So, updates for our year so far!
1)Will turned TWO! Can you believe it? We celebrated with a big family party, which including all the other January birthdays! Will got an Elmo potty to start becoming interested in potty training. We won't start yet, we're just hoping he becomes familiar with it. He also got a Leap Pad, a Thomas the Train Set, Elmo movies and money to go to Hire's. He was basically spoiled rotten! We love that little man! His stats were: 34 1/2 inches and 22.7 pounds. That's right, he's on the chart, officially!
2)We finished all the secondary applications for medical school! We're just waiting to hear back from them about whether we get to interview or not. (When I say 'we' I really mean Andy, but I'm involved as well!)
3) We've heard back from Nova Southeastern in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla, they want to interview! That's set up for Feb. 17th. We'll let you all know how that goes.
4) We've heard back from Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona. They also want to interview! That's set up for April 4th. We'll let you know how THAT one goes, too!
Things have been going really great around here. Will is getting so big, talking up a storm. Andy is doing really well in school. We're so glad this is his last semester! Hopefully, when he is in school, I'll be able to go back as well. I still want to do Landscaping. I am not sure if I want to do the design part of it or the science part of it yet. We'll see once that happens. We've been having lots of play dates with friends and family. Soaking up as much time with them as we can. It's crazy knowing you're moving, but having no idea when exactly or WHERE, for that matter! I know the Lord sees us and watches out for us and knows what is best for us! If we could just get a little hint, that would be nice!!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Join Me!
I'm not usually one for New Year's Resolutions...but I do like to set goals. I usually have the typical goals, work out more, eat healthier, help others, self-improvement...yada, yada.
As you all know, I love to read. I am a goodreads member. They are doing a "Goodreads reading Challenge for 2011". Basically, you commit to read a certain number of books for the year of 2011. I love goodreads. It's a great tool to find new books and talk with others about novels you read when you don't have time to join a book club. This year I committed to read 24 books. That's 2 a month. Can I do it? You bet. Will I love it? You bet. The question is...Can I keep my house clean and child entertained at the same time? Probably. I have already read one this year. "The Six Wives of Henry VIII" and it was great! I love history, so this was a perfect fit for me.
Reading is fundamental...but it's also just fun!
As you all know, I love to read. I am a goodreads member. They are doing a "Goodreads reading Challenge for 2011". Basically, you commit to read a certain number of books for the year of 2011. I love goodreads. It's a great tool to find new books and talk with others about novels you read when you don't have time to join a book club. This year I committed to read 24 books. That's 2 a month. Can I do it? You bet. Will I love it? You bet. The question is...Can I keep my house clean and child entertained at the same time? Probably. I have already read one this year. "The Six Wives of Henry VIII" and it was great! I love history, so this was a perfect fit for me.
Reading is fundamental...but it's also just fun!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Top 10 of 2010
I have spoken with quite a few friends who seem to have had a horrible 2010...I find that very sad. This year has been very exciting and fun for us, we've had our ups and downs, sure, but it's been a great year! With our Christmas cards this year, we only sent out a picture, no Fraser Family Top 10. So, I thought I would do our Top 10 on the blog instead. Growing up, I have learned to NOT dwell on the negative, and it pleases me to say that all I seem to remember about 2010 are the good things. I think it's important for us all to realize that good comes out of every trial or triumph we go through.
So, here's a cheers to you, 2010:
10. We celebrated Will's FIRST birthday on January 25th. He has grown SO much since then, but there is only one first.
9. We used our tax return to buy camping gear galore! And we were able to put it to good use. If I could put each trip as a top 10, I would, but it would take up all the spaces!
8. We sold our Malibu and...bought a VW Passat wagon! And it was relatively painless, and we didn't pick up a car payment either.
7. We spent our first summer driving all over the state of Utah and Idaho and Wyoming and Montana camping and prancing around in nature. Camping is our favorite American Past-time and we can't wait to see where 2011 takes us for new camping adventures.
6. I took an herbs class and grew a bunch of my own herbs and learned how to dry and store them properly.
5. Andy finished his last fall semester of his undergrad, AND got all A's with one B!
4. Will started talking...and then he kind of took off with it. I realized we needed to watch what we said in front of him when he copied me saying "butt". Oops!
3. I decided to learn how to speak French...random, I know, but I want to learn. And it's been really fun.
2. We applied to eighteen medical schools, heard from sixteen of them that they wanted secondary applications, chose thirteen to continue applying to, and have a loan just for the application process of medical school.
1. We went to Disneyland for the first time as a family. We had a blast! And we're planning a Disneyworld trip for 4 years from now!
