Good Friday

Yesterday was Good Friday, so Jason's boss gave all of them the day off. I was so excited, since he never has a day off during the week to go and play. It really was a perfect day!

We woke up around 6:30 and we are trying to read more, so Jason said let's read for a while and then we'll go have breakfast. So I ended up falling back asleep after reading 1 page in my book until 9:30. We got ready and went to Village Inn to have breakfast which was fabulous. I really wanted a piece of pie, but decided not to be a piggie. So then we ran a few errands - bank, gas, Sprouts, etc. Then we went to Barnes and Noble and spent 2 hours browsing for books and sitting at a table. Last weekend, I watched "Becoming Jane" with my sis, and realized I have never read a Jane Austen book. It was a very interesting movie on a few of Jane Austen's experiences that influenced her writing. I wanted to see if I could find a few of her classics, and right before we left we found a hard-bound leather book, beautiful cover of Jane Austen with 7 books in one! $19.95! So that was my great find for the day. We shared a Coke, and then went to the mall and walked around. So after a while, Jason said, "Ice Cream?" But the line was way too long, so we walked outside for a bit - the weather yesterday was AMAZING!! Sunny, warm, beautiful. (Sorry to all of our fam living in the cold!) So we decided it was time to go, and yes, we stopped back at Village Inn to get that piece of pie! ha ha ha. Has anyone had the french silk pie there? Yum!

We went back home after a great day. Jason watched college basketball, and I went for a massage and had a smoothie for dinner. I came home, Jason fell asleep and I watched CSI - It doesn't get much better on a Friday than that!

6 weeks down...

I've made it through my first six weeks of teaching at the hygiene school, and I have to say, I am enjoying it more than I thought! At first it was a big adjustment for me. I was completely exhausted the first few weeks, especially on Wed. night when I would get home. I leave at around 6:00'ish and don't get home until about 7pm so it's a long day! Thursdays are great because I am in the morning clinic until about 12:30 and then the rest of the day is mine. It's a nice schedule. The students made it through hand-washing, cubicle disinfection, hydrium and LISA operations, extra-oral/inta-oral exams, and now moving on to their first instrument - the probe. This is where they actually start going what we call "sub-g" or below the gumline. Woo hoo! They are all practicing on each other at this point, and I told them all to go see the movie, "There Will be Blood." hee hee

I am noticing that as a whole, the group is very quick and sharp. But just like anything in life, there are a few who are going to make things a bit difficult at times.

I have already signed on to teach in the second semester this summer, so I am very excited that I will continue on with my group to see their progress as they start working on REAL patients.

I think the most rewarding part for me, is to see someone have a "light bulb" moment where something really clicks and they get it. It's very gratifying to know that I am making a difference to that one person in that moment. I am already feeling like a proud mommy of the students and it's only been six-weeks!

Movie Marathon!

Jason and I were so excited for Saturday because we had been planning our "movie marathon" all week. We had about 5 movie cards saved up from Christmas and birthdays, etc. so we decided to use 3 of them on Saturday. We went to the AMC theatre in Awutukee. This is the theatre that Jason used to go to all the time when he was single. He used to go to movies alone, which I have to say I have never done - I'm not opposed to it, just haven't done it. I kept asking him about it, "So, you used to just buy a ticket and come alone?" I don't know why it made me sad that he used to do that, but I just kept thinking about him going alone and I didn't like it!

Anyway, we bought treats before hand at Walgreen's, and when we got there we got a large drink and large popcorn, which came with a free refill each. Jason was really excited about that! haha We saw 2 movies first, then a break for dinner, and back to movie #3 - JUNO. If you haven't seen it yet, it's AWESOME! I loved it and I definately will own that one when it comes out.

As we were walking out of the theatre, we were approached by a guy with a movie research company who needed volunteers to watch movie trailers and participate in a movie focus group for about an hour and they pay you $75 cash! So, they were all full for Jason's age group but mine wasn't full yet so I'll be doing that this week. I'll let you know how it went. I'd say it will probably be an easy $75 though!

