Life As Lately

Today is Christmas Day!  So I'm on blogger why you ask?  I'm sitting here at work at 4am while my husband sleeps at home waiting for Santa to come.  Crappy, but it's the life of a nurse.

 

Life at the Jenkins house has been quite busy lately.  Work for me has been crazy, we never slow down.  But I can't complain about it though because it's really fortune to be able to work so much when I'm the only one working for the time being.  Cody has been so busy with school that it's just not possible for him to work right now.  He just finished his very first semester of law school!  He has to put a lot of work into finals and it seems like it just about killed him, but he made it through.  And even more than that, he's decided to apply to the University of Utah's business school also and seek out a joint degree doing business and law together.  So that adds on an extra year of schooling for him but has him finishing with two graduate degrees.  So he will be even more busy than he already is, but I think it's going to be the best thing for him and his job opportunities.

Another thing Cody and I have been very into lately is going to the gym together.  We both got gym passess to the Murray Rec Center and have started trying to go as much as possible.  I can't believe how hard it was at first and how much easier it is already getting.  I miss how in shape I used to be in high school when I was on the drill team.  When I go to the gym I like to start with running, which is getting easier now but was terrible to start out.  After I go into the weight room with Cody.  If you know me, the weight room always has been a scary place for me.  I don't know what to do, can't do very much, and feel completely out of place in every way.  But Cody has been so excited to help me and has been great about getting me started.  Now I can spend most of my gym time in there and look like I may know how to use a few pieces of equipment or weights.  But MAN, I am so sore!! It never ends.  My body is screaming after every single time I go.  But it feels good.  I never should have stopped working out in the first place.  

I've been a nurse for a year come January.  That is so crazy!  Time flies so fast!  I never thought I would be a long time post partum nurse personally, but I can't believe how much I really do love my job.  I still hate the night shifts with a passion, but I love what I do and I love the people I work with.  It's been such a great first year as a nurse.  I've had so many great days and many very scary ones.  But thanks to those very scary days, I feel so confident in my skills and everything I do in my job.  Put me on a med/surg floor, you might have a different story, but post partum and babies- I feel great!  I'm so lucky to have the job I have, I would never give it up for anything else! 

Well, I'll be posting better pictures soon because there is a beautiful new camera sitting under the Christmas tree for me at home right now!  I hope everyone has a great Christmas!   

My Girls

Get ready for autumn everyone!



Well, once again it's been a while since I've posted.  Really, I just hated the way the blog looked and so I didn't want to see it at all.  So I apologize for constantly changing the layout, but I think I'm satisfied for a little while now.  Life has been one busy whirlwind lately.  I'm pretty sure I still have a husband somewhere but I see him less now than when we were dating it feels like.  He started law school at this University of Utah in August and has been totally SWAMPED with homework since.  He will disappear down to our basement for the entire night just reading and writing.  So in turn, I have become even more lazy and gotten into even more TV shows, my latest addiction; New Girl.  Luckily, I bought a pass to a dance studio and hope to get back into doing that so that my butt doesn't become permanently implanted into our couch.

Cody and I have been going to our ward in our area now.  When we lived in our apartment we both really struggled getting the motivation and desire to wake up for church and I realize now that it's because we were so unattached to our ward that we just did not want to go.  No one cared we were there so it was tough to show up.  Our new ward however, is so completely opposite.  The first week we moved into our house we had visits from the bishop, relief society, and elder's quorum.  We also met another couple our age who moved in close by and had dinner with them! Not only that, but already we have callings.

Cody was called as the first counselor in the young men's.  And I was called as the first counselor in the young women's.  Cody seemed to be a little nervous about his calling, seeing as he never went to nor cared about young men's when he was the age of it.  But he will do fantastic, I don't think there's a better man for the job!  As for me, let's just say Cody got his calling before I did and I was bitter because I've always wanted to work with the young women.  The bishop must have known my heart's desire.  :)

I've already gone to some activities and gotten to know some of my YM girls.  And already I know this calling is going to be one I'll be very attached to.  Hearing stories of these girl's home lives and trials they've gone through is unbelievable to me.  These girls at 15 and 16 years old (which is my age group) have parents that don't want to go to church, so they, at this young age, pack up all of their siblings and walk them all to church and serve as the parent so that their siblings can make it to church each week.  Their testimonies are larger than life and it has shocked me.  Who know kids this age could have such unshaken faith like this?  The things these girls tolerate, the way they stand up for what they believe in to other kids at school who think differently, the way they aren't afraid to stand out as a member of the church and an example to everyone around them, it's truly touching.  Being around these women twice a week will be a life changing experience for me most of all.   