2010 was full of so many fun memories and we can't wait to see what 2011 has in store for us! Andy will graduate, we'll move away to somewhere, Andy will start medical school, Will is going to continue to grow and I am sure there are MANY surprises in there somewhere!
So, 2010, here's to you! Thanks for a great year with lots of memories and fun! It was a great year and you deserve and nice pat on the back!
Happy New Year everyone! Let's make 2011 even better then 2010!
So, here's a cheers to you, 2010:
10. We celebrated Will's FIRST birthday on January 25th. He has grown SO much since then, but there is only one first.
9. We used our tax return to buy camping gear galore! And we were able to put it to good use. If I could put each trip as a top 10, I would, but it would take up all the spaces!
8. We sold our Malibu and...bought a VW Passat wagon! And it was relatively painless, and we didn't pick up a car payment either.
7. We spent our first summer driving all over the state of Utah and Idaho and Wyoming and Montana camping and prancing around in nature. Camping is our favorite American Past-time and we can't wait to see where 2011 takes us for new camping adventures.
6. I took an herbs class and grew a bunch of my own herbs and learned how to dry and store them properly.
5. Andy finished his last fall semester of his undergrad, AND got all A's with one B!
4. Will started talking...and then he kind of took off with it. I realized we needed to watch what we said in front of him when he copied me saying "butt". Oops!
3. I decided to learn how to speak French...random, I know, but I want to learn. And it's been really fun.
2. We applied to eighteen medical schools, heard from sixteen of them that they wanted secondary applications, chose thirteen to continue applying to, and have a loan just for the application process of medical school.
1. We went to Disneyland for the first time as a family. We had a blast! And we're planning a Disneyworld trip for 4 years from now!
2010 was full of so many fun memories and we can't wait to see what 2011 has in store for us! Andy will graduate, we'll move away to somewhere, Andy will start medical school, Will is going to continue to grow and I am sure there are MANY surprises in there somewhere!
So, 2010, here's to you! Thanks for a great year with lots of memories and fun! It was a great year and you deserve and nice pat on the back!
Happy New Year everyone! Let's make 2011 even better then 2010!
Friday, December 24, 2010
'Tis the Season
"It is a fair, even-handed, noble adjustment of things, that while there is infection in disease and sorrow, there is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good-humour." ~Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol"
We love Christmas in this house! . Tonight we will be starting a new tradition of fish for Christmas Eve dinner, then going to see the lights. We'll go to Temple Square because it's only 9 blocks away. I think Will is going to love the lights this year! He sure is obsessed with the ones on our tree :) This is most likely our last Christmas in Utah for awhile, and let me just say, I'm pretty miffed there is NO snow. What's up with that? I tried to teach Will about Santa this year. He didn't really get it. Oh well. Andy and I are trying to integrate our family traditions, while also creating some of our own. Andy's family eats Christmas Eve dinner by candle light, which is something we have been doing. My family opens one gift on Christmas Eve, which is something we do. Some of our own traditions are having fish for dinner and handing out gifts to our neighbors on Christmas Eve. We also like to invite friends over for Christmas Eve dinner, although it didn't work out this year. Working at the Ronald McDonald House is such a rewarding job. But, it totally trumps all at Christmas time. We do a "home for the holidays" where donors donate amazing gifts for the families who have to be here on Christmas. It makes my heart happy seeing the generosity of people. So many of our families here are trying to make the best of a bad situation. Having to think about Christmas on top of it all, makes it that much worse. It is wonderful to be able to hand these families bags of gifts and see the relief and thanks on their faces. One tradition I would like to start when we no longer get to work at RMH is doing a service on Christmas Day. What kind of Christmas traditions do you all have?
We love Christmas in this house! . Tonight we will be starting a new tradition of fish for Christmas Eve dinner, then going to see the lights. We'll go to Temple Square because it's only 9 blocks away. I think Will is going to love the lights this year! He sure is obsessed with the ones on our tree :) This is most likely our last Christmas in Utah for awhile, and let me just say, I'm pretty miffed there is NO snow. What's up with that? I tried to teach Will about Santa this year. He didn't really get it. Oh well. Andy and I are trying to integrate our family traditions, while also creating some of our own. Andy's family eats Christmas Eve dinner by candle light, which is something we have been doing. My family opens one gift on Christmas Eve, which is something we do. Some of our own traditions are having fish for dinner and handing out gifts to our neighbors on Christmas Eve. We also like to invite friends over for Christmas Eve dinner, although it didn't work out this year. Working at the Ronald McDonald House is such a rewarding job. But, it totally trumps all at Christmas time. We do a "home for the holidays" where donors donate amazing gifts for the families who have to be here on Christmas. It makes my heart happy seeing the generosity of people. So many of our families here are trying to make the best of a bad situation. Having to think about Christmas on top of it all, makes it that much worse. It is wonderful to be able to hand these families bags of gifts and see the relief and thanks on their faces. One tradition I would like to start when we no longer get to work at RMH is doing a service on Christmas Day. What kind of Christmas traditions do you all have?
