Pictures

We got pictures taken and they are basically my favorite. This was soon after I got my new haircut, we had found out we were pregnant about a month before, so it was good timing. ;)

Here are a few of my favorites.

We also took a few, using our Letterfolk board that we used to announce our pregnancy.

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Graduation

He did it! Nathan graduated from the nursing program! We are both so relieved and proud of his hard work! We had family come to celebrate with us. Nathan's dad, stepmom and siblings flew up from California. His grandparents flew up from Utah. And my sister came from Seattle. We also had all our family that already lived in town come too! Friday night was the general graduation from Columbia Basin College. Then Saturday afternoon was the separate nursing pinning ceremony. 

It was so exciting to see Nathan get pinned along with the friends that he had made along the way. After the ceremony, we headed back to my parents house, where we had set up the backyard for a taco bar! 

3 out of the 7 boys in his class. 

They all decorated their caps. This was Nathan's.

His scrubs, and his grad gown. (and honor tassels)

The backyard

Some of the goods. 

Drinks

Trash 

Forks

Cookies!!

A few weeks after he graduated. Nathan and I travelled up to Spokane for him to take the NCLEX. We went a day early and spent the day exploring downtown. Then we had a pre-celebration dinner at The Melting Pot. The hotel we stayed in was literally in the same parking lot as the testing center. So he woke up and went and took his test. (He found out 2 days later he passed!!) After the test we went and did floating. Which is super awesome, and really relaxing. (learn more about it here)

Erin got his a stethoscope name tag for graduation. He now can officially use it!

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Happy Birthday

 Nathan turned 26 in May! I made the best cupcakes in the world. Chocolate cupcakes with a reeses inside, topped with whipped peanut butter frosting. Delish! Also, this was the first time Ruby did something naughty. I had left the cupcakes on the table, which was near the couch, to cool when I went to the store to grab a few last minute things. When I got back...there was a cupcake missing and several bits out of other cupcakes. She just couldn't resist!

I crack myself up. At least I appreciated the decorations. 

Bananas, peanut butter, fruit and almond...cake? 

Ruby also turned 3 this year! Can't believe it! We feel so blessed to have found her, and "rescued" her at 6 months old. It may sound silly, but she really is my best little friend and I'm not sure what I would do without her.

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I LOVE POPCORN

I can't remember when we did this, but it was so much fun and I just found the pictures on the laptop.
At our local Ranch & Home, they sell these different kinds of popcorn, and they even sell sample bags of each kind. So we decided for an FHE activity, we'd pop the popcorn and do a blind taste test to see which kind we liked the best.

Red was determined the favorite. 

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2015 was hard.

 It's been almost a year since the last time I posted. A lot has happened. I wanted to start blogging again, but felt like I couldn't until I got this out.

2015 was a hard year for me. I have a deeper understanding of a lot of things, myself, and the atonement of Jesus Christ.

March of 2015, I was 10 weeks pregnant. We were so excited, we couldn't wait to meet our baby. But I miscarried while we were away on a perfect vacation. I wanted to deny it, ignore what really happened. So for awhile, I was okay. I didn't think about it. I just tried to go on with life without really accepting it. I kept thinking, if we just would get pregnant again, I won't have to deal with these feelings. We didn't get pregnant right away. Month after month it became real. I cried. I grieved. I didn't get out of bed. I ignored work. I ignored friends. And I hurt. I hurt so deeply, and wanted so badly for my body to do what I wanted it to do. The months continued on, and I slowly stopped crying every time a new pregnancy was announced online, invitation to a baby shower or when I saw a pregnant woman at the store. I prayed for the pain to go away. I prayed that we could get pregnant again.

It happened! In September 2015 I got pregnant! But before I went to my first prenatal appointment, I miscarried...again. It was hard...again. Everything that I didn't process the first time, came along for the ride this time. I was sad. I was mad. And I was done. I wanted to make changes in my life, yet I didn't want to do anything. I wanted to spend time with friends, yet I didn't want to leave the house. I felt anxious about everything and nothing at the same time. I had panic attacks.

