Without A Paddle

The title above is deceiving.  So back track to graduation weekend, when a local store called RIVER RAT was having a demo day where you could go out to a local lake and try out some of their different kayaks, canoes and paddle boards.  Luckily, this took care of the dilemma "What do we do all day with the parents?" because I can't just let them be bored out of their minds and I need to entertain them so they will want to visit us, right? right.

I should have known better.  I should've known that this little adventure would lead a certain someone that I'm married to and live with to become obsessed with one or more of these vehicles.  Which one do you ask?...Paddle boards.  He is obsessed with anything that is in board form {Wakeboard, Snowboard, Surfboard, Wake/surfboard, skateboard, longboard, you get the point}.  So naturally he wouldn't stop talking about them. Seriously. Wouldn't stop.  He spent hours researching different brands and types. Literally.  Hours.  After listening to if for a while, I just wanted it to stop.  I gave in.  I gave in and gave him a price limit for 2 boards.  Yes. I said 2 boards.  Because you CAN'T go alone.  It's dangerous.  So he found a deal.  And we got the boards.  Of course, I got sick and when the boards showed up, I couldn't go out and use them.  But James did.  He got up at 6:30 to be out by 7 so he could still make it to work by 9.  Yes I said 6:30.  AM.  Anyways, he sent me a few gorgeous pictures.  I can't wait to get out there and try them for myself.  

Heavy boxes

College Grad

After many years of working my tail off, I've finally done it! I've finally become a college graduate! {It's about time, I'm only what? 25 years old} I've spent the last 2 years specifically studying to become a RDH {Register Dental Hygienist} and I've finally done it!  It was a LONG road, but totally worth it.  Looking back, I don't think I could've picked a better program and I couldn't have been placed into a class {Now a sisterhood} that could have been a better fit for me.  It's always interesting to be in a room with a lot of estrogen, but as time goes on you care and love each other more and more and you really do feel like sisters {What are we going to do when we aren't seeing each other EVERY day?}.  We will always have the memories we made.  We nearly killed ourselves trying to pass our board exams, but eventually came out on TOP!  The CSI Dental Hygiene program is one of the BEST things to happen to me.  "What doesn't challenge you, doesn't change you".  I can't believe that I was so lucky to have this experience, but I'm ever so grateful that I did.  I appreciate my husband for all of his support and his love and his understanding.  He was often placed on the back burner when an assignment needed to be done, and he never complained.  I'm grateful for my parents and siblings who always had faith in my abilities.  I'm grateful for my classmates for putting up with me every day for 2 years.  I'm grateful for the CSI Dental Hygiene faculty for seeing the potential in me and helping me become what I'd hoped I would be.  Man...I'm sad it's over.  ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END, right?  I'm so proud of all of us! CONGRATS CLASS OF 2014!


-Sierra Christen Rock, RDH

Me and my director, Cindy Harding

Couldn't ask for a better director

Class of 2014

Graduation with Distinction Award

My #1 Supporter

Dad and Pam and Dalton drove up from Vegas

Mom and Blair flew from Vegas to be with me

YAY Grandma EE

A few smarty pants

Class 2014

Cute Caps!

Bryan and Karen came too! 

What Do Ya Know?

Well what do ya know? It's been many many moons since I last made a post on this forsaken blog of mine.  I make no excuses...I'm still lame.  Well I've finished my 3rd semester of dental hygiene school, and have now just begun my 4th and final semester of this program! Over Christmas Break, James flew down to California to interview at Western University in Pomona CA for Dental school.  It went really well and we should know here in the next few weeks whether he has been accepted to start in the fall or not.  {Keep your fingers crossed.  Better yet, PRAY for us!}  Later on in the break, I took my first of many boards to receive my DH License.  It was the WREB written anesthesia board and I PASSED! {Doin' a little dance}  My next board will be the anesthesia clinical in March {Happy Birthday to me!} It's been a long journey.  I'm almost sad to see my time here go so fast, and I'm slightly dreading the day that I will have to leave behind the 9 other girls that I've gone through this ordeal with.  They have become sisters to me and don't really know how I'll react when I'm not seeing them everyday...{enough of the sentimental talk} I still have a few more months and I'm going to make the best of it!  I'm gonna do what we Rocks do...I'm gonna have a ROCKIN' time!

We really do A LOT more than most people think!

A "Prophy" is the actual term for a cleaning...So now it makes sense eh?

