A smattering

of new things:

• Dan is a Webelos leader and Elder's Quorum teacher. Pretty soon we will be having a gaggle of 10 year olds at our house on Wednesday nights. Wuhoo!
• I am the Miamaid's advisor and can't remember lots about how YW works, but am quickly relearning it. I had a car full of 14 year old girls speaking in British and Scottish accents the other night, so it turns out I don't love everything about the new calling.
  
• We are actually meeting couples in the ward to hang out with, and playing with their kids during church.
  
• Our back yard is getting a makeover from Solid Rock Inc. (Damian) and looking quite nice, although a bit muddy right now.

and Christmas things:

Aly in her Christmas jammies

painting with LIGHT!

our wall sweater

and old things:

cute kids at Jord's reception




eastern New Mexico




hiking at sunset in Chaco

Animaniacs - Nations Of The World

My friend Meliss and I were reminiscing about Pinky and the Brain, and Animaniacs the other day. She sent me this video. What a great way to learn geography! And here's another if you want to learn the states and capitals:

Adventures in Mexico (New Mex) part I

These are from a little trip we took, back in June when we still lived in New Mexico. We went to the BIO-park to see some beautiful plants,
some crazy insects, like stick bugs and hissing cockroaches




and gargantuan tarantulas.

While we were there we got lost in a maze.


A maze which took us to this crazy place, where everything was VERY LARGE


and we were very small



So, to make the best of a strange situation, we started gathering food for a picnic. This is when I asked Dan to put down the camera and help me with lunch. He refused, because he doesn't even like vegetables.


So, I kept working on the carrots alone. When suddenly we were attacked by ants! Thankfully Dan is quick as a cat, and brave as a lion. My fearless husband tried to save the picnic . . . and us. Without any weapons, he was forced to engage in hand-to-leg combat. He was greatly outnumbered, even when fighting one ant. You know, the 6 legs. He even tried some wrestling moves he remembered from high school and wrestling with Dave. When that didn't work he tried taming and herding them.


He subdued one or two, but they didn't herd well. It would take months to defeat the ants this way, one at a time. So he began scouring our surroundings, wishing for a giant magnifying glass and sunlight, when alas he stumbled upon this.



Luckily he is swift and amazingly strong. He was able to reach the faucet and turn it to high pressure just in time. He washed away all the black marauders and saved the day!



Suffice it to say, this was one more reason we were excited to get out of New Mexico.

f-o-r-e-v-e-r

That's how long its been since we updated this blog, just ask Squints.

google image


Yep, it is way past time for a new blog post, but we have been a little busy. We bought a house, moved to Utah and started a new job . . . just not in that order. We are still getting our things situated and working on home improvements. Dan is creating a paint studio work area, and Nicole is studying for her Board certification exam--not much fun.

Plus, we need to change the name of the blog since we are no longer New Mexicans. We haven't come up with anything amazing yet. Any ideas? Maybe we should have a contest, and the person who comes up with the best name wins a prize.

Someday soon we will have a new name and a fun post. So get ready-- but don't hold yer breath.

The End

It's finally here. The end of my residency in pediatrics. It is hard to believe. Some days I thought it would never end and now I can't believe its over. And what a bittersweet ending it is. I have learned so much about pediatrics, parenting, relationships, health, illness and death. I have shared joyous and difficult moments with many patients. I have made lifelong friends. My fellow residents and I have grown close--we've shared happiness and tragedy, both in the hospital and out. I've learned some lessons about myself as well. Dan and I have traveled a rough road, but we survived. Our marriage has been strengthened as a result.






The past three years were the most difficult and the most rewarding. Thanks to my family who loved and supported me the entire way. I couldn't have done it without all of you!





Thank you!

The thing is

It's Dan's turn to blog. He really wants a new post on here, but he won't do it. We had a great time last weekend at the arena, took pictures and everything. He writes such funny stuff and everyone loves to read it. It is his turn to blog and he is refusing. I know this is a shock, but he can be a little stubborn sometimes.

The thing is, he needs a little encouragement. We all do sometimes. I was thinking, each of you should leave a comment, send a text or email, call him and let him know how much you would like to read about the monster trucks on our blog. That would help him realize just how many people miss reading his hilarious posts. So, go ahead and let him know. I'm sure he will greatly appreciate it!

A little secret

I have something to confess, so brace yourselves . . . I am a closet christian rock fan.

Yes, its true. And my all-time favorite is My Savior My God. I first heard it when I was in Illinois for a month studying. I guess that's when I was really introduced to christian rock. There were about 30 of those channels on the radio and nothing else, well, some bad rap, but that's not music. So, that's what I listened to while driving around the little town of Champaign, Illinois. It was Christian Rock the whole way. On the trip back, when Dan flew out to visit me, we downloaded the song, so we could rock out all the way home. I thought it was fantastic, and Dan didn't seem to mind terribly. Then just the other day, I found out that the guy singing could give the Jonas brothers a run for their money in the heartthrob category.

But, lets be honest--that's not why I like the song. I like it because it is upbeat, fun to listen to and has a pretty great message.


It helps me understand why some christian groups incorporate these kind of tunes in their worship service. I can relate with those "holy rollers."




As it turns out, there are a few good stations here in New Mexico as well. Sometimes it is just what I need to hear. And it is always better than mexican circus music.