Adieu to the Eye Center

Adieu to the Eye Center

5.15.2009

Rockin' Out in Our Scrubs

Misty, Me, Kim

The Idaho Eye Center has been my home away from home for almost a full two years. This has been my first real full time job after college; it's bitter-sweet to leave. I don't think I could have asked for a better first job. I've been spoiled with great hours, some great perks (like LASIK surgery for FREE!) and have had the opportunity to work with the greatest people this side of the Mississippi. I've worked with 6 different doctors and a copius amount of women. A few of those women have become some of my best friends. We laugh, gossip, complain, and play jokes on one another. What better atmosphere is there than that? I know I'm really going to miss this place.

This is what happens when there is too much of...

THIS. Yes, reading trashy mags. :) j/k

To memorialize our experience here at the Idaho Eye Center, Misty thought it would be appropriate to take some pictures. Boy, was she right! Our little photo session was a ton of fun! Thanks, Misty!

Misty and I were hired around the same time and have worked together ever since. We're the only two hired hands in the small Rexburg office, so we've had a lot of one on one time together. And we've had some GOOD times! I'll just say we agree on a lot of things. :) wink wink Working with people you actually like makes all the difference. Kim is heir to the Rexburg phone throne after I'm gone. We love Kim too. I will miss you guys!!! Thanks for the memories! And don't forget to keep in touch.

Booties!

May I see your eye, please?

Read more »

The Nelson Dairy

The Nelson Dairy

"Welcome to the Nelson Dairy!" I greet every new calf on the farm that way, and if you took the effort to drive all the way out here and down the dirt lane, I think you might deserve that kind of greeting too.

The Nelson Clan posing atop the new tractor

It's okay, you can laugh. We all did.

I've been living on the dairy for two years now. Me? A big city southern California girl living on a muddy farm next to 300 cows? Yes. Ohh, yes! My transition from city life to country life was gradual. I was first introduced in the fall of 2002 when my parents moved me from San Diego to Meridian, Idaho. Culture shock! But I had a blast my entire senior year of high school, and thus, small city life left a sweet taste. Next, I acquired an appreciation for the cold and an even smaller town when I moved off to college in Rexburg. But I wasn't hit with Cupid's arrow until I came out to the Nelson farm to milk cows one evening long ago. It's beautiful out here! The sunsets are spectacular and the stars take my breath away. The farm sits beneath a tranquil set of mountains and nestles right up to one of the biggest cotton wood forests in the United States. On top of that, I live in an incredible log cabin. (Am I bragging yet?)

Bron and I dated for over a year. I spent the majority of my weekends out here "helping" Bron in the milking barn or in the tractor. He worked a lot on the farm, but it was time well spent together; cows often don't bring out the best in people. We had a lot of fun and made a bunch of memories!

Uni-Boob

Remember this, honey? I used to fill the pocket of his apron up with water and then SMOOSH it!

We did a lot of THIS down in the barn too.

The little calfs remind of big dogs. They're friendly and unafraid and will lick or suck your hand blue. They're so cute! I once tried to halter-break one. I named her Annabelle. She took me for a run! Needless to say, our training sessions were short-lived. Now she is one of the worst heiffers in the milking barn. I hope it wasn't because of me!

Sandy

By far, my favorite thing on the farm is our dog, Sandy. She loves, loves, loves attention. And I give it to her; we're pretty good buds. But our favorite thing to do is go running out in the cotton woods together. That is what I will miss most about Summer on the farm: running outside through the trees. It's beautiful and quiet! Sandy and I see all sorts of animals on our excursions such as white-tail deer, stupid varmin, cotton-tail rabbits, raccoons, turkey, and even a big fat beaver!

It's been a beautiful courtship, but change is constant and some good things must come to an end. I'm really going to miss the farm!

Milking in the Barn Together

THEN (May 2006)

and NOW. (April 2009)

Not too much has changed, has it?

Read more »

All Things Cute and Small

All Things Cute and Small

These are the newest additions to the Nelson Dairy: 18 baby chicks. Aren't they cute? Too bad it doesn't last long because they get UGLY FAST!

Sweet now, but soon to be U-G-L-Y

Bob the Bull

Meet Bob. He's a good looking calf. He is hands down the luckiest bull calf on the place because he gets to keep all of his boy parts! Otherwise, he'd be known as a steer. Steers don't get to play with the ladies or have any fun. They get sold or EATEN! Best wishes Bob. Git-R-Dun!

Read more »

Tribute To My Sista

Tribute To My Sista

5.12.2009

Who else better to celebrate than my sister? I only have ONE. And I think she's pretty special. I sometimes think we must've been best friends before we ever became sisters. She's sweet and weird and can always make me laugh. See?

Remember this, Lauren? haha

We even have the same legs.

Who's Who? I'm not telling!

But we are very different too. Thank goodness! Lauren has many talents and personality traits that are very different from mine. For example, she's an awesome singer and performer. That girl can draw and paint. (You ought to see the mural on her bedroom wall at home.) She's also much more laid back and patient. Lauren is beautiful all 360 degrees around. And I LOVE HER! So even though she's all grown up, taking college head-on, and married to the love of her life, she's still my little sister. I hope we'll always talk about life's adventures and that she'll always make me laugh no matter how old we get or how far away we live.

