Upcoming Mini Road Trip!

The much anticipated SugarLand concert in Wyoming is this coming weekend. My friends and I will be staying in Colorado but the concert is in Wyoming. Long story. All the hotels were booked because of the huge state fair in Wyoming so we are staying just over the border of Wyoming, in Colorado. No worries, it's only 40 minutes from Cheyenne. Does it count as a road trip if you are only going to Wyoming and Colorado? Ghetto road trip. Nonetheless, we are stoked. We have party pit standing only tickets. Woot! The party pit is right in front of the stage. I'm so ready to get out of Utah County, even if it is just Wyoming. To get away and turn off the cell phone, awww! It will be awesome!
Two weeks after Wyoming we will be heading up to Park City for 3 days. I'm pretty excited about that as well. There will be 5 or 6 of us for Amanda's bachelorette party in Park City. Can you imagine? It's going to be insane. Let the games begin. I hope everyone is having a fun summer! Happy 24th of July!! :)

What do you want to be when you grow up?

People ask me all the time, "what are you going to school for?" "Where are you going to school?" Honestly, the past few months with me and where I am attending school has been an inner battle. I'm sick of telling this story to a new person everyday. Although I appreciate the curiosity of all of you, I would rather talk about much more interesting things because there is a lot more to me than school and career goals. So I am telling this story once, read it if you want. Warning: this is a LONG post and the blogger format makes it look even longer! This is my story about my career choice and how I came upon it.

I'm weird. Just in case you didn't know, now you do. When I make up my mind, I go, whole heartedly, no hesitations. If you didn't know, I'm going to be a nurse. Yep, a nurse. I never wanted to be a nurse. I always wanted to be a school teacher, but let's be honest, I really wouldn't be good at that. I would play with the kids, not teach. Plus, school is not my thing. Then in junior high, I decided that my major was going to be music. Junior high does strange things to you. I am musical, I play the guitar, piano, and I don't like to say that I sing but I was in choir for 6 years, so you can interpret that however you want. Then I realized with a music major all you can really do is teach music or become a rock star. Teaching was already out. Now, come on, who doesn't want to be a rockstar? I would. Except, I don't have quite that much talent in the music world. Also, remember that thing about me doing stuff whole heartedly? Go big or go home? I would have to be a mega rockstar, and besides lacking in talent, I have this religion where I need to go to church every week and go to the temple regularly or I will fall into satan's trap and become something scary. It just wouldn't work. The music major thing was out. That led me to medical stuff. I would be a doctor, totally. But remember, I don't like school. Next up was nurse. Sometimes I get the intense desire to be a cop, yep a cop. Actually, an FBI specialist. But to be in the FBI, you can't really have a family. I mean you can, but remember I go big or go home? I would either be a workaholic or be all about my family. Just wouldn't work. My real passion is Anthropology (the study of cultures) and Sociology mixed with History, which coincide together. I would be a forensic anthropologist (dr. that works with fbi or ancient bodies and profiles them {have you seen the tv show Bones? It's just like that}) but all you can do with a Anthropology bachelor's degree is teach. No teaching on my part. And I'm not going to school to be a doctor, or I would totally be an Anthropologist. So I'm going to be a nurse. I feel good about my decision.

I've wanted to be a nurse for 3 years now and the idea never seems to get old.

I joined a club in high school called HOSA (Health Occupation's Students of America) and I competed my junior year and senior year at the state competitions. This club is huge-colleges and high schools sponsor it. There are various areas to compete in. My first year I did a career display and didn't win anything. My senior year I competed with a team that I helped put together in PSA (Public Service Announcement, it's like a informative commercial). We were given a topic and had to make our own commercial. With our awesome acting, creative thinking, and smooth editing skills we took 3rd in the state of Utah. Big deal. This club helped me get familiar with the medical field so I know that it is right for me. My senior year in high school I already had all of my required classes completed in my junior year. I could've taken any class that I wanted, but I was one of those nerds and took the hardest classes the school offered. I took Sports Medicine, Emergency Medicine Services, Anatomy and Physiology, English, Choir, Aerobics, Seminary, Anthropology, and Sociology. I loved it. LOVED it all. Learned so much. I also got certified through the American Red Cross to: administer oxygen, bloodborne pathogens training, first aid, cpr, deliver an emergency baby, and rescue breathing. My senior year rocked.

