BRANCHES

My desk was looking empty and I wanted to zoosh it up.  So I ran outside, in the dark (Mckay was at basketball and I was left to my own devices), and twisted some branches off of our trees.  When I first got them, they didn't have blooms on them, but after a week in a vase with water, they look gorgeous!  I read that you should take a hammer to the base of the branch, so that it will suck up lots of water and bloom, but I did such a number with the pliers that I felt it unnecessary.  I just love the organic, natural look- and it's easy and cheap! You should try it... if you want. 

Jump for joy! (finally)

On Wednesday I left the house to pick up Mckay for a mid-week lunch date & I grabbed the mail before hopping into the car.  I was so surprised to see a skinny, little letter that I'd been expecting in May. 

"It can't be"... I opened it and it was!  Ready for the big news???

I AM OFFICIALLY A NURSING STUDENT!

come fall semester anyway...

I was a hazard to those around me as I read the details while driving down the highway (exaggeration).  There was shrieking, fist pumping, a little shout of joy and maybe even a few tears of relief welling up in my eyes.  I couldn't wait to tell Mckay.

I picked him up and we went to the restaurant.  I waited until we were seated with our food before I casually mentioned the "interesting letter we got in the mail today" and slid it across the table to him.  He glanced at it and his face lit up with the biggest smile.  He said, "Come over here and sit by me!".  We had another mini-celebration & he kept telling me how smart and great I am (stop it some more!) and then we enjoyed our delicious bread bowls. 

It feels so good to have a timeline that goes with my plan of 3 years, no more goal/wish/dream/hope... it's actually a plan!  I'm so excited to finally be a student again.  I love the feeling of being on a path.  So much.  I am going home for a visit in May and can't wait to dig my stethoscope and old scrubs out of my boxes!!!

Wednesday was my favorite day this week.

with love,

nurse (to be) nicki.

Regan girl came to visit us!

Mckay and I picked her up at the airport late Tuesday night.  We came home and gave her the 30 second tour of our 600 sq ft home sweet home and got settled in.  Mckay went to bed but we stayed up and sat on the couch talking and laughing and having much needed sister-time.

Wednesday morning I didn't have work so we hit the grocery store, Goodwill (we revamped my console table decor for under $30.00, it was magical. I'll post that soon), lunch with Mckay at our favorite Thai restaurant and then she came to work with me that afternoon.

Thursday was not so exciting. I worked for 12 hours and she came with me.  She fell asleep.  We were bored and hungry.  The night improved when we came home and made my all time favorite (still haven't tired of it) grilled cheese on sourdough and watched Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman.  A blast from our past and so funny and dramatic. We loved it.  We didn't go to be until almost 2am that night, it felt like we were both in high school again!

Friday was Regan's favorite day.  I took her shopping on Greenwich Avenue, it was raining so we weren't there long.  While in Greenwich we squeezed in a quick lunch at Cosi and more shopping at Anthropologie.  Then we went to the Stamford Mall where she took ten years in the Body Shop picking out lotions and potions.  I was impatient.  So rude of me but I couldn't help it.  All the smells were hurting my nose.  After the mall we went to Michaels to get supplies for my latest and greatest project I'm doing.  That took way too long.  I couldn't decide what color paint I wanted to get.  I worried and stressed and went back and forth while she kept repeating to me, "Nicki get this one, I know art. I know it!".  It was funny.  I heard a few people chuckle at our exchanges.  Finally I decided on a color, (which turned out to be the wrong color) much to her relief.  That night I made us all a lovely, accidentally-more-spicy than I intended dinner.  Later that night the three of us hit up our Local Dairy Queen for some blizzards.  The guy made me the wrong one and was offended when I requested what I had actually ordered.  Excuse me?

Saturday was our city day, and the day we actually took a few pictures.  

