Vacation Part 2: Turnbull Family

We were able to spend 6 days up in McCall at our cabin with my family for the next part of our summer vacation. Talk about pure bliss, honestly. First of all, Bridger and I drove up there super early in the morning (this was my compromise to him for not leaving at 11:00 p.m.- last time we drove up that late we saw too many deer for comfort). What a beautiful drive- sorry if the pics are boring but really, how can you not enjoy this beautiful part of the world? As we drove up the canyon there was so much steam rising up from the river rapids, and then as we got more into the valley it was thicker than ever! Kinda spooky lookin'- but so pretty.

How to sum up our week in McCall? We ate like kings, played badminton galore, surfed, wakeboarded, went on a hike, woke up for an early morning kayak ride around Pilgram's Cove, read (or attempted too), finished so many cross word puzzles, jet skiied, searched for golf balls in the lake, played cards/cranium/billball (ladder ball), basked in the sun, etc. Best of all, it was just some good quality family time. What a week!

We can make some really pretty faces too.. as seen below.

Before our hike...

Lily Marsh hike

Fun in the sun

Morning kayak ride

And this picture pretty much sums up why we love it here...

It's just bliss

Vacation Part 1: Booras Family

When I think about starting to blog about our vacation, it makes me tired just thinking about it. But I gotta start somewhere, so I guess I'll split the trip up into sections. After our End of Semester BBQ with the UCDH girls, Bridger and I left (way too late, by the way) to go to Eagle for our summer vacation. I know, I know- by August 12th most summer vacations are ending, but ours were just beginning! Bridger needed to shadow someone in Boise Friday morning so we really didn't have any other option unless we wanted to leave at 3:30 in the morning, and that definitely didn't sound appealing. Needless to say we didn't get into Boise until 2 a.m.

After Bridger shadowed, we met up with Bridger's siblings and mom for some Wingers and spent the late afternoon out by the pool. We spent the night at Lindsy's eating pizza and playing games. It was good just to be able to hang out with them and spend time with the kiddos. Ava (4) and Cash (2 1/2) sure loved beating up and playing with Bridger. Bridge is so energetic so he can hang with them pretty well! Cash is honestly the toughest kid I have EVER met. If you're gonna play with him, you gotta be prepared for some battle wounds. He's a solid kid and can take you out so fast! Even though Ava is older, I think she's figured out that the only way to come out alive is to run away from him, because she has no chance! Saturday morning I lost my camera so the majority of the weekend has no pictures.

Saturday afternoon was Pete and Marianne's wedding reception. They were married in June on a big hill overlooking the ocean in Greece. Talk about romantic, right? Marianne looked like a Greek goddess! They said that they were married overlooking the ocean and there were hotels/buildings lining the coast on these cliffs all around, and there was a marble road that went through town that curved down around this hill they were on (I hope I'm getting the details right). Apparently Greek people LOVE weddings, so after Pete and Marianne said "I Do" and Pete kissed his bride, cheers came from all around on the street and on the balconies of the hotels/buildings. They didn't even know they were being watched until they heard the cheers and applause surrounding them. What a way to get married! Bridger and I are so happy for them- they have the best time together and really complement each other well. Marianne's the greatest and already felt like a second mother-in-law- now it's just official!

Sunday we headed up to Pete and Marianne's cabin in Cascade. It was so fun and I'm sad I don't have any pictures to show for it. Lexie took some so hopefully I'll be able to get copies soon. We played on the beach for several hours. It was Ava and Cash's first time on a beach, so I taught Ava how to build her first sand castle using paper cups and a tupperware. Cash didn't need to be taught how to destroy her castle, that's for sure. What a boy he is. We played badminton, threw the football, played in the water, watched a parasailer, and rode around in the kayak. That night we had the best dinner and watched some movies. Everyone was too tired from the hot sun that day to play any games.

Monday morning we left so the family could all go golfing together. I love going to the driving range, but actually going golfing is a different story- so I watched Ava and Cash. We had a blast playing with my old dollhouse, polly pockets, dinosaurs, jumping on the tramp, swinging on the swingset, painting toenails, etc. I think I definitely got the better end of the deal :) That night everyone came over to swim and have a BBQ. I think the highlight of the night was watching Lynn and Marianne go down the slide on their stomachs! It was hilarious. Later that night while taking Lynn home, we stopped at Sonic to get some drinks and found out that because Lynn goes there at least once a day for a diet coke, she orders a "Lynn Marie". Don't you know what a Lynn Marie is? A Route 44 diet coke, ice to the top, extra lime- come on! Well they sure know what it is there- it's hilarious. She's friends with all the workers!

