Life a Year Later

The last time I posted was almost a year ago! We had just gotten back from a family trip to Florida and I think that I was so overwhelmed with all of the pictures that I just gave up and forgot about the old blog. Trust me, though, the trip was great!

A lot has happened since last year. Here are the highlights:

*We moved in with Scott's parents. Although this wasn't quite a welcome change, it has been a good one. Along with saving money and being closer to school for me and work for Scott, it has been good for Alice to wake up in her own bed and be watched by her Auntie. The family support is great while I am in school and we will forever be indebted to the Hewitsons for putting up with us. We plan on staying until I graduate next May and moving into a house (fingers crossed).

*I have completed one year of dental hygiene school. This has been one of the hardest and most stressful things I have ever experienced! I absolutely love what I am learning and love the field that I am going into, so that helps. Another amazing bonus is that I have the most amazing group of girls a girl could ask for in my class with me! We have become instant friends and it is such a comfort to be going through all of this together. I have one year left at SLCC (2 semesters) and then I will be done. Hopefully I can pass my boards and come out a registered dental hygienist!

*Scott graduated from the University of Utah. Scott completed his Bachelor's Degree in Business Management in December 2012. He has worked so hard and I am so proud of him. Now to pay off his student loans...

*Scott started a new job in his field. Two months after his graduation, Scott landed a job at a company called Provident Funding. He is a credit analyst and has learned a lot about the mortgage industry. In May he went to San Francisco for a two-week training and had a lot of fun. It was much harder on Alice and me, as I had to stay home to take finals. We are very happy with his new salary and that we finally have benefits for the whole family! Now if only insurance was cheaper....

*We got a new car. After nearly 7 years with dear Truman (my 1998 Chevrolet Prism), we said goodbye to him forever. He was a great first car and I am so grateful to my parents for getting him for me. It was a bittersweet experience for me, but I am very pleased with our new car (yet to be named). He is a gray 2013 Hyundai Elantra and we ended up getting a great deal. I remember telling Scott that my dream was to have a car with seat warmers, and I am here to say that that dream, though some might call silly, has come true.

*Alice turned 2. Alice is the cutest, sweetest, silliest little girl and I am constantly amazed that I get to be her mom. She is very tall for her age and is often mistaken for a 3 year-old. She has an excellent vocabulary and is very independent and active. Her recent interests are dinosaurs, Batman and Thomas the Train. Although she has a propensity for mischief, she is constantly making us laugh. I just can't imagine life without Alice Ann. I recently introduced her to the toilet and after much trial and error, we decided that she isn't ready yet to give up her diapers. There's always next time!

Hopefully I will be better about updating the blog, though I can't make any promises! I don't really have an excuse, though, as I am home with Alice for the whole summer. Although it has been nice getting a break, I have decided that I am a happier person when I am able to work towards something (like school). I will probably say the opposite, however, once I start school and the stress starts piling on. So what have I been doing with my time, you ask? Well, I have read 5 books, taken some excellent trips to the cabin, gone to girl's camp with the young women, and taken it easy with Alice. Although my life hasn't turned out the way I thought it would, I wouldn't change it and I feel so blessed!