I applied and interviewed for a health council scholarship. I won. Full tuiton to UVU for a year(Utah Valley University). I used that scholarship. After much tribulation and mulling it over and over in my brain, after my first year of college I've decided that I will not be returning to UVU for my sophomore year. I will be taking another route. For many reasons: 1. It just wasn't right for me, it was right for a year and now it's not. I've prayed and prayed and it's not right for me. 2. The nursing program is RiDiCuLoUs! You can't get anything below a B+ or you have to retake the class. Once you complete all of your pre-requisites with a B+ or higher you can take your test. If you DO score high enough on the test, you can apply to the program. THEN, after all of that, you are put into a lottery at the end of the day. They draw 60 names a semester. If you get drawn, you're into the nursing program. If not, sorry. All of that, for nothing. You can re-apply or transfer schools. On average it takes 7 years to get a Bachelors of Science degree in Nursing from UVU. It's tough. UVU has the hardest nursing program in the state of Utah. I know I could do it. No doubt. It would be SO HARD but I could do it. I feel that it just isn't the right path for me to take. Not a fan of the program. The counselors are also very discouraging and not helpful-but that is another bone to pick, I will spare you.

With that, I will be attending MATC (a technical college) this fall. I will be taking an accelerated, 5 week, hard core, "I hope I survive this" CNA (Certified Nurse Assistant) class. At the end of the course I should be certified with the state of Utah to be a nurse assistant. I will then work for 9 months as a CNA. I will then choose a school (probably provo college, stevens henegar, etc.) to get my associates in Nursing and become an RN. You have to have 6 months CNA experience to enter into one of these school's nursing program. After I am a RN (registered nurse) I will continue while working as an RN and get my bachelors degree. A lot of nurses are going this route now a days. I finally feel good about my decision. Good and confident. It's been 6 months of searching for an answer and I feel like this is the right decision. All it matters is that I feel right about it, I know that and I do. But other people have been giving me a hard time because I will not be going to a University. I feel like I got the most out of my scholarship while I attended a University. I took 16 credits my first semester and 12 my second, that is full time.

Like I said, I feel confident about my decision. This way I should be a RN with a degree in 2 years instead of 7. I will have the same qualifications, I just won't be attending a University. This doesn't make me any less of a person. My decision is my decision. I feel great about it.

WHEW, that is my story. If you read that marathon of reading, thanks. That is my story, so now you don't have to ask me. Because it is quite the spill. I will be a nurse, when I grow up. Thanks for lasting through that novel -long post! :)

What's Happening?

What's happening in my life? BUSY! FUN! I think the best kind of stress is when you are so stressed out about fun things coming up. I have a lot to plan. When my summer first started I didn't have a lot planned at all. Now, there is never a dull moment. I love it, even though I'm going crazy. This girl, Amanda, is getting married. Yep, crazy. She's 19 and none of us saw it coming. When she told me, I was in utter, total shock. She told me at the Strawberry Days rodeo one night. I just sat there saying over and over again, "I'm in shock, give me a couple days to respond". Haha, I can't imagine getting married right now. I'm too young and immature and I haven't met the guy. Different strokes for different folks I guess. Not to mention, her wedding date is September 17th. Yeah, two months away. CrAzY! I am one of her bridesmaids so I am busy, busy, busy helping plan the wedding that is coming up oh so quickly.

Caecee, Katie, and I are going to Wyoming in about a week for a SugarLand concert that we have party pit tickets too. So that is quite the event but again, a lot of planning since it is almost in Colorado! Our annual Park City trip is also being planned by me. We also decided to combine Amanda's bachelorette party and the Park City trip into one. So our annual Park City weekend will also be Amanda's bachelorette party weekend. Yes, it is crazy, we might get arrested. . . just kidding, our goal is NO arrests haha. So. . . I'm busy. But I love it, because it is a fun type of busy. SugarLand is next weekend, WOOT. Then it's my Birthday soon after that, August 11th, then the next day, August 12th we go to Park City. We come home on Aug. 14th and that night I have a family reunion. Whew. Also, as of right now, in the midst of planning all of these trips I am registering for school (not UVU, different post) and helping one of my best friends prepare to move. Crazy. After my birthday and Park City in August, then work starts. . . then in Sept. school starts. Wow! That is what's happening in my life. I'm sad that summer is flying by but I have done SO MANY fun things this summer. I'm behind on my blogs, but will catch up soon! Stand by everyone! Hope you all are having a great summer! :)

FUN but busy week!

