And the rest of Saturday.

So this is the real Saturday, LOL. I had a lunch with two dear friends...

Jolene aka Birthday Girl!!! Love this lady!

My friend Linda took me here for post birthday lunch last Saturday...7 months late. But hey, we should celebrate everyday, right?  I love tapas. Fun place.

Birthday Flan, Make a Wish!

Chocolate Tres Leches...in honor of National Chocolate Day. ;)

Oh My.

Afterwards, I searched hi and low for sandals at Nordstrom. I showed GREAT restraint. And..i'm still shoeless. :(

I got my fireworks. Thank You Caesar's!!  :)

Serendipity!!

 Good to see friends...it was a fun weekend!

Just Some Pictures...Born on the Fourth of July.

Monday was July 2, and guess what? It was a full moon, or at least it looked like one to me. It was a weird day, I was phoned by my work and asked if I would "like" to work another floor that night. Seriously? I haven't worked Med-Surg in two years, yikes! That spells Disaster with a capital D! So I said something I very rarely say. I said NO. But nicely. I asked to be put on call..and sure enough half hour after the shift started, I got the call. I was actually happy to work because I get to work on my friend Ronnie's last night of her nursing career. Ronnie has always been one of the nurses I just loved talking with and learning about life experiences and nursing stories from her. In nursing school, one thing that I remember my instructor telling us was to adopt a  "Dinosaur". I know, the term sounds terrible...but I like to refer to a couple of my friends as the Mamas of our unit. The ones that I can always go to for nursing advice, because they are so knowlegable. They would never say that..but its true! Something funny has happened... I became the party planner for Ronnie's party. It kinda fell in my lap. I didn't mind really, but it went from Marylou, down to Carol..then to Barb, and ultimately me. I remember my mom buying birthday cakes for her coworkers on their birthday's at Spartan's..and its funny to me, in a way kind of following in Mom's footsteps. Well, I did buy her retirement gift...

Isn't this cute?

Happy Retirement, Ronnie...You Did It!!

It really is amazing that we could smile after the night we had.  In six short hours we doubled our patient census. As we in OB like to say..the bus pulled up. :)

This is the Mount Timpanogas Temple..surrounded by fires in the Mountains.

Its a beautiful and scary picture, isn't it?

I worked the fourth..and work was actually very nice. And it was nice to make extra dough.

But since I did nothing..here's my collage from last year's Summerlin Parade. So fun.

This txt message from a coworker sums it up. I won't put the pic up..cause well, there's a *!?..

BOOM. POP POP BA-BOOM. KA-BOOM OM OM POP BOOM. boom boom ~sparkle~ BANG.

Yeah, that was it. Amazing wasn't it? ;) I hear Caesar's Palace has fireworks tomorrow. I'll go check it out. With some pictures..

                                                   Looky Look!!  :D  Wicked, I'm coming!!!

 My first Coach bag, ha ha. Its an old-school coin purse, the assistant told me so. Hey, it was 80 % off. Woot-Woot. And did I mention 31 more days? And F is for French.

                                                 

Ohio...and the adventures Going to...and Going Away, And the short visit in between.

After arrving in Ohio, Saturday was a day for relaxing and getting ready for tomorrow. Here's some more pictures.



Isn't she a doll? Love her! I think she's trying to blow rasberries :P

I discovered Bob Evans...thats not true, I first discovered him at Walmart. Good food!

And I discovered downtown Mansfield...whoops. Its gone. Blink and you've missed it. ;)

Ahh...love the greenery. No desert, anywhere!  :D

Jade in her carseat...upside down. Thanks to her Dad.


Then we went to Smiths...I mean, Kroger that night for last minute items...

And I made my first Jello Cake. It was divine. I wish I took a pic, but it looked like this..except add mixed berries to the top. Winner, Winner. Chicken Dinner.  ;) I'll post a recipe later, promise.

                                                        

I have to pause for now...i'll add some stories and a video. Stay tuned! And remember who you are... :)

Ohio...and the adventures Going to...and Going Away, And the short visit in between.

