Silly Moods

Sometimes I am really tired but cannot take a nap, so I end up in this really silly mood where I can't do anything that requires physical effort except laugh at everything. I was in this mood on Saturday when Ben and I were out and about and decided to go to the park to throw a frisbee around. There were so many people there but one particular gentleman caught our attention. He was an older man and was going around the park with a metal detector. Ben decided to get the change from our car and drop it by him. He had to be sneaky though, so I would throw the frisbee "accidently" too far and it would just happen to land close to this man. I, being in a silly mood, was laughing hysterically at Ben after he would give me this huge grin and thumbs up after he successfully dropped the change. The man found all the change we dropped and we got such a kick out of each time his detector went off. This probably wasn't that funny, but I still laugh thinking about it. You gotta love those silly moods.

3 Years and a Baby

Ben and I celebrated our 3 Year Anniversary on the 18th of August. It has flown by and I honestly still cannot believe I got to marry him. I cannot express how happy he has made me. He improves our lives each day with new goals and a radiating positive attitude. To celebrate we went to Temple Square (the night before our anniversary) to see the Salt Lake Temple where we were sealed for time and all eternity. I remember that neither of us could stop smiling for the longest time. Ben still hasn't stopped. Ha.

On the actual day of our anniversary we went to dinner at the Mayan because Ben has never been there before and I remembered it being a neat place in 9th grade. Plus, we wanted to go to a unique place that we would remember (we honestly cannot remember what we did last year. Pretty pathetic, I know.) Well, it wasn't quite what I remembered it to be. It was definitely a very fun environment, but kind of cheap food. Ben didn't mind of course, if he had his choice of anywhere, we probably would have gone to Costco. Beside the food, I loved being with Ben alone. Troy was with Grandma Allsop (Ben's mom), Brittany, Sterling, and Brayden as they went to back-to-school night for Brayden's 7th grade orientation. I can't believe he is in Jr. High.

We were going to go to a movie but they all started at around 10 and I didn't want to take Troy home at like 1 am, although sweet Mom offered. So we just went and got some ice cream, talked like best friends like we have been doing a lot ever since there has been no TV watching. I have never been happier. Thanks sweet Ben for an unforgettable anniversary.

Inside the Visitor's Center.

New Computer! and Financial Advice

For the past year or so our laptop will only turn on sometimes and takes several minutes to do so if it does. We bought an external hard drive to be able to save everything because we knew we were lucky to get any more time out of it. This past week it Really wouldn't turn on (thus, the lack of blogs) and we had to face the fact that we needed to buy a new computer. Last night we went shopping around for like 4 hours to four different stores to compare. The best bang for our buck was found at Best Buy. We actually spent a lot less than I thought we would and we got a printer thrown in with it! (I have been wanting one so badly for so long. I was sadly more excited about the printer than the computer.) We also get a free upgrade to Windows 7 when it comes out. Quick facts: It's an HP with great features that I will not mention since I didn't even know what they meant until yesterday. Thanks again to my brother Alan for explaining them all to me! Best Buy really is awesome because they Price Match. I was impressed at least.

I have really been needing to improve the "Lifelong Learning" aspect of my life now that I am graduated. President Hinckley's book, Standing for Something, and the VT message this month emphasized it even more. One area that a lot of people do not know enough about is their financial life. I took a class on this very subject at BYU my senior year because of my lack of knowledge.

In that class I read a book that I am reading again now in order to really apply it. It's called GET A FINANCIAL LIFE by Beth Kobliner. It's a New York Times Bestseller. The cover explains it is for people in their twenties and thirties (students, working, any situation.) It talks about taxes, savings, retirement, mutual funds, bonds, stocks, IRAs, 401ks, insurance, credit cards, debt, banks, mortgages and lots more. The Glory of God is intelligence. We must learn all we can and this book can pertain to everyone. Plus, it's inexpensive. If not this book, then read another that has been recommended to you. It may save you thousands in the longrun.

Troy would like to say HELLO!

Troy is starting to show his little personality. He loves to giggle and smile at you a lot. Especially if your name is Sterling, Ha. For some reason Troy gets the biggest kick out of Sterling. He doesn't even have to do much but open his mouth and Troy starts giggling. I think it started to creep him out. Sorry Sterling, but you are now required to attend all family pictures so Troy will smile. With the happy comes the sad though, he definitely has a stubborn side (wonder where he gets that :) He doesn't just cry anymore, he gets mad. Its not good when he gets mad because I tend to think it is really funny and I laugh and then it makes him more mad. However he is pretty easy to please. He doesn't stay mad for long at all and it is usually because he is tired and with some playing he will fall asleep pretty quickly. If he is not tired, he eventually calms down and as long as Ben and I avoid eye contact with him, he is fine. Ha. All around he has a very sweet temperament that loves to move around (pretty sure I know where he got that.) We can just tell he just wants to run or move or spend energy somehow! He has been using the jumper which has been pretty fun for him but what we really need is a walker. We are currently looking.

Troy started eating solids this week. Carrots were the first vegetable to try and he LOVES them. His only complaint is that it does not flow into his mouth continously like milk. I try and put the food in his mouth fast enough but then it just ends up on his chin. He actually doesn't get messy at all though. He swallows it all and hardly any gets on his face. Good thing because the color orange is pretty bright! Now when Troy is crying for food, I just show him the container of carrots and he stops immediately and licks his lips. Ben is so excited to feed him all sorts of foods and flavors. One veggie at a time right now though. We start peas today.