Random picture, but I found my long lost best friend!  She moved away and we hadn't seen each other for like 10 years until now!  So great to see her!

 

One activity I did with my YW was we went to Gardener Village to see the witches and Halloween decorations.  Everyone needs to go do this this month!  It's fabulous.







Good Mood Food

So, I've been trying to be a good wife by cooking some kind of variety of food for my husband.  It doesn't help my cause much that he came from a mother who cooked amazing food all of the time.  No pressure, right? I enjoy cooking, I just wouldn't say I was a master or anything.  So I've picked a few cook books I love and found a few Pinterest recipes and tried some good food.  Most turn out really pretty well.  There have been only a couple that I have absolutely hated.  Cody is so sweet though that he either really likes or pretends to like everything I try. 

I've tried lately to take pictures of most of the recipes I do try.  But that idea didn't start until a few weeks ago, so there are some really great meals I didn't get pictures of.  But, I will make them again and take pictures soon!  I also made a little dinner week board that I made little papers with meals on them so that way I can hang up during the week what I'm planning to make so Cody can see, and if I end up liking the meal, I keep the paper in a cute basket so I have more dinner ideas for later weeks.  Also, in an ideal world, I would like to make my own cook book of only recipes I like to make and I'd love to put the pictures I take in with the recipes. 

I was really worried this one wouldn't work out because I really love this soup.  But it actually turned out fantastic!  I know, soup during summer doesn't quite fit, but I love it too much.  This recipe is a definte keeper!

So I make this one totally homemade, crust and all.  But on this particular pizza I put WAY too much BBQ sauce.  It still tasted good, just a BBQ overload.  Next time, I'm definitely halfing the sauce.

This one is a crock pot recipe (always a bonus!).  The picture doesn't look extremely appealing but it was actually really good.  It has pizza sauce and pepperoni in it with lots of other good spices.  I will repeat this one for sure.

This one is one of my favorite recipes ever, and one my family requests me to make a lot.  It's easy, it's quick, and it tastes the best!

Once again, not an extremely appetizing picture.  And the whole "shredded" idea didn't quite happen.  Usually crock pots are the best at shredded meat so it may have been the roast I bought.  But it turned out tasting pretty good regardless.  My husband requested it again.

So Cody and I always order the steak burrito or salad when we go to Cafe Rio, so I wanted to make a similar burrito.  The steak was easy to do.  And shopping in the hispanic foods section of Walmart is where I got most of my ingredients.  I also added some lime to the rice and it made it even better.



One of my only recipes I totally hated.  This is supposed to be Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings.  Not only does the chicken in my picture look deathly, but the dumplings were mushy and terrible.  I will NEVER make this again.  Chicken and dumplings, yes.  Just not this ridiculous recipe.  Highly disappointed Pinterest.

Finally, An Update

Okay, so it's been a while.  But, we were moving into our new home this past week PLUS we don't have internet yet, so I'm off the hook.  Can I just say, our house is incredible!! First of all, having a place for the dogs to run around where we don't have to worry that the lights on the apartment below us are going to fall off their ceiling if our dog jumps one more time, is the best thing ever.  They can run and play all they want and no one cares.  Plus they finally have a backyard to play in!  Ah, so great. 

Koda didn't do so well at first moving, she get SUPER nervous and was sick the first night.  But after a little Pepto Bismol and she was feeling better.  Both of our dogs have spend the entire week sniffing down every corner of the house, but they both are finally starting to feel comfortable.

Our first night in the home, our swamp cooler went out.  Oh, the luck of being home owners, right?  But my wonderful husband was so good at buying the parts and going on the roof and spent hours fixing the darn thing!  We would be the happiest people in the world to someday get central air.  But we will see if we have the money for that, ever.  The rest of the house has been pretty good to us.  It's just the unpacking part that we are trying to figure out.  The house looks great right now, but one of our bedrooms is designated as the "don't know where to put this stuff yet" room and I hate that.

