Birthday Girls

Four of my FAVORITE girls just had birthdays...
My sisters Kassidee and Kylie turned 20 & 26.

Ky. Kass. Me.

All the siblings...Jace. Me. Kass. Ky.

Shae would have turned 24 on November 11. Shae and I have always been together on her birthday and it was so hard not being able to go to lunch with her like we always did. Brady and I met her family and her boyfriend TJ at her grave that night and then we all went out to eat at ABC Mandarin.

Shae's Family at her grave (minus her little brother Trevor who goes to school at Dixie)

Bella sending her mom's birthday balloons to heaven

Tara also just turned 24 and she had a little BBQ at her house to celebrate.

Tara. Me. Kaylee.
These girls are all so important to me and I am so happy I was able to share their birthdays with them one way or another.

...So You Think You Can Dance...

Shae loved so you think you can dance. Before she passed away she bought her and her boyfriend TJ tickets to go see the show. Shae's mom was so sweet and offered them to me and Tara. We went on Saturday and we had a lot of fun! We both really loved Phillip...he was SO good! It was a really fun night and I am sure Shae was right there with us. These are some pics of the group and some of my favorite dances!

Halloween

We had a really fun Halloween. We had a party with friends that I work with at the hospital and then Brady and I also went to frightmares the night before Halloween. Neither of us have been to lagoon in years and it was really nice because we walked right on to every ride.

Brady was white trash/homeless for work and Beeltle Juice for the party. I didnt get out my camera until after he took of his wig and face make up...so this is the only beetle juice pick I have :(


Wells Fargo Friends...Blake, Bree, Keri, Jordan,and Beth.

Radiology Girls... Ser, Danielle, me




Riding the Wicked...I am not gonna lie I was a little nervous at first which is kinda strange for me because I LOVE roller coasters. It ended up being pretty fun!

Girls Night

Last Saturday we went out to Chili's and to the Brad Paisley concert for Kaylee's Bachlorette party. Her wedding is finally here and I am so excited for her and Dustin to get married on Saturday and for them to get to start there lives together as husband and wife. Married life is so much fun and I wish them the best in everything they do.

This was my first girls night since Shae passed away and for the first part of the night I did really good. Then once the concert started me and Tara pretty much cried the rest of the night. It is so hard not having her around and there is not a minute that goes by that I don't think of that girl. I miss her so much!! Everyone always says that she is still with me but it's just not the same... I want my friend back. I miss her smile and the crazy things that she would do and say. There was never a dull moment with her. I have so many memories with her and I am so thankful to have known her and that we were as close as we were for so long. Most people don't get to experience that type of friendship and I wouldn't have wanted mine to be with anyone else. I will always have our memories in my heart and I can't wait until I get to see her again. I know she will be right there waiting for me ready to give me a huge hug like she always did. I love her so much and I just don't understand why this was God's plan for her. I know I will see the whole picture one day, but until then there will always be a hole in my heart.

I am also thankful for Tara and her friendship...she has helped me so much through all of this and I am so thankful I still have her. Great friends are hard to come by and Shae and Tara are the two friends that have been with me through everything and are the type of friends you know will always have your back.

Even though it was a little hard, it was a fun night. Sorry Kaylee for putting a damper on your night :) Love ya girl...and congrats!

Brad Paisley.

Tara. Kaylee. Me.

Amanda. Me. Tara.

Karen. My mom. Lisa. Cindy.
Amanda. Dustin's mom. Me. Tara.


Me and my aunt Lisa

A little update...

Brady started nursing school and is busy non-stop with class, labs, clinicals, studying, and testing. I freakin' miss my man. I swear there hasn't been a night since he started that he hasn't done homework for at least 2 hours. It sucks that we are both so busy and don't have a lot of time to just relax and be together. It will all pay off in the end though.

