What a wonderful trip home!

I know it has been almost a week since Matt and I got back from our little trip to Sioux Falls, but I thought I would write about how amazing the trip was! I just want to start off by saying I have the most amazing family and friends EVER! I love you all!!!!!!!!!!

While we were back in SF, we spent the weekend with my oldest brother and his fiance, my cousin, and my mom. Talk about a fun time! Some of the super fun things we did included:

• bowling
• eating BWWs (my mom did the blazin' challenge)
• played in the snow
• got pedicures (the girls only)
• made yummy meals
• played cards (of course!)
• played the Wii
• talked about the upcoming wedding
• laughed so hard our faces hurt :D

A picture of my oldest brother, Adam and his soon to be wife, Cassidy! LOVE THEM!


A picture of my cousin Amy and our "two mommies". Yes- they are twins! My mom (Lori) is in the black standing next to me and Amy's mom (Lisa) is standing next to her.



Matt and I also got to spend some quality time with his family. We got to stay with Matt's older brother, Joe, and his girlfriend Jodi for a few nights. Matt's parents came down as well because Matt's grandpa had surgery on Monday while we were there. Don't worry- he is doing well :) While we were all staying at Joe and Jodi's house, we got to play this super fun dinner murder mystery game. We all got dressed up as our character and we read off scripts but also got to put in our own words... So fun! Then at the end we had to guess who the killer was. The killer ended up being Matt's dad, Brian! So funny! We had so many laughs!!!! It was great getting to hang out with both families while we were in SF.

I also got to spend some time, but definitely not enough time, with my great friends. One day I went up to Brookings to my old stomping grounds... I got to see Emily, Lauren, Darin, Derek, Nick, and Molly while I was there. We had such a great time hanging out at the Student Union and catching up on old times. Even if I didn't really have a voice.... I wish I would have been able to meet back up with Em like we had tried to plan, but it just didn't happen :( Sorry Em! I truly enjoyed just being with everyone there... Man, how I miss you all!

To Emily- thanks so much for the shout out on your blog! I didn't get to read it until I got home though! It meant so much to me! You are awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANKS!

Of course Jen and I got together while I was in town... She actually came back from Hawaii on the Saturday I was there so she had lots of stories for me! We always have a killer good time just kickin' back at a coffee shop. I wish we could do it more often! Matt, Jen, and I went to the movie Valentine's Day while we were in town. It was okay.... the popcorn made it worth it ;)

Mannie and Carl also drove down to see me while I was in town! I haven't seen those two in forever.... Mannie, Carl, Jen, and I had a great supper at Texas Roadhouse. Yum! Mannie and Jen totally womped on Carl and I in Sequence like 8 times... but it is okay because Carl is happy with getting close to winning. LOL! I am still very competitive and everyone likes to give me crap for it! Bring it!

Matt and I loved being home and we truly wish we could make it back more often, but unfortunately we can't! I can't believe how much money we spent while we were there! Ouch! In the end, it was totally worth it! But we probably won't be coming home for awhile! Sorry all! Thanks for all of the laughs and memories!

XOXO

Something to ponder...

While I have been staying home from work, I have been doing a lot of "research". By "research" I mean house/apartment hunting! I have found my dream apartment here in Rapid City. I want to live there so so so so bad! Harmony Heights looks like a wonderful place to live! These apartments have a beautiful layout, an amazing pool, a tempting hot tub, a great looking fitness room, a social room, and they allow pets! Oh man, can you say YES! But of course the cost is much higher than we pay now... :(

Matt and I currently live in a one bedroom apartment and we both agree that we need more room! So the next place we live has to be a two bedroom or more... Plus, we have the "boys" so we need somewhere that allows pets. Which makes things difficult! Not everyone loves animals like we do! The apartments that we are looking at require a $500 deposit for cats. $500!!!!!! Yikes! Plus, $25 per month/per cat! Darn it!

So Matt and I have been debating if it is really worth moving into these amazing apartments... we would have to make some adjustments! Then there comes the other thought I have been pondering- moving to AZ! I know you all think I am crazy, but I am seriously thinking about it! As a nurse down in AZ, I would be making probably $5.00 more/hour! Plus, Matt would probably be able to find a job that pays better than how much he gets paid now. Matt would also probably be able to find something that relates a little more to his major. The place where my wonderful cousin, Amy, lives is amazing! She pays about $100-$150 more per month than it would cost if Matt and I lived in my "dream" apartment mentioned above. Really makes a person think! Plus, my cousin said that the hospital she works at is hiring right now...

