Confessions

Seems lately that I haven't had the inspiration to blog... I've been trying to figure just why this is. The conclusion I have come to conclude is Pinterest. Shame on that website! Ok, so it's not just that. December has turned into quite the busy month. I guess it all started with Thanksgiving. We had Turkey Day with the Wampler's in Salt Lake City, Utah. When we came back, we went right back to work. Michael filled in for a couple days on the night audit shift, the one from 11 pm to 7 am, gross, I know, but that was just practice for when he takes over that shift full time in January. Yay. We had our ward Christmas party on the 8th. It was pretty awesome. Ham, cheesy potatoes, salad, rolls, and of course dessert. A sign up sheet went through the girls meeting group at church, but by the time the list reached me, the dessert slots were all taken. Well that's just nuts. So I volunteered to bring a salad with one stipulation... I could bring a cake too! I'm really glad I brought both, most of the food went really fast and there wasn't anything left by the end of the night. The cake I made was amazing! You'll never guess where I found the recipe... Pinterest! It was a chocolate cake with chocolate icing and a cream cheese, whip cream, oreo filling. Amazing. I swear it's like heaven on a plate. Here's the recipe if you want it. http://realmomkitchen.com/6917/chocolate-oreo-cream-cake/
In other news, we had a Christmas party for Michael's work. It was at the hotel, catered by da Pineapple Grill. We had a white elephant gift exchange and the Hairy Fairy returned! Last year, Libby, a Marriott employee, brought this gift to the party. Originally, the little barbie was a regular doll that you could play in the bath with. Libby turned this doll into a hairy monster by taping hair to her legs. She included a razor and changed the barbies name to the Hairy Fairy, a Shave with me Barbie. So funny! Nate, another worker at the Marriott, received this gift last year and got stuck with it. As you know, you can "steal" any gift from anyone when it's your turn. That gift never got stolen.... This year, the Hairy Fairy returned. Nate had kept this special doll in his closet, or so he says, all year just to bring it to this party. I forget who got it this year though, sorry. And I didn't take a single picture. Michael had to work that night, so he came and hung out for a few minutes and I got to stay at the party. There was a caramel apple bar and a hot chocolate bar. It was pretty cool.
I had a Christmas party for my work as well. According to tradition, the employees at Cedar Ridge Animal Hospital got treated to dinner at Stockman's. If you have never been there, I highly suggest you do. That was the best steak I've ever had. Of course I was nervous about what I was allowed to get, ya know, don't want to be rude or anything. So I asked the other girls ahead of time and they said they all get the prime rib or something super awesome and they always get dessert. So I got the filet mignon and Michael got the 16 oz ribeye, or maybe the prime rib, I'm not really sure. We both had asparagus on the side and rolls and salad and my boss ordered nachos as appetizers. We got the white chocolate raspberry cheesecake for dessert. It was amazing. Best steak I've ever had in my entire life. I don't ever want to eat any other steak ever again. Dang, now I'm ruined, I can't go back after that! There was a bit of conversation, mostly just eating though. And that was it.
We are currently dogsitting for one of my teachers. Dr Dredge has 2 shih tzus that are just adorable. Scamper, the bigger one and the boy, is kind of afraid of Michael. He barks at him every time he sees him when he hasn't seen him in a while. I don't blame him, just as Scamper was getting used to Michael, Michael scared him. Figures. Snowflake is the tiny one, the girl, and the most lovable dog ever. She is so sweet and really just wants to sit in your lap and be loved all day. I've really enjoyed having them in the house. And they've done really well with Ivan. I think it's really good for Ivan to be exposed to dogs early on, that way he can kind of get used to seeing them and not be afraid when we get a dog, however soon or not soon that may be. I have contemplated asking Dr Dredge how much money it would take to buy these dogs, they are so good. Then I think about the fact that he has 6 kids that all love these guys so much and I just couldn't do that to them. Darn kids. It just gives me hope that someday I'll be able to find a dog that fits well with our family and I can love and spoil him all I want. One day...
