing's changed. We have things to catch up on but it's like we just saw each other yesterday because we are so close. She's talking about moving back to Utah in about a year and half and I hope it works for her to that! It would be so great to have her close again. I love her so much and I'm so thankful that she's in my life. Love you Bee!

Great Day - Party AND a New Camera!

So yesterday was a great day! In the morning I decided that with two weddings and bridal sessions coming up this summer that it was time for me to upgrade my camera. I was just going to have mine cleaned (because it NEEDS it) but that would take my camera out of commission for at least two weeks. So I talked it over with my wonderful husband (of three years on Tuesday, June 9th) and he said he thought I should even though it would be pricey. So I did it! I bought a brand new Nikon D300 and I LOVE IT! I took it to the family shoot I did yesterday and it was AMAZING! It cut my editing time in half so I had more time to just work on enhancing! I'm so happy I did it and it is already way worth the money I spent because it will make for even better pictures! I'm keeping my other camera as a back-up (my hub says it's his now) and now I have the time to take it to Foresters to give it some TLC. I'm posting some of the pix I've taken with my new camera at the end of this post.
The other great part of yesterday was my party my mom hosted for me! She wanted to celebrate the fact that I got into nursing school and so she decided to throw me a party! Not everyone who said they were going to came, but to the people who did, THANK YOU! Thank you for coming to celebrate with me last night, thank you for the cards, and thank you for encouraging me to keep reaching for my dream! I couldn't ask for better friends! I love you all! And a big thanks again to my mom, my biggest fan! I love you mama!

Cute Jameson at my party, being much more interested in the humming bird feeder. :)

My kitty, Binx.

My mama's beautiful clematis.

Lily the cat.

This is our friend's son, Mikey, who wanted to see me through the lens of my camera.

Our cute friend's family that I did pix for yesterday, right after I got my camera!

Mikey and his Daddy!

Mikey and his Mommy!

Dad's Wedding!

So Dad and Mona tied the knot Memorial Day Weekend and it was great! The ceremony was beautiful and the party was fun and we got to spend 4 days with our fun family! We had lots of fun having BBQ's, golfing, pampering, etc. And I danced so much at the wedding that I was sore for two days! All of my family finally got to see where Max and I live and that was nice. I got to spend more time than I thought I would with my sis and that was fantastic! We went and got fitted for our dresses for my mom's wedding and had a nice brunch with my mom and gma. The weekend flew by and we didn't get enough sleep but it was all worth it! I'm very happy that my dad has found the love of his life and that we got to be there for him and her when they took their vows.

Me and Max, not a great picture of us. :)

The Final Picture! (scroll down to see take one and two... We couldn't be serious)

The second try, still not even close...

The first Try for a picture...

Me and my Cuz! Love him!

Max kissing the Bride! Uh Oh!

The Fantastic Four!

A blonde, a brunette and a redhead walk into a bar...

The girls

Sis & I with our corsages (and beer) :)

Waiting for the toast to be over so we can clink and drink!

I AM IN!

Finally after 5 years of college I am starting nursing school at the school I wanted most! I'll be starting Nursing School this fall at Weber State University!!! I've wanted to be a nurse for 9 years now and I'm finally going to be able to achieve this dream. Nursing School has felt so unreachable, so far away that it all feels a little surreal to me right now, but I'm sure once I'm "balls to the wall" busy with Nursing classes and clinicals that it will feel plenty real. :) My mom is throwing me a party on Saturday, June 6th, to celebrate! I want anyone who can to come and celebrate with us! It's because of all your encouragement and support that I kept reaching for this star. Most of all I want to thank my mom, my biggest fan, for all the love and support and encouragement she's offered to me, not only my whole life, but particularly these last nine years. She believed I could do this from the moment I said I wanted to when others doubted me. She's the one that helped me figure out what classes I needed. She's the one that took a half a day of vacation to come the meeting that just simply told me what my score was. And she was the one who cried tears of joy with me when I called to tell her I was in.

Viva Las Vegas!

Max and I just got home from fabulous vacay inVegas! We went down there last week and stayed with my dad for four days. We played on the strip, gambled, had good food and even visited the TITANIC exhibit at the Luxor. (which was amazing!) I also finally got the guts to pierce my nose. It's something I've been contemplating for almost a year. I've been worried about how bad it would hurt and honestly it wasn't any worse than an ear piercing! The worst part was when he put the actual stud in the hole after he put the three inch needle through my nostril! So here's a picture. I LOVE IT! I'm so glad I did it. I think it's cute and my hubby does too. My dad didn't even notice it til I stood right in front of him and pointed it out and my mom will grow to love it. :) So what happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas...

14.5 is my new favorite number!

So we went to the meeting today up at Weber and I found out what my score was. I got 14.5 points. The average this year was 17.36, almost three points higher than last year's average. So they explained where the points come from and all that. They also shared with me that the person who got the 90th spot also scored 14.5 points. So I am THAT close. They told me to be patient and hopefully I'll get a call soon. They said they wouldn't be suprised if I get in this year and if I don't, they said, "next year, you're in; so just ride the wave". (direct quote) :) So now I'm just playing the waiting game. I know that whatever happens is what's supposed to happen but obviously I'm hoping that that is Nursing School. I'll be sure to post a great big HOORAY and the date for the party that my mom insists on throwing for me if I get in! (she really is my biggest fan!)

Not a "No" yet...

So just over a week ago I got my letter from Weber State telling me that I have been accepted as an alternate for their Nursing Program that starts this August! Hooray! I really wasn't expecting to get in this year and I didn't even consider being an alternate so when I read my letter, needless to say, I was beyond stoked. I have been dreaming of this for almost ten years now and I can't believe it might actually happen for me this year, and at the school I want! So I need lots of prayers that someone won't be able to accept their spot so I can take it. I talked to an advisor last week and he said that last year they accepted 30 of the alternates and he has a feeling that they will be accepting a big group again this year. He also said that if I don't get in this year I am basically guaranteed a spot next year. My mom and I are attending a meeting tomorrow about how they score the applications and all that good stuff. So now I'm just waiting for a phone call. It could come in the next few weeks, the next couple months, or even the first day of class. So here's crossing my fingers and toes to get into nursing school in the fall! A big thanks to everyone who's kept encouraging me to stay with it and do it, especially my mama, because she is my biggest fan.