Seriously?

I find it odd that a person would choose the job of phlebotomist in the first place, but if you're going to spend your days shoving needles in people's arms, maybe you should lose the attitude? Especially when you can't find that poor person's vein after 15 minutes? 15 MINUTES PEOPLE! Have you ever sat in a chair with a cocky 19 year old guy fishing around in your arm telling you he's almost got it, only to have him stab you yet again and fail? GET SOME HELP WOULD YA?! As you can tell my last blood donation experience was not a good one. I know that I have difficult veins, it is hereditary in my family, and so I always tell them which arm to use and warn them about the possible hardship to come. I've given with Red Cross several times, and I've gotta say I'm not that impressed. I'm not queasy and I have a pretty high pain tolerance, but come on! Today I decided to brave the donating again, this time with ARUP at work. I have had good experiences with them in the past. I tell the 12 year old kid holding the needle(don't they look younger the older we get?) all about my troubled veins and get the same "I can do it" answer. This time I was prepared to tell him to get the *%^* out of my arm if necessary. While he did not get the vein on the first try, or the second... he got it the third time and in only a few minutes this time. Maybe it is a sign that I am not meant for donating... Oh well, maybe I saved a life today! Plus I get to walk around with a cute pink bandage wrapped around my elbow and tell everyone I don't have a life threatening disease, I just gave blood.

Random Post

For all of our niece's birthdays they get to come spend time with me and Nick without any parents or siblings. Jessie's birthday was in May but we didn't get the chance to do her weekend until now. We had lots of fun miniature golfing, eating, watching movies, playing with Chavez, and swimming. She's a cutie and so fun to have around. Chavez was excited too, he loved to sleep with her on her blankets.

For Father's Day we went up to my sister Devin's house in Logan for a little BBQ with my Dad and stepmom Elaine. It actually stopped raining for a few minutes so we could enjoy our dinners outside. It was a good time, Happy Father's Day Dad!

We stopped by to give my stepdad Larry his present that day as well.

Nick's sister and family went out of town for a week and we dog sat for their puppy Halie. She is crazy! It is so different having a puppy in the house, and I definitely don't have enough energy to keep up with her. She and Chavez had fun playing, and she is the cutest thing ever. We love her but were glad to give her back... Like Nick's face in the picture...

Chavez got his life jacket finally too. He looks so cute I can't wait to throw him in the water. He is going to flip out, he jumps over puddles. This is the position he stayed in the whole time he was wearing it, he refused to walk...

Feeling my age...

I have pics from Father's Day to post, but not with me at work, so those will come. I just want to vent about something that we talked about in my class last week. My professor was discussing with us the realities of being a teacher to this new techie generation, and having us brainstorm ways that we can use technology in our teaching since that is how we can connect to today's kids. While I see the obvious merit in including technology in the classroom, the professor, who I might add is a techie herself, was implying that without constant technology in the classroom we will not reach our students. Sigh. I am self-professed computer-challenged most of the time, and besides that point, what the *#% happened to using your imagination!!!! I swear that kids are starting to lose the ability to entertain themselves without the aid of a television, computer, or whatever the crap those little hand held video game things are called. I am falling into depression about this. I am holding on to that little speck of hope I have inside of me that I will be the kind of teacher that uses technology, sure, but that can also bring back using the MIND. My kids will read books and learn to love them, even if they are downloading them onto their Blackberries and IPhones. Sigh again. Any words of wisdom or hope are encouraged...

We made it one year!

Yesterday was our one year anniversary! I can't believe it's been a year already, it's scary how fast the time goes by. We definitely had our ups and downs, but overall it's been a great year. Here are a couple wedding pics, to remember our day one year ago.

My Birthday and Prayers

My birthday was last Sunday and I had an entire weekend of celebrations! I share a birthday with Nick's sister Taresa, and his other sister Natalie and niece Jessie also have birthdays in May so we had a big party for all of us on Friday. On Sunday, my family took me bowling and we visited family graves. It was a great weekend, with the only downfall being the nasty cold I am still fighting that arrived at the end of the semester. Enjoy the cute pics of my family! Also notice the adorable new addition to the family, Halle the bulldog baby. Nick's sister Natalie got her as a birthday present and she and Chavez are new best friends.

Also, my mother-in-law Tami is in the hospital fighting a bad lung infection. She is doing better and we hope she'll be released sometime tomorrow, but to anyone who reads this say a quick prayer for her recovery!

My Trip to the Desert

Well I am back from my trip and it was AMAZING! I was planning on a big post with lots of pictures, but I've found that it's very hard to put my experience into words. I have posted a few pictures, but most of the stories are being kept for me. If anyone has ever visited a place with a culture that is so drastically different from our own, you will understand my difficulty in explaining.
A few things we did on the trip:
-Given the honor of visiting a petroglyph site and attending a Kachina dance ceremony on the Hopi Reservation.
-Lessons on basket weaving and pottery making from a beautiful Hopi woman in her home.
-Home made fry bread!!! I can never eat it at the fair again...
-Spent a day at the Hopi Day School and worked with the kids there- I want to move there the people are so gracious and the kids are incredible.
-Hiked Canyon De Shelly on the Navajo Reservation and saw the White House Ruins that date back to 1100 AD.
-River trip down the San Juan with a Navajo guide who showed us more ruins and explained the geological features that have formed over millions of years.

It was a long 9 days, especially with 8 other girls... but it was such a great experience. If anyone has the chance to visit, I would definitely recommend taking the opportunity.

Celebrations!

This is a post of celebrations. First, yesterday was baby Chavez's birthday! He is two years old. We aren't sure when he was really born, just that it is around this time, so decided to give our Mexican a Cinco de Mayo birthday.

Second, today is my sister-in-law Natalie's birthday. Happy Birthday Nat! I heard that she got to do a lot of everyday mom stuff instead of something exciting, but I hope she had a good day anyway.

Last, congrats to me! I got a 4.0 this semester, and even though it is tacky to toot my own horn, I am really excited that I managed to pull off those A's. Also, I am leaving on Saturday on a school trip to the Navajo/Hopi Reservations for 9 days. A couple of my good friends from school are going as well, it's going to be awesome. Hopefully I will get some good pictures, and remember to post them.