My grandma rocks

She can do anything. Seriously. She is one of the MOST self-reliant people that I know. She and my grandpa loved each other more than any people I have ever known. I loved how they talked about each other even after being married over 50 years. They won the "how long have you been married competition" at one of our cousin's weddings 8 years ago and when asked what made it work for so long, my grandpa quickly replied, "I don't know, you'll have to ask her, I guess."

Grandma has been rocking the quilt business lately, and she makes awesome, awesome quilts! We all (even starting before mom, I think) have baby quilts that Grandma has made for us...I'm sure she has made hundreds. She also has tons of quilts that she has made over the years (Mom told her that every quilt Grandma makes with a piece of Mom's little girl dresses, Mom automatically gets...oddly enough, Grandma "ran out" of pieces of Mom's clothes pretty soon after that). Grandma made quilts for my little cousins 2 or 3 Christmases ago (after opening his presents that year which included pajamas, my little cousin who I think was 8 at the time, went to another room mumbling that he had gotten nothing but junk...I still laugh about that!) and made quilts for my brother, cousin and I for Christmas this year. BUT, she couldn't hold out until Christmas and gave them to us at the beginning of the month. Grandma made my cousin a really pretty green one that matches her and her husband's bedroom. Grandma designed one for my brother and his wife-- an AWESOME Ohio State quilt b/c they will both be graduating from The Fisher School of Business at OSU in June and they bleed scarlet and grey. Grandma let me pick mine, and I picked the quilt above b/c I thought it looked like a "grandma-style" quilt...I even got to pick the stitching and it's a scallop design. The quilt is king-size, something ilke 96" x 96". Anyway, I'll try to get pictures of the other quilts b/c they are awesome! Girlfriend was slightly put out that she didn't get a quilt that day (although I tried to convince her that mine was for us to share and that she had 2 quilts from Grandma already), so we took a picture of girlfriend with the Strawberry Shortcake quilt that Grandma had "finished" for me, so that made her feel better. I'll put up the other pictures just as soon as I have them.

Fall in Ohio

I was going to say that I took these pictures today, but alas I took them this past Friday. I've always felt like everyone keeps dragging me back to Ohio, but it is home. It was beautiful on Friday and I absolutely love fall in Ohio. Girlfriend and I celebrated with a Pumpkin Pie Milkshake from McDonalds...it was good. This is the view from the back deck (duh, obviously it isn't the front yard, but for those who haven't been here I felt the need to clarify). It was an awesome weather day.

