New additions

After a long wait...and I mean long.  We have added two new additions to our family.  We had been having a lot of car trouble for quite a while, and in March we finally decided to get Doug a reliable car.  Since Doug drives 80 miles three times a week, he desperately needed something that we didn't have to worry about.  The pictures that I took were done in the garage since it is raining like mad here today.  So here you go...Doug's baby:

 



Doug absolutely loves this car.  It's his "Dream Car."  Too bad it couldn't have been brand new!  Anyway, it's a 2007 Lexus IS 250.  And I have to say it's really nice and really fun to drive.  But as nice as it is, it is not a family car.  It may have four doors, but the poor boys are squished in the back seat!

So now that Doug got his car, I got to drive the Altima. I would have driven the Rodeo since it's an SUV, but the Rodeo was in the shop and they wanted more to fix it than it was worth.  The only thing with the Altima is that the reliability factor was not there, it stuttered and it had no air conditioning and we were always wondering how much longer we could handle it...being that it had been in the 110s-120s. 

So finally, two weeks ago, the check engine light came on in the Altima and I'd had enough.  Preston and I headed straight for the only car dealership in town.  And with a friend's help, we traded both the Altima and the Rodeo in for this:

It's a 2010 Ford Escape and I love it!  Plus, the best thing about it, besides it's completely reliable, is it has air conditioning!  I didn't care what car I came off the lot with as long as it had air!  I have to say that I have missed having an SUV.  I won't go back to a car if I can help it! 

So there you go.  The two new additions to the Giles family!  I hope you've all had a great Wednesday.  I'm going to go sit on the couch next to my hubby with a good book in hand and enjoy the rain! 

Internet

It's official...we finally have Internet!  We realized just how much we needed it, so we caved.  But lucky for me, that means I'll actually get to blog more often.  Before, I had to tether my phone to my computer in order to get the Internet, which meant I couldn't upload pictures, or blog.  So now, I can do both! 

We had family pictures taken the other day, thanks to my amazing dad!  The pictures turned out pretty awesome!  So, without further ado, here is our 2012 family picture:

He also took more of the boys... here is their mission impossible pose!

My caption for this picture would be, "Are they coming after us?"  It seriously looks like Drew is reaching for a gun behind his back!  I absolutely love these two boys! 

Well, that's it for now.  My next post will be about the two new additions we've added to the family this year! I wish you all the best! Have a great Tuesday! 

US

It's been so nice having our family back together. Although, I keep telling Doug that I am going to move back north just for a job. I have been looking for a job since I've been out of school and still have no luck. I'm not sure what to do anymore. I've applied for probably 20 jobs, and haven't heard from a single one. I've done the calling to see about my application status, but no one will tell me what's up. So...if anyone out there knows of someone hiring nurses either in St. George or Las Vegas, PLEASE let me know.

Also, one more HUGE favor. I'm in need of some help. We have been potty training Preston (for the fourth time) and he is doing well...sort of. He gets the idea of going pee in the toilet, but as far as pooping...he doesn't get it. I am at a complete loss. We've been at it since January and I'm not sure where to go from here. Any ideas would be so great.

As for the rest of us. Drew is loving school and learning more everyday. He loves having lots of boys here to play with. Doug is working hard. His boss has bought a new building and they will be moving into it the first part of March! We are really excited since this place will have double the space. I can't wait to see it when it's complete!

Happy February!

RN

I can't believe it, in fact it hasn't really hit me, but I'm now a licensed RN! I'm sure it will hit me once I get a job and start to work, but for now it seems like a dream. One of those things that you never thought would actually happen. Something you always wanted to do and never thought would come! But it has come, it's weird and exciting all at the same time. I actually accomplished something. Something that has taken a long time is now done! I never have to test for a license of this nature ever again! It's crazy!

Thank you so much for all of you who stood by my side and helped me through this. Especially my family. My family is the most incredible family in the world. They stood by my mood swings from lack of sleep and stress over exams. My incredible family who took care of my boys without ever complaining. I love you all so much! There aren't enough "Thank yous" I could ever say that would make up for all your sacrifices. But THANK YOU! You are all the best! I never could have done this without you.

2012

It's amazing that it's 2012. I feel like I just left for school in 2010! I can't tell you how glad I am that that part of my life is over! Now all I have to do is take my boards exam!

We have been really busy here. I decided to go through the boys toy room and get rid of things they no longer play with and make room for all the new things they got for Christmas. This job ended up being bigger than I imagined it would be!

While I was doing the toy room, Doug decided to keep Drew occupied by teaching him how to play chess. If anyone knows my husband, he really likes chess. He has quite a few chess boards and takes every opportunity to play. For Christmas this year, I found a chess board and pieces that I couldn't pass up...they are GIANT!

Drew was having a great time learning and Doug was having a great time teaching him.

I wish all of you a healthy and happy new year! Go 2012!

Two words...

WE'RE HOME! I have finished school and the boys and I are now home with Doug! It still hasn't hit me that I'm here for good...other than graduation next month. We got in last night and the boys are loving it (for now)! We'll see how it is once the holidays are over and they are bored out of their mind.

I finished nursing school on the 16th of December. It's such a nice feeling to not have anything to study for. All except for my nursing boards. I'm playing the waiting game right now for authorization to test, until then it's studying the review books and playing with the boys!

I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

Drew's first week

We survived our first week of kindergarten! Drew is absolutely loving school and asks everyday if he can go back. His teacher is fantastic! I couldn't ask for anyone better. She is so great with the kids and knows how to keep them interested and wanting to keep going. He comes home everyday with something new to share with us. In fact, the other day he asked a girl at school if her name was Ashley. She said, "How did you know my name?" Drew said, "I read it on your backpack." This was so awesome for me to hear that he read her name! I didn't even know he knew that "S" and "H" made the "Shh" sound!

On Wednesday, Drew was given the "math bag" to take home. He had to put something in it to take to school that they could do math with, and come up with a question(s) for them to solve. So Drew got some candy and each kid got four pieces. The questions: If you have four pieces of candy and you gave two to a friend, how many pieces do you have left? If your friend gave you one piece back, now how many do you have? Drew was able to solve both of these questions and then teach his class how to solve it.

On Friday, he told me that his teacher gave them green magic potion to drink and it turned them all into Spiderman with invisible webs! His imagination is getting bigger and it's only been the first week of school!

I have become a very proud mother! This week will be interesting since I start school again and now we'll both have homework to do. I can't wait and neither can Drew!