Wow! What a busy past few weeks I've had! It's been fun though. I love busy weeks that are jam packed full of fun. I've been slacking on my blog and hope to catch up and do a little better! This post is just a fast update so it won't have many details! One of my best and closest friends is engaged, I am her bridesmaid so I've been helping plan a wedding-that's kept me busy. Last week was really busy. I chopped four inches off my hair, that's the most I've ever cut off in my lifetime. I love it, it's easier to do, I was having curl issues but now it's better. Not many people like my hair cut, but I do so oh well I guess. Caecee and I heartattacked (cut out paper hearts and spread them everywhere) and surprised our ward at girls camp, we went up for the last night of girls camp just for the evening in which we had so much fun!! I went fishing with my grandparents and cousin, which was fun. Last Friday, Caecee and I got locked INSIDE the Park City hot tub and swimming pool AGAIN. We go in the bathroom to change and come out and everyone is gone and we are locked in. Word of advice to the resort management- CHECK the bathrooms before you lock up! Although this time we couldn't get a hold of anyone to get the number to the resort so we could call and have them come unlock the gate. We waited and screamed for help. No one came. I was about to jump about 12 feet down to the floor below so we could get free but finally someone called us back and was able to look up the number. It was a good time. We laughed really hard.

Fourth of July weekend my family and I left for Orangeville, UT (it's about 40 minutes past Price) to visit my half brother and my nieces and nephews for the 4th of July weekend. We sure had fun. I don't have any pictures from that weekend. . . I must have been having too much fun to take pictures! We went boating, had bbq's, did fireworks, etc. It was a lot of fun and it was sure great to see everyone. I had a great 4th of July! A group of my closest friends and I went to Seven Peaks and sure had a blast!!! Then it was was girls night this past weekend and that is always out of control and fun. I will post more details later but I just had to get all these pictures up before I forgot everything that has happened over the past two weeks. I have extreme lack of sleep but it's sure been fun! And the fun will continue this week!!

Some of the group on girls night

Friends

Straight hair before I cut it

Curly hair before I cut it

Straight hair after I cut it

Curly hair after I cut it

The very tall gate surrounding the swimming pool in Park City, with a huge lock on it.

Laughing because we got locked in the pool for the SECOND time in 6 months.

Our "you've got to be kidding me" faces while being locked in the pool with no one else there.

Amber (me) and Katie at even Peaks

Amanda and Caecee eating dippin' dots at Seven Peaks.

Girs night, goofing off by some statue

Emily, Caecee, and I (only some of the group) having fun at girls night.

Lehi Roundup & Parade.

A few weeks ago it was Lehi days. My grandma and grandpa are from Lehi and live there now so it's quite the celebration in my family. It is the week after Pleasant Grove's Strawberry Days so it works out perfectly. On Friday night they have a mini parade. All the lds wards from certain stakes make mini floats and go in the parade. It's such a cute fun parade. Then Saturday morning is the big parade. We usually go to Friday's parade. It is so cute and fun. It's called a mini parade but it sure isn't mini. They still have big floats and bands and all of that but they also have these little floats and they throw WAY more candy than any other parade out there. My grandma and grandpa's house that they built is on the parade route and they own the lot next to their house so we already have our saved parade space. It's so awesome! We headed over on Friday and met other family members there. We all had fresh garden peas, treats of every kind, coke (of course), and oodles of treats.

We watched the parade then my mom, grandma, and I had tickets to the Lehi Roundup Rodeo. They are reserved seating so we didn't have to go early. We headed over to the rodeo grounds after the parade and had a blast. I LOVE rodeos in case you didn't know. My favorite part is checking out the cowboys ;) The Lehi rodeo is actually much different then the Strawberry Days rodeo. It has it's pros and cons. We had fun. The half time entertainment was the motocross riders which is so so so fun to watch!!! The bull riders also stayed on and rode really well on Friday night. We sure had a fun time. All in all, the parade and rodeo were great fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Barrel Racing

Mini Float

Goofin' Off

Mini Float

3 Generations

Being Silly Geese