(In other news, we got to have breakfast with Paul Millsap of the Utah Jazz Thursday morning! It was basically amazing. I have a picture, I promise. I'm just waiting for it to be emailed to me)
Merry Christmas everyone, remember, our Savior is the reason for the season!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
And so....
The medical school applications have been sent.
Here are the final choices:
A.T Still University
Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
Touro University of Osteopathic Medicine-California
Western University of Heath Sciences/College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine-Lake Erie/Bradenton
Nova Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Pikeville College
University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine
New York College of Osteopathic Medicine of NYIT
Lincoln Memorial University- DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Yeah...we went to "narrow the choices down" and added two more schools to the list. We are so excited for this process to seriously be started. We have been talking about applying to medical school since before we were married. I can't believe it's here now! I am not excited for the wait...but, it'll all be worth it!
~~~~~~
In other news: We are so excited for Thanksgiving! This year we are working on the actual day, so we're celebrating with Andy's family on Friday and my family on Sunday! Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday! I love all the food and being with family, just to be with family!
WARNING!!! BLIZZARD OF 2010, (or so they're calling it) will hit today between 2pm and 4pm. I have never, in my three years of living in the state of Utah, seen such a hub-bub of excitement over the weather! Especially SNOW! They've closed the U campus early, school is canceled for tomorrow, I've mentally prepared myself to work the office tomorrow in case no one shows. I am ready for the power to go out, I am ready for the one million questions I will get from guests, they are telling people to leave work early, flights have already been canceled...the only thing we can count on, apparently, is the mail! It will be interesting for the blizzard. Since, every time I check weather.com or fox13now.com, they say "light snow"....where has this buzz word 'blizzard' come from? Alas, we'll see how this all actually pans out...
For now, though, bring it on blizzard. I wouldn't be a real Utah citizen if I didn't survive a real life blizzard, would I?
Here are the final choices:
A.T Still University
Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
Touro University of Osteopathic Medicine-California
Western University of Heath Sciences/College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine-Lake Erie/Bradenton
Nova Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Pikeville College
University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine
New York College of Osteopathic Medicine of NYIT
Lincoln Memorial University- DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Yeah...we went to "narrow the choices down" and added two more schools to the list. We are so excited for this process to seriously be started. We have been talking about applying to medical school since before we were married. I can't believe it's here now! I am not excited for the wait...but, it'll all be worth it!
~~~~~~
In other news: We are so excited for Thanksgiving! This year we are working on the actual day, so we're celebrating with Andy's family on Friday and my family on Sunday! Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday! I love all the food and being with family, just to be with family!
WARNING!!! BLIZZARD OF 2010, (or so they're calling it) will hit today between 2pm and 4pm. I have never, in my three years of living in the state of Utah, seen such a hub-bub of excitement over the weather! Especially SNOW! They've closed the U campus early, school is canceled for tomorrow, I've mentally prepared myself to work the office tomorrow in case no one shows. I am ready for the power to go out, I am ready for the one million questions I will get from guests, they are telling people to leave work early, flights have already been canceled...the only thing we can count on, apparently, is the mail! It will be interesting for the blizzard. Since, every time I check weather.com or fox13now.com, they say "light snow"....where has this buzz word 'blizzard' come from? Alas, we'll see how this all actually pans out...
For now, though, bring it on blizzard. I wouldn't be a real Utah citizen if I didn't survive a real life blizzard, would I?
Monday, November 8, 2010
Challenge
I have accepted a challenge from a friend to read the Book of Mormon by December 31st. That's just ten pages a day! If you would like to strengthen your testimony and grow closer to your Father in Heaven, join us!
Sunday, October 3, 2010
The Happiest Place on Earth! Disneyland 2010
(This one is a little of a doozy! Enjoy!)