I am officially a second year in the Radiology Program, 1000 clinical hours down, only 500 more to go! I took my Practical Tech boards, passed, and got hired at Ogden Regional. I will still be working for the bank until I can get guaranteed hours at the hospital though. :( I must admit the bank is pretty dang boring compared to the hospital so I will be excited when I get to quit. I apply for the Ultrasound Program in a few months and Ogden Regional already accepted me as their sonography student, which is a huge part of getting in. I won’t know until April if I am accepted or not. I can't wait to start but I am a little nervous because I here it is a lot harder to learn than x-ray.

With losing Shae a few weeks ago it has shed a new light on life for me. I can say that I am about 99% sure we will not be moving out of Utah after school like I have planned for about 9 years now. The only two scenarios in which I do move is if Brady Goes to Grad school for two years out of state and then we move back or if my family moves out of state and we follow. Losing her makes me realize more than ever that I NEED my family and friends close. If I would have been out of state when this happened I think it would have made this even harder on me. I would have been thinking of all the times we would have had if I hadn't moved and I would have missed the time I got to spend with her family after her death. I hope I don't have to lose anyone else so close to me for quite some time, but if that is what God has planned, I want to know that I spent every minute I could with my family and friends.

Last but not least, please keep Shae's family and sweet little girl Bella in your thoughts and prayers. They are going through some major trials right now and they need as much help as they can get.

THANK YOU

Duane & Suzie: First of all thank you for giving me such an amazing friend! Shae was always there for me and we had so many good times together throughout the last 23 years. Thank you for letting me be apart of everything over this last week. Doing Shae's hair and make-up was such a hard thing to do but helped me so much! Those last few hours I got to spend with her were priceless and I will be forever grateful that you let me be apart of it! It helped me get a little bit of closure in such a hard time and I hope you know how much it means to me. Thanks for asking me to give a tribute to her at the funeral. Even though I cried the whole time and no one probably understood a word I said, I think I would have regretted it later if I wouldn't have done it. Shae is my best friend and the least I could do is let everyone know how much I care about her. You have such a great family and I hope you know how much I love you all.

Brady: Thank you for always being here for me and for being my shoulder to cry on. Thanks for all the hugs. Thanks for taking off work and school to be with me and comfort me. You are such an amazing husband and I don't know how I could ever live without you.

Mom: Thank you for helping me so much this last week. I don't know what I would have done without you! Thanks for taking time out of your day each day this last week to be with me and talk me through things and just let me cry. You are the best mom and I am so thankful for all you do!

Family and Friends: Thank you all SO much for all the prayers, cards, flowers, and texts showing your support. It is so nice to know you have so many people that care about you and are there for you when you are going through a hard time. It really means the world to me and I can't thank you all enough.

Shaleen Arave 11/11/1985-08/19/2009

Today my best and oldest friend returned to our heavenly father. Shae has been my best friend for as long as I can remember. Words can't express how much I already miss her!! I honestly can't believe she is gone. She was there for me whenever I needed her and helped me through so many things in my life. I will never be the same without her and will never forget all the fun times that we have shared. I am so thankful to have known her and am so upset about the times we are going to miss because her life was cut short. I couldn't wait to see her wedding and for our kids to grow up friends like we did. It kills me to know that she is not coming back and I that we don't get to grow old together. Shae was someone I knew I would never lose touch with and that we would be friends forever! I love you and miss you so much Shae!!

Four AMAZING Years

Brady is the best thing that ever happened to me! I couldn't ask for anything more. Happy Anniversary Babe!

This month so far...

On the fourth we went to Brady's Grandpa's house for a family BBQ and to celebrate his parents birthdays, which are both on the fourth.

After the BBQ we ended up going down to Hooper to watch the fireworks and they were actually pretty good this year!

My hot hubby sent me flowers at work and there is a girl that I work with that gets flowers I swear once a month, so when flowers come in the door we all just expect them to be hers. When they weren't roses I actually thought...hey those might be for me. I am not a big fan of just roses, I like mixed flowers and gerber daisies are one of my faves, so my man did good. They were so pretty and actually lasted quite a while.

