Labor Day

We didn't do too much this weekend. It was very relaxing. We hung out with our friends Jimmy and Ahmed one day and another day went to Desert Ridge to have a dinner date and listen to live music. This week I start my first clinical rotation in med-surg. I actually thought I would be nervous but I'm just looking forward to start applying things I have learned. Several people have told me I should write down my experiences with my first patient so I can read it several years from now and remember how I felt. I'm sure I would get a good laugh out of that! Other than that, we are just looking forward to it cooling off a little here so we can be more motivated to do stuff outside instead of peaking out of our thick sun-blocking curtains wishing we could go out and still be able to breathe. Here are some pictures from our weekend:

The Golden Coast

Last weekend we took a roadtrip to San Diego. Our first day there we visited the San Diego Zoo- a first for both of us. It was absolutely amazing. Even with the map, we got lost several times. We managed to get some great pictures and see everything. We were lucky because a cold front came through southern cal last weekend so rather than highs in the 90s, it was 75 the whole time. After the zoo we drove up the coast a little and then ate dinner at Tony Romas. The next morning we drove through La Jolla and had lunch at a diner at the end of a pier in Oceanside. We saw dolphins jumping while we were eating- I didn't want to leave. Some of our friends were coincidently staying near Mission Bay that same weekend so we got to go on our kayaking trip with them. We paddled out from the beach in La Jolla. Our tour guide was really cool and gave us a lot of fun facts about the caves we kayaked through. Our friends immediately tipped their kayak in a big wave while we were paddling out and I have no clue how Jason and I didn't. We didn't see any sharks thank goodness. Sea lion families were swimming all around us and climbing up on the rocks. Several people in the cove were out of their kayaks swimming and snorkeling with them. Jason and I agreed it was one of the neatest experiences we have ever had. Definitely the best $30 we have ever spent. That night we went to a privately owned italian restaurant in a big house called Mama Mias. We had heard they have the "best" pizza in San Diego- and they totally do. And trust me, we have had our fair share of pizza to compare it to. The next morning before we left for Phoenix we went back to La Jolla and hiked down the rocks to see the sea lions again. Jason got some amazing pictures. I took a video too. If you hear some weird barking noises in the video, don't worry, that was me trying to communicate with the sea lions.

Monsoon Madness

This month has been kind of exciting with all the weather changes we have had. Last weekend we enjoyed two straight days of rain and cooler weather. When I say cooler, I mean 75-80. I have to note that Jason felt this was cool enough to use the heated seat in my car one day. LOL. I took this little video clip of one of the storms. We ended up with around 8 trees down just by our apartment.

Recently we got a webcam and have been skyping with our families and friends back home. I am so addicted! Its so much fun, I only wish we could have gotten one three years ago when we first moved out here. This week we have been busy with school and work blah blah but most importantly, getting ready for our roadtrip to California this upcoming weekend. Our friends from Phoenix are going to be in Mission Bay the same weekend, and have booked a kayaking trip for all of us in La Jolla. I have spent a lot of time googling shark sightings/attacks near La Jolla and lets just say I am not relaxed about this excursion!! My sister went on to tell me on the phone that she learned from shark week on discovery that sharks prefer to attack chubbier people. oh great! Maybe I could start working out now? Anyway we are planning to get a few disposable cameras to take pictures inside the caves. The other day we took a field trip with the Ruffies to Petsmart to pick up some more food and treats, and Heinz got a new friend. It has been a few days and now his friend has become a stuffing-less carcus. Here is the video of when he got "Puppy".

Summertime and Sunshine

Its hard to comprehend that 2010 is over half way over already. We have really been enjoying our summer out here, in spite of the 110 degree (and over) days we have been having. Evidently three years is still not long enough to get used to the heat. Last week was my first week back to school after having a three week break. My class finally got our much-anticipated clincial assignment for rotations last Thursday. I was given Paradise Valley Hospital which is great because I've heard all good things about it. We don't begin clinic until the beginning of September but I'm counting down the days to have my first official patient. Jason is really loving his job and has already been working for seven months which is crazy to think about. Seems like he was just taking his boards.
In other fun news, we finally planned a weekend to go to San Diego next month. We just realized we are actually going to end up being there on the 8 year anniversary of our first date!! (Our first date was to see the movie Signs, with Mel Gibson... who by the way has really gone a little crazy lately with those voice mails!! I feel like I can't watch What Women Want now, knowing how psycho he is.) Anyway, back to our Cali trip in August, we are planning to go to the San Diego Zoo because neither of us have been. Our good friends Shannon and Louie moved here to AZ from Newport Beach in orange county so they are giving us some ideas of things to do since they grew up there.
Also I wanted to include some other pictures from the highlights of our trip back home a few weeks ago.

Tinkhams!

Us with Jason's Grandma Stanley


Relaxing at the lake

Us visiting my sweet Grammy, recently diagnosed with Alzheimers. She remembered us and is doing so wonderfully.

Bocce ball!!

Sisters!!!!!!!!!!