THE trip has finally happened! Since Andy and I were married, we have been saving for the big Fraser Family Reunion in Disneyland! It has been a lot of "planning" and stress and worry and craziness, but when it was all said and done, it was the best thing we could have ever been able to do! Andy's family likes to set a tradition of doing a BIG family "vacation" (I put vacation in quotes because I see it as a trip, but his entire family calls it a vacation. If we are being honest, I need a vacation from this trip. Therefore, I will refer to it as a trip from here on!) It has been a labor of love. Andy's family is big into planning. Me? Not so much. I like to set a date and a place and see how it goes from there. I can see now, why planning is important. When there are 35 people, 21 of which are children all of which are under the age of 14, there needs to be some sort of a plan. We reached a happy medium and had a BLAST! I was nervous at first. All this hype for some dinky little kid rides and lots of people? Gimme a break! I was pleasantly surprised. It is one of my favorite places! I loved everything! (Especially the churros and Mahi Mahi Tacos) I am pretty sure my entire outlook on life has changed. I just feel happier. I want to make my family happy. Spend time with them more often. Seeing Will playing with his cousins made me and Andy so happy!
Our trip started off on the right foot with an eleven hour drive from Salt Lake City to Anaheim, CA. In ONE day. With Will. For the first time on a long trip. And we didn't even leave until about 845am. Most of Andy's other siblings had the luxury of driving there in two days. Can you say jealous? We stopped in St. George and had Cafe Rio for lunch, eating at a church yard. At the boarder town of Nevada and California, Will started to LOOSE it. He was freaking out. He was sick and tired of being in the car. So, We stopped at a place called Whisky Pete's and I hopped in the back seat. Lame Sauce. We reached our destination at about 630 Pacific time. And it was heaven! Our house was amazing!
Saturday we spend the day with the Watkins Family. We went to California Adventures. It was so fun! We got to ride Soarin' Over California and Hollywood Tower of Terror. Along with Monsters Inc., Bugs Life, The Muppets...all those good rides.
Sunday we went to Church and then did our grocery shopping. We had a family dinner that night. It was great to see Jake's face when he opened the presents Andy MADE for him. We pulled our resources together as a family and bought a Civil War Era bayonette and cannon shot. He LOVED it. Andy made a shadow box out of some old barn wood and stained it just a little darker. It was a great gift. I am glad I married such a "Handy Andy". He's always thinking of ways we can do nice things for family.
Monday we spent the day at California Adventure again. We got to spend time with all our family this time though! It was such fun, but large crowds MOVE SLOWLY!
Tuesday was our first REAL day at DISNEYLAND! I had never been before and I LOVED IT! It was so great that we were able to ride the majority of the rides together as a family. I have fallen in love with this place! We are planning a trip (with the help of our amazing Disney CC...credit cards are wonderful if you know how to use them and make them work FOR you!) to DisneyWorld in about 3 years! I have been on a Disney high since we got back. We had such a great time riding Dumbo and Alice and the carousels and eating CHURROS! The food was great! I would give anything if I could just have ONE fish taco!
Friday, our last day in California, we went to Seal Beach. It was my first time to a Pacific beach and Will's first time to the ocean, period. It was an overcast day, the water was freezing, and the waves were HUGE! I can say, I totally prefer my Gulf Coast beaches. SO much nicer! Will was freaked out with the waves until he realized they were just water. We played in the water for a bit, I lost one of our shovels, then fished it back out! (hahahaha! I am cracking myself up right now!) We were going to walk the Pier, then it started raining, as we were walking past the playground, it stopped. We played a little bit and just missed the major down pour. (Becky and Weston weren't so lucky!) We had another family dinner to end the big trip. It was a swimming party! The big kids were in the pool and the little kids with me, Andy and Cassie were in the "hot tub". (It was literally colder then any tub I would bathe in, but we have to watch out for the little ones!)
DisneyLand was a great adventure (and very much needed) and I am glad we were able to do it with our family. They have become so much more then just family though, we are all friends and we always have a great time. I realized how great and happy my life is, everyday. I have an amazing husband and a great son. I realize my responsibility to them both and want to do my best to be a great wife and mother. I DO need a vacation from this trip. I still have not caught up on my sleep! We crashed out every night as soon as we got back from the park! But I would not trade it for the world! If we could, we would go on trips like this all the time! We are slowing working up towards that goal, with our little camping trips. I want to see the world with my kids! They make life so much better and they are only little for such a short amount of time. I will make sure that I spend it with them as much as possible. I am so grateful for the opportunity and lessons I learned while spending time with The Frasers'. I will make my efforts to do these kinds of things with my siblings, too.
(I have pictures on Facebook. I will also post some on here as a different post!)
