Happy Birthday Hannah Z!

 While composing this post, I've been inspired to know that I am definitely NOT a poet.

 Try to not let this fact distract you from the cute birthday girl :)

What I Like About Hannah

Little Hannah Z. is a wonderful girl,

A four foot ballerina--she can dance and she can twirl.

She's crafty and creative, spunky and bright;

endowed with her own radiant, special kind of light.

She's big sister to two brothers, the oldest of three.

To have a little girl like her would really excite me!

She's turning ten years old this year, she's well on her way 

 to becoming a beautiful, elegant young lady.

And now I'm almost finished--just one last thing to say--

Hannah, I hope you have a super-duper-special-awesome birthday!

Virginia

Last weekend, Pete and I traveled to Winchester, Virginia for Pete's PT school interview at Shenandoah University. Here's what we did:

* Spent unnecessary time traveling in the dark on a tiny one lane country road framed by gigantic trees and packed with snow. With deer bounding across the road every once in a while, we began to doubt the credibility of our "trusty" GPS that had led us hence. Thankfully, we eventually made it to our hotel.

* Pete interviewed at Shenandoah University in Winchester. Because he got an interview, he's automatically on the waiting list. In a month or so, we'll find out if he's accepted. He really likes the school and thought the interview went alright.

* Meanwhile, I enjoyed a blissful morning by taking a 2 hour nap, exercising in the hotel's fitness center, swimming in the hotel pool, and soaking in the hot tub. Lately I have immense gratitude for exceptional mornings like this one because when baby comes, I assume times like this will be few and far between.

* Drove over the Shenandoah River while singing "almost heaven, West Virginia, Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River...country roads, take me home to the place where I belong..." (Anyone else know that song?)

Terrible picture...but the best I could get from the car window

* Explored the city of Winchester. Loved the small town feel, super nice people, open spaces, fields, and rolling hills. I can only imagine what the place looks like in the summer.

* Wondered why the sky was so big in Virginia. Then realized there weren't any gigantic mountains blocking the view.

* Held hands in the car and simply enjoyed being together for four days straight! Heavenly!

* Spent a day in Washington DC where Pete almost froze to death and I became a candidate for foot transplants (due to uncomfortable boots). However, it was really neat to spend a little time in the city and see a few sites. We would love to go back sometime when the temperature is tolerable and I'm wearing tennis shoes.

Washington Monument

Pete was very impressed with the size of the pillars at the Lincoln Memorial.

View of the Washington Monument from the Lincoln Memorial.
(and me. Featuring uncomfortable boots and an almost unzippable tummy.)

The White House from a distance

Lincoln Memorial


The End.

And...I'm Done!

Two weeks ago my brain was doing the standard “shutting down” that annoyingly always happens to me right before the end of a semester (when it would actually be semi-appropriate). All I could think about was Christmas trees, decorations, family, upcoming baby, cookies (?)…well, basically my mind was thinking of everything but finishing up my last papers and assignments.

Then I had a little moment.

I thought: After the bell rings at 2:50 pm on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010, I will never sit in a classroom in the SWKT again—in fact, I may never go back to school again. My BYU student computer log-in will expire and I will not have ready access to loads of knowledge at my fingertips. My student ID will expire and I will no longer check out books from the Harold B. Lee Library... 

and then I was sad.

Don't get me wrong...nursing school is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done at my ripe old age of 22 and I am so excited to be done!

But change is hard for me.

The thing I’ve been thinking about the most lately in regards to finishing school is how much of a mind-and-body stretching experience it has been and how blessed I was to have the support and encouragement of wonderful family and friends to help me through it. As I've pondered on the last 4.5ish years of college, I can't help but think of a few extremely key people that really influenced my decision to be a nurse and my ability to get through school.

So thanks, Mom…

• For bringing me down to college as a nervous new freshman
• For letting me call you after almost every test I took in my pre-requisite classes and joining in my joy or frustration.
• For always reminding me that it wasn’t the end of the world.
• For letting me phone you this semester during my morning drives all the way home from a night shift when you were probably busy making breakfast and getting 5 other kids off to school…or work (just kidding dad)
• For sending me little packages and notes in the mail
• For praying for me and believing I could succeed.

