oh baby and vacation!

Well its been forever since I've blogged but I felt like it was probably time to make an update...

First off we are thrilled to announce our little family of two will be turning to three in a few short months:)

Baby GIRL Anderson will be joining us Jan. 6th and we couldn't feel more excited or blessed. 

This was a picture from our fun gender reveal party and our little peanuts ultrasound picture

My wonderful husband took me on a babymoon cruise before the semester started. 

It was our first cruise and we LOVED it. 

We went on a 4 night Mexican Rivera cruise. We stopped in Catalina and Ensenada. 

The best thing is we got to spend some quality time together and just relax. It was much needed.

 Our first night at dinner

 Catalina

 Yummy!

 La Bufadora

 

Future Nurse Chelsi!

I am so unbelievably excited that I have been accepted into BYU-Idaho ASN Nursing Program!

I start in the Spring which is next Monday... kinda freaking out slightly!

My college experience has been a long,difficult, and frustrating one. Its all so worth it though....

When I started at the University of Utah I was an Exercise Science major. After two years I still didn't feel like I knew what I wanted to do for my career. I was interested in Physical Therapy but not so interested in graduate school.

After my shoulder surgery and I knew I wasn't going to be diving at the U of U anymore and I decided to take some time off from school....like two years off.

Jake and I started dating and we felt like we needed to move to St. George. I started school at Dixie State and I started taking pre-req classes for the PTA (physical therapist assistant) program. 

Well after about 8 months Jake got a job offer back in Idaho and that meant I was transferring schools without a degree, again.

I applied to school at Idaho State University and registered for classes.

 I had all intention of finishing PTA pre-reqs and applying to their program. 

Well previous classes weren't transferring and I got the feeling like I shouldn't go to school at ISU. 

I dropped my classes and applied to BYU-I and thankfully got in.  (Still at Utah fan at heart though haha)

I was told that BYU-I was getting the PTA program and I was advised on what classes to take to prepare me to apply when it was accredited. I was super excited! 

Well almost 2 years later the program still hasn't started and I obviously couldn't wait around for it.

I decided to declare Health Science with an emphasis in public health. It fit well with all the classes I had already taken. I still didn't know what I wanted to do with my career though...

I figured I needed a minor that was an applied degree so I could easily find work after graduation. I got into the MA (medical assisting) program and found that I loved it. I also joined the Pre-Physician Assistant society at school and started rethinking the idea of graduate school. I had more confidence now and I'm doing so much better in school. My husband and I decided though that me applying to graduate school wasn't the best decision for our family at this point in our lives.

I still felt like I wanted something else.  

After many conversations with my husband and lots of praying,

I decided to apply to get my Associates of Science in Nursing. 

It's an extremely good nursing program and very difficult to get in. Only 40 students are accepted and out of that 30 students are on the traditional track (less than 40 credits) and 10 students are on the alternative track (more than 40 credits). Alternate track nursing students also have clinicals on Saturday whereas the traditional students have them during the week.

Needless to say with my credits I was without a doubt applying for the 10 availble spots 

on the Alternate Track.

 The program consists of 4 consecutive semesters which takes 1 year and 3 months at BYU-Idaho because of the 3 track system. After you finish the ASN program you are able to take the NCLEX and if you pass you're a Registered Nurse!! 

To complete the BSN (bachelors of science in nursing) it will take 6 more classes or 2 more semesters online, but I can already start working as an RN at that point. Plus I hear that's the easiest part thank goodness!

I've never felt more certain or excited about schooling. Although I have 130 credits, almost done with my Health Science degree and now a Certified Medical Assistant as well as a CNA, I KNOW that nursing is the right career path for me!

I could easily be discouraged from all the classes that won't go towards my degree and all the time and money it took but I'm choosing to look at it as a learning experience. 

I met wonderful people along the way and any education is good right? 

I know there was a purpose for it all!

 I'm so motivated to start this program and become a nurse!

I'm so incredibly grateful for my Heavenly Father, husband, family, friends and teachers that didn't give up on me and helped me in so many ways!

I encourage anyone that wants to go back to school for whatever the reason (cough...my mom..cough) that you can do it! Don't get discouraged and stay focused. It won't last forever:)

Now I already have 5 chapters to do in this book before school even starts. Bring it on!

hubs birthday

this weekend we celebrated jake's 27th birthday 

let me tell you 27 never looked so good!

 h o t t i e.

 

we woke up and i made him a big breakfast  

as he took a test online (boo)...

i decided to be crafty and get him a gift for each letter of his name to open at a certain time 

throughout his b-day...

it took some planning but i think it turned out well:)

 J-was for jerky because that's jake's ultimate fav. snack

A-was for adidas shirt (that was going to be ammo but his dad got him a bunch of it and brass)

K- was for knife...specifically a buck knife to skin all them critters

E-was for entertainment. He loves the movie gladiator so we watched that in the evening...

and maybe he possibly got some other entertainment later:)

jake went shooting with all his brothers and their dad in the afternoon and the girls painted nails.

i also baked him a cheesecake with fresh strawberries (his fav again)

 

My brother-in-law and his gf were in town so we got to spend some time with them this weekend.

We always love it when they come visit.

Our good friends mitch and remi came over to eat dinner with us at jake's parents and have

 cake and ice cream. they bought jake the cutest birthday gifts ever...

 Call of Duty t-shirt

(anyone that knows my husband knows he loves to play that came with mitch)

John Wayne mug

(jake's idol basically) 

Thanks you guys!!

we have such amazing friends and family. we feel incredibly blessed.

i think jake had a wonderful birthday, thank you to everyone for making it so special!