Nubbins...

It's storming tonight and our dog Nubbins is absolutely petrified of storms...but...I have to admit I sort of like it! Nubbins isn't usually a very warm and cuddly dog...he likes to be in the same room as you...but doesn't like to be on your lap or really touching you at all...unless it's storming...and then he is right there next to you and on top of you if he can be. If you're walking around the house he is right at your heels and when you sit down he is next to you begging to be picked up. Then when you do pick him up he is shaking like crazy! If he wasn't such a sad and pathetic little thing I would with for storms more often.

In other news...things are going pretty good here in Nauvoo so far... We've only been back for a little over 2 weeks...but it feels like a lot longer than that! I'm back at the Adventure Zone again, and at the Fudge Factory as well. Just like old times! I called the flower shop to let her know I was back in town and ready to help her for the summer and fall (like we had agreed on before I left Arizona), but she said she no longer needed my help and that if I wasn't going to be staying in Nauvoo I shouldn't get my footings here. So, I am just working at the other two places.

I realize that most people who read this probably know why I won't be staying in Nauvoo forever...but then some of you may not...so I'll fill you in. It looks as though I will be getting married in October! It's crazy I know...but I'm happy and excited... I'll write a more detailed blog about it all later...I wouldn't want to waste all my good topics in one blog!!!

There's no place like home...

Well...we made it safely from Arizona to Illinois...and it is good to be back home!

Until today I couldn't find an internet connection at my house so I haven't been able to update my blog...but I'll update you on a few things that have happened over the past couple weeks...

*When doing the final walk through at my house my landlord told us that we were 'slobs' and she had never seen a dirtier house than ours was when she would have to come by every once in a while. I was LIVID and if I didn't need some portion of my security deposit back I would of told her what a 'wonderful' landlord she was...

*I realized I have TOO MUCH STUFF and I am way to sentimental...

*I got a dozen long stem roses from Daron sent to me at my office!! I was sad there was no way I could bring them home with me. I did manage to get three of them home safely and am drying them out now...

*We had a great Memorial Day! After the 'walk through' and packing my car in the morning we came home and swam and BBQ'd and ate all day!!! Good times!

*We are almost all moved into our house here in Nauvoo. Well...everyone is moved in except me. I have too much crap and I can't figure out what to do with all of it... If you live around here you are welcome to come by and hang out any time!

*I had my first shift at the Adventure Zone on Saturday. It was almost like I never left... At one point the girl I was working with complimented me on something that I did well and I said "Well, I have made a pizza or two here in my day" and right after that I dropped a freshly cooked pizza on my foot and all over the floor...YUCK...

*I am going to talk to Marty at Hilltop Floral tomorrow and I am excited to get started working with her.

*Daron is coming the Tuesday before the 4th of July and will be here a week!! I am very excited to see him again!

I will try to be a better blogger and post things more regularly...

out of my element...

So last night I went on a date to this super fancy restaurant called Ruth Chris. Here is how the night went...

First...he had the car valet parked...

Then we got to the restaurant where we gave them our name so they could look up our reservation cause you pretty much have to have a reservation I guess...(even though on the phone they told him they were busy and they would have to see if they had an open spot...the restaurant was more than halfway empty the whole time we were there)

Then the hostess sat us and asked if we'd like a black napkin so we didn't get white lint on any of our black clothes...(I know right...weird)

Then our waitress came and she asked us if we wanted anything to drink and I said water and I was promptly offered...get this...3 types of water. Some fancy name I couldn't understand...another fancy name that was a sparkling water...and then the house water. I got the house water and it was almost too watery for me...(kidding...it was fine).

Then I got to looking at the menu and I had to calculate how many hours of work it would take me to just order and appetizer or salad so I almost refused to pick anything because it was out of control.

Then he ordered us shrimp cocktail for an appetizer (which was SO DELICIOUS...it was 4 of the biggest shrimp I've ever seen and it cost more than most entrees I've ever ordered in my life)...then we both got ...oh crap...I can't remember what sort of steak it was...but let me tell you it was a PARTY IN MY MOUTH...when it came out the waitress says to hold up your napkins so the puddle of spattering butter on the plate doesn't get on your clothes.