Thanks, Dad…

• For being proud of me.
• For always pushing me to be my best.
• For driving down to Provo my freshman year to pick me up and bring me home when I couldn't find a ride at Christmas.
• For being a hard worker and helping me financially those first couple years.
• For giving me the “Biggest Loser” money that you won, so I could buy a bike.
• For listening to my nursing stories and being interested in my life.

and thanks, Peter…

• For not being (outwardly) annoyed at my long hours spent in the library during our dating days
• For making numerous trips up to campus to bring me my forgotten assignments from my (and later, our) apartment :)
• For putting up with a tired wife after clinical
• For the countless breakfasts/lunches/dinners you've packed or cooked for me
• For waking up to drive me to school on snowy mornings when you could have just slept in instead. Even more, for getting me to class on time (even when that meant standing at the door announcing “your ride will leave in 30 seconds” while I’m simultaneously trying to brush my teeth and put my shoes on).
• For joining in my joys and frustrations
• For keeping me laughing and having fun through it all. I especially liked the Nursing Diagnosis you formulated for me: "Failure to hang out with your husband"

So what now?

The plan is to have a wonderful Christmas break in Nyssa, then study like crazy and take PASS my nursing boards in February. Next, I will exchange backpack for diaper bag and prepare for life's next task...being a mom. I'm pretty sure this will be much harder than nursing school...and as far as I know there's no graduation. 
Ever. 

This Spring, our little family will be moving to...somewhere...where we will get settled, and I will find some part time work while Pete goes to Physical Therapy school (He got accepted at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska and Loma Linda University in Califonia! We'll see where else he gets in and make a decision from there).

4 years ago...

Fall 2006

The morning I left home to go to Provo. This picture makes me cringe (because I look absolutely terrible) and laugh (because everyone looks so young and Wyatt's trying to be cross-eyed).

Fall 2006

On BYU campus "studying" Geology with roommate Brooklyn.

Fall 2006

Same Geology book a few weeks later. When I learned how studying really was (exhausting).

Fall 2006

In Nutrition 100 with friends Yoko and Sabrina. This was one of my first college classes. 

(And this may have been the day I met a boy named Peter)

And NOW!

August 2010

Happy Birthday Hilary and Todd!

Because their birthdays are so close together, Pete and I (that's right---Pete is doing this post with me!) decided we would combine their birthday posts. This worked out great, since as we pondered what we like about Pete's oldest sister, Hilary, and her husband, Todd, we found that much was neglected if we did not relate what a great team they make together.

Then and Now :)

(http://suzetteandersonphotography.com/)

Pete and I love watching Hilary and Todd together. They complement each other perfectly and are so kind to one another. They have been great examples for Pete and I! We especially admire their communication not only with one another but also with their children. One of our favorites is
Todd: “Asher, are you making good choices?”

Whether it’s their children’s ballet, piano, singing, soccer, or scripture recitation, the expression on Hilary’s face during these moments is what Pete describes as “the definition of pure joy.” Seeing Hilary’s pride in her children’s accomplishments makes us so excited to have children of our own and experience that too. I’m amazed at how much Hilary does—being a mom, a wife, fulfilling her church calling, and doing editing work seem each like such huge jobs (I’m still just working on trying to get the “wife” role down). She is so capable, smart, and a good example of an educated mother.

Going to the Hendricks house for Sunday dinners is always a refreshing experience. First because their house is always cleaner than Pete and I can even fathom in the nasty-BYU-apartment stage of life we are in right now, and second, because it’s so fun to be with a “real” family (more than just the two-and-a-half of us).

One thing that has impressed Pete over the years is Todd’s love for Hilary and the hardwork he does for his family. He also enjoys the occasional work lunches they eat together. I feel simultaneously inspired and guilty by Todd’s intense marathoning and fitness endeavors. I also love his honesty and bluntness. Rather than put up pretenses, I appreciate that Todd “says it like it is.” He is also very kind and makes us feel welcome in his home.

Thanks Hilary and Todd for being the wonderful people you are! We love you and hope you each have great birthdays. Here's something that might help with that endeavor... :)

              

Going Home

After trying unsuccessfully for months to find a free weekend to go visit my family, I had finally reached the conclusion that I would have to wait until Christmas.

However, when my hubby left for cold, windy Nebraska (Physical Therapy school interview) and my nurse preceptor unexpectedly switched her Friday shift to Wednesday, I decided the stars were aligned for a much needed weekend trip home! I threw some stuff in a laundry basket (that's my true packing style...who needs suitcases?) and left Friday morning around 8:30am to make the 6.5 hour drive home.

I experienced no major mishaps on the drive unless extreme boredom counts (note to self: solo road trips aren’t that fun). Once I was halfway home, it occurred to me that maybe I should call my family and tell them I was coming. I told my little sister Mallory, and she decided I shouldn’t tell anyone else. But then I talked to my dad and since I’m bad at keeping secrets, I told him too. The only folks out of the loop by the time I showed up were my mom and little Nate. It was fun to surprise them and so nice to be home! Friday night was pretty uneventful and due to the fact that I had gone to bed at midnight the night before, I opted for a 9:30 bedtime.

