So, a lot has changed since my brother came home for a visit this last May.
In June with some forceful persuasion Sam put in his applications for Medical School..........
Neither of us were really expecting much to come out of the applications other then making a step for the right direction. We had both settled comfortably into our lifestyle. We were happy and content... but stuck. We were not making much progress or living up to our potential. We were just having fun, living day to day...not thinking much about our future. The years seamed to fly by, and all the sudden we had been married four years and really not much to show for it other than 'good times'. Our wake up call came when I realized I was starting to get a longing feeling for a baby. That got me thinking... oh, crap... we're not ready to have kids!
That was the moment this whole upturn started.
Sam put in some hail mary applications days before the deadlines, we were both a little surprised when he got interviews at multiple schools. He was well qualified, and had excellent test scores and MCAT, it was just so close to the wire we figured not many schools would take him seriously. Boy, were we wrong. Due to the time constraint, Sam decided he could fit in two interviews. Luckily they were both at schools that were my first two choices to begin with. Midwestern in Arizona, and Western in Southern California.
Sam had scheduled the first interview at Midwestern, he was going to make the 10 hour drive, sleep as much as possible attend the 7a.m. full day interview, and drive back home. Fate had other plans. He was two hours away from his destination when the car decided to stop working.......he was broken down in the middle of an indian reservation. When he called me I almost thought he was joking. Our car was fine, it wasn't having any issues. After some debating on two trucks and the expense I called David, my superhero, and he so generously offered to drive down and tow him back home...mind you he was 8 hours away, it was 7 p.m. by the time we left the house with the trailer, and he was still going to work the next morning. Yes, I have an amazing brother.
The drive down was wonderful. Aside from the sick feeling in my stomach knowing my other half was broken down in the middle of no-where, starving, with no water and no help...even from the 3 police cars who drove by not even thinking to stop and ask if he needed any assistance...... Anyways, the drive down was great. Dave and I had some great conversation and I it was such a great opportunity to get to know my amazing little brother on such a deeper level. I knew he was an amazing person, but I didn't know just how amazing.
We didn't reach Sam until 3a.m. my poor baby had grabbed the beach towel I had in the trunk and the picnic blanket and had wrapped himself up and went and tried to sleep on the side of the road behind a small ridge. He didn't think to bring a book or any sort of time wasting entertainment since he was going to be either driving or interviewing. He didn't want to play on his phone and risk running the battery out and not being able to contact anyone, we were lucky he had broken down in an area with reception in the first place! I had packed a cooler full of food and drinks for him since I knew he had not eaten anything all day long.
David, being the little car genius he is, got the car working again in about five minutes..... very frustrating. Somehow the alternator had come unplugged? It was still the strangest car issue! I was grateful it was such an easy fix though. So we jumped the Mazda and Sam drove the van back home so David could get some sort of sleep before he went to work at 8 that morning and I followed behind. We didn't arrive back home until 10a.m. the next morning. I was surprised I had made it a full 24 hours with no sleep. That was a first for me. Poor David still headed in for work, I had called in and went home to sleep.
That was the first interview...so we knew Midwestern wasn't going to be happening at least in 2011.
The next interview we had booked a flight for Sam to LA, so he was sure to make at least one interview.
He interviewed at Western University, he was nervous and really thought out answers to possible questions. I knew he would be amazing... it is Sam after all. He came home with an optimistic feeling, the staff had really taken a liking to him, and Sam noted that the Dean of Podiatry had remembered his name out of all the four possible students that day. He was excited, which made me excited and really nervous. Sam told me there was a good chance he got in, they had at least lead him on to believe they wanted to accept him. On a whim I called our landlord on the last day of June to give our tentative 30 day notice. School started beginning of August, so I knew if this was happening, it was going to happen FAST.
Sure enough, June 30, 2011 he received an e-mail acceptance letter to Western University of Health and Sciences. I was in shock. They notified him that he would be receiving his official acceptance letter by mail, but due to time constraints they thought an e-mail would give us a much needed start to our new life.
This was the start of the life we had talked about....
John's Here!
John arrived in SL for his two week leave on Mother's Day, the perfect gift for his amazing wife.
Tal was so gracious to come straight to our house after picking him up at the airport. Sammy had some silly string that he ran out to spray on John the minute he pulled in, I was laughing too much to get any good pictures.
It was so darling to see John interacting with his kids, he was the center of attention! It was so sweet watching Koen & Bethie talk to their daddy who they hadn't seen since Christmas, trying to tell him everything that had gone on in their little world while he was away. Even Paul who was 7 months when John left still seamed to have a special connection to his amazing daddy.