My ex-missionary/boyfriend got married this week.  That's super odd.  It's weird to me how fast people can change.  Getting married is such a huge decision.  For me, it was a long and painful process to know the decision I was making was the right one.  I struggled for so long learning how to move on from the ex-missionary, something that was so comfortable and known, to something unplanned and almost scary even though I knew Cody was a better fit for me, my personality, my life, and my heart.  I knew regardless though, it was going to be hard to not have that long term person in my life anymore.  And I still have weak moments now and again.  Is it just me that holds on to things subconsciously for so long?  Not love maybe, but presence at least.  Heck, it took me 5 years before I stopped periodically having dreams about my first love when I was 16.  It always seems like dreams are the place that either take you right to the place you are longing to be, or right to the place you are trying to get away from.  For me, it's usually the second.  But that's because I'm a worrier and that's evident in my dreaming.  Good thing I have an amazing husband that is so attentive to all my needs and worries, even when he doesn't realize it.  I know you can be happy with lots of different people in life, but I think I'm one of the extra super lucky ones who found their only soul mate.  Sappy, maybe.  But you'd understand if you could see into my heart.

Now, for pictures.  I will update with pictures of our put together house soon, but for now enjoy totally random pictures of the last few weeks of our lives.  Oh, and I found this new picture app that I'm kind of obsessed with so don't mind the over excitement of picture decorating...

My dogs are either passed out asleep or crazy hyper psychos.  There is no in between.

They don't like to hold still for pictures.

My cute dad is running for Mayor of Murray.  For the 4th parade, we walked for him.  Then found this camel afterwards.  Awesome.

All our dogs do is chase bugs.  Seriously though, they are freaks about it.

My ring is still so perfect and I love it so much!

I guess Dunkin Donuts is new here or something? So we went for part of our date night.  And I'm still a bigger Krispy Kreme fan.

I know I post pictures of my dogs too much, but they are my children.  We have beautiful children.

Okay really, Cody uses his data way too much. 

One of the best parts of summer.  However, I would rather be at bed at 6am instead of about to finish my work shift.

This is shocking really, Koda never lets anyone cuddle or touch her, especially when she's sleeping.  She just really loves Apollo.



More beautiful skies.



I love these summer trees, however I call them allergy trees because the blossoms on them are trying to kill me.



Enjoy A Million Pictures

Remember how I said earlier Cody and I had talked to a realtor about buying a house.  Ya.  We bought a house.  It's a townhome really, but it's so much larger than the houses we looked at!  We went looking at houses for only ONE day.  This is how our day went.

The first house we saw was medocre, but we thought it was what we were going to have to get for our price range so we were satisfied with it.  But the second house blew us away.  It was a single family, one floor house.  It was totally updated, brand new everything- carpet, cabinets, countertops, wood floor... it had the whole deal.  The backyard was like an acre big too! But all weeds and was going to be a lot of work.  And it was only 2 small bedrooms and 1 bathroom.  It was also located near the Rose Park area which we didn't love.  However, we were sure this would be the place.  It was at the top of our price range, but worth the money.

The third house we saw was actually quite impressive also.  It was a single family, one floor house also.  It had 3 bedrooms but the rooms were even smaller and still only 1 bathroom.  However, this place also had a totally updated kitchen and had a better designated area for the dining table.  The backyard was quite a bit smaller and needed some work.  The laundry hookup were also outside the house in a shed which was a little odd.  And this house was also close to the Rose Park area.  But this house had a detached garage which we though would be nice.  We liked this one too.

Our realtor asked us if we found "the place" yet at the third house.  We told him we really loved #2 but #3 was also great.  He advised us to put offers in on both houses (both of which were at the top of our price range) and if we get both, we just pick the one we want. He said in the market, which suprisingly has changed a lot and is a definite sellers market now, both of these houses will get sold extremely fast so we needed to move fast.  We were all for it and told him we wanted to look at one last place before we decided.

We come up to house #4 which is actually a townhome.  It's in a townhome community that is located in Taylorsville near Redwood Road, which was a much better location for us.  When we pulled in, we were a little skeptical- the townhomes were built in the 70's and we weren't sure how much we were going to like them.  When we went inside, we knew instantly this was "the place".  Everything inside was remodeled, brand new carpet, new paint, new cabinets, it was spotless.  It had a main level, upstairs, and basement.  It was 4 bedrooms, 2 bathroom, had a garage, and a backyard.  We were totally sold.  We put an offer in at the top of our budget and learned there were 8 other offers on the place.  But because our realtor is the best ever, after some painful waiting, our offer was accepted!  And even better, the appraisal on the house came back $20,000 less than we expected.  The inspector came and said the house was done really well, only a few minor things to fix, but even he said we picked a winner.