I just love my little Troy. Thank you, thank you Ben for supporting us so I can stay home with him! Oh I just love it, love it, love it!!!

Quick Updates

The Tuesday before Pioneer weekend, Ben found out that he had Pioneer Day off. We had just assumed he wouldn't because he didn't at his company in Salt Lake last summer. We quickly saw this as an opportunity to head down to Nevada to visit Ben's Dad and wife, Beverly. It was quite the fun filled weekend. Troy did well on the car ride there even though he was awake most of the time. We arrived at about 11 and went straight to bed after Ben hogged down some chip dip amazingness that Beverly had made. We headed out to the lake the next day as we did every weekend two summers ago when we were there on an internship. Ben's ankle was healed enough that he could waterskii, which I was SO grateful for since he has been talking about a boat almost every day. He even put up a picture of a family in a ski nautique boat on our computer so that he could help me envision our family on a boat. Ha.

We also got to try out their new wave runner. I don't think I have ever been on such a powerful wave runner. My lips would literally quiver if I went full speed. Ben obviously loved it, I could hear him yelling while he tested the wave runners limits.

They also took Ben and I to dinner at this nice local Italian restuarant for my birthday. It was SO so good. Our waitor had such a thick accent that I could not understand him some of the time, which I loved, because it added to the whole feeling of the place. Thanks so much Dad and Bev for such a fun weekend. We always love hanging out with you guys!

This past week I have been able to go to a lot of Andersen family functions. My cute cousin Camille got married and so I got to go to her bridal shower and then visit their family at Kim and Caleb's (her sister). I got some good advice from Lindsay as a mom. I'll keep asking questions though Linds, sorry. I also loved seeing my Uncle Dean with Troy. It was so sweet and felt like I got to see a touch of my Dad with Troy. I look up to you so much Andersen family!

Friday, we left to a cabin with our friends the Kitchens. We definitely had so much fun in the mountains away from everything. Troy did so well in his carrier and the whole time really. It was beautiful and we ate extremely well. Eggs benedict, pizza, garlic bread, pancakes, crepes, candy, etc. It was so fun. Thanks again Kitchens! We definitely need to make cabin-going a tradition! (We missed you Garzas and Mariannos!)

Picture Perfect... or Close to it

I took Troy to a professional photography studio today because they offered us a free photo session and 8 x 10. It took a half an hour and Troy actually did pretty well for the camera but he did not want to smile. He just refused. He would look angelic, sweet, and innocent, but no smile. I am just glad he didn't cry because then they couldn't take any pictures. It is probably just as well that he didn't smile because the photos will probably be too expensive and we can get one really cute 8 x 10. I'm sure it will be tempting though if the photos turn out well, so I will update my decision on Thursday after Ben and I see the proofs.

I do have one question for the mommies. What age in the first year or two is optimal for picture taking? Or is it hard at any age? Maybe I should just save up for a nice camera... Any advice?

Meanwhile, here is some recent sub-par photographs. Troy's cuteness makes up for my lack of skills.

Tummy time is getting better and better. He held his head up so well today.

We went to Utah Lake a week and a half ago to ride the Garza's jet skis (well, Melissa's parents. Thanks again for letting us use them! They were a blast.) We miss you Garzas!

We didn't have a hat for Troy, so he wore Ben's for a little bit.

The NCLEX

I'm back! I finally took the NCLEX (RN Licensure Examination) last Wednesday. It was quite the adventure. I felt pretty confident about the test until I actually took it. I thought that maybe it would take 2 or 3 hours at the most. In the testing center I started to worry at 3 1/2 hours and took a very short brake. I splashed water on my face, popped a mint in my mouth and hurried and chewed it (you can't take anything in the testing room.) I said a prayer for probably the third time during the test and went back inside after being fingerprinted. (Talk about security, you get fingerprinted each time you leave and come back into the testing room.)

At 4 1/2 hours my mind was honestly done. I started bargaining with the computer that I would only take 3 more questions and then it had to shut off. But it didn't. The idea popped into my head that I should just start clicking answers without reading them just to get done because I probably had failed already anyway. I am telling you that if I was not worthy to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost I would not have finished that test or failed it. I was given energy to finish and kept hearing a voice saying that it would be over soon and I needed to focus. There are only a few more questions to go. Suddenly 60 more questions did not seem so bad. At 5 hours I clicked the final question. I answered all 265 questions and I was sure I had failed.

I called Ben and cried to him the news that I got every question and that I could not focus the last hour. I gathered myself together by the time I got to my mom's to pick up Troy and explained my sad expectations. I said that I would take the test again in a couple months. My mom just replied, "Well, I still think you could have passed." My sweet mom always has faith in me.

I felt better the next day after doing the PearsonVue Trick (try to reregister for the test and if it doesn't let you then you passed) and so I had some hope. Ben was sweet and tried to make sure I would be ok with either result because he didn't want a repeat of my freakout after the test. Friday morning I found out that I passed! I am done and can just play with Troy today. We are going to make hand and foot prints of Troy. I love being a mom and I love that I don't have to study right now.