Crazy Faces!

Poor Grandma, look at all these Looney Tunes she's related to!

Grandpa Chalmer's Memorial

My Grandpa Chalmer's Funeral and Memorial were on Saturday. It was really nice to be with my family. I only wish that everyone who was missing could've been there too, including Grandpa. Here are some pictures from the day of some cousin love.

These pics are missing two boy cousins- Marcus and Tyler of the San Diego Ponds, and then Brookie Cookie and my two sisters.

It's been a crazy few days...

• Grandpa Chalmer died on Saturday.
• Barack Obama was sworn in as President on Tuesday and I totally slept in and missed it.
• I interviewed for Med/Surg Oncology, canceled an interview for the ICU, and accepted the Med/Surg Oncology position.
• and today I fly to Portland for the weekend for Grandpa Chalmer's funeral and memorial.
  

I'm hoping the next few weeks will be less eventful.

Graham Cracker Cake

Sometimes you just want to feel like a kid again, like when your Grandpa wasn't dying. So, you make something to eat that you loved as a kid. Here is a picture of my Graham Cracker Cake...

If you'd like to feel like a kid again...

-In a bowl, mix one box of raspberry jello with a jar of applesauce
-Line a 9x13 dish with a layer of graham crackers
-Layer half of the raspberry/applesauce on the crackers
-Add a second layer of graham crackers
-Layer the second half of the applesauce on the crackers
-Top with a third and final layer of graham crackers
-Finish with a small tub of Cool Whip
-Refrigerate over night, covered with saran wrap

It's a silly, poor man's dessert, but I love it and it makes me feel like a kid again. And there's nothing wrong with that!

Today is Libby's Birthday

...and I sent her this. It's a necklace I made with two antique sterling silver charms. She's currently in these states on a mission. I hope she likes it!

Movie Review: STARDUST

Now that I'm done with school I'm trying to catch up on the Netflix queue (yeah, I should be studying for the NCLEX but I have priorities here people). I didn't let Ben watch any movies with out me this last year, and we never had time to go to the theater so the queue is loooong. This last week we got Stardust in the mail. I don't even remember adding it to the queue, or hearing that much about it. But it was a great movie! It's a fantasy/love story and had a few notable actors in it like Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert DeNiro. It's reminiscent of the Princess Bride, not as tame but definately a similar feel. It had some pretty hilarious moments and some unique elements, like the pirate ship. Both Ben and I really enjoyed it.

5 Things Tag

Janae tagged me which is awesome because I love writing lists!

5 Things I was doing 5 years ago:

• Unpacking at my brand new house in Seattle
• Starting a new job at Azteca
• Hanging out with Ben
• Fighting with Becky
• Starting school at Shoreline

5 Things on my to do list for today:

• Go to the post office
• Go to physical therapy
• Stop at the staffing office at the hospital
• Laundry
• Dishes

5 Things I would do with a million dollars:

• Invest it and turn it into more than a million
• Pay off debt
• Travel around the world
• Buy a piano
• Get a makeover

5 Places I have lived:

• Portland, OR
• Vancouver, WA
• Provo, UT
• Seattle, WA
• Tucson, AZ

5 Jobs I have held:

• Burgerville girl too
• Barista at Starbucks
• Gap Person/clothes folder
• Waitress at like a bazillion restaurants
• Patient Care Technician, aka Nurse's slave

5 Things I want to be doing in 5 Years:

• Traveling
• Working as an ER nurse
• Living in my own house
• Being a wife and mom
• Driving a fuel cell car

5 People I tag:

• Laura
• Brooke
• Kristi
• Aunt Lisa
• Rachelle

My New Year's Resolutions

I figure if I put these goals out there, that maybe I'll actually be able to achieve them, or at the very least get harassed by Ben until I do.

1. Get a job. This shouldn't be that hard since I've already got a contract, but we'll see.
2. Lose at least 15 pounds. I know that sounds like a lot but I have gained twice that in the last three years. I should be able to do this by getting off my butt for work, and with my physical therapy. My bras might not fit, but my pants will and that will be awesome.
3. Pay off my student loans, and the couple other debts I have. Sure I have a nice small minimum payment that would last me the next ten years, but I don't like bills, so I want to take care of that as soon as I can.
4. Catch up on my scrapbooks and photo albums. I've been putting them off through school and I can't wait to get them done.
5. Go Skydiving.
6. Go on a real vacation to Hawaii or Alaska, someplace relaxing without a ton of sightseeing to do, oh and camping.
7. Plan my next big trip either to South America, Australia and New Zealand or back to Europe.
8. Read books that have nothing to do with Nursing.
9. Give up ABC daytime. This will be hard because they are bringing back one of my favorite all time characters to GH...oh and Jason and Sam are getting back together. AHHH, this one is going to be almost impossible.
10. Stick to my budget. This will also be very difficult, with all the paying off debt, traveling, new clothes, and ebaying for antique sterling silver charms I will be doing!
11. Take my lunch to work everyday. The food at the hospital sucks so bad, and I really never want to eat it ever again.
12. Floss or use my new water pik every day.

Holy Crap, I am going to be busy this year, I mean the flossing alone is going to take a ton of time. If only I could pipe General Hospital into the bathroom!

Winter Wonderland

The day after my Pinning ceremony Ben and I flew into Seattle for the holidays. And there was snow, tons of snow. It totally messed up our plans to drive all over the state of Washington to spend an equal time with each family (each of Ben's parents families and his brother's family, and my parents and grandparents). But we managed to see everyone at least for a night, and got to see quite a few friends from high school and college...and got to get Burgerville THREE times. Mmm, Burgerville. I think I'd fly back just for that place. Some highlights of the vacation were: getting to hang out with my mom and play with our charm bracelets, seeing Grandpa and Grandma, catching up with Uncle Scott, walking through the snow with Ben, watching Ben shovel the snow (yeah, he's totally a babe), hanging out with Kevin, dinners with Katie and Steve, and spending a couple nights at the lake with Dave and Marifran (Ben's dad and stepmom). These are some great shots of Lake Cushman that they took during the snow storm. Isn't that an amazing shot that Marifran took of the eagle!?

The lowlights of the trip were: getting cabin fever in Seattle, not getting to go to the symphony, not having enough time to spend with everyone, feeling depressed because it was frrrreezing and dark, Ben and I both getting colds, oh and breaking my cellphone when I dropped it in a puddle, and having my laptop smashed by the airline on my way home. Happy New Year to me! Thank goodness I have Ben who got me a new phone and will be able to fix my laptop! I hope you all had a good Christmas break!