We went fishing up at Lostcreek with my little bro and dad. It was my first time fishing out of a boat. I really liked it compared to fishing from the bank because it is nice to be out on the water and get some sun. I was the only one who caught a fish and it was kind of a little guy so I just through him back.


Brady's little sister Brianna got married on the 9th. It's so crazy that she is married...she is so young (18) and they have only known each other a few months but we wish them the best and all the happiness in the world.
..... BRIANNA AND DILLON RHODES.....


Brady playing with our nephew Porter at the reception.

Porter's mom has got him trained so good for taking pictures, you tell him to say cheese and he stops, looks at the camera, says "cheese", and smiles. It is so cute and he is only about 22 months.


Over this last weekend we went up to bearlake for Brady's Birthday and stayed in Jared's cabin with him, Nicole, Chance, and Tara. We pretty much just hung out, ate pizza, played games, and the boys brought up the xbox so they could play NCAA football once the girls were all tired.


July 20th my man turned 25!! We are gettin old! This is him with his coldstone Bday cake and the card that I made him. We always make each other a card and it's funny because I almost always use magazines to make his and he always puts his fave pic of us from the year on mine with whatever he writes.

Opening presents

On the 20th we just kinda relaxed and did whatever he wanted to do...we went and saw public enemies which I have been trying to avoid since it came out but Brady knew I couldn't say no on is Bday so he suckered me into seeing it. I think I actually ended up liking it a little more then he did. It is a little slow and I wouldn't see it again but it was not bad at all. That night we went to the rodeo and attempted to watch his little sisters barrel race and then went to eat with his parents at the Timbermine.


Hope you had a good birthday babe, you're the best hubby ever!!

Firsts

1. Who was your FIRST prom date? Never went to prom…I was totally against high school and all that it entailed.

2. Do you still talk to your FIRST love? No… but Ky sees him at parties all the time and gives me updates.

3. What was your FIRST alcoholic drink? A shot of Captain Morgan Parrot Bay

4. What was your FIRST job? I was 13 and I worked as a cashier at Firemouth Bette’s Pizzeria in Hooper with my man. I had so much fun working there and Brady and I used to make out in the back room. :)

5. What was your FIRST car? A black 1998 Honda Civic

6. Who was the FIRST person to text you today? My hubby

7. Who is the FIRST person you talked to this morning? Brady

8. Who was your FIRST grade teacher? Mrs. Calvert and she absolutely hated me because I couldn’t hold my pen correctly. I still don’t and get comments almost everyday on how weird I hold a pen. Whatever works, right?!

9. Where did you go on your FIRST ride on an airplane? Cali

10. Who was your FIRST best friend & do you still talk? Shae Arave, always have and always will.

11. Where was your FIRST sleep over? I’m not positive, but I would guess Shae’s…we have been friends since birth.

13. Whose wedding were you in the FIRST time? I was a server at one of my cousin’s weddings but I am not sure which cousin.

14. What was the FIRST thing you did this morning? Brushed my teeth… it’s always number one on the agenda.

15. What was the FIRST concert you ever went to? Kenny Chesney…and I remember thinking Kenzie Chesney had such a nice ring to it. I was like 6…and he is so gross now…I don’t know what I was thinking!

16. FIRST tattoo? None, and lets just be happy I wasn’t 18 during the “punk” stages of life or I would have sleeves right now. I do however still think that if you get tattoos, you go all out and get sleeves…I am not a fan of just randomly placed tattoos.

17. FIRST piercing? My ears

18. FIRST foreign country you went to? We went to the Bahamas on our honeymoon. I loved every minute of it.

19. FIRST movie you remember seeing? I have no clue!

20. When was your FIRST detention? In 9th grade I got detention for watching our friends skateboard in the back of RMJH during a stomp…we ran and hid from Mr. Moore when he saw us all back there and when he found us he gave us detention.

21. Who was your FIRST roommate? My little sis Kassidee was my roommate until about 3rd grade when my parents built a bigger house.