Needless to say, Saturday night around midnight I got pretty sick. YUCK! Not sure if it was just too much junk in one day for me, or if it was our din-din that did it. Oh well, it lasted about 24 hours so I felt bad I couldn't see my CTR class yesterday at church, but I have to say, the fun day out with just me and my Jason was all worth it!

4 YEARS

Our wedding day

The night we got engaged :)

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to me and Jason!! 4 years ago today we were married, and I am so lucky to have such a wonderful husband, a best friend, and someone to always count on no matter what. I think Jason and I are a great match. We really balance each other out. Jason tells it like it is, and he helps keep me in check! And I do the same for him. We take care of each other and I've noticed that every year it seems like it just gets better. I love you Jason. I adore you and you are so handsome inside and out! You mean everything to me.

Happy Birthday Angela! (Feb. 12)

Angela and Drea - Christmas time - 2008

Angela and her sweet Kayla

Angela and her nephew Jacob

Happy Birthday sis!! Angela's birthday was this week, on Tuesday - the day after our grandma's funeral (which I will write about later) so you can imagine how hectic the last week and a half have been. And being the clever girl she is, she hacked into my blog for my birthday and made my day and week by writing some pretty sweet things about me. So I wanted to write some things about my great sister for her birthday week! (Sorry Ang this is a little late, but I think you understand!)

• She has always been "the peacemaker" in our family - always trying to make things right.
• She has an infectious laugh and if it's late and she's hit her "wall" she can't stop! It makes me laugh too! haha
• She loves her family and would do anything for them.
• She has the 2 cutest kids in the world and is the best mother!
• She has always been such a great example to me and her family as a person and mother.
• She has a very strong testimony of the gospel and it shows.
• She is not only my sister, but my best friend.

I hope you have a great time going out with Christian, and I'm glad Silvia finally got there safe! Happy Birthday Ang. I love you lots! Thanks for being such a great sister to me!

Happy Birthday Drea!

OK, so this is probably not quite right, but this is Angela, Drea's sister. She gave me her username and password a little bit ago for something and it stuck with me, so I've signed on as her so I could get the message across. Happy Birthday Drea!! Drea has been sick for several weeks now, off and on. She was finally starting to come out of it when it hit again. Whatever it is, it's sure being stubborn to her - and the medication, though may be helping, makes her stomach churn. But even though she's down and out on this special day, we all love you Drea. So here's a quick tribute to you, Drea.

• She's alway's got a smile that will warm up any winter day!


• She's very successful at everything she does, but only because she's put her mind to it and worked hard for it!


• She makes other people happy with her genuine caring sense


• She has a natural mothering nature that many children have been touched by.


• She's honest and direct, but very kind-hearted and


• She's beautiful from inside to out

So Happy Birthday Drea! Hope you feel better soon so you can enjoy YOUR special day - even if it is on another day! You've touched many people by coming into this world so it wouldn't be the same for any of us without this day! Love you!

Ms. Boles?!?

I will be starting a new endeavor in my career Feb. 6th. I was hired a couple of months ago by Rio Salado's College of Dental Hygiene as a clinical instructor. I am really excited and yet a little nervous! Over the last couple of weeks I have been attending calibration meetings and orientation for pre-clinic which is the clinic I will be teaching in, along with 3 other instructors. It's very surreal stepping out onto the clinic floor now as an instructor and not a student! Rio's dental hygiene school holds a place in my heart since it is where I graduated from in 2000. Even when I was going through the program, I always new I would teach someday but wasn't sure when. You have to have atleast 5 years experience in clinical practice to teach. Last night I came home with a stack of books and a few HUGE manuals I have to read through. I will be demonstrating "hand washing and PPE"(personal protective equipment) on the first day of clinic.

I know that this new adventure will help me to grow as a clinician and as a person. I am very passionate about the profession of dental hygiene and I hope as a teacher I will be able to create value in people's lives, as this is one of my personal goals in 2008. Here's to a very "educational" year!