Mini Minnie

 

I snagged these from Laura's Blog... I just couldn't resist posting the pictures of darling little Minnie Collard. 

It looks like Lance is going to toss her like a hot potato!

At Last.

I have always been a firm believer in that everything happens for a reason. Lately I haven't been feeling as if everything happens for a reason.  I have been feeling extremely lost and without a purpose in a lot of ways.  I've been constantly praying for guidance and haven't felt like I've gotten many answers... until now.

A few weeks ago I was hating working nights @ riverton hospital.  I decided to look for a new job and in doing so I was offered a job as an admissions representative at Eagle Gate College.  The pay was good and it seemed like I might possibly like it so I took the position and went to only working one weekend a month at the hospital (I was going to quit all together, but something made me stay).  I started working at Eagle Gate last Tuesday and everyday I was more irritated and unhappy with my position, but I kept trucking along hoping things would get better.  My first week all I did was watch other people talk on the phone... for 20 hours watching someone talk on the phone is less than entertaining.  This week things were getting a little better.  My first two interviews decided to enroll in school and I thought I was making some success until the following day I had 3 no shows.  My second day on the job a fellow coworker asked me how I came to find this position and I explained that I had previously applied to Eagle Gates nursing program, been accepted, and she suggested we look into reapplying.  She made a phone call to the nursing director and he said that there was a chance I could be in the program beginning in two weeks. I followed up with Dennis throughout the week and long story short YESTERDAY he told me that I would be accepted into the program.  I went to my boss trying to work out the two schedules since my work and class schedule happened during the same hours.  I had a feeling they weren't going to be flexible so I called Riverton and my boss there told me that I could have my full time job back if I let her know by Monday.  

TODAY: I went into work and my boss told me I'd have to choose between nursing or working there.  Nursing was my choice and today was my last day there.  I called Riverton back and they gave me my full time job. 

The best of both worlds.  Strangely enough- if I hadn't gotten upset about my schedule and applied for this new job I wouldn't have known they had an opening in their nursing program.  If I hadn't stayed prn at Riverton I wouldn't have a job any longer.  It is crazy how things have the most ROUND ABOUT way of working out... especially when you LEAST expect it.  

I start nursing school in 9 days... I've been waiting for this day to be in a PROGRAM for so long and that day is finally now.  

Finishing up

One of the most exciting things about having a 95% finished basement is this... a CLEAN ROOMY UPSTAIRS!!! The very same day we got the carpet installed I was at work, but when I came home Lance and I grabbed the couches and brought them downstairs and out of my dusty cluttered upstairs.  NOW LOOK AT IT!  I cleaned, dusted, organized and my dining room looks so much nicer than it ever has before. 

  

We now have our basement with molding, a strip of tile in front of our new basement door, walls painted, closet doors installed (which isn't done in the picture).

Closet in the bedroom.  I love the mini doors.

I've been looking for a sunburst mirror for months and finally found this beauty @ Kohls. 

Finished walls and trim.

The latest greatest and unfinished.

We decided to postpone finishing the bathroom until after we finished everything else (ie. carpeting in so we could move the furniture) this week the bathroom has been my project.  I finished mud and taping the majority of it and today was able to paint the walls and move the vanity into place. 

Whats left?  Odds and ends.  Touch ups.  Misc. 

All In a Days Work

In the last 2 days the entire basement has been primed and ready for paint.  Just today alone I painted both ceilings, put two coats of paint in the bedroom (FINISHEDDD!!), painted one coat in the living room.  

Before (as in Yesterday with just primer)

One of Lance's TOP accomplishments was framing out this closet to fit 4 2 foot wide sliding doors.  Robert and Lance spent a good portion of a Saturday afternoon turning the math into a tangible construction.

Today (finished!!) 

Lance's MOST FAVORITE accomplishment of our entire basement was this beauty.  A NEW DOOR!

The old door was "cut to size" and was an inch in both directions too small.  Lance had to rip out the old door and all of its existing framing and then take the framing and expand it to make room for this door.  Now we have a "window" in our living room which gives us tons more natural light (and it looks so cute!) 

WHATS LEFT???

• One last coat in the living room (ceiling and walls).
• Carpet (which is happening next week thanks to George, Robert's brother.
• Bathroom.

Starting Mid next week we will have a REAL FURNISHED BASEMENT.  Our house may finally be able to be and STAY cleaned.  I think that has been our most stressful part of this entire journey- dirt.  Lance and I are both really clean people.  We can't stand dust, dirt, gunk, nothing of the sort.  Clutter even annoys me, but here we have lived with a 1/3 less sq. footage for the last 4 months and with mopping every three days our floors are filthy within 45 minutes.  I am SO excited to finally be dirt freeee. YAY YAY YAY!!!

The little things

Since we moved into our little duplex last May my favorite part about living in Holladay remains the same- the view on the way home.  

Morning, Evening, Afternoon, Twilight regardless I LOVE driving home. 

From the 1-215 heading east/north I get to see the trees/snow on the mountain separating us from park city.  after turning with the highway and heading north you get this marvelous view of all of Salt Lake City.  Last night Lance and I drove home and were able to witness the most beautiful sunset. 

 

You know when there are moments when your only thought is: Everything is going to be okay.   I had one of those moments a few weeks ago when I was leaving work at 7am (after a 12 hour shift).  The sky literally looked like Christ was going to descend.  I have seen some beautiful skies, but nothing compared to the peace and beauty that I felt that morning.  I know regardless of how stressful or unknown the future looks everything is going to be okay because there is a greater plan.  He knows where we are headed and what our true potential is and what a great feeling that is. 