23. If you had one wish. What would it be? That we were done with school!!

24. What is something you would learn if you had the chance? To swim, I have taken many years of lessons and I just can’t do it...I am a sinker.

25. Did you marry the FIRST person to ask for your hand in marriage? Yes

26. What was the FIRST sport that you were involved in? I think soccer…no sports really lasted longer than a season or two with me. I am just not good at them and don’t really care to be.

27. What were the FIRST lessons you ever took? Dance

28. What is the FIRST thing you do when you get home? Give my hubby a kiss.

29. Where's the FIRST place you'd travel if you had unlimited time and funds? Tahiti

Park City

This weekend we went up to Park City with Tara and Chance and stayed with them in the condo they rented. They were up there friday for their first year anniversary and then we went and joined them on Saturday. We went dancing at Harry O's and it was SUPER FUN!!

Day Break

Brady and I ventured down to South Jordan to look at the Day Break community a few weeks ago. Let me just say that if our path some how doesn't lead us to sunny California, I think this is where we will live. We are both obsessed with craftsman and bungalow style houses and have wanted to build a house with all the amenities and room of a new house, but with the charm and style of an old house. Day Break definitely fits that to a T.
My issues with South Jordan is that I feel like if I live an hour away from my family and friends, I might as well live 11 hours from them. It seems like it is already hard to get with friends and family as much as we would like and we live about 15 minutes from them all. Add an hour commute in there and I think it is bound to get even harder.
If my mom lived an hour away from me she couldn't watch my babies while I work...because I know I am to lazy to drive an hour to drop them off in the morning and an hour after a long days work to go get them. If they live an hour away we would probably realistically see them about once a month...when if we lived in Cali we would see them only a few times less per year. Plus, I am saying I will consider Utah as my home in June. Ask me again in January when it is 17 degrees outside and will be for months...I think I might remember why I hate this state.
You would think because I have a few more years before I am faced with the dilemma of buying a house and Brady going to Grad school I wouldn't worry about this...but I do. I think about it all the time. I worry that our kids will become little thugs in Cali, or that they might be the poor kids in school when they aren’t wearing Gucci. So this is where Oregon comes into the plan, a little less crime, a little more affordable, a little warmer than Utah, but not as warm as Cali :( A lot more rain, which is better than snow…but how much better I am not sure. Oregon still has the ocean...even though it doesn't compare to the warm beaches of Cali. And Jared and Nicole want to move there so we would at least have two friends.
So for now this is the plan...apply to West Minster, Cal State, and Oregon Health and Science (maybe a few others...he is still deciding) and see where he gets in. Then we will see if we actually like living out of state. Once he is finally done with school we can decide where we want to settle down and raise our little family once and for all. Good plan or not...we will see.

Best Friends.

We went and hung out at the Marriot and City club on 25th street with my bestest friends and their lover boys last weekend.







This is the best picture EVER! Brady and Chance were so freaking hungry by the end of the night and then the waitress took FOREVER to get them their buffulo wings.When they finally got them they scarfed them down with out saying word until they were gone. Chance kept closing his eyes like it was the best food of his life! So funny.

Pitty Party

About 14 months ago I chopped about 12 inches off my hair which brought it to my jaw line. On top of having it cut way short I also had her razor it like no other...so it is super thin because it is still trying to bulk back up. I have been growing it back out since the day I cut it. My hair is WAY too straight to pull off a short hair cut! I have been in the horrible "in between" stage FOREVER and I can’t stand it anymore. I am so jealous when I see people with long hair and I see all these cute styles and dye jobs that I would love if my hair was long again. It feels like it is never going to happen...and at the rate it is going it will be a good year before it even gets in the vicinity of long. I use Nioxin which helped a lot the first time I grew it out...but any tips on making hair grow would be greatly appreciated!