Sadi-Bug's 3rd Birthday!
Sadie had a bug themed third birthday party, suited lil Sadie-bug perfectly!!
She was absolutely darling and so appreciative of all her gifts and her darling cake. She kept saying in her sweet little voice, "oh thank you so much". She took the time between each gift to thank the person who had given it to her before excitedly continuing on to the next present.
Tawni is such an incredibly mother, I am so lucky to have her and sweet Sadie in my life.
She was absolutely darling and so appreciative of all her gifts and her darling cake. She kept saying in her sweet little voice, "oh thank you so much". She took the time between each gift to thank the person who had given it to her before excitedly continuing on to the next present.
Tawni is such an incredibly mother, I am so lucky to have her and sweet Sadie in my life.
Never Ending Grommets...........
Sam had the opportunity to take a side job wrapping a 53' trailer for an "Outer Space Experience" to be featured at Thanksgiving Point sometime this May.
It was tedious....
Sam spent the entire weekend... excluding one round of golf, installing the graphic. Saturday night I was bringing him his favorite sugar cookies for a treat, and ended up helping out.
My job was the grommets.....
You have to pop the air bubbles with a pin, then squeegee the air out of the hole, heat gun the vinyl to help it adhere and stretch, squeegee again, heat gun.. then push really hard with a bristled tool to mold it around the grommet.
you have one grommet completed!
now repleat thousands of times..........
I am not confident on ladders and hate feeling like I might fall, so I wouldn't go all the way to the top of the trailer, so sweet Sam had to finish up the grommets after he was done installing. I love working with Sam, it was exhausting, tedious work, but I had the best company a girl could ask for.
I love my perfect hard working hubby.
I am the luckiest girl .
I am the luckiest girl .
.
What...March is over?
This past month was a whirlwind! It's amazing how much can happen in one month, one minute your world is upside down and the next somehow it all landed back in place. Then you're left looking back so grateful for the amazing people you're lucky enough to confide in and laugh with. These people are everything to me, I am so blessed that somehow such amazing people love me. I don't know what I would do without my sidekicks.
In March I turned 27...... I don't' like the odd years. I know this is strange, but I like the sound of 26, or 28 so much better. I am 27 though, and it's going to be a great odd 27. I love growing older, it helps you see what really matters. You "grow up" and thankfully see things clearer as each year passes by.
Poor Boston got dressed up like my dolly - agian.
Sam apparently though this was a comfy gaming place? Boston agreed and joined him.
There was kite making with the kiddo's. Bethie thinks that her hair is also a craft project and is constantly chopping it off. I think this little darling will be rockin a pixie cut for some time.
Poor Boston got dressed up like my dolly - agian.
Sam apparently though this was a comfy gaming place? Boston agreed and joined him.
There was kite making with the kiddo's. Bethie thinks that her hair is also a craft project and is constantly chopping it off. I think this little darling will be rockin a pixie cut for some time.
Goal - Productive Weekend
I feel like my life has been a constant event with family or friends since Thanksgiving... and my poor poor house shows it. I have scrambled and done a quick pick-up just for a small sense of sanity - but I've had it. My house is a disaster zone!
This weekend I am quarantine myself and getting things shiny and clean!
I've made myself a time-lined to-do list for the weekend. Honestly it won't take that long to clean and get my workouts in - but it is my first priority! No friend or family time until my house is CLEAN! Yes, friends & fam are the most important...but my house is driving me mad!
This little boy also needs a bath ---- he too has been a little ignored lately, his last bath was given to him by grandma while we were in Vegas....
Really..?.?.?.
I've found my self settling with "almost there" when it comes to my fitness goal, and life in general. I don't know why I give up or honestly self destruct when I am so close to my goals... it's frustrating and I need to figure myself out!
January I kicked some serious butt with working out... but eating, not so great. I would have a plate (full) of Alfredo, with a coke for lunch and eat late at night. The pathetic and amazing thing is I still lost two pounds with my horrible eating habits. I can only imagine how much closer to my goals I would be if I had controlled what I put in my mouth!
I have all the knowledge I need to reach my goals, thanks to an old friend constantly helping me out. So WHY do I CHOOSE not to succeed!?!
After a full week of great healthy choices and keeping up my food journal on my phone that even counts the calories for you...what do I do....I COMPLETELY self sabotage yesterday. I am just so mad at myself for behaving so impulsive. My first irresponsible decision was at lunch. I had ran out of my spinach salad with yummy dried fruit, but I had packed a healthy lunch - tuna sand, pear....I wasn't really feeling it though, so I listen to my evil twin and went to Taco Time and ate a Crisp Juan & a Cheese Melt.....why I had to eat two things.......??