So...it was a super good dinner...but I was a little out of my comfort zone to say the least. But I guess I better love it while it last since in a few weeks the fanciest thing I'll have is The Hawkeye if I'm feeling lucky...

17 days till we leave!!!!

is there anyone who doesn't know this already...

I was re-reading through some old blogs from last year and I used to be a really cool blogger. I suck super bad at it lately...

Here is a blog that has been a long time coming. But...I doubt it is anything new to anyone...

About a month or two ago I was on the phone with my sister and she informed me that Marty Hopp was going to retire at the end of the year. Marty owns Hilltop Floral, where I did my internship during school. She then suggested that I move home and open a flower shop...I would have a corner on the market and be able to do something I've always like doing...

To make a really long story short....I'M DOING IT! I am moving home in 4 weeks. I will be working with Marty until the end of the year...and then hopefully sometime shortly after that I will open my own shop...with the help of Marty and family and anyone who would like to be an investor in my little idea!

My friend Stacie is going to move with me! She will be there for at least the summer...and depending on how the job search goes (she is waiting to hear back about a teaching position here in Chandler) she may stay longer!

Here is the cool thing about this plan. Quite a few weeks back when me and Stacie were trying to make a final decision about whether to stay in AZ or go to Illinois...we both came up with our main reasons why we shouldn't go.

Me:

1- My one and only reason for thinking I shouldn't go was my job. I really like my job! I like the people, I like what I do, I have insurance...it just didn't make sense for me to quit.

Stacie:

1-She didn't have a job here and was worried she wouldn't be able to come up with enough money to move and have some to live off of for a while in Illinois.

2-She was really worried about actually finding a job in Nauvoo once we got there.

Since then, Stacie has substitute taught almost every day for about 3 weeks (previously she was only doing once, maybe twice a week). And...she has 3 jobs lined up for when we get home! (can you live in Nauvoo and only have 1 job? I don't think so)

And...come to find out...this big contract my boss had with the City of Phoenix...the one that got put on hold for 6 weeks this winter resulting in me 'losing my job' for 6 weeks...Dave found out early last week that the City of Phoenix is backing out of the contract they had with us...and that project is going to be over at the end of July...so...odds are...I would of lost my job then anyway...or at least been cut back to part time...

I just think it is AMAZING that our 3 really only hesitations with moving to Nauvoo have now become obsolete...in just a matter of weeks!!

So that is the plan! I am SUPER excited and SUPER SUPER nervous about this new adventure...but I feel really good about it and hopefully it will all work out well...

A week of firsts...

Well it has been a long and exciting week...

I finally had my surgery to get my gallbladder out...and it went really well...I guess...since I slept through it all. I have 5 little incisions that hurt A LOT and are bruised and itchy right now...but that is a lot more tolerable than a gallstone attack... The only 'problem' was that the nurse couldn't get my IV to go into my hand...so she had to get the anesthesiologists assistant to come down and do it...and he did and it was fine! (and so was he!)

I was sort of excited for my surgery...I was my first time as a real live patient in a hospital and I was pretty pumped about it. Right before they wheel you away to go to the operating room they give you a dose of 'happy juice' that the nurse said would take the nerves off and just relax me a bit. I told her that I was feeling pretty relaxed and not nervous at all...then she dumped the stuff in my IV and my mom said it was only a matter of seconds before I was laughing really hard. I don't remember anything after that until I woke up in the recovery room.

Here is my IV...and my only hospital bracelet I've had since I was born!

So since Tuesday we haven't really done much...just been lazy. Of course I couldn't do much if I wanted to because anytime I would twitch for the first couple of days either my mom or Stacie would be right next to me with 'what do you need'...'what can I get you'...'what is wrong'...but I tell you what it's been very much appreciated. I FOR SURE would of never made it through my week without them!! I got flowers from a few people which were so nice...my office, Daron and Joe and Jennifer Smith!!

So today we decided to get pedicures...another first for me this week...and as many of you know my huge phobia of feet...this was quite the accomplishment for me. And even just having this nasty picture of our feet on my blog is a big deal! But...I had to show off the cute little flowers!!