UCDH Graduation

It finally came...

I graduated from the Utah College of Dental Hygiene on December 12, 2011!

My biggest supporter- Love him.  He put up with A LOT!

And boy am I tired or what? 

It was a fun night though!  I was honored by the invitation by the Dental Hygiene Honors Society to be a member of Sigma Phi Alpha.  I got to sport the purple and gold cords that took me back to the days being an Eagle Middle School Colt :)  Haha but really, I was so shocked!

I've learned so much while attending UCDH.  The staff is absolutely amazing and I really do miss them after just a short time of being graduated!  They worked so hard for us and pushed us to become better.  

Our amazing teachers!  

As for the girls, I am going to miss them!  It was comforting being around 58 other women who knew exactly what you were feeling!  The stress- only they could understand. And only they could relate to the passion I feel towards oral hygiene :)  Because I'll be honest, who else really does?  Now I leave dental hygiene school and I miss them!  They were practically sisters to me for almost 2 years... well some of them I guess :)  

Alexa, Robin and Chantel

Oh Joci!

My carpool buddy Kelly- and we were visiting teaching companions :)

 Lindsey Dance!

I've treated the biggest variety of people.  From those who only came in with 13 teeth, to those who brush their teeth so dang much they are brushing their gums away!  I have a whole new respect for the profession that I never had before.  

My parents came to Provo to support me, and my aunt Martha and friends Nick and Karli also came to cheer me on.... I just keep wondering what life would be like without those people that boost you up and support you always.  I am so grateful for good people in my life!! 

Proud and supportive parents

Nick and Karli

With graduation over, I still had 3 board exams to complete.  Talk about stressful!  I woke up Wednesday morning to a sore throat and cold... just in time for anesthesia boards.  Perfect! But I have nothing to complain about... I was seriously praying so hard to Heavenly Father that everything out of my control would go smoothly, and He delivered.  My patient for clinical boards showed up on time, he DIDN'T have any coldsores (which would have disqualified him, and he does get them from time to time- phew!), and they accepted my first submission- which is the best possible scenario!  I have yet to hear the results back.  I won't hear for another 2-3 weeks probably.  Talk about torture!  

A HUGE thank you to all those who helped me get through school!  Whether you came and got your teeth cleaned or just let me vent to you- I sure needed it!!!

Throughout finals and graduation and boards, we still needed to pack as well.  Luckily, I got a headstart about 2 weeks before we moved.  Bridger laughed at me that I would start so soon, but he was sure thanking me when we got to the weekend before moving.  We still had plenty to do, but I can't imagine what we would've done if we had waited!  I found myself so many times sitting and staring at the disaster in my apartment thinking, "I just need my mom!"  She was able to help a lot for a couple hours when she came for graduation- what a blessing!  She's a whirlwind when it comes to that stuff!

We probably had double the amount of boxes pictured!

I still had my cap and gown from my BYU graduation- and since the University of Utah doesn't have a graduation until April or May, we had to get a picture to celebrate both of us graduating!  Congrats Bridger!!

We packed up the U-Haul and pulled out of Provo on Monday, December 19th- just in time for McKay's birthday and my parents 28th anniversary!  But not without some tearful goodbyes first.  It's so strange- a year ago I would've left and never looked back.  But we've made some of the best friends in the world during our time in Utah and I was honestly heart broken!  My mom always says that it's good to miss things sometimes... but sometimes I just love people too dang much :)  

Now we are here in Boise and just enjoying the peace and relaxation of being home for the holidays.  It really hasn't sunk in that we actually live here- and it probably won't  until Christmas and New Years wrap up and we don't go back.  In the mean time Bridger and I are just going to look for a new place to call home for the next year.  I have a feeling this was the first of many moves together.  It will definitely  be an adventure!!

Fun with friends

This fall we were able to enjoy our evenings and weekends outside as much as the weather would permit.  We took several drives up the canyon to Sundance, went to the driving range, and went ice skating (Okay, that isn't indoors).  Bridger and Nick always told Karli and I that we never plan anything- which was probably true- so we had this mystery date planned for weeks to go ice skating.  Of course we knew the boys wouldn't be super ecstatic about it, but it was something we hadn't done before in Provo so it was nice to change things up a little bit!  And probably even more fun to keep the boys in the dark about our plans, because they hated the fact that we were so good at keeping secrets! 