So... I hope you have the HAPPIEST HAPPY 20th BIRTHDAY! Two whole decades, Lauren. You're no longer a teenager. It sounds older than 21. What a landmark! You just being my sister for 20 years makes ME sound old. I wonder how Mom feels about this. :)

I love ya, Sista!

What would I do without you?

P.S. I had to search a looong time before I found a picture of you without your face or body all contorted. Muahaha!

Read more »

The New Mr. and Mrs. Nelson

The New Mr. and Mrs. Nelson

5.11.2009

Talon and Amber Nelson

My New Sister, Amber

Such a BEAUTIFUL Bride!

Brothers: Tyrel, Talon, Bron

Bron's little brother, Talon, got married on Saturday May 9, 2009 in the Columbia River Temple in Washington. We're so excited for him and his new bride! I remember Bron and my first summer together: It was bliss!!! There's nothing like being a newlywed... and then being married. I love it! I'm happy the two get to experience it too. Talon and his bride are now in Hawaii on their Honeymoon. It was a total surprise for her. I can't wait to hear all about it!

The ceremony was beautiful. I think it often benefits the couples in attendance more than the bride and groom. :) hehe The reception was in the cultural hall at the Stake Center across the street from the Temple. It was decked out like a tent with material hanging from the ceiling and little white lights. My favorite part were the strawberries and the chocolate fountain. Bron and I were in charge of the music. After the daddy-daughter dance and their first dance, we did the cha-cha and some other fun and romantic pieces. It was great! And yes, their car got decorated good! haha

The weekend started on Friday with a loong drive. It's at least a ten hour drive from Eastern Idaho to the Tri-Cities. There were 7 of us in a suburban: Flint and Merri Sue, Tyrel and his wife DeAnn, their baby Garrison, and Bron and myself. It was actually a pretty nice drive. I don't think we could've done it without the Garmin though. Whew! We took a pit stop at Shoshone Falls in Twin Falls. This time of year more water goes over the falls than the Niagra. Cool! I wonder why it's not more popular? Then we stopped at Tucano's in Boise for lunch. I found a new favorite restaurant! It's an all you can eat buffet where the waitors bring around all kinds of meat on skewers. I tried chicken heart and a boiled quail egg. Yum! But my favorite was the brown sugar roasted pineapple. So sweet!

On the trip home we stopped at my mom's house in Meridian for lunch. She really went all out! And it tasted so good! My little brothers loved the baby. They brought in a box full of baby toys from the garage and stacked them next to the baby. Sensory overload! Garrison didn't know what to think! It was pretty funny. :) That was the last time I'll get to see my Mom before Bron and I take an even longer road trip to our new home in New York. I love you, Mom! Happy Mother's Day!

P.S. Whatever you do, don't share a motel room with your parents. Ever. Bron and I awoke in the middle of the night to snoring that sounded more like a saber toothed tiger with a cold.

Self Portrait of My Honey and Me (just gotta have one!)

Read more »

Our 2nd Anniversary!

Our 2nd Anniversary!

5.05.2009

Today is our 2nd anniversary!!! Woot! Woot! Two whole entire years together! Wow. The time has gone by so fast. It must mean I'm a very happy and content woman. Words can't express how much I love my husband and what he means to me. I only know that I love him more everyday. Here's to us, honey! HAPPY TWO YEARS AND FOREVER MORE!!! I'm such a lucky girl.

Read more »

Violin Recital

Violin Recital

5.04.2009

My Little Violin Studio

Moriah, Colton, Kristin, Shakaylah, Siarra

Anyone who knows much about me knows that I play the violin. I've been playing since I was 5 years old. It's second nature to me! My violin provided college scholarships and the best experiences and highlights of my college career. For example: a trip to Europe, other tours, fun and crazy bus rides, sitting in the pit during school plays, and a great set of orch dork friends. Some of my favorite memories are of playing Christmas music with my mom and sister. The violin is my emotional and artistic outlet. If I'm feeling sad, playing makes me feel better. I play because I love the sound and I love the challenges. I play because I know it's appreciated from time to time by other people and can even touch their spirit occasionally. Musical talent is truly a gift in every way. This is what I want to pass on to my students...

Sunday night we had our 2nd ever violin recital at the church. Needless to say, they all did great! I hope my students all felt good about it too. I'm so proud of them! Afterwards, we feasted on peanutbutter-brownie cupcakes. Yum! So totally worth it!

My mom was here for the weekend too with my little brothers, Michael and Ryan. It was so good to see them! Different because they're on my turf, but still so much fun. They LOVE to beat up on Bron, or rather be beat upon BY Bron. We went swimming in the hot tub and they got dunked again and again. Sunday afternoon the boys played outside and got lost out in the cotton woods. I thought, "No, I don't want to hear about your adventures. You got lost BEFORE lunch on a fast Sunday and I'm hungry!" I wish the boys could live here for a week and just explore! They'd love it. My mom stayed late and came to my violin recital. I don't know why, but it meant a lot to me. Thanks, Mom! I love you! She always makes a great effort and shows her love in so many different ways.

Read more »