So, this lovely little townhome is our home.  We are still finishing up the closing things on it, but if all goes according to plan, we should be moving in the beginning of July!  It's been such an exciting adventure finding our first home together and we are both so excited for this major change!  I can't wait to plant flowers and have a backyard and there's even a community garden!  I took way too many pictures of it before we moved because I really want to have some awesome after pictures once everything is settled.  So, enjoy the next million pictures of our new home.  And dogs, because I love them and can't leave them out!

The walkway into the house.  Someday we might fence this whole part in for a little privacy.

The inside of our garage.  It's a one car but it's an extended one car garage so that leaves a lot of storage room.



The entry way looking at the front door, garage door entrance is straight across.



Standing at the front door entrance, a look at the living room and dining area.

A view of the living room and fireplace from upstairs.

Our dining area and sliding door into the side yard of the house.

View of the kitchen standing in the dining area.

Farther into the kitchen where you can see the door to the backyard on the right side.

Pantry on the right side of the kitchen.  This is the largest pantry ever!!

Side area in the kitchen where we want to put our laptops and printer.

View of part of the backyard full of weeds- this will be our first project.

Around to the side yard, also full of weeds.

View of the master bedroom that is upstairs. (Bedrooms are so hard to take good picturs of!)

Open walk in closet right on the side of the master.

Part of the master bathroom.

Master bathroom vanity.

Bedroom number 2 that is upstairs.



Fun little bunk shelf in bedroom 2 they added carpet onto.  Probably will someday far in the future be a baby room.



Bedroom 3 that is in the basement.

Little crawl area the is in bedroom 3 that my nieces already love to play in.  It has a little door and everything!

Huge crawl space under the house that goes the length of the house.  Fantastic storage area, although a little creepy to me.

Bathroom 2 in the basement.

Bedroom 4 in the basement.

Well, that's the house!  And now here are the pictures of the beautiful animals in my life that I promised.



Koda, who sleep underneath this bed every night.  Notice it's a bit of a tight squeeze for her to get under there... don't worry, she smashes herself so she fits.

Apollo, whom I am trying VERY hard to teach to sleep on this dog bed in the corner instead of on top of my feet on our bed all night long.  He tends to sneak up on our bed after everyone finally falls asleep though.

My mother's little tootsie finally gave in and loves me like she's supposed to.  I spoil my poodles, she found out quickly.

Yep.  Here's her cute face.  She is a hyper little thing.  ALL THE TIME.  But she's cute so it's okay.



Awkward Times Call For Awkward Measures

I went to a wedding reception yesterday.  It was for one of my good friends from high school. It was in a backyard and it was beautiful.  It was also the first time I saw my ex-boyfriend for the first time since I got married and he got engaged.  And what an adventure it was.

BACKGROUND: I dated this guy for a long time.  Like four years.  Then he went on a mission.  I planned on waiting for him. (Ha.) Eight months before he came home, I met my now husband.  Missionary came home, I stopped seeing my husband.  After a few months I realized I wasn't sure if I felt the same as before his mission and the missionary claimed he also wanted to try dating others.  Then he pretty much fell off the face of the planet.  I again started dating my husband and then got engaged.  Missionary decides to appear again in my life.  I tell him I've moved on and am getting married.  Missionary get engaged to someone else two months later.  The end.

Flash forward to yesterday.  I come to the reception and right when I walk into the backyard, there's the ex-missionary boyfriend's fiance and his sister.  They see me, instantly start the giggles/whispers/stare as much as you possibly can phase that lasts all night long.  Missionary (or so his name shall now be) sees me one time and heads inside the house. And doesn't come back outside the entire time I'm there.  Mind you I stayed for an hour and a half just to see if he would come out.  Nope, he didn't.

 Flash forward again to an hour and a half after I enter the reception.  Missionary's fiance and sister are still in their whispery phase.  Missionary is still hiding in the house.  So, I decide I've had enough. At this point I was sick of being the awkward person being talked about, so I decided to join in the talk.  I went right up to the fiance and sister and said hello to the sister and introduced myself to the fiance.  They seemed really caught off guard.  But I was nice.  I said congrats and that I was sick of avoiding this awkward situation so I wanted to say hi and let you know I was really happy for you.  Seemed like a nice, honest conversation both ways.

