Ecuador

I will be beginning my journey to Ecuador in less than 24 hours. I am currently in the very last preparation class. So long my delightful family

Mommy is visiting me....

I'm sorry to say, I have been working your mom really hard. I picked her up at the airport at 10am and we drove straight to the wedding dress shop. I was nervous that I wouldn't still like the dress, but don't worry, I do. We purchased the 1st pair of shoes I tried on. They were really cute and 'on sale.' Not cheap, but really cute peep toe heels. The lady doing fittings started to measure me, then told me I had to buy the $70 poofy slip I was wearing for the fitting, so I left and will get fitted for real on Monday. they were pretty mean about that. I was so annoyed. But if I can get something for free, why spend $70 on it just because I wasted 5 minutes of someone's time. I called my future aunt Mary Ellen and we agreed to meet early at the shower to look at centerpieces and slips. But, she arrived on time, so we were sitting there early watching them prepare...rude. Several of Landes' aunts came and some cousins, as well as Nan, Michelle, and Kate. A few of my friends came(Landes gave them a ride which was so sweet). The games were fun. Afterward I picked centerpieces from a selection of stuff that Mary Ellen owns. Mary Ellen and Kay offered to make boutteniers, corsages, and a cascading bouquet. I am pretty excited about that. Then mom and I went shopping and got some other essentials. We arrived back at Bob and Michelle's house around 10pm and she was exhausted. Today Landes, Mom and I will go to church with the Schirmers, then drive to Nan's house for dinner. Tomorrow, we will do the dress fitting, talk to Mary Ellen about the veil, finalize the cake, and look at white temple dresses. It will be a busy weekend and I'm so glad Mom is here to share it with me. Mom leaves Monday evening, Tuesday and Wednesday I have class from 8:30-3:30, then work from 5-10 on Tuesday(my last day), Thursday, I have class from 8-12 and neither Landes or I has to work. I leave for Ecuador Friday at 10am. Wish me luck. I will be using skype to keep in contact as well as email and such. I love you all

Done with Finals

I have officially completed my finals and will now start the moving process. At least now I don't have to be out until tomorrow. It was a lovely weekend. Landes and I both worked Friday night...it was super slow. Afterward, we relaxed in the hot tub at his complex which is finally open. Yesterday, I finished my final art project (A in the class woo woo! I may not be good but I am much better than I used to be.) and took my online final for labor and delivery. We went out for baby back ribs to celebrate and watched the newish James Bond movie on the big screen with his roommates. Then we went for a nice "summer night" walk. I'm excited about it actually being warm enough to walk outside at night. It was probably in the 40s yesterday, but it will improve I'm sure as the year goes on. I hope that Mom had a delightful birthday yesterday. I am so excited to see her next week!!

My summer plans

Christine put hers up and I got pretty jealous, so here goes....

April 19: I have to move out of my apartment and be homeless for awhile
April 21: Finals are over
April 25-27: Bridal Shower and Mom visiting me
May 1-29: I will be a nurse partying it up in Ecuador
May 29-June 3: I am homeless for awhile again
June 4: I move into my "married" apartment
June 11: I go through the temple for the first time
June 13: I get married in the Salt Lake Temple
June 13-20: Honeymoon in Oregon
June 20-26: Taylor Family reunion in Astoria
June 27-30: Fairfield reception, then baseball game, visiting you guys for a few days
July 1: Back to Provo to live in our apartment and work for the first time in 2 months. It has been a long time since I've done that. I still haven't decided whether I will become an LPN or whether Landes and I will both work part time as pizza delivery personnel.

Pretty much life is really good right now. Summer will be super busy and fun and exciting, then I'll be an old married person as Christine says. I'm so excited about school ending soon and having some free time with which to relax or sleep or something. I only have 2 days left of classes and clinical ended yesterday. We printed our announcements today and should be sending those out is the not so distant future. Work is going well. I am making more hourly than ever before and Landes even thinks I am a good driver. He is an amazing guy. You should all be pretty excited to have him in the family. I love you all. Christine, good luck with the job finding and trip planning. I hope that all go incredibly well. You can just bring me a gift when you come visit me, or send one with yo mamma, whatever your preference. I am jealous of your root beer party also. Sounds amazing

My summer plans. etc....

First of all, thank you Marie for sending an invitation to this email address. I don't know why it was so hard for me to figure out... But anyways, now that it's all better, I will try to blog more.

So, I was telling Leslie my summer plans, and I thought it'd be a cool idea to post them here, too. Just so you know, I am open to any suggestions....

May 22 Finals are over
May 22 MOM'S GRADUATION at Arco Arena (Congratulations mom, I am so proud of you!)
May 23-26 Maybe move out of my apartment??
May 26-30 South Carolina for Sam's graduation
May 30-June 5th-ish Maybe a furlough in Boston filled with magical adventures
June 6th- Utah and spend a week with Marie helping her move into her new apartment and spend my last week with her before she gets old and married and boring.
June 13th- Marie's wedding
After June 13th for who knows how long- be in Utah. I don't know what we're planning on doing there or for how long.


After that- I don't have a heck of a clue. I have no money. I need a job--- just found out I might not be able to get a stafford student loan for next year because turns out they stop giving you money after a while. Guess you aren't supposed to take six years to get a bachelors degree. so I probably need to get a job that not only I can live on with the income, but also be able to have enough money saved for when school starts in August. Maybe I need to get a job in Chico so I can keep it when school starts. Or maybe I need to get a job in Fairfield so I can save money. Or maybe I need to win the lottery, but I guess I'd have to start playing the lottery for that to happen, and right now I don't, so the chances aren't looking that good.

I would love to come home though. I could teach the dogs all sorts of new tricks. Oh, and I told my roommates that I might be moving out this summer. And then in the Fall I know of some people who are also moving back after being at home for the summer, and they all would be really nice to live with.

I am pretty excited about Marie's wedding. Is there anything I can do to help? Also, for this whole bridal shower business... Is there one that I can come to? And if not, that's okay, but maybe I'd still like to send a present. Where can I send it to?

The weather has been really nice in Chico for the past week, but yesterday it was overcast and today a little drizzly. I am grateful for the rain and know that we need it, but I am definitely excited for it to be summer again. There's nothing like walking out the front door and your face being blasted by hot air. I love it!

So, if anyone knows of any ways I can make money this summer, or of anywhere I should live, you should definitely let me know.

I love you all, and am excited about posting more. Everyone else please post!!!

bean