we're still here...

We're (happily) still here, with a lot of wonderful things to look forward to in this life. I'm just glad it doesn't seem that anybody did anything TOO stupid and nobody got hurt (I was worried about the crazies).

In other news...we've been able to hang out with my family again this weekend thanks to Josh's busy sports schedule. This time football has brought them to us. He's doing a two day football camp with a bunch of his old Tucson Youth Football Wildcat buddies, including my cousin Mikey. So nice to see all of them (and their parents!) and to hang around while the boys play football, like we were at the park again. Oh, the memories. :)

[My mom has my camera with some photos, so those will come later.]

When they pack up to leave, they'll be heading back with one and a half stowaways as Viesa and I will be hitching a ride down for a full week of graduation/birthday festivities. We'll be doing an early celebration of Meggie's birthday, celebrating Ethan's birthday, and celebrating Kyle, Josh, and Taylor's graduations (college, middle school, and high school respectively). I am thrilled. A week of family, doesn't get any better than that. I am also making a point to see Miss Sarah O, Miss Kristin and her sweet baby Emily (that I KNOW is going to be totally big and beautiful and unrecognizable), Viesa's other mom and dad, Gina and Tom, any anyone else I've been missing. I know there won't be enough hours in the day, but we really miss a lot of you. Christian will join us after his doctoring practical exam Wednesday evening for Taylor's graduation, head back up to finish a few last minute things, and be back friday night to spend the weekend in Tucson. Whew.  A lot of driving but all worth it.

And because nobody likes a text only post:

Happy Sunday (here's to many more!),
Ash, Chris, & Viessey

MS2.

Today, Christian takes his last exam as an MS1 (first year medical student). We are almost upon our one year anniversary here in Phoenix. SO NUTTY. I can't believe how fast it went. It has been a busy/tumultuous/exciting/crazy year. Here's a recap of what we were up to July of last year:
(WARNING: photo-heavy recap of the move/white coat)

First, the move. Middle of July. We left early to beat the heat (it was 115 degrees the day we moved in).

AMAZING help from both Christian's family and my family. Kyle moved a lot of heavy things (and got really sweaty). Now that I think about it, we all got pretty sweaty. Taylor/Savannah/Ethan/Megan got really good at putting together Ikea furniture.

Yes, my teddy moved up to Phoenix with us. Don't judge.

And then: the first day of medical school!!! July 2010.

Then the house started coming together....

Then, White Coat!!!

Engagements - Oct. 2010

Christian, I am SO unbelievably proud of all the work you've put in the last year. Not only did you ROCK medical school like it's your job ('cause it actually kind of is your job right now), but you supported me through one of the more funky years of my life. If this year is any indication of how the next three years will go, I am proud and happy to be along for the ride. Here's to three more years of med school crazy. :)

WE LOVE YOU.
Ash + V

Gladult? Glurse? Glady?

I guess Gleek works just fine. A Glee geek...I said it. That's what happens when the hubs is locked and loaded for the last week of exams and is studying at school around 13 hours a day. I mean, I'm almost through all of it. Desperate between-work-and-school RN seeks emotionally supportive Phoenix friend.

GLEE! GET ON BOARD.

<3
Ash + V

couch to 5K.

Sounds so easy, right?! Step one: you're on the couch. Terrifyingly easy. I started that one approximately five years ago and have had no problem maintaining. Step two: start running. Yikes! We'll get back to that one. Step four: success! Running 3.1 glorious miles without stopping (which doesn't sound like a big deal to a lot of you, but is a huge deal to some of us). Hopefully this is our little family turning over a new leaf in our health (although Viesa is the picture of health...something Chris and I both aspire to).

Definitely had to dust these bad boys off.

Today was day one of the eight week program. It felt really good to sweat, especially as a family (again, Viesa didn't do a ton of sweating, but anyway...).

I can't decide if she's smiling because she's happy or if she's laughing at me for what poor shape I'm in.

Happy Monday. 

Love,

Ash + Chris + Viesserton

P.S. I love how on Glee the cheerleaders wear their uniforms to school ALL DAY EVERY DAY. Sooooo realistic. :)

tucson HEAT!

No, we weren't in Tucson (and frankly, it wasn't even particularly hot this weekend). I mean THE Tucson Heat! You know...the famous basketball team....? No? Well, they're famous to us. My fave player happens to be related to me and THE Tucson Heat happened to have a basketball tournament in Phoenix this weekend. Hooray for visitors! We love visitors...if you can't tell.

I have to say, one of the best things about having siblings is their awesome friends and how you get to adopt them like they belong to you. Meggie is getting a little old for this (however I still like to claim her freshman roommate...love you, Bergie...) but Josh is a real winner. He has some of the coolest friends (the football boys), and frankly, I'd drop just about anything in a heartbeat for any of my "brothers"-from-another-mother. Laramie, Aaron, Adrian...I love these boys and am SO proud of the wonderful young men they are growing up to be. Basketball has been a new adventure for Josh and he's rocking it and making new, awesome friends. This weekend, Mom and Josh brought up Nate with them (Nate the Great). Nate's an awesome basketball player and a really nice kid. Turns out he's into cell phone hacking and he and Christian made fast friends. J - thanks for keeping great company (most of the time) and for being friends with non-turds. I understand that at this age it's kind of a difficult task. Nate - we really enjoyed having you! You're welcome anytime. Thanks for suggesting we go bowling! We had a great time for our first experience at fancy-schmancy bowling alley, Lucky Strike Lanes (ATTN: MEGAN AND KYLE - WE'RE GOING HERE).