2016 came and I was SO ready to put 2015 behind me. I tried to have a new perspective, and I tried to have a positive attitude. But I was also feeling so differently than I had felt before. Nathan and I talked a lot about what I was feeling, how we could help me. We tried to be happy with how our life was right now. We prayed more. I received more priesthood blessings.  I tried to be patient. Around March, I started to feel a little better. I was wanting to go out more. I was feeling happy again. I realized that something inside of me hadn't been right. I didn't realize that I had been struggling with situational depression, or adjustment disorder. (This short article explains it better than I can if you're interested.) I felt so much relief admitting that I hadn't been okay. Then, during a blessing on Easter Sunday, I felt this burden literally lift from me. I was me again. I felt so happy. I felt hope for the future.

I know that a lot of people have struggled with the same things that I went through. It's not talked about...I don't know why. Miscarriages happen far more often than I knew. Without the support of my husband and my faith, I'm not sure how I would have handled everything, I'm sure it would have been even worse. I am so grateful for God's plan for me, everything works out eventually. Lessons are learned, empathy is gained, and you are made stronger.

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ROADTRIP

Nathan went mountain biking with Marshall & Kaleb.

We spent the last two weeks driving around the west side of the US. We started by heading to American Fork. We stayed with Marshall & Ashley Merrill, in their new house! It was great, and we got to see so many friends. We had a little get together Monday, and on Wednesday we got to go to Elliott's THIRD birthday. Can't believe she's 3! We saw even more friends. We needed to spend another few days in order to see everyone, and see them for enough time. I definitely did not take enough pictures from this part of our trip..like none. I'm not sure what I was thinking.

Thursday morning, after visiting Nikelle & Hunter on the way out, we were off to California. The drive went quick, and we arrived at Nathan's dad's house in Oceanside around 7:30. We jumped in the jacuzzi and just talked with Michelle, Jordan and Maddie. It was so good to see them. The next day we were off to the San Diego Zoo.

Maddie, me, Nathan and Jordan coming into the zoo. 

They convinced me to feed the giraffe. I'm glad I did, even though it was a little scary. 

Nathan & Jordan with a seal.

Koala's are my new favorite animal. ADORABLE!

That night we went out to dinner where Maddie works. It was delicious! Saturday we went to Oceanside Harbor to hang out at the beach. We boogie boarded, Nathan surfed, and we played smash ball. So fun! And the water was super warm.

Glaring at us after we made her swim in the pool. 

Saturday night, we headed to Vista to stay with Nathan's grandparents a few days. Sunday we went to church with them, then had family over for dinner. Monday we went to the dog beach in Del Mar.

Nathan's plate at Acapulco. We LOVE this place. (my hand is there for reference.) 

Salti protecting the hallway from Ruby.

It was great to see you! 

We spent the next three days driving and camping along the coast. Our first stop was in Big Sur, at Limekiln State Park. I stayed here when the Bird girls and I had our road trip in college. It was fun to be back, seriously one of my favorite spots. :)

There's a deer above our campsite!

The next night we stayed at Standish Hickey State Park. This one was crazy. We were basically by ourselves after we left the freeway, drove down a mountain, crossed a stream and back up the other side. We saw two other people camping. It was almost eerie. But it was beautiful!

On our way to our last stop, we visited the Chandelier Tree in Leggett. I remember on one of our family trips, we stopped here. Our van was towing a tent trailer and wouldn't fit through the tree.

Surprise, we got a new car! (It looks like a toy car here, it's not.) 

Ruby met Sasquatch

Then on our last night we stayed at Umpqua Lighthouse State Park in Oregon, and enjoyed the sunset just in front of the lighthouse. The next day, we slowly made our way home, stopping along the coast, and enjoying some chowder in Depoe Bay. We also got to stop in Portland to see Darcey and Jason! It was so great to see them, even for a little bit.

We had an awesome time, and enjoyed our last two weeks of freedom before Nathan started back up in school.

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