North Carolina Part 1

We finally made it to North Carolina! It was beautiful. We actually got there a few days early so we went to this neat little theme park, a bit like lagoon, called the Carowinds. Despite the heat and the humidity, we still had fun. Afterwards, we went to our BEACH HOUSE!! It was such a fun week to spend with my family. Good times, and plenty of pictures.

The Intimidator...it was a very tall, very long and extremely fun roller coaster. As the main attraction of the park, it lived up to it's name.
It was soooo humid in North Carolina. While we waited in line to ride some of the rides, they would have fans going with little misters attached to them. This is Papa's model shot.

The half is very important. Yes, I bet you wish you were here with us too!

K is not so happy to be here....

We finally made it to the beach! Papa at the beach...just chillaxin.

The boys at the beach...self-explanatory.

The girls at the beach... :)

It was so nice to be with my family for a whole week- even better that we got to stay on the beach!

I will post some pictures of our trip to the aquarium and more things in part two of this adventure!

Because I can!!

Typically, I don't approve of this nonsense. This nonsense is the one that leaves you feeling like you've rode the most insane roller-coaster one too many times in a row and you need to find the nearest trash can because you are going to hurl NOW. This nonsense is worse than a trash-can full of rotting fish. This is almost as bad as a 400 lb. man recieving GoLytley.Yes, there is only one type of nonsense that I could be referring to: Schmoopie postings. I don't know about the rest of the world but I get super annoyed when people gush on FB or their blogs about "How absolutely perfect my husband is!!" or " I have the most amazing, talented, beautiful, wife!" Now, in all due respect, there are times when Schmoopie postings are appropriate. I'm just referring to the people who splatter their Schmoopie postings 24/7 on public sites. We're happy you love them. Hopefully, that is why you are with them in the first place.

But.......I have to. I just have to do a Schmoopie post. Forgive me, I promise I will wait at least another six months (or more) before I gush about how insanely wonderful and awesome my husband is.

We had just got home from North Carolina and were completely wiped out, and decided to try and take a nap. After a few minutes, Ty turns to me and says,
"I just had the most random thing pop into my head. "
I sluggishly turn towards him and try to force my incoherent brain to wake up.
"Ok....What?"
" You know how they have in movies people who lead the double-life type of thing? Well, I was just thinking, if some men in suits came through our door right now and told me that I had taken some pills to make me forget my former life and that in my former life I was already married, and they were there to make sure that I got back to my former life. You know what? I wouldn't go. I'd pick you."
My brain was awake by then and could process everything this meant. My. Heart. Melted.

So, now that you've all had your little "Awwww" moment for the day, let me just say this to finish up this Schmoopie post: I LOVE HIM. I'm so grateful that he is in my life and each day with him is always better than the last. Glad he's mine forever!

I realize I have not blogged in over a year, and am only happy blogger didn't close my account! For those of you who still follow this-bless you. If you quit following, I can't quite say I blame you. I probably would have done the same thing. To get you updated with our lives, I thought I would just post a bunch of random pictures to try and encapsulate the past year. I hope I'm back for good in the blogging community, but at the very end of the post you'll find out why I just may still stink at blogging- and no, I'm not prego. :)

This is a snowman I made in April. And not the beginning of April either. If my memory serves me right, it was about April 28. Yes, the weather in Utah rocks.

There is a GiNorMouS family reunion for ALL the Patrick relatives. It was a lot of fun, they had gunny-sack races, "pie" eating contests, and a giant tarp to get wet and slide down the hill

Grandpa B enjoying some puddin.

What summer vacation would be complete without a trip to the cabin? The cabin is a little slice of heaven right here on earth, where nobody has to do anything on time.

Just doing what we do best at the cabin.

Look closely...there is a boy in that tree.

D is working on....something....

K got a lovely little cactus stuck on her toe...that's what happens when you wear flops at the cabin!

...and this is how she feels about it.

This is how Ya-Ya swings her grandchildren, by sitting and pulling the string attached to the swing.

Happy Birthday to Me! Tyson planned everything, he went and got the cake and took me out to eat at Olive Garden. They had a hard time getting our food to us on-time, so it ended up being free!

My Birthday is followed closely by our anniversary- this one was our first. We saved the top part of our wedding cake and froze it until our anniversary. Yes, we did try a little bite, and yes, it was extremely frost-bitten.

Happy First Anniversary! We have many more to go; Love you best friend!

In January 2010- we took an impromptu trip to Vegas with our friends. I got a pictue with Michael Jackson and a gold statue-man. Kind of creepy...but hey, it's Vegas. Later that night, we went to a Piano Bar, and it was SO fun! They would take requests for songs, and then play them! I am always amazed at the kind of talent people have to be able to do that. The performers thought we were totally drunk, but we were just having a good time!

The "Piano Bar"- by far the MOST FUN I have ever had in Vegas! Loved it!

I think the main reason the boys wanted to go to Vegas was for the crab legs!!

Thanks for the fun time in Vegas B and J!

This lil' cutie is the newest addition to the Family!! In February 2010, my sister had her second adorable princess. We love our nieces a LOT!

And last, and perhaps the biggest culprit of my taking up ALL my time....NURSING SCHOOL. I finished the MATC LPN program in May 2010. I take my boards to get my LPN on July 10. I have been accepted into Weber's RN online completion program, but it all depends on whether or not I pass Psych 1010 and Pathophysiology....wish me luck!