I know this is crazy, but I can't help but think about it! But then I think about how homesick I get now and how much worse it would be if I lived that far away from my family and friends! Except for the fact I would have Amy there!!!!!!! LOVE HER! She thinks it would definitely be worth it! He he he... Of course she does! I for sure want to work at RCRH at least one year though. I am learning so much where I work and I love the people I work with! They are all so kind to me! I wouldn't mind sticking with the job I have now...

Oh decisions!

Strep throat = missing work.

Well, I am sitting at home today again and missing work. Sucky! I HATE using PPL for sick days... what a waste. I started feeling a little sick on Friday and I went to the Dr. because I felt like I had Strep throat. Ding ding- I was correct! I was put on an antibiotic and told I couldn't work on Saturday. During the night on Friday and early Saturday morning I had the worst body aches I can ever remember having! Ouch! I was also running a fever... Good thing I had orders not to work on Saturday! But throughout Saturday, I was running a fever and having body aches still. I ended up having to call in to work again due to still running a fever. So I am at home again- bored out of my mind. I am feeling better today, but I did wake up with horrible body aches and a temp again this am. I'm hoping for a good night sleep tonight!

Last night when I started running a temp again, I sent a text to my cousin, Amy, who is a nurse and told her what was up with me. Amy wrote me this as a text message "Take meds for 4th time today, take nyquil and go to sleep stat. T.O. Dr. Feelbetter/A(her last name)RN." If you know anything about taking telephone orders from a Dr.-this is absolutely hilarious! It truly made my day! I love her :D (I get to see her in 4 days! Very excite!)

It sucks being home sick because I don't feel like doing anything. It would be worth using PPL if I was actually being productive around here. Luckily I got some laundry done on Friday when I wasn't feeling too bad yet. Now my house is a mess and I have no energy or ambition to clean it. Nice huh?!? I have tomorrow off too, so I am hoping I feel up to cleaning and getting stuff packed up because Matt and I leave for Sioux Falls on Wednesday morning! Well, back to what I have been doing best the past couple of days- watching Lifetime movies and snuggling with my kitties while sitting in my recliner.... Perhaps I will put the superbowl on for tonight. Even though I don't really care about who wins it this year....

Let the countdown begin....

I get to go home! Well, I get to go to Sioux Falls in five days... Matt and I are going to leave for Sioux Falls Wednesday morning and stay until Tuesday! It is going to be such a nice little vacation and we can't wait! We are going to spend some quality time with Matt's family when we first get into town. Matt and I are going to stay with Matt's brother, Joe. I'm looking forward to getting to know Joe's girlfriend and their family a little better. We plan on probably going out and playing some darts and pool or maybe just stay in and play some card games. Either way, I am up for it!

Thursday I get the opportunity to have lunch with two wonderful ladies that I used to work with in college. I worked at the Student Affairs office throughout my whole college career. I'm so excited to go back to Brookings and have lunch with Joella and Patty at one of my favorite restaurants in town, Cubby's. Yum :) Both of these women are so amazing! Joella was always there to watch out for me during my college years... She was always so caring and understanding of the stress that comes with school. She was also there for me during my 2nd year of school when my family had three deaths in the family. And of course she was there for me during my health issues.... She is just like a mother to me... Love her! And Patty is amazing too of course! She started at the Student Affairs office a few years after I did but we just "clicked". She is such a happy go lucky kind of girl and is so easy to talk to. I felt like I could share anything with her and she would always try to give me her advice. I miss all of those conversations.... Love her! Both of these ladies even came to my wedding even though they didn't know anyone else there.... That meant so much to me! In other words, they both mean a lot to me and I can't wait to have lunch with them!

After my exciting lunch date, I get to meet up with one of my bestest friends, Emily! Emily and I go way back... She has always been there for me and she just seems to understand me, which I know is a difficult job! We always have great conversations full of laughter and sometimes even tears! I cannot wait to catch up with her!

My fave cousin, Amy then flies in on Thursday night! I get the pleasure of picking her up at the airport! Perhaps I should make some fun signs?!?!? Yeah, I think she would appreciate that! We are all going to stay at Adam and Cassidy's place for the weekend! FUN TIMES AHEAD! My mom and hopefully my auntie Jeannie are coming down too! We are going to sit around and play games and drink margaritas! Sounds like a fun time to me! I love my family so much! Hopefully I will get to see my other brother and his wife too while I am in town.

Then my hubby's grandpa is going to be having surgery on Monday so we will be hanging out at the hospital and spending some time with Matt's family. Please say a little prayer for Matt's grandpa if you can! We just pray that everything turns out great and that he has a speedy recovery!

These are the things that are in the works so far, but sometime throughout all of this madness I hope to get together with my other bestest friends! You all know who you are!!!! I want to see all of you while I am home because I miss you all dearly!!!!!!!! LOVE YOU!

Get ready Sioux Falls- because here we come! :D