A few seconds after I walk away, the fiance and sister run inside the house (past a giant window that everyone can see through...duh) right to the missionary and majorly freak out.  I don't know.  I guess I'm scary or something.

With all the history I had with Missionary, it was a little disappointing to me that he couldn't face me at all.  I would have loved to tell him congratulations on getting engaged and that I was happy for him.  Kind of a full closure kind of conversation you have to have with someone who you were that close with.  But maybe he wasn't ready for that kind of thing.  Kind of sad in my own opinion because he is supposed to be happily engaged now so he shouldn't be scared of me.  I always wondered how it was going to be when I finally saw him again someday, but I have to say, I didn't see it playing out quite like this.  But it is what it is and I'm glad I got that inital "first sighting" out of the way.  Now my book with him is totally closed and over with.

When I was figuring out life between Missionary and my husband, it seemed to me that each time I saw my husband, he really showed me how much of a better fit he was for me.  And each time I saw Missionary, it seemed as though we grew more and more apart.  Yesterday was just another way of proving to me that my husband is SO the right man for me.  I love him in every single way, shape and form!  He thinks like me, he acts like me, we have the same beliefs and views on life, and we definitely know when it's appropriate to be silly and when to be mature.  Yesterday was three months since we've been married.  And it's been the best three months of my life so far! We've been so blessed with so many things, things we would have never imagined at this point.  We are the luckiest newlyweds around.  And I'm the luckiest wife around.

A Utah Man I Am!

Alright.  It's official.  Like for real this time though.  We are STAYING in UTAH!! We gave the dean of ASU way too long and it never ended up working out, so we realized Utah is the best place for us for so many reasons.  I'm thrilled!  As much as I would have loved to spend some time outside of Utah, this means I get to keep my family, I get to keep my job, my husky won't die because of heat stroke, and one of the most exciting.. we get to buy a house!!  Cody has been talking to a realtor friend and we are just starting the process!

I am starting to enjoy my job more and more.  It was really scary to get used to the idea of me being the nurse in charge instead of having the nurse to report to when things got out of the norm.  But I've learned a lot, and I'll just say, through many experiences of having the patient that isn't doing too hot, I feel confident that I can handle just about anything on the maternal/newborn unit.  Put me on med/surg, you have a whole new set of insecurities, but for now I feel safe on my mom/baby floor.  I'm excited that I get to keep working here for a while because the learning opportunites as a nurse never stop.  However, I hate night shifts.  I can't get over how much I hate night shifts.  The hate for night shifts I have grows each time I work one.  They will be the death of me.

Cody started a new job last week at a place called Onset Financial.  Basically, he calls all these super rich CEO's of really big companies and tries to get them to finance big purchases for their company through his company.  I know, sounds like a lot of "spam" work to me too.  BUT.  I'm telling you, he gets so much at his job.  He get food catered for lunch three times a week (Kneaders, Chipotle, Dominos, Barbacoa, Firehouse Subs), plus he came home with new clothes already... from work! Ya, I think they definitely make up for the tough parts of the job.  He seems to enjoy it there, for the most part.  He will only be working until August when he starts law school.  Once law school hits, he will only be a full time student!

House hunting, house hunting, I'm so excited to go house hunting!  Now if only I could convince the Property Brothers to come to Utah and do a house for me, my life would be complete.  But until then, enjoy some of my recent adventures with my iPhone.

My good ol' high school friend Bryson got married! And his wedding reception was just beautiful! Congrats Bryson and Kim!

Ya.  My mom's puppy is super cute.  And they ended up naming her Tootsie!

Any husky owner needs to also own this vacuum.  My apartment would be lost is husky hair forever without this thing.

Cody and I go golfing.  A lot.  And I have pink golf clubs so that makes it okay.

I love my husband.  He cooks me hot dogs a lot and I really love hot dogs.  Plus he looks super cute grilling.



Did I mention I love my husband?  He goes grocery shopping with me.  And we have a lot of fun when we go...



Okay, these aren't from the iPhone.  We got our wedding pictures finally!! And I love them.  I forced myself to only post two pictures here otherwise the list of pictures would NEVER end.  I put many more on facebook, so look there.

Yep.  Temple wedding picture that every little girl dreams of having.  This one is mine.