It was great but so long, by the time we made it home that night we were absolutely exhausted and had spent nearly 12 hours in the city.  It was delightfully fun & Regan was easily pleased and made me feel like a wonderful tour guide/navigator.  We enjoyed brunch at Sarahbeth's, strolled Central Park, walked miles and miles through the streets, took a taxi ride (her first one!), spent a few ours in the Met, spent a few hours in the craziness of Times Square, shopped and ended the night with Sister Act on Broadway.  Which was hilarious by the way, if you are in NYC you should see it.  We laughed so hard.  She loved the city but has truly become accustomed to the beautiful Cache Valley.  She said she couldn't live in NYC and called herself a "country girl", sigh- maybe it will be more Kenna's pace & she'll want to come live out here by me!

Sunday was the sad good-bye day.  I made the three of us a yummy breakfast.  We watched a little bit of General Conference and then we drove her to the airport.  Somehow there were no tears at goodbye but it was still hard to send her off.  I think she was happy to be going back home to see her doggie... oh, and the rest of the family too, maybe.

This was her bed while she was here, & this is how we would find her every morning.  It was funny, her head always under the blanket and extremities sicking out.  So cute.  

We are excited to have Mckay's sister Texas and brother-in-law Kenny here with us this weekend!  We are so lucky to get this much family traffic.  Keep it coming!

Oh- also. Gas?!!! $4.59 is not okay. NOT. OKAY.
Neither is everybody and their dog adding me as a friend on Facebook.  Just because your sister-in-law went to middle school with my husband, does not mean I want to see you on my news feed!

The Socks.

A Story on Perspective
On the morning of March 6th, 2011 we were getting ready for church and Mckay grabbed a pair of socks out of his drawer.  He has this set of "day of the week" socks, obviously labeled Monday-Sunday.  When I fold them I put them in his drawer, starting with Sunday and going left-right ending on Saturday.  That morning he grabbed his socks and said to me, "Why did you put Sunday in the middle?"  I said, "I didn't, I always put them in order." (Duh)  He said, "No you didn't, check my drawer."  I said, "Yes I did."  The end.  I was tangled in my pantyhose and not about to check up on my work (which was correct) with my make-up only half done and the clock ticking away.  So we finished getting ready, raced out the door behind schedule and forgot about the socks.

After church I was cleaning up the bedroom and I threw said socks into the laundry, which in turn went into the machine.  When I picked up the socks I noticed that they said "Friday" on them and I wondered why I take the time to put them in order if he doesn't even bother to wear them on the right days.  Later that evening we had to go to a Youth Fireside, so we were once again in the bedroom getting ready.  He asked where his socks went (oops! forgot) and I told him that I threw them in the wash.  Then I asked him why he wore his "Friday" socks on "Sunday".  He told me, "I didn't, I wore my Sunday socks.  I'll just wear my Saturday ones to the fireside."

Knowing that he had in fact worn his FRIDAY socks to church that day, I pulled open his drawer eager to show him his mistake.  I laughed when I saw in the drawer one Sunday sock paired with one Friday sock.  (Their colors are barely detectable).  He had seen the Sunday sock when he put them on that morning and I had seen the Friday sock when I put them away earlier in the week and again when I thew them in the laundry!  I showed him and we both had a good laugh over it.  He said, "We're both right!  We should write this down so we can show our grandkids some day!".

JIMMER

Yeah right. This post is not about Jimmer. It's really just snippets I'd like to share.

1.
Conversation from the weekend:
"I feel really trendy today."
"Really?"
"Yeah, my shoes and shirt and cute scarf. Why, you don't think I look trendy?"
"Uhmmm not really..?"
"What do you think I look like?"
"Kinda grungy..."

I was so amused by this conversation, lucky for him.  Perhaps on another day, it might not have gone so well.  I have to admit, I hadn't showered that day & my hair was greaseball-esque (he made reference to my headband to showcase the grunginess) so I'll give him that. 