She works hard for the money

** Note the tongue sticking out b/c she is working so hard.**

Boards

Where to begin? Well, after much ado about nothing, I got my "Authorization To Test" from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing or something like that. Anyway, I got it on September 12, and really didn't want it once it finally came! I called and originally scheduled my test for September 25. I told Mom that and she suggested I take it sooner---I'm not sure if it was for her sanity or mine! So, I called back and changed it to September 21 at 0800. 9 days to go...I warned my family that I would be a bit mental for the next 9 days and to hang on for the ride. I had been studying off-and-on since about the beginning of August, and of course, doubted my ability. I began to hit it hard on Labor Day because I knew test day was coming (even though I hadn't scheduled it yet). I studied all that week and the next week, mostly in the evenings after girlfriend went to bed. After I got my test scheduled, I hit it really hard the rest of that week and weekend. Last week, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I had help in having people entertain girlfriend during the day. I studied 10 hours on Monday, 8 hours on Tuesday and 9 hours on Wednesday. I was at the end of my rope!!! I decided that I needed a "Mental Health" day on Thursday and girlfriend and I went to story time at the library and I went to my cake deco class. Grandma agreed to keep girlfriend on Friday while I tested, so that worry was off my mind and mom "graciously" took a day off work to go with me. My freakout friend called me Thursday night to wish me luck and I guess I was so nervous that I made her even more nervous about her test. Anyway, I attempted to go to sleep about 10:30 that night, and laid there wide-awake for hours I am sure. I woke back up at 0330 and could not sleep, so I got up and watched some reruns of "Full House" and other Nick-At-Nite shows until I started to get ready at 0500. I had been somewhat calm on Thursday (minus Thursday night) and then my anxiousness came on again full-force on Friday morning. Mom and I left at 0600 (even though it only took 45 minutes to get to the test center) and we were sitting in the parking lot at 0655 after a brief stop. My wonderful freakout friend called me to wish me luck again and my dad called, too. I really thought I would have hyperemesis (hee hee) right there in the parking lot. Anyway, I decided to go in at 0705. I went in at 0705 and mom hugged me and wished me well. I went in and the center asked me to wait 5 more minutes. I tried to sit in the lobby, but ended up pacing. Then, they had me come in, checked over my paperwork, had me read all of the rules about the test (you know, like I can't tell what was on the test or anything like that) took my fingerprints, took my picture and gave me a locker to put my things in. Then, the lady at the front desk had me go to the computer room where another woman took my fingerprints again (see, dishonest people always mess it up for the rest of us) and gave me the last set of instructions. I was glad that at 0720 I was taking the test so as to get it over with. The lady gave me computer #1 and told me that she was sure since I was in so early, I would be done quickly. Huh? How does she know that? Whatever. I sit down, go through the tutorial business and then it starts. Oh my word, that was a freaking hard test. With every click, I became more scared! I didn't even realize how many people were in the testing center b/c I was so focused on my test. It was difficult. But I managed. The minimum number of questions you can get is 75, maximum is 265. If at 75 questions, the computer is like 95% certain that you passed, it shuts off. Or, if at 75 questions the computer isn't sure if you know the material, it keeps going to let you have more opportunities to pass the test. OR, if it shuts off at 75 questions, you have failed miserably. Well, guess what? It shut off at 75 questions; I thought I would faint right there when it shut off! In my mind, I was screaming, "Mother" like Kevin James and I just knew I had failed b/c it was so hard. Then, the computer asked me to take a handy-dandy survey. It took me 85 minutes to take the test. When I was getting my fingerprints AGAIN as I checked out, the lady said, "Good luck." Yeah, whatever. I called mom and whispered into the phone, "I am done." She told me that she was close and would be there in like a minute. I called another friend from nursing school and told her that I was done and that I was sure that I had failed. Anyway, mom and I went to Panera for breakfast and Mom was repeatedly reassuring me that it had to be good b/c the computer shut off at 75 questions. I needed some retail therapy, so we shopped for a little while. We headed home and girlfriend and I took Grandma home and spent the night...I needed some sleep in her spare bedroom feathertick bed b/c I hadn't slept much that week. Grandma was continually reassuring me. Anyway, I spent Saturday certain that I had failed; I went to the temple Saturday night and was just beside myself. My freakout friend called me again Saturday night and told me that she figured it would be okay. I was hardly reassured. Anyway, after church on Sunday (of course I had been checking the website a million times each day knowing that the Ohio Board of Nursing is closed on Saturday and Sunday, but hey you never know!) and finally checked the testing website. It said that for $7.95 I could see my "unofficial" results. Um, lemme think??? Yep, I got my debit card so fast and there it was "pass." I called Mom, then Grandma and then my freakout friend...still doubting it until I saw it on the website today. I had put everyone under strict orders that they were NOT to tell anyone I was taking boards until after the fact...yeah, right...everyone in Ohio knew. Today, I checked all day and then FINALLY at 4:37, it was up and life was sweet! I can't believe it's all over and done now. For anyone interested, here's the link. Now, I think I can relax and get on with mine and girlfriend's lives! Thanks everyone.

Primary Program

Today was the primary program at church and it was girlfriend's first one ever. She was so sweet. At our new ward, the kids sit up front right from the beginning of the meeting, and I didn't realize that she and I were late, well, right on time according to my clock! ;) Anyway, I walked her up front and she sat with some of the other kids and her teacher. She was awesome! Girlfriend sat reverently and would stand up for all of the songs even if she didn't know them. When it was the Sunbeams' turn, she held her picture up for everyone to see. Girlfriend did great, and it's difficult to believe that I have a child old enough for this and that girlfriend will be 4 years old next month. Time flies when you're having fun! Of course, I started to get a little teary watching her, but I maintained composure and enjoyed the program. It felt weird to be the parent...I was the only person in her fan club at church today, but that didn't bother either of us. My friend (whom I was roommates with in college for a few months) told me later, "Of course, Miss Girlfriend did great today." What else are people going to say?!? I mean, of course this child is great--she gets it from me! Ha! I just know that I'll be blogging about her high school graduation before I know it...I'm sure I'll be a mess! Anyway, just thought I'd share.