 

Anniversary Sleep Inn

I realized I just did an entire post on our Anniversary and didn't include our celebration for our anniversary. 

After we worked and went about our typical day Lance came home and woke me up from my nap with roses.  We took Ellie out to his mom's house and then made our way to the Jordan River Temple.  I felt like going to the temple is the perfect way to celebrate and remember why we get married in the first place.  I just love the spirit that is there when Lance and I have the opportunity to go together.  Part of me wishes we lived walking distance to a temple, but then again we live within 20 minutes of 5 different temples and some people travel days to go to just one.  After a lovely time at the temple (which had multiple escalators... I've never seen a temple in all the temples I've been to with an escalator in it) we went to my FAVORITE Texas Road House.  We stuffed our faces and then made our way to Anniversary Inn.

I picked out the MOST AWESOME ROOM!!!!  Swiss Family Robinson

 

The bed was up a spiral staircase in a TREE.  The hot tub had a waterfall where the water came from.  Real live fish in the fish tank.  Cheesecake in the fridge.  TV suspended up so we could watch TV in bed.  

Lance and Christine

Sitting in a tree

K-I-S-S-I-N-G

First comes LOVE

Then comes MARRIAGE

Then comes......

365 Days, One Year!

I cannot YET fathom that I have been married for a whole year already.  I remember when I was in junior high I thought it was impressive to date a boy for a month.  The celebrations of one week together were not uncommon.  When I entered high school I thought each month was like a century, but here I am having been married for ONE WHOLE YEAR and it feels like it flew by.  Crazy to think I have been with and known Lance for 21 months and we are still as happy in love as we were after just days of knowing each other.

Our Story <3

Day 1- Lance and I met October 20th.  It was a Tuesday (important because there is NO pressure for a Tuesday afternoon date compared to a Friday or Saturday night date).  Lance picked me up around 4 and we went to Bridal Veil Falls for a walk (which in reality was a 4 mile trek).  I thought he was a little weird and he hated my skinny jeans.  On our walk I brought my camera so if things got a little silent or awkward I could just take pictures to ease the tension.  At our turn around point Lance decided to be Mr. Smooth and hold my hand.  Naturally I let him.  After our walk we went to Chili's and when he went to pay he prefaced with "I have this verizon rebate card so if it gets rejected don't think I'm a loser."  Since it was a Tuesday night and studying would be a priority Lance said we could end the date then or he brought a red box if we wanted to prolong the date.  (since we were feelin each other we pulled for the redbox)  We watched the Proposal (ironic?) and when the credits began to roll Lance made the big move and went in for the kiss, which I accepted and fireworks exploded that night.

How beautiful is the fall?  This is the path we walked on together as we talked and got to know one another. Free Tuesday afternoon date.

Lance would not take a picture with me "on the first date" so here is Lance.. alone.

Day 2- We weren't supposed to see each other until much later in the week, but the very next day (Wednesday) Lance called me around lunch and said he was gonna come over while I was studying and bring me lunch.  (having creeped my facebook he knew I LOVED White Gummy smoothies from Jamba).  Lance entered with Panda Express and a Jamba- BOY OF MY DREAMS.

Day 3- I don't remember what we did (if anything special) on Thursday, but I do remember we were cuddling on the couch late that night (since we had been together since lunch time) and were on the topic of Honeymoons and he asked what I wanted and I said I would LOVE A CRUISE and he said "NO! I want to go on a cruise!" and I responded with "well where would you want to go?" and he slipped and said "I don't know. I'll let YOU pick."  I responded with "you mean you'll let your future wife pick."  "yeah.. that's what I meant."

 Day 4 and 5 we also spent together from Lunch until midnight-ish

My pointed shoes and tights.

Us on day 6.  Our first picture together.

Day 6- Sunday.   Lance came down to Provo to go to church with me. I made dinner at my apartment and we spend the entire night together.  Late that night he just looked at me and said "I know this sounds crazy but I am head over heels completely in LOVE with you."  

Our first I love you.. at 6 days of knowing each other.  Me 19.  Him 24.  How young we were and how crazy that it wasn't just a fling or short lived, but that we are married and get a chance to be together every single day for eternity.  It blows my mind that we have both been so blessed and how things just happen at the right time, especially when you are least expecting it.  To see where we were and how far our relationship has grown amazes me each and every day.  

 I love LOVE him.

"i definitely like a guy who knows how to treat a girl.  Well... I don't know if I know all the ways how to... but I try to make the girl in my life feel like the most important thing to me..."- Lance

Random Cute Funny

One of our first conversations via facebook BEFORE we ever met.

Lance:    SO... You wanna tell me what you're really all about Christine Quirk?... Cause the more I talk to you the more I'm interested in what Tuesday will be like :):)

Lance:  I have had two pretty long relationships in my life... Which I thought were going to be it... But the girls felt otherwise after awhile, and they ended with them moving on and getting married... So I could give you the names and phone numbers of their mom's who watched how I treated them... Or you could just give me some time to show you :):) and find out for yourself. That's what I got for that... Kind of a weird answer, I know.

Needless to say I've found myself a great fella. One who still brings me home roses every month on our MONTHLY anniversary.  Who plays with my hair and scratches my back.  Who kisses me good night and good morning daily.  Life without love is no life at all.