2.
My new favorite meal is grilled {American} cheese on sourdough from Stew Leonards. Best. I can't stop eating them.  & Stew Leonards?  The most incredible grocery store I have ever visited.  Meat from Amish country?  Farm fresh tomatoes in March?  Artisan breads and cheeses for snobs?  Fresh flowers galore?  Yes to all of it.  Oh, and yes, I'll take a free coconut frozen yogurt at the end of it all to make up for the ouchie bill.

3.
It's March, which brings us into the frenzy of March Maddress.  Which is awesome and I actually really love it.  Probably because my Dad was almost MIA for my birth because it was so tempting.  We filled out brackets.  We made bets.  If I win, he doesn't get to play "Words with Friends" for a month.  It's his best hobby lately to play that game.  He always wants help with words and he has 3 or 4 games going at all times. It's the most.  Intervention time.  If he wins, I have to friend request all of his ex-girlfriends on Facebook.  Just kidding, that was suggested, but we both decided to take the we're-not-in-middle-school-anymore route.  If I he wins, he gets to drive my car (the nice one) and I get his (the 1995 Nissan Altima with 260,000+ miles) for a month.  I will update you when UNC wins.

4.
I have wanted to tell so many people about this on so many different occasions.  So here is a special (maybe tacky) blog shout out to a few peeps. I am sorry if you don't know the people I am referring to:

The other night I had a dream.  I was in high school, married, but at Mountain Crest High again.  I was standing out by the cafeteria when a boy with long blonde hair started to flirt with me (it shouldn't be a big deal for me to say his name since the chances of him ever finding this blog, let alone reading it, are a million to one. But I am still nervous & anyone from said dream will know who he is.  Enad is what we'll call him, okay-that is just his name spelled backwards.  Now you know).  He hadn't seen me in a while (duh) and wanted to know how I was.  He winked.  It was cute.  He put his arm around me.  I felt guilty.  So I fled, but felt exhilarated that I still had it.  I KNOW!  I cannot be held accountable for dream feelings.  Then I ran into my dear friend Jacki who started sobbing and gave me the biggest hug.  She is so sweet, she was upset and felt so bad for me.  I helped her stop crying.  Then Bryce, Ali, Kassidy, Stacey, Krissy and Kara came & we were having a joyous, chatty session.  I was elated.  I suggested a sleepover (16th birthday style) & they all agreed.  I ran home to get ready.  I looked out my window and decided that once they got there I would take them to "RAINBOW ROAD" as a surprise.  In my dream, Rainbow Road was a road that lead to Ethan Searle's house, and if you looked out my window (at the road) first thing in the morning, when the dew and sun were on it at the same time, it turned into a rainbow.  Special!  I know.  Then my dream took me to a trailor where I was in a little, gross room with Regan in my skivvies.  I asked her to take me to school because we had both missed the bus.  She told me she wouldn't take me because it would make Kenna late,  & she was only taking Kenna.  She looked so pretty & I was sad that she was mean.  I went to go find my Mom to tell on her BUT THEN I WOKE UP.

That is not an unusual dream.  And that is probably why I wake up tired most mornings - because I do SO FREAKING MUCH ALL NIGHT LONG. Really.  Planning sleepovers and dealing with emotional meltdowns and coordinating rides out of the trailor park is exhausting.

They call me Martha.

Okay, they really don't, but I wish they did.  I have been bit by the crafting/cooking/sewing/gardening/ creating/domesticity bug BIG TIME.  Like, I want to quit my job and just find new things to do every day.  I want to plant herbs and flowers and tomatoes.  I want to sew curtains and pillows and skirts.  I want to make darling things with buttons and yarn.  I want to cook cutesy desserts, not just regular brownies.  I also want to whip up delicious, gourmet meals for my love every single day.  To go with all of that, I'd love a huge, white, blank canvass home that I can decorate from head to toe.