Sadly it did not stop there.
I ate my healthy yogurt for my afternoon snack... but things got BAD after that. I went to my lovely Tawns for some girl time after work, had a great time, no foul ups there....then on the way home I completely went CRAZY and my evil twin popped up again. I drove into Arbys, got up to the window then thought to myself "RACHELLE NO" so I apologize to the to the girl and drive away. I'm almost home...... then I see Taco Bell..... I gave in. I really wanted their crunch-wrap supreme...mmmm. I get to the menu... and do I just order the ONE item...no - I get their entire $5 BOX...yes a BOX of food for just me......
How did I think this was a good idea....yes, I ate almost all of this. I didn't eat the taco & 1/2 the burrito...
1,220 calories... ALMOST my entire day's intake in one sitting...great Rachelle...just great!
Oh- and no workout for the day....I came home and watched "life as we know it" instead.
Super cute movie though!
**Sigh**
On the upside... I felt like crap! Yes, this is an upside since I can compare the feeling of healthy eating to a solid mass of garbage sitting in my stomach.
Today is a new day - and I will not do that again!!
I am so dang close to my goals!
~ Winter Blues ~
I've had a bad case of winter BLAH since we got back from sunny St. George and Vegas. It almost made it worse teasing me with sunshine and warmth.... it's time to go back down already.
I am so ready for spring, I miss hiking, trail running, and gazing over the city from the tip top of a beautiful mountain.
Sunshine, swimming....water. *sigh
For now I'll get my sweat on with BodyRock in preparation of all the summer festivities. Get in some spring cleaning...redecorate a little...clean my car (yikes) or better yet.... shopping with the girls???
I am so ready for spring, I miss hiking, trail running, and gazing over the city from the tip top of a beautiful mountain.
For now I'll get my sweat on with BodyRock in preparation of all the summer festivities. Get in some spring cleaning...redecorate a little...clean my car (yikes) or better yet.... shopping with the girls???
I stole Koen & Bethie away this past weekend for a sleepover. I still wanted to workout Friday - so I had them take a bath, this is the best way to contain their energy and keep the occupied. I did my workout in the hallway while they were splashing around happily down the hall in the bath. I was laughing with Sam, saying we'll have the cleanest kids on the block since every time I'll want a break they'll be put in the bath to entertain themselves without running around the house like wild monkeys. After the bath we played games, watched the cartoon Star Wars that had Koen up all night again with exciting dreams. I had to move him out of our room at 4am since he wouldn't stop growling and thrashing around. It's amazing to me that he and Bethie can sleep through all the noise he is making. I am so in trouble when we have kids, the tiniest noise will wake me up. After we moved him into the office, I hear him walk out to Sam who was out watching TV (yes he does not sleep) and say "my bed is wet". lol. I was thinking - oh-boy, hopefully Sam handles this....luckily my sweet hubby did, he changed the bedding, got some of my leggins for him to wear and put him back to bed. I guess I should have thought twice about giving them a water bottle right before bed.....
Saturday we were suppose to celebrate Sammy's birthday - but family craziness postponed that yet again. So we set sights on finally getting Sam his truck - our old mazda that I had bought when I was 19 finally died, I 4-sure got my $1200 worth out of that car. I was surprised it lasted this long! We wanted to get something with cash - no car payments. We found a white ford ranger that was in our price range - made an offer and took it home! It was such a relief to have two cars again. It wasn't a huge hassle, since I have AMAZING friends who came and picked me up on more than one occasion and my pops who happily would take me home almost every day. Although, It will be nice to have complete freedom again.
That night we went to Amy's new house, that was gorgeous, to watch the dunk contest and Emily's wedding video! It was fun to see all our friends. I loved the wedding video! Their wedding was a blast, I still love Curry's gallop dance we did down the dance floor, and now we have it captured forever. We pretty much have the most amazing friends!
Saturday we were suppose to celebrate Sammy's birthday - but family craziness postponed that yet again. So we set sights on finally getting Sam his truck - our old mazda that I had bought when I was 19 finally died, I 4-sure got my $1200 worth out of that car. I was surprised it lasted this long! We wanted to get something with cash - no car payments. We found a white ford ranger that was in our price range - made an offer and took it home! It was such a relief to have two cars again. It wasn't a huge hassle, since I have AMAZING friends who came and picked me up on more than one occasion and my pops who happily would take me home almost every day. Although, It will be nice to have complete freedom again.
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