School is starting again soon. My schedule is dumb. I'll be taking 14 credits, 6 on campus (aka the livestock center) and 8 online. Yay.  Monday and Wednesday I go from 1030 -1230, Tuesday 745-845 & 315-615, and Friday from 130-330. So my current work schedule of Monday and Friday mornings and all day Wednesday no longer works. I talked to my boss a while ago and tried to convince him that I could still work while I'm not in class, but there is another tech there that is also in school. She goes every morning until 1230. So she is going to work every afternoon. That leaves Monday and Wednesday short one person. There's no way to fill those spots with anyone else that works there, so we have to hire someone else. Today I overheard a conversation about seniority, since Brianna, the other girl going to school, has been there longer she gets first pick at schedule. I'm cool with that. It makes sense. However, when I spoke with my boss about working Thursday, Friday, and Saturday mornings his reply went something like... well the girl I want to hire needs at least 20 hours a week, so if she needs one of those days you want, I'm giving it to her. Where's the seniority there? I've been there since August and I think I'm pretty darn good at my job. Plus is the new girl works Monday & Tuesday mornings and all day Wednesday, she'll be getting 20 hours right there. And I've even talked to the groomer about helping her bathe dogs on Monday and Wednesday mornings before I go to class just to get a few more hours in. I don't know if I really need or want all those hours, but the more experience I get, the better I'm going to be at my job in the long run. Plus, if I can keep my foot in the door at this place, I'll more than likely have a job there when I graduate. And in a place like this, that is the only way I'm going to get a job within 20 miles of where I live. There are only 2 vet clinics in Rexburg, one small animal, one mixed and I really don't want to work in a mixed practice. And there are 20 students graduating 3 months ahead of me with the same degree I have. Sure, only 5 or so will stay here, but when there's one job opening and 5 people want it... who's gonna get it? Plus there will be about 7 or so more staying here that are graduating with me. So if 13 people, including me are all going for the same job, what chances do I have of actually getting it? If I already work there, then I'm set. So I'll do what it takes to make it work. Michael is taking 15 credits and will be working full time with night audit. He can do all his homework at work, even his online stuff. I figure this way he is forced to do some reading and maybe he'll get worse at procrastinating and maybe he'll just get his stuff done on time without the stress of turning it in close to deadline. Who knows, maybe he'll just get a Netflix membership and watch movies all night. It's a very real reality. Can I say that? Real reality? Here's to dedication, determination, and no sleep. We've got a few friends in town that are willing to watch Ivan when our schedules overlap, which I think is mostly Tuesday and Friday afternoons, depending on work stuff. I have to say, with both of us going to school full time, Michael working full time, and me working part time, we'll only have about 7 hours a week that we'll need someone other than us watch Ivan. Glad we could work that out, well, except for the fact that Michael and I won't really see each other. We'll have to see what we can do about that one.
December just keeps getting busier. We're headed to Utah this weekend for family pictures, baby pictures and extended family pictures. Plus a Wampler gift exchange/ party, meeting with old friends and the long drive there and back. Did I mention exploring Cabela's and 2 hotel stays and different hotels? Yay hot tubs! I'm so excited to not be in Rexburg for a bit. After that, we're throwing a Christmas party at our house. I've invited all our local friends and we'll be decorating home made gingerbread houses & cookies, watching Christmas movies, eating lots of party foods, and hanging out. I'm so excited! Then we head out for Tennessee. My mom, who is very convincing, decided for me that I was going to Tennessee for Christmas. Oh, and I wasn't allowed to come unless I brought Ivan. Sweet little boy that he is, I'm so excited for him to meet all his aunts and uncles out there. It'll be nice for some warmer weather too, I heard it was in the 60s there today. And it snowed a bunch here... Interesting. But, we'll be there for a week. We've got lots of friends to see, family to hang out with, gifts to be exchanged and people to introduce to Ivan!
Oh, this post was originally just going to be about my lack of motivation to blog and how Pinterest has ruined me. I want to look at that website all the time. I'm always finding great new recipes and fun new crafts. That is what my confession is. Oh and that I might be keeping Dr Dredge's dogs. Oh, but the kids... I can't make up my mind.