Until that day comes (or doesn't) I'll just occupy myself with baby crafts & lead a balanced life.  In pursuit of my new vision, I made this yarn wreath on Saturday.  I had a big peach-colored ribbon on it, but it looked weird so today ripped the bow off and made rosettes out of felt.  I know some of the flowers look navy, but it's actually a deep violet color.  My camera can't remember to take accurate pictures sometimes.

Mckay didn't make the biggest fuss over the wreath make-over (even after I hinted to him that he needed to) & when I pointed out the newly made flowers he said, "Oh! I thought you bought those flower things at Anthropologie or something and just glued them on!". Yes. Perfect reaction.  He is forgiven for his underwhelming response to my craftiness! 

I had so much fun making this one!  I want to make 10 more-at least, too bad I only have one front door. 

Titanic

To say I was {am} a fan of this movie is a slight understatement.  I'm pretty sure between the ages of 12-15 Regan and I watched/rented it at every chance we got. We saw the movie when we were too young to see the movie (well before the above age) because I remember both of us bawling and being so distraught over the story line.  In fact I remember just thinking about the scene where the captain's window breaks and water floods in and getting teary eyed.

ANYWAY.  It was on tonight and for old times sake I watched twenty minutes of it.  Still a fabulous movie.  When I was younger I was so obsessed with the love story.  Jack and Rose were like my ultimate dream.  I was so sad that I wasn't born in a different time/place/country so that I could have a rockin' love story like them.  I was bummed that my "love story" would most likely be pretty ordinary and bland.  Meet in college, fall in love, probably at a park not a sinking boat... so plain! 

I wouldn't wear a lavender silk dress and run through the furnace room hand in hand with my lover while running from the crazy, creepy man servant guy.  Or go to a dance party with the Irish people.  Or get a naked picture drawn wearing only a ridiculously delicious diamond around my neck.  Just kidding, wasn't jealous of that last one.  So depressing is life! 
{Was I a freak?  Can anyone else relate?  I really hope so because I will feel silly if not.}

Tonight I laughed at my naive younger self.  And I thanked my lucky stars for my ordinary love.  The unrealistic drama and embellishment for the first time just seemed obscure.  I was such a silly pie.  This morning when our alarm clock went off at 6:30am (ouch) Mckay pulled me close and we snoozed for another 15 minutes.  It was awful to disentangle ourselves.  I love the peaceful, safe feeling I get when we're cuddled up in bed.  It's one of the best feeling I've ever felt.  Then we got up, got ready for work, I left at 7:10am & now I am sitting on my couch at 9:08pm waiting for him to come back all yucky sweaty from his basketball game.  We'll fall into bed again and it will be another ordinary day with my extraordinary love in our ordinary world.

1 year older & wiser too

 

It was a perfect day.  I went to bed such a happy, happy girl.  Mckay told me that he thought I must have been turning twelve because my excitement was oozing out of every pore.  It's true, I love birthdays.  They were a big deal in my home growing up.  Want to know what I got?  A beautiful birthday letter from my Dad, a darling e-scrapbook photo compilation from my Mom (a feat!) and a latex pillow from Mckay that gives me the most wonderful, deep, I'm-sleeping-in-clouds, sleep possible.  Sounds unexciting but in my grogginess this morning I told him I slept like a queen.  Pretty sure that comment just meant that I slept great.

My favorite part of my birthday went like this: {On Skype with the fam}

Mom, "We have a present for you! Want to see it?"

Me, "YES!"

Regan, holds up picture she drew of Utah and Connecticut with a sign that says "I'm coming to visit you!!!!"

Me, tears and tears and tears and, "Is this my present?!?!" to Mckay. More tears.

Mckay, nods, laughs and looks puzzled, "Are you happy or sad??!"

Me, "So happy and emotional!"

And there you go.  I have the most thoughtful husband a girl could ask for.  My birthday was wonderful from dawn till dusk.  Regan and Mckay gave me such a great gift and I cannot wait to have her out here with us!  Thanks to all for the sweet texts, calls and messages.