THE trip has finally happened! Since Andy and I were married, we have been saving for the big Fraser Family Reunion in Disneyland! It has been a lot of "planning" and stress and worry and craziness, but when it was all said and done, it was the best thing we could have ever been able to do! Andy's family likes to set a tradition of doing a BIG family "vacation" (I put vacation in quotes because I see it as a trip, but his entire family calls it a vacation. If we are being honest, I need a vacation from this trip. Therefore, I will refer to it as a trip from here on!) It has been a labor of love. Andy's family is big into planning. Me? Not so much. I like to set a date and a place and see how it goes from there. I can see now, why planning is important. When there are 35 people, 21 of which are children all of which are under the age of 14, there needs to be some sort of a plan. We reached a happy medium and had a BLAST! I was nervous at first. All this hype for some dinky little kid rides and lots of people? Gimme a break! I was pleasantly surprised. It is one of my favorite places! I loved everything! (Especially the churros and Mahi Mahi Tacos) I am pretty sure my entire outlook on life has changed. I just feel happier. I want to make my family happy. Spend time with them more often. Seeing Will playing with his cousins made me and Andy so happy!
Our trip started off on the right foot with an eleven hour drive from Salt Lake City to Anaheim, CA. In ONE day. With Will. For the first time on a long trip. And we didn't even leave until about 845am. Most of Andy's other siblings had the luxury of driving there in two days. Can you say jealous? We stopped in St. George and had Cafe Rio for lunch, eating at a church yard. At the boarder town of Nevada and California, Will started to LOOSE it. He was freaking out. He was sick and tired of being in the car. So, We stopped at a place called Whisky Pete's and I hopped in the back seat. Lame Sauce. We reached our destination at about 630 Pacific time. And it was heaven! Our house was amazing!
Saturday we spend the day with the Watkins Family. We went to California Adventures. It was so fun! We got to ride Soarin' Over California and Hollywood Tower of Terror. Along with Monsters Inc., Bugs Life, The Muppets...all those good rides.
Sunday we went to Church and then did our grocery shopping. We had a family dinner that night. It was great to see Jake's face when he opened the presents Andy MADE for him. We pulled our resources together as a family and bought a Civil War Era bayonette and cannon shot. He LOVED it. Andy made a shadow box out of some old barn wood and stained it just a little darker. It was a great gift. I am glad I married such a "Handy Andy". He's always thinking of ways we can do nice things for family.
Monday we spent the day at California Adventure again. We got to spend time with all our family this time though! It was such fun, but large crowds MOVE SLOWLY!
Tuesday was our first REAL day at DISNEYLAND! I had never been before and I LOVED IT! It was so great that we were able to ride the majority of the rides together as a family. I have fallen in love with this place! We are planning a trip (with the help of our amazing Disney CC...credit cards are wonderful if you know how to use them and make them work FOR you!) to DisneyWorld in about 3 years! I have been on a Disney high since we got back. We had such a great time riding Dumbo and Alice and the carousels and eating CHURROS! The food was great! I would give anything if I could just have ONE fish taco!
Friday, our last day in California, we went to Seal Beach. It was my first time to a Pacific beach and Will's first time to the ocean, period. It was an overcast day, the water was freezing, and the waves were HUGE! I can say, I totally prefer my Gulf Coast beaches. SO much nicer! Will was freaked out with the waves until he realized they were just water. We played in the water for a bit, I lost one of our shovels, then fished it back out! (hahahaha! I am cracking myself up right now!) We were going to walk the Pier, then it started raining, as we were walking past the playground, it stopped. We played a little bit and just missed the major down pour. (Becky and Weston weren't so lucky!) We had another family dinner to end the big trip. It was a swimming party! The big kids were in the pool and the little kids with me, Andy and Cassie were in the "hot tub". (It was literally colder then any tub I would bathe in, but we have to watch out for the little ones!)
DisneyLand was a great adventure (and very much needed) and I am glad we were able to do it with our family. They have become so much more then just family though, we are all friends and we always have a great time. I realized how great and happy my life is, everyday. I have an amazing husband and a great son. I realize my responsibility to them both and want to do my best to be a great wife and mother. I DO need a vacation from this trip. I still have not caught up on my sleep! We crashed out every night as soon as we got back from the park! But I would not trade it for the world! If we could, we would go on trips like this all the time! We are slowing working up towards that goal, with our little camping trips. I want to see the world with my kids! They make life so much better and they are only little for such a short amount of time. I will make sure that I spend it with them as much as possible. I am so grateful for the opportunity and lessons I learned while spending time with The Frasers'. I will make my efforts to do these kinds of things with my siblings, too.
(I have pictures on Facebook. I will also post some on here as a different post!)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