Nate the Great

Josh's first two games were at a way cool (as in, we could never afford such a thing in Tucson...Phoenix sucks the life money out of this state) sports complex in west Phoenix that had like a million basketball courts and, more importantly, two HUGE and AWESOME turf indoor soccer courts (is it a court if it's covered in turf??). SO COOL. Like, I would maybe drive my butt all the way to Avondale to play on those bad boys.

The weekend as a whole was successful. The boys won 3 of 4 games (They lost the one I didn't make it to. Coincidence? I think not...) and Josh got a lot of playing time. He's really starting to get the hang of this ultra-competitive club basketball business. I also went to a bridal shower for one of Christian's classmates who happens to be marrying another one of his classmates who happened to start dating the first semester of medical school (did you get all of that?). Oh...and Chris happens to be a groomsman in the wedding. :) It was lovely and I enjoy spending time with such wonderful and intelligent ladies (ie: I was the only one at the shower that was not a medical student somewhere in this country). Holy cow. It also happens to be my first wedding-related experience post my own wedding, which was strange. It makes me feel old even though it just happened. It feels like it was so long ago to me! I think it's just because we've been up to so much this year. The old wedding website still keeps a convenient tally in days (149, since you were totally wondering). 5 months SAY WHAT. We have two weddings in June, including the wedding of Christian's classmates (Jenn and Warner) and the much anticipated wedding of my nursing buddy and dear friend Angela (and Seth will be there too...)!!! I am equal parts excited about Angela getting married and being reunited with my nursing school loves. I miss these girls SO MUCH.

Last but certainly not least was that Saturday marked the 24th year on this planet for my best friend, Sarah O. Sarah is an amazing friend, amazing person, and is one of the most courageous human beings I know. She takes leaps towards the life she wants (and loves) every day and I admire her SO MUCH. Sarah, every time I talk to you I hope some more of you rubs off on me. You're incredible and I love you. Thank you for always being a wonderful friend to me.

With all of that said, I hope everyone had a great weekend and is ready for the week ahead. I'm working through some school stuff and am kind of limbo-ing between everything and guess what? I'm going with the flow. It's great being surrounded by supportive people. That means YOU.

XXXOOO.
Ash, Chris, & V

P.S. This is Christian's last week of classes before he finishes his FIRST YEAR OF MEDICAL SCHOOL (happy dance!!!). How fantastic is that guy?!

P.P.S. Do yourselves a favor (if you're okay with a little...okay a lot...of raunchiness):

JUST DO IT.

Taking a leap.

If there's one thing that I've learned through college, nursing school, and nursing in general is that stress = sickness. Maybe not right now, maybe not in this moment, but it inevitably catches up with you. I believe that's why I've been on the couch for a day and a half. At least the company is good.

Monday morning, after my Sunday night shift, I took a leap. I told my boss that I would no longer be able to work at Maryvale because I was going back to school. I have been dreading this since I found out I got in and decided to go full time. My boss is a nice but kind of harsh british lady that I met while the unit was preparing for Joint Commission visits (the hospital accreditation committee who 'sneak attacks' hospital units looking for mistakes).  Needless to say, she was slightly stressed and I became a little intimidated. I've built up how I was going to do this for a few weeks now and I've been absolutely dreading it. It's been so hard because I'm still on orientation (training with a preceptor). I'm going to quit before I was ever carrying a real load on my own and actually helping the unit out. I've been feeling so guilty because they really gave me a shot when I was desperate for a job and I've been so appreciative. 

I was ready (I had written my letter of resignation letter and two cards for my day and night shift preceptors) and knew I had to do it Monday morning (school starts in exactly two weeks!) but I was so scared. As my shift came to a close I thought I was going to vomit all over the place, but when it came down to it, she was actually really nice. She said she was sad to lose me and that she was really happy with my progress. She said it sounded like a great opportunity. I am beyond relieved to have that over with. I'm not the type of person that does what's best for her regardless of what the consequences are to others and one of my main roadblocks to even deciding I would go back to school was this job and the fact that I hadn't been there very long. 

Whew. Now I can move forward and get everything together for school. My financial aid has been processed (don't even ask) and those funds should be in soon. Then I can buy books and get my butt studying. 

If only I could kick this stomach bug.

Love,

Ash + V

It's 5 o'clock....

Yeah. In the morning. At this point in my night I'm thinking: BREAKFAST...MUST HAVE BREAKFAST.
Oh, and y   a   w   n. I'm beyond ready to crawl into bed with my little family, but alas...2 more hours. :/

Thanks to everyone who wished me a Happy Nurse's Day. You guys are awesome and I just feel thankful to do a job that I love and that is thoroughly awesome.

On that note....HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY. To my mom: you are wonderful, smart, and patient. Thanks for teaching me so many things and always being the coolest mom of all the kids I knew (trust me...many of them, to this day, still talk about how cool my mom was/is). To my mother-in-law: you are amazing, kind, and loving. I am so grateful to call you my second mother and friend! Not to mention, you raised an incredible son who I have the pleasure of calling my husband. To my sister-in-law: you are raising the sweetest boy in the world. Thanks for being so good at making babies! I can't wait to meet the next one!

To everyone else out there I love (grandmas/aunties/friends/mothering folk): you are inspiring. Thank you for being so wonderful.

I apologize in advance for sleeping through your special day.

Love x 34567890,
Ash