Everyday Comings & Goings

Sometimes what we spend the most time doing becomes ordinary and everyday. However, it's what we do, what we invest ourselves in. It's our comings and goings.

1. Matt and I decided to break in the Tennis rackets...I'm learning (meaning I have almost nailed a few other players on the adjacent court). A little tennis lesson makes for a great date!
2. Matt's in finals mode. I really haven't seen much of him these last few days. He's book bound. However, throughout this semester, he's made some major accomplishments: survived systems class, learned how to drill or "prepare" a tooth, and learned to read X-rays.
3. I'm in transition. I've been working a lot, and feel very productive. I love working at Cedars, but being new is slightly stressful. I'm still trying to figure out my routine, carry a full patient load (I add a patient about every week), stay on top of my charting, and manage my time. I feel like all my patients need something at once. Anyways, I'm doing my best, but being a real nurse is harder than I thought it would be - physically, emotionally, and mentally. However, the patients are definitely worth the work.
4. Phone calls from home keep me going on my days off - I talk to my mom multiple times a day, Tara, Grandma, Dad, Brett, etc.

Mystery Adventure in My Mouth

Mystery Adventures...A Greg LeCheminant family tradition, or another name for a surprise vacation to a surprise destination. Matt grew up on Mystery adventures. Disney Land and Phantom of the Opera were among the attractions. Matt's and my honeymoon was a mystery adventure of sorts. Anyways, Greg (Matt's dad) spent the week with us at our place while on business in LA. We decided to instigate a little mystery into his vacation...A mystery in his mouth! Greg loves seafood. Matt's mother does not. Thus, we decided to whip up a little seafood surprise.

We made Salmon. It turned out quite lovely.

We enjoyed spending dinner together each night. Greg treated us to dinner at Paco's Tacos (first time I ever had a margarita at a restaurant in the U.S.) and Little Hong Kong Cafe. It was such a treat to get out on the town, and an even greater treat not to have to cook. Now...the Mystery was not over. Greg surprised Matthew with his hand made Christmas present: A beautiful redwood guitar wrack!

Matt loves it, and I love that his guitars will now be put away - not lying on my floor in "the guitar's bedroom" :)

One Year Older & Wiser too...

Yes...I had a birthday. Everyone shout hooray! I did decide to turn 23, not 22B this year. I was considering 22b, but then everyone at work keeps telling me how I look 14, so I decided to make the move.



I'm 23 years old. After a great pre-birthday party at home, March 2nd arrived. I had the day off work, but nothing eventful planned. However, my friend Mary went grocery shopping with me (I bought extra strawberries as a birthday gift to myself), and Mary surprised me with a birthday lunch along with a "kiss me it's my birthday" badge. Totally made my day. Matt arrived home, I got to open my birthday cards, and Matt sent me on a birthday treasure hunt.

I followed the rhyming clues to find my birthday treasures - compression socks (yes...I really don't want varicose veins), tennis rackets for both Matt and me, and a coupon for a new wallet!

Now, the partying continued. You'd think I turned 50 or something. Not so. We had my favorite cabbage salad with the Hagge's on Saturday. I even got the "you are special today" plate. And then, to top it off, Nikki made some of her divine cake and invited over a few friends. It was a great excuse to celebrate.

Last, but not least, my birthday did have a theme this year....ALL Mykel, ALL the time! Yes. I am that vain. If you're my family member, you may recall receiving a notification of my upcoming birthday and theme. Well, it worked. Stacy called me on my birthday eve, just to tell me she'd spent the day making an ice sculpture of me - I'm sure it looked amazing. My mother gave me real time updates of my birth story that lasted ALL day long. Text messages, birthday cards, calls, and songs...Man...Sure felt the love! Thanks for the birthday wishes!

Collaborative Cooking :)

Collaborative Cooking: Something that involves two cooks working together to make something delicious. - M&N (Not Webster you'll notice...We invented the collaborative, so we get to define it...it is what we make it!)

Nik and I are collaborative cooks. We cook dinner together at least once a week. We've been doing this pretty much every since we moved out here, and I have learned to make some amazing dishes while enjoying some amazing company. Homemade noodles, chocolate cake, pizza sauce, Red Robin chicken burgers, chocolate covered strawberries, apple pie, and countless things courtesy of Allrecipes.com. I love collaborative cooking!

The boys especially like it when we make desserts :) Yum!

A Workin' Woman

Call me Rosie the Riveter, I've joined the ranks as a work'n woman of the world! After two weeks of classroom time and a couple of exams, I'm now caring for patients. I have unit, a schedule, aa badge, day shift, and a great preceptor. I'm overwhelmed, but learning a lot. I salute all nurses out there who can balance a five patient work load. I'm definitely being stretched and pushed, but it's coming. Plus, I'm not getting lost as much. And...I love what I'm doing. I have missed caring for patients so much. So...All in all...it's going good. I've got a long ways to go, but I'll get there eventually. Hooray for being a nurse!

Happy Love Day!

Matt and I left the left the city! We got dressed up and escaped the buildings, traffic, and headed for the Valley. We found our destination...Applebees. Yes, we were coming for the ribs. We enjoyed a delicious messy dinner, and drove home through Topanga Canyon (yes...just like on Boy Meets World). It was green and beautiful. We drove by the coast and enjoyed a beautiful sunset. Oh the days of Romance! Happy Valentines!

My Last Hurrah!

So I made a sort of last minute decision to fly home to Salt Lake for my last week before starting my new job. Matt drove me down to long beach bright and early for morning flight. This was really my first time traveling all by myself...no group, no fam, no husband...but I did it! I made it home for some quality family time. I went shopping with my mom, met up with my sister in laws for Kneader's french toast, met up with a couple of old roommates at lunch time, went to the temple with my mom, shot hoops with Brett, and just enjoyed home.


And...had to fit in a couple of ski days of course...you go to Utah...you gotta ski. It was a good day. I kept up with my fam...that in itself is an accomplishment! We went through the tunnel to mineral basin at Snowbird - totally felt like I was in Disney Land!

(The Ant Heads)

And another trip to Alta...It's about time Tara's boyfriend Sean learned to ski. We're Balles...we like to ski together.

And had to have a dinner at Grandma Balle's...One of the things I miss about home the most! We played games and visited. It was a taste of heaven!