I always have the best time with Bridger's family and count my blessings because honestly- I struck gold with in-laws. Couldn't have asked for better people to become family!

UCDH Girls

As this semester is winding down, I can't help but look back and think how much I've learned this semester (with much more learning to come- it's time to study for finals)! I knew nothing about dental hygiene coming into this program. I didn't know how to hold the instrument, what clock position to sit in, how to choose the correct working end for what surface of the tooth, how to do a health history interview, polish teeth, take good x-rays, measure probing depths, find and remove calculus, etc. I'm not going to even try to say I'm really good at all of those things- but I'm learning and I know I've come so far.

There have been so many nights when I've honestly questioned what I'm doing in the program, if I'll ever be able to make it, if I will actually be able to do everything we are being taught, if it's worth the time and the money, etc. Fortunately for me, I'm also in this program with 59 other girls. That number scared me at first- 59 girls? All in one room? All in each other's space? But honestly, these girls have been such a HUGE blessing. I've made some of the best friends possible here that make all the craziness worth it. Everyone is so different and unique and adds a little extra something to the group. We're only coming to the close of 1 out of 5 semesters and I already don't know what I'd do without these beautiful, smart, talented women. I can't imagine how I'll feel after completing our entire program and going separate ways. Luckily that's not for awhile- so let the party continue!!! Here are some pictures just for fun.

Laraine, Jocelyn, Kelly and I- About 20 of us went to Cafe Rio one day and people asked us if we were celebrating graduation. "No- just the end of the day"

Spendin' some time outside

Utah College of Dental Hygiene Class of 2011 December

Ya- kinda freaky. Brittney and I with the typodonts.

Sushi night! Sarah, me, Diem, and Amanda

Oh Jocelyn... Always havin' a good time.

This is my "Show me how excited you are to be here breathing through the mask" face. Can't ya tell?

Yellow Group- From left to right: Kelly, Sarah, Jocelyn, Britt, Tiffany, Julie, Cortney, Me, Jessica and Jacquie. We did it yellow team! We made it through our first semester of clinic!

Just for fun...

A: My AIR CONDITIONER is set on: HIGH. Our oven sure makes our place hot.

B: My BEDROOM THEME is: sage green and brown- my favorite combo lately!

C: The CAR in my driveway is: a great car- but in need of a drive-way.

D: My DESK looks: probably could be cleaner. We never actually use it- it ends up just being a "put this here cuz I don't know where else to put it" place.

E: The EXACT time I wake up daily is: It's never the same. Between 6 and 7- depending on the day and if I need to wash my hair or not.

F: The FIRST thing I wash in the shower is: My hair

G: My GARAGE is filled with: someday I'll have a garage- and that day will be a good day.

H: My HOME is: small- but we don't need much bigger. If I could just get a newer, cleaner bathroom I'd be perfectly content.

I: If you peeked INSIDE my bedroom you'd see: An unmade bed that is calling my name- I know, it's not even 4:00 but i'm sleepy. There is also way too much unfolded laundry.

J: My favorite JUICE is: CranApple- the kind you get on planes. It's the best part of the whole ride.

K: The best part of my KITCHEN is: The vase/decoration thing my mom bought for us.

L: The LAST person who visited my home was: Visiting Teachers?

M: The last piece of MAIL I recieved was: Probably bills- you know- the boring stuff.

N: My NEIGHBORS think I'm: the girl who wears the same thing EVERY DAY. You can't ignore these teal scrubs.

O: If you OPENED my fridge you'd see: a yogurt, broccoli, turkey meat, tortillas, milk, string cheese, ice cream sundae fudge, lettuce, peppers.


P: My last house PARTY was: We're not really "party people". Had family over to watch the Boise State vs. Virginia Tech game if that counts- we won by the way.

Q: A QUICK meal I like to fix is: Cereal- is that a meal even? Probably not, but it tends to be what I eat most often. Something super quick that probably counts as a real meal is Parmesan Tilapia. Yummy.


R: My favorite ROOM in the house is: my family room- comfy and open and GREEN.


S: The SHAMPOO I use is: Lots- Tresemme, Garnier Fructise, Herbal Essences- nothing too spendy.

T: My largest TELEVISION is: also our only television. It's a wedding gift from Bridger's father and step mom- used mostly to watch the Office or Sports in this house

U: UNDER my bed you will find: Anything and everything- tool kits, old binders/books from school, nothing exciting. With a small apartment you gotta maximize your space!