Little miss Bella

Shae's baby girl Bella turned 2 on Thursday! It is so crazy to see her walking and talking and with her own little personality! Brady, Me, and Tara went over to shae's parent's house for her birthday party/BBQ. It is always so good to see Shae and her family...it is so weird not to live right next to them anymore like the first 18 yrs of our lives! Here are some pics from the night...









Me and Tara were lovin' grandma Donna's stunners and bright green sweat band!! She is such a cute grandma.
Bella loves to ride the four-wheeler with grandpa so Shae got her a cute little pink one of her own. She knew exactly what to do with it as soon as she saw it!

Birthday Vacation

My 23rd birthday was on the 6th and I got spoiled as

usual. My hubby got me some way cute Hudson jeans,

my Brit Spears tickets, and a vacation to Las Vegas and

Cali. (Truth be told...I think the vacation was

a little bit for him too) He surprised me with

a way cute necklace right before we went out dancing

too. I was so excited...I saw it a few weeks ago

and wanted to buy it and he told me it was ugly

and not to get it. I was so sad but thought i

would find another one that we both liked before

the trip. I never found another one that i loved

and just ended up packing one that i already

had. I was getting ready thinking i really

wanted the necklace that i had seen at Lucky

and was kinda depressed about the one i had

brought...it just wasn't as cute as that one. So

Brady had me look in his suitcase and there

along with my birthday card is my beloved

necklace! I was so excited!!

Jared and Nicole Came with us to Vegas and then

Brady and I went on to California. We stayed in

San Diego for 2 nights and Newport Beach for 4.

We went dancing, shopping, to the Mandalay Bay

Aquarium, and watched the Blue Man Group in Vegas.

And then in Cali we did what me and Brady do

best...hang out at the beach EVERDAY! The

weather was so nice and my poor hubby's dry

eyes got a little moisture from the humidity.

It was a great birthday as always! I got lots

of great presents from other friends and fam

and am so thankful for it all!

Dont ya just love kids

The kids in our neighborhood all come over to our

next door neighbors house and play with their kids.

Every day it's a new sport...and everyday i think,

"You better not hit our cars with that baseball,

basketball, bb gun, etc." Well last week our civic

had a dent in the front of it about the size of a

baseball, which magically appeared while sitting in

our drive way. We figured we would give the kids a

break and just deal with it ourselves. Then i was

walking out to my car yesterday and what

do i see...another baseball size break in my

windshield. Are you freaking kidding me!! I went

and told their mom about it and she said she will

try to find out whos kid did it. But if i know kids...and

i think i do...none of them are going to admit it! So

now we getto pay for both of them ourselves. LAME!!This is the pic of my broken windshield

it's BRITNEY bitch

Me and Brady went to the Britney Spears show last
night and it was SO much fun!!! I have loved her
for so long...then the Blackout CD came out and
i swear her music got better the crazier she got. I
was so excited when i heard she was coming to town
and especially with the Pussy Cat Dolls. Me and
Brady both liked the Pussy Cat Dolls portion of the
show a little bit better because they are such
good dancers....but Brit did awesome.
It was such a fun night!!
Waiting for the show to start.

Mom's Birthday

As planned we took my mom to the Tavernacle for her

birthday. I can't believe my mom is 49 and my dad is

50 next month! That used to seem so old, but they are

still so young and funthat they are changing my mind.

She is the best mom EVER...i am so thankful that i

was sent to her and my dad. She has always been

one of my best friends and has loved me and supported

me through every moment of my life. Mom and aunt Lisa

Ky and her BF Andrew. They are so cute together!

...

Hope you had a good birthday mother...I love ya!

He got in!!

So Brady got a letter from Weber State yesterday telling him he was accepted into the Nursing program! I knew he would get in because he is so dang smart and always does so good in all of his classes. I'm so excited for him. It's the best feeling to be done with generals and actually be in the program you have been working for all along. He is going to be the best RN and an even better Nurse Anesthetist! He is so good at everything he does and I am so proud of him. We are one step closer to California, a house, and babies!! :)