Remember the movie The Terminal?

Yeah, I totally was Tom Hanks this weekend. But hey..I flew standby. It's an Adventure! :)
 Started at work, Labor and Delivery blew up, meaning we were getting new admissions right up until 630 am.

See? Coming so fast...I didn't know which doctor was who!

So much for me trying to leave early. So..that meant getting to the airport by 800. By then, I had already missed my chance for three flights that were flying to Columbus. I mean really, what the heck was going on in Ohio? Everyone wanted to fly there, LOL! So, with much caffeine in my system, I patiently waited in the airport. You really can live at the airport..Mine even has a gym. Go figure..and Cinnabon..for balance. ;) The heavens opened up back east and there was a storm which delayed a flight to Chicago that  I was trying to board. Pushed back another hour. But the good news was, alot of people were diverted to other flights, which opened up a bunch of seats..which meant, I was going to Chicago...then hopefully Columbus tonight.

I finally got to sleep a couple of hours on the plane, then we arrived in Chicago at 7. As I scurried through the airport, trying to make my way to Columbus..to my dismay the flight person told me because so many people were able to board the Chicago plane, there were a few who were trying to fly there, it was crazy! He told me I had two options. Option 1, Try to fly to Nashville..then try to board a flight to Columbus that I probably wouldn't board..stay in airport overnight, and start over tomorrow. And Option 2...stay in  Chicago overnight..and start tomorrow.
Sigh.

The Before. I was leisurely taking a pic with Instagram. And my quote was this ."Find Joy in Your Journey. Even  if your standing by." Couldn't have said it better myself. ;)


I start to panic... Will I make it in time for the blessing? I haven't ate dinner...I have to stay by myself at the Midway Airport Overnight?!?!

Oh yes. But then I remembered a new favorite saying thats been making the rounds all over the internet.

r

So, I guess you can say I did spend the night in Chicago..by way of Midway Airport.

Yes, I did get a room. I needed showers, food and sleep. Heck Yes!

I would love to visit Chicago for real though. I didn't get to try Chicago Pizza. I was fooled in the airport. Disgusted, really. :(

After showering, eating...I was pleasantly surprised to find this on tv

Oh Happy Day! Reminds of Friday nights watching with my Mom. :)

Long Live JR! And his eyebrows.  ;)

Saturday was a new day.

 And I made the first flight!

 I would have kissed the ground...but you know, its the airport! :P

And...I finally get to hold Baby Jade. Auntie Cindy is here!! :)



 To Be Continued...

Sunday...A Fireside and Brother Cannon

Sunday was really nice. I had visiting teachers and a home teaching visit. Then, I went and crashed a Patriotic fireside with Lilly. Although we're a couple of weeks early, I love celebrating and singing the songs that celebrate our Independance! I love Fourth of July..the fireworks and the solidarity of our nation. Celebrating our armed forces always reminds me of my Dad. I love that. Today, I must say I had the special experience of hearing Brother Cannon speak. He was an elderly gentleman, he had to be in his late 80's or early 90's. I have never heard such a great talk. He talked about life experiences growing up near St. George Utah, his service in the Navy and living in Las Vegas, he has been in our town for 60 years! He cracked me up. It felt like the stories he told were stories that maybe my own grandpa might have shared. By the way, it was Brother Cannon's first time Ever speaking. Ever! Thank You Brother Cannon for sharing your history with us. I wish I could have shook your hand, but you definetly deserved a page in my book. Because you influenced me in the short half an hour we all spent together. I miss being in the Paradise Stake and it was so much fun visiting with friends and my University Ward Bishop Jack Close. I have so many great memories there, and as a friend told me tonight..Once you leave, you are always a member of that Stake. I loved that!  As Independance day approaches, may we all take a moment to remember those who sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy. I will probably be serving my fellow new moms. And I'm thankful for that.

                 My favorite Performance of the National Anthem.