Saturday was full of fun activities. In the morning, I ate cocoa and toast with Nate (a family and especially Nate’s favorite).Then I found a cute pattern online for making headbands (click here for pattern). I convinced 11 year old Mallory, a much more proficient sewer than myself, to help me with the project and by the end of the day we had 3 or 4 cute headbands whipped out mostly using my mom’s fabric scraps. Here’s a couple:





Everyone except Quentin and my Dad (who had a youth temple trip that Saturday) were able to go pick apples at an orchard in Payette, Idaho. It was so much fun to do together! Next we shared pumpkin pie milkshakes, went to JoAnn’s to get crafty stuff and then home to finish the headbands and do other projects. That night I went on a long walk with my mom (I still needed 80 minutes of exercise that week!) and watched “Radio” with the kids. Fun day!







Sunday I went to Sacrament Meeting in my home ward and then hit the road back to Provo. Other than a little rain and snow, the only major mishap was locking my keys in the car while at a gas station in Burley, Idaho. As I’ve locked my keys out of the house at least once a week for the past month, this wasn’t a major surprise. Thank goodness for a wonderful locksmith that came and unlocked my car (and for a super kind husband that simply told me I’m worth a lot more than $45).

Once again, Pete and I decided that we HATE being away from each other. But if I can’t be with him, then I would definitely choose to be with my family, so it was a perfect weekend to go home. Pete felt like his Creighton Interview (Omaha, Nebraska) went well, and soon he’ll have a phone interview with Loma Linda (southern California). Then we will BOTH :) be flying out to Virginia for his interview at Shenandoah University. We’re still getting applications sent in to schools, so we’ll see what other interviews come our way!

Sweet Baby Girl

I've been looking at little baby headbands/outfits/books lately...trying to get ideas of I like, what kind of stuff I--or more likely, my mom :)--could make, etc.

I've been looking at this cute site for a few days now and when I happened upon their 1-day 50% off sale (today only!) I couldn't help but purchase a couple headbands. And really...it was hard to stop at two. They have so many fun colors and different kinds of flowers and bows.

This one reminds me of springtime and Easter:



And this one is a good solid color that will hopefully be easy to match outfits to:

Baby Update

Today we had our 20 week ultrasound and were happy to see that baby is healthy, punching and kicking, and...a girl!

Here's her cute little profile followed by her cute little foot.

I wasted no time in buying a pink, ruffle-and-bow outfit :)

The Fate of the Chalkboard Paint and Other Unfortunate Events…

A storage bin, a stomach virus, and a drive to the gym. So began three separate events that have incurred some high costs over the past month.

First, the ever-growing-weightier storage bin full of craft items suffered an acute 10 foot fall during an attempt to place it high on the shelf in our bedroom. Unfortunately, the only casualty was a pint of black chalkboard paint. Despite our best cleaning efforts, we now have a 10-inch diameter, deep black stain on our bedroom carpet. Not sure how our landlord is going to feel about that…but I have a feeling we can kiss our $500 security deposit goodbye.

Secondly, due to some forceful vomiting, intense stomach pain, and advice from the doc in the family, we went to the Emergency Room on a Sunday night and incited $3000+ in total expenses. Good thing we have health insurance and will be paying substantially less than that! (and good thing the Dilaudid made it all worth it).

Third, while our own vehicle sustained minimal damage, making a too sharp turn in our underground parking garage didn’t fare so well for our good neighbor’s car. A patch of paintless metal and some rubber from our tire are what now remain on the once shiny silver corner of said neighbor's bumper. We’ve offered money and free carpet cleaning so far…we’ll see how that one pans out.

Now before you think “Well, this really isn’t too much to expect from Steph,”
I’ll let you in on a little secret:
Pete sent the craft bin crashing to the ground,
Pete was the happy recipient of the dilaudid in the ER, and
Pete ran into our neighbor's car.

Surprised?
Me too.
Because Pete's stressing enough for the both of us, I simply refuse to.

Life is good :)

Happy Birthday Hailey!

(Hannah, Hailey, Heidi)

My sister in law, Hailey, is one of the most pure, kind-hearted girls I know. My favorite things about Hailey are her cute laugh and her love of animals (especially kittens). I also love watching her interact with her little nieces and nephews. When I look at pictures of Hailey, I can’t help but smile.

Hailey is also very creative. Shortly after Pete and I got married, she made us a big binder with a few scrapbooked pictures of me and Pete---I was impressed with how well she made the pages! The binder sits on our bookshelf in our living room and has become a place where we store recipes, favorite church talks, and FHE lessons. We refer to it often and I think of sweet Hailey every time I pull it off the shelf.


I’m glad you were born Hailey! Can’t wait to see you in a few weeks!