V: Last time I VACUUMED was: Sunday

W: Looking out my WINDOW I see: An ugly parking garage, some dead trees, and the giant apartment complex next to us.

X: I wish I had X-TRA: money, time, energy- that's all I want people.

Y: My YARD is: what yard? The one I dream of? It's got a pool and big tall trees my future kids can climb on an flowers a'plenty.

Z: ZZZZ My bed time is: Between 11:30 and 1:00- really gotta start working on that!

Bridger's Birthday Weekend + Father's Day

So after the last 2 weeks of craziness (meaning mid-terms) it was about time to have a relaxing, fun weekend. It was action-packed that's for sure! Friday I watched the girls for several hours and then we headed down with our good friends Amy and Andrew (minus baby Violet- sad) to the Manti Pagent for our ward activity. The pagent was interesting to say the least- but with good company, good conversations, and fun music it was a great night! And by the way- the Manti temple is SO gorgeous! Too bad there isn't much else there.

It was Bridger's birthday this weekend- and I hate waiting for Bridger to open presents once I buy them- so I had him open one each day. Friday before we left for Manti he opened the game Things which has become a new favorite of ours- and it always gets a little out of hand!

Saturday we slept in- it was heavenly! Bridger really never gets to sleep in so we just slept and slept until we couldn't anymore. Then we went golfing (and by we I mean Bridger- I got the fun part of driving the cart and putting here and there). We headed up to Salt Lake to go to Hogle Zoo- but sadly we got stuck in BAD,BAD, completely unnecessary construction and didn't get there in time. Oops. We were bummed- but since we were already in Salt Lake we drove around the city and dreamt of moving there someday soon for a little change of scenery. Who knows what will happen! We got back and went to the BYU Men's Soccer game with Daniel and Sarah and hit up Sammy's afterwards for some yummy milkshakes! On Saturday I let him open up some movies- Avatar, 500 Days of Summer, and the classic Little Rascals. We sure do love our movies!

Sunday (Bridger's actual birthday) we went to some friends for breakfast and had a pretty chill morning. After church we had Daniel and Sarah over for dinner and ice cream, played some Things and watched Little Rascals. Bridger opened his last present- I got him a monitor for his bike that tells distance, speed, calories, etc because he really wants to get into biking. Also I got him a waterbottle that can attach to his bike- because he ALWAYS steals mine! So this present really serves both of us pretty well :)

Anyway- it was a really, really fun weekend and I did ZERO homework until about 10:00 p.m. Sunday night- it was delightful. I'm so grateful for Bridger in my life and I'm happy we got to spend the entire weekend together! He makes me such a better person- he makes me stronger, braver, happier, and more adventurous. He's a good best friend and husband to have- I think I'll keep him! Love you Bridger!

And also HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to our wonderful fathers! Bridger and I are both so blessed with incredible fathers and wish we could have spent the day with both of them. They've taught us so much.

Back to school tomorrow!

Blah

So I'm not trying to complain to the "blog-o-sphere world" or anything... Really I'm not. In fact I'm not even going to share any details of why I feel so crummy and just "blah"- because there are some personal things in life that don't necessarily need to be shared with anyone and everyone. I guess I just feel like blogs are full of people posting their perfect lives with their perfect spouses and perfect children and perfect homes and perfect, eventful lives. Of course people want to share and document the happy times- I completely understand that. But sometimes in the middle of sharing only the happy times people reading those blogs get disillusioned and think everyone's lives are better and more fun and more eventful.

I guess all this post is about is that life, and my life in particular, isn't perfect. Life definitely is bumpy and messy and hectic. It's ruthless and stressful and beautiful and mysterious all at the same time. And right now is just a time where things are building up and it's a little more of the "bumpy and messy and hectic" than I would like. That's all. I haven't posted in a few weeks and when I was thinking about things I could post- really nothing too exciting or magical or thrilling came to mind. I kept trying to think of something people would want to read or hear about- and nothing really came to mind. I'm rambling- that's for sure- but I guess all I'm trying to say is sometimes life is crazy isn't it? And we go through things and deal with emotions that are just plain hard. And we look at other's lives and think they have it all together and have everything figured out- but they don't.

Good thing we have those amazing people in our lives to make the craziness and "blah" times bearable! And like Maria from home would say, "Thanks be to God" for our Heavenly Father and the Gospel that brings everything into perspective more than my stressed out mind can do on its own.