The fall is my all time favorite season of the year... you get to wear warmer clothes, enjoy beautiful colors, watch football and basketball and anticipate the coming holidays! And we loved having buddies to enjoy it with!!

Playing Catch Up

Hello again.   It's been forever!  Looks like I have a lot of catching up to do.  I figured there is no better time than when I'm Mrs. Snuffles over here.  If I'm not out and about doing anything, might as well cozy up with my blanket and box of kleenex and update the blog with our latest events!

For Thanksgiving, Bridger and I went to California to spend the holiday with my family in Newport Beach.  It was as delightful as it sounds!  We walked the boardwalk, picking our favorite beach houses and just enjoying the warm weather.  My dad found this app on his phone where he could look up properties for sale.  Turns out there was this property (no house on it, mind you) on the market for $26 million!!! That much money WITH NO HOUSE!  There is plenty of money going on there, which was made even more evident as we drove around along the coast and also as we rented a boat and cruised along the harbor.  We each chose what house we would want, and what yacht would accompany our chosen house.  It was tough!  While on the boat ride someone decided to throw a piece of turkey sandwich out of the boat for a bird, resulting in birds basically dive bombing our boat for more food.  It was hilarious, and a little scary for myself!  The birds were a little too eager for my liking!  

My mom said that for Thanksgiving we would just "stick to the basics" since we weren't at home in her own kitchen.  But if you know my mom, you also know that she just can't contain herself sometimes.  We had a yummy traditional Thanksgiving feast complete with all the essentials!  Other days were spent playing on the beach, and in the girls case, watching the boys play in the water. Brr!  We were able to spend one night at my cousin Jessica and Chad's.  It was so good to see them and my aunt Kathy!  I hadn't seen there family since they moved to California.

Thanksgiving dinner at the condo

This looks like the life to me!

Fun on the beach

View from the condo

I could get used to that view...

Newport Beach Temple

Fun in the water for the boys!

The girls were smart to stay warm :)

I don't know how I failed to mention it until now, but we started the trip with a day at Disneyland!  It was Bridger's first time there, and despite only going for one day, we managed to fit in A LOT during that time!  We hit all the favorites like Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, Matterhorn, and added in some fun new ones like Finding Nemo and Winnie the Pooh for my mom :)  Bridger's only regret was that he didn't get to see Jasmine or Belle... Poor guy- maybe next time! It was fun to see my uncle and aunt and their cute kids there that night... We seem to find family everywhere we go.  It's so fun!  The night ended with the most beautiful display of fireworks I have ever seen!

Welcome to Disneyland!

Sword and the Stone

My dad with Olivia and Natalie

Bridger and I are so grateful to my parents for providing such a special week with our family.  We sure missed Dallan, but look forward to our first phone call with him for Christmas!!! 

The Final Countdown

It's finally here...

My last semester of dental hygiene school is half way over.  Talk about exciting, and scary, and overwhelming!  I literally want to throw up or just die every time I think about school.  And well, sadly, school is one of the only things I can really think about so I feel pretty crummy most of the time.

I knew dental hygiene school would be hard.  I knew I would be pushed and tested and want to quit- but honestly I've never wanted to quit more in my life than I do right now!  Nobody can understand what dental hygiene is and how hard the schooling is until they've done it.  They just can't!  

I think the hardest part of it all is finding my own patients.  I've done it for 3 full semesters and just have to do it for 6 more weeks, but I'm all out of resources!  Would you believe me if I said I asked some guy at the gas station to be my patient?  And he said yes... but then cancelled! I never ever saw myself asking random people if they would get their teeth cleaned.  I think that because he sparked conversation it was easier.... I see people sometimes and want to ask them- but how creepy!  How do I just start talking to them?

"Hey, I notice you have gross teeth- wanna get them cleaned for $10?"

Ya right!

I have called countless people, placed numerous online ads, asked patients for referrals, but I still haven't had much luck.  One instructor said she wondered if we weren't trying as hard as other semesters because so many of us have cancellations or no shows.  Really?  I think we have just used all the resources we have and are seriously tapped out!  