I may be biased, but...

I think this kid is so stinkin' cute! She will hardly ever let me fix her hair, thus the short hair. But we're in agreement that she's growing it out to wear ponytails. I couldn't resist and tried this morning! :)

Ouch

Yep, that's the word for the day. This morning, I got a Facial Peel from my favorite place ever and HOLY HANNAH it hurt! It's been about 15 years since I got one at the dermatologist's office, and my skin NEEDED it. I'd been sporadically getting facials and decided that 1) my skin needs the "extra" treatment that facials can provide and 2) gosh darn it, I am worth it! Ha! Anyway, I asked my esthetician-girl about 3 weeks ago about peels, and of course she was all for it! So, I got a baby-sitter for girlfriend and went this morning. I actually had to ask her to take a break for a second so that I could scratch my eye (translation: wipe the tears) and then I actually prayed that the pain would ease up. She did all of the cushy stuff and put hot acid on my face (okay, maybe not acid) and then did "extractions." That's when the tears and prayers came. Anyway, I had the huge red welts on my face and it was funny b/c the baby-sitter just looked at me like, "I don't want to know where you've been." Good grief it hurt. She wanted me to come back in 2 weeks for more torture, but I opted to wait for 4 weeks until I'm getting my hair cut and kill 2 birds with 1 stone. I may take some Tylenol before going this time!

Cake decorating 101

Oh wow! Tonight, Rochelle and I attended Wilton Cake Decorating Course 1, or something like that. I have wanted to take these classes for about 6 or 7 years now, I now know why I wanted to--this is awesome! The tips that we got just on the first night blew me away...okay, so maybe I'm being dramatic, but it was awesome. I knew the time was coming for me to take cake decorating b/c I made the lovely cake pictured here for Easter/General Conference weekend this past April and when I was taking the picture Mom said, "Are you planning to send that to the Food Network and see if they want your skills?" And then, "Why didn't you make the glaze to put on the chocolate cake first?" Um, maybe because I've never heard of that! Yes, this is why she is my mother and I love her. So, the instructor tonight showed us this totally rad tip and bag that as Rochelle calls it, "cheats." I didn't get it b/c I bought so many other things, and I would like to master the art of doing it by hand first. After I gave my little schpiel about it, Rochelle promptly said, "Yeah, I'm a cheater, and I'm getting it." Who knows? I'm going to attempt my first try this weekend with a red velvet cake...I'll be sure to let you know what the natives say b/c believe me, they will have something to say! :)

Matching toes

Thanks to an "old" friend, girlfriend and I have discovered Nick Jr. online and girlfriend loves it. She is getting more proficient with the keyboard and mouse which is so incredibly cool to witness.

Anyway...yesterday girlfriend played a tic-tac-toe game and I tried to explain that it was kind of like the matching game (Memory) that Jeff and Rochelle have this kid hooked on (we now have 3 versions of Memory, but that's beside the point). Girlfriend played it through once and about halfway through the second game, she announced "I AM DONE PLAYING MATCHING TOES!"

Dude...

I am so stressed out about this NCLEX-RN test that it is absolutely unreal! I am losing sleep, confidence and probably friends, too. On Tuesday night, I talked to my fantastically wonderful friend whom I met in nursing school; she and I are school soulmates. If that makes sense--we are almost exactly alike in how badly we would panic and think we were going to fail and then 99% of the time we were ABOVE the class average. On the standardized testing we took at the end of 6th quarter, I scored at a level that explained that I had a 99 percent chance of passing boards (and without exposing her scores, let's just say that she has just as good of a chance as myself). So, what am I freaking out about?!? Here's a picture of us (my freaking out school soulmate is in the middle and another classmate on the right) at the end of 5th quarter when life was good and boards were still 3-4 months away and Sephora made us look SMOKIN' and Mimi's Cafe served us a fantastic lunch that we were still talking about at the end of 6th quarter!!! We talked again last night, and sad to say, but the freakout session was just as bad last night as it was on Tuesday...she told me that I wasn't allowed talking about NCLEX anymore! Ha, yeah right.