Back to where it all started, Bloomington

Our Niece, Adelyn

Last week we finally took our much-awaited trip back to Indiana. I think we crammed about everything imaginable into the 7 days we were there. Emily and Joe welcomed their first baby, Adelyn Mae, on June 11 and we finally got to see her. She is so sweet! We were able to spend a lot of time with Adelyn, Joe, and Em and took some great pictures. She just turned three weeks old and is doing so well. Jay and I had such a great trip back home. We went up to northern Indiana to stay with Andy and Joyce for a few days, went to Bloomington with Christine and stopped at Oliver Winery, met up with friends and family downtown Indy, had a cookout at my Mom's house, and after high anticipation saw the new Twilight movie, Eclipse, at a midnight showing which was amazing!! I now have a two week break before my second block of school starts so I will have time to write more about our vacation. For now, here are some pictures of little Addie! We miss her already.

Addie

Joe took this photo of Jay, Addie, and I

Fur Appointment

Before

After

ROAST

At Jason's hospital, the ortho department challenged rehab to a softball game. They named it the ROAST- Rehab and Ortho Annual Softball Tournament. They've been practicing for about a month and today was the first game. We were contemplating if we should take the dogs or not because of the heat advisory... See Below...

And we still have another 10 degrees to go! Having this heat already in June is indicative of a nice hot three or four months to come. I think a trip floating down the salt river may be in order. We ended up going early for the cookout, then I went back home to pick up the Ruffs when it cooled down so they could participate. There were over 100 people there and about 20 dogs. Believe it or not, Dakota was getting fiesty with a bull mastiff! The Rehab Rebels ended up losing 12-17. It was an entertaining game and Jay played awesome! The dogs made many friends....

I only have 12 days left of classes before my three week break. Its time to kick it into high gear and start preparing for finals week. I can't believe how fast the program has gone by so far. So excited!!! Tonight we are having chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, and corn for dinner :).

Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day! On Saturday we had a mini babyshower for our friend Victoria who is due in just a few weeks. She ended up having the baby on Saturday night just hours after we left! They had a little girl and named her Maricela "Cela". She is so sweet.

This was earlier on Saturday at her shower

The next day! Welcoming baby Cela. I love these girls

This is definitely the month for babies, because my friend Sara is also being induced today with her little girl, Kennedy.

I have the day off from classes today and I've been enjoying every minute. I studied for a while this morning and then took Dakota and Heinz to the park for a while. I took a short video clip of them running around. They were huge dust balls by the time we left but they had so much fun. Here is the video:

4 Day Weekend!

I couldn't be happier about having an extra long weekend for Memorial Day. For the holiday we have Monday off from classes. It will be nice to have an extra day to study. On Wednesday my good friend Shannon had her baby, Brandon. I went to visit them last night and he is so sweet. So happy for them! After that I went out with my nursing friends to Applebees for drinks and appetizers, then to see Sex in the City 2! We had so much fun. The movie was pretty cheesy but I liked it. I was a little worried going to an 11pm movie because I go to bed at 9:30 every night(and I'm only 26!). My contacts got stuck to my eyes about half way through but I made it. The dogs and I slept in this morning until 11am!! Heinz' stomach was growling and I felt like a bad dog mommy but Dakota was thrilled to be in bed that long. She is so funny about our bed... she thinks its her bed for sure. Today I went to visit Jason on his lunch break and tonight we had a pizza and Red Box night. What more could you want in a Friday night. We rented Its Complicated and Sherlock Holmes. I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend!

Cheers!

TGIF

Thank goodness for the weekend. This has been a busy week with exams, lots of studying, and projects. Although the first month of nursing school was a hard adjustment, its going really well. I think one of the most difficult things is choosing a career path. Its hard to know if you will truly like what you plan on doing until you start studying it and get thrown in with both feet. I'm so glad I made the decision to get into nursing. Yesterday Jason came to eat lunch with us and meet all of my nursing friends. Now he knows who the people are that I talk about everyday. He is so great and supportive of me doing the program.

Today when Jason gets off we are going to Tempe to the big outlet mall there to do some shopping and walk around. Its just starting to get super hot again. The spring has been beautiful though. Anything under 105 is okay with me, but hotter than that is a little unbearable. Dakota thinks she is a cat and has been squeezing herself up onto the tiny windowsill in our living room trying to cool off. Its funny to see her from outside because its so narrow she can't turn her head, and her fur is all disheveled squished into the glass. I can't imagine my life without the Ruffies.

Dakota May

Honeymoon

This is our favorite picture from our honeymoon- Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, over 3 years ago in '07. Can't believe how fast time has gone by. We finally got a nice scanner so we can start bringing back pictures from the "old days" before digital cameras were around... you know, back in 2002.

The Dog House

Happy Mommas Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all Moms, Moms-to-be, and Mom's of four-legged furries. It sure has been a hot weekend here. Yesterday we went to the pool with some friends. There is nothing better than floating around on a raft relaxing on a hot summer day. This morning Jason made M&M pancakes for breakfast. He is the best pancake maker ever! Here are some pool pictures from our weekend:







Since we are so far away we couldn't celebrate Mother's Day with our Moms, but we'll make up for it on our trip back home this summer. I was so happy to be able to spend a long weekend with my Mom when she came out to visit in February. Of course it ended up raining that weekend, but we still had fun!!