My boards are coming up soon.  I scheduled 2 of them!  November 9th and November 17th.. Am I ready for them? NO WAY!  But ready or not...here they come!  It will be nice to have those two out of the way before our trip to California for Thanksgiving, so I have to keep thinking of the bonuses!  

I need all the strength I can get right now, so PLEASE keep me in your prayers! I've never needed them more!  One of our instructors told us that a good ole' car scream would really help sometimes.  You know... just get in the car and scream at the top of your lungs.  Well I tried that tonight for the first time- I didn't like it.  It was the most shrill, terrifying thing I have ever heard!  I scared myself! But seriously, I need all the divine help I can get to make it out of this thing sane.  And I don't expect people to really understand- because they really can't!

One week in December looks a little like this:

December 9th, 10th, and 12th- Finals

December 9th- Graduation party

December 12th- Graduation

December 14-15th- Anesthesia Written and Clinical Boards

December 16th and 17th- Clinical Boards

December 19th- MOVE :)

Move! What move, you ask?  

Let me bring some optimism into this post, shall we?  Bridger was offered a job in Meridian, Idaho!!  We are officially moving December 19th!  We were worried we would get sent somewhere like Burley- do they even have a dentist there? We would've done it of course, but also glad we don't have to!  I felt immediate conflicting emotions when I heard the great news.  I was so happy for Bridger and excited for his opportunity.  I was excited to move back home to be around our family and some friends... excited to actually earn more money than we have in bills.... excited to be out of our one-bedroom apartment- and I was also sick to my stomach knowing that we would be leaving friends here!  We've made some of the best friends in the world while being here, and I really will be so heartbroken to leave!  I knew it would happen sometime, but it just snuck up on me.  Like I said in an earlier post- Why can't all the people I love just live in the same place?  But as my mom always says, "Sometimes it isn't always bad to miss something."  I have been incredibly blessed to be surrounded with people that are filled with such goodness.  For that I am so GRATEFUL!

It will be weird to move from the only apartment Bridger and I have ever known in our three years of marriage, but we really are excited to see what lies ahead for us.  

Here comes the final countdown!!

Bracelets!

So I saw these bracelets on Pinterest a couple months ago, and decided my 2 week break from school would be a good time to try it out!

It was a little time consuming. Not hard, just tedious! And it didn't help that I did one step backwards the whole time and had to start over! But I finished it and love them! I know I'm not the craftiest person, but it's a start!

Oh the horror...

We've been watching the girls again this week.

I've surprised myself with how 'on schedule' we have been. We have even arrived at school too early! Now if only I could get to my school early. Or to anything early for that matter.

Sofie has wanted to take pictures together practically every day while we wait in the car for school to start. Look at that pretty little girl- I can't believe I started watching these girls when Sof was 6 months old! She's turned into a real beauty!

Love my little buddy...

After dinner we decided to take more pictures. These pictures aren't quite as beautiful.

They're actually horrific.

We had some good laughs though! Their post-bath hair makes them look even more funny. It sure made putting them to bed much harder because they couldn't stop laughing. They wanted to take more and more. Here is their debut in the fat booth:

Sofie- age 4

Ellie- age 6

Brooklyn- age 8 (doesn't she look like a boy with her wet, matted down hair?)

Oh the horror...

--5 Year Journal--

So in an attempt to be better at keeping a journal and not just a blog (which I'm horrible at as well), I bought this little gem and it came in the mail last week!

I've really enjoyed using it the past week and can't help but peek ahead at what the question for the next day is. Basically it has a question for every day of the year, and it has spaces for 5 years worth of answers. I think it will be cool to see how I grow or change over that time. It's easy to do, because there are only a few lines to answer the questions- very short and succinct! A big barrier for me keeping a regular journal is that I feel overwhelmed with it- I have so much I could share, and want to document things thoroughly so it ends up taking me FOREVER! While I am still using my regular journal, and have become better at it, this makes journal-keeping so fast and easy!

Questions vary from silly to more serious. Examples are:

- Write down a fact that you recently learned. (Okay, some aren't questions)

-Who would you trade places with for just one day?

-What was the last TV show you watched?

-Are you holding a grudge? About?

-What is the last dream you can remember?

-Write down a problem you solved today.

-Write the first sentence of your autobiography.

Anyway, it's pretty neat! You should definitely check it out!