I'm a Shmuck

What I can I say?  I guess it's apparent that blogging has been put down low on my priority list.  I haven't posted since before this last Christmas and there is only partially good reason for that.  In May I did finish up my most difficult, time consuming, sanity testing semester of my entire life.  It was the most credits I had taken at one time and also demanded several projects that were to be finished in the time already taken up my routine studies and patients.  The worst project that loomed over my head since first semester was the High School presentation on 8 Risky Behaviors.   I couldn't make it through a single final exam without feeling sick to my stomach about what awaited me.  As always, I over-reacted.  I gave my presentation a total of 3 times and it turned out fantastic.
 James and I have been spending the summer in Corona California, where he has been selling pest control contracts for Alterra Pest Control.  James submitted Dental School applications.  We went to Lake Powell with the Rock clan, which resulted in many passengers getting ill {Never a dull moment!} For most of July we just had our regular routine.  We were able to go and visit my Dad and Pam down in Newport Beach for a couple of weekends {I LOVE THE BEACH!} We even were able to have ALL of the Crowley kids down at the beach and have a little "reunion".  It was stressful and crazy and fun all at the same time.  This was the first time we had all been together in over 3 years (almost 4).  Just a few days ago, I returned from a trip with my sister and my mom and Blair {step-dad}.  We spent a few days in Philadelphia, PA.  My mom had a conference, so Paige, Blair and I did some exploring.  We of course did all of the history stuff! We saw the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall.  We took a carriage ride through Old Town and observed several of the historical houses.  We learned a lot about the inspiring history of this country and the outstanding bravery of those living in those times.  We only have a couple more weeks left here and then we will be heading back up to Twin Falls.  I start my 3rd semester the last week of this month.  I'm excited and yet nervous again.  This semester will be even more demanding, but is supposed to be more fun.  I'm looking forward to getting it over with ;)

Independence Hall

Liberty Bell

Inside Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed

Uh...

Uh...I'm embarrassed. It's been over 3 1/2 months since I last posted. In my defense, we don't have internet at home and thus blogging would require that I go to campus and when I'm there, I better be studying right? Well, let's recap on our lives since beginning of Sept. At the very end of August, I started my first semester in the Dental Hygiene program at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls.  James started an internship 3-4 days a week in Boise with Dr. Nelson, an oral surgeon.  I was really nervous for these classes and was feeling very NOT confident.  Uh...since when? But as it went on I was really killing it.  I LOVE my program.  I love my classmates and my instructors and I'm loving what I'm learning.  Well, after James was done with his internship he started studying for the DAT {Dental Admissions Test}. Where he studied anywhere from 8-9 hours or so. Crazy. Which he then took and ROCKED. No pun intended. For Thanksgiving we went down to Las Vegas to visit my dad and Pam for the day then drove back to St. George for the BIG Ence Family Reunion. Where we filled those days learning about my ancestors and shooting competitions and dutch oven food, etc.  We went back to the grind of studying. I then finished up my finals strong and drove out to Boise to spend Christmas with James' family.  So not a whole lot that others might find exciting.  Who am I kidding? We haven't been exciting at all.  Maybe that'll change. I promise to TRY to be better about keeping my peeps in the loop.  Oh and I forgot...we got a cat! He is still just a baby and his name is Bronco, but we just call him kit kit.

Pics Natalie Bleazard took of us!

There he is

a little sleepy

Stare down with some squirrels 

First time meeting Greyer, my adorable nephew!

Greyer on his first motorcycle ride

Jamesies on his ride

and my turn

My first time meeting the other new nephew, Elliott. So handsome. 

Still there?

Yes.  Believe it or not, we still have a blog.  Just haven't been writing on it.
Boy, has a lot happened since the last time I wrote on this blog thing, but here it goes.  To some up our last month or so into 1 word, it would be this word...CRAZY.  I started packing up our home {with the help of my Bonus-mom and my mom} at the beginning of the month, just a little at a time.  I quit my job on July 17, and it was a bitter sweet goodbye {to never return}.  And then I spent the next week finishing packing {w/ mom} and cleaning {w/mom}.  man what would I ever do w/o her?  On friday, James became a graduate of Brigham Young University Idaho, with a degree in Exercise Physiology.  So James' whole family came over to celebrate with us and to help us make the move.  yikes.  Saturday morning, we quickly did some finishing cleaning touches and then we were off towards Twin Falls {and our new home}.  We unloaded and then James was off to Boise with his family.  Meanwhile, my mom and I just spent the evening unpacking a little and then shopping!  Sunday, we were in Boise to attend Jason's {James' lil' bro} "farewell".  Monday, we were back in Twin.  Tuesday, on our way to Salt Lake.  Wednesday, said goodbye to Jay :( and then back in Twin later that day.  It's been somewhat of a whirl wind.  I will be starting school at the end of the month and we are just trying to settle into our "new" life.  And after all of this I've come to one important conclusion.  Moving stinks.

Of course some quick pics.

Disaster

Yay!

whoot whoot

A really pretty sunset at our new apartment

Harry, our new pet. {as long as he says outside!}

A ROCK'n Weekend

Has it really been over 2 MONTHS since I've last posted on this blog of mine? Yes.  Oh My.  Well, what better way to get back into the groove by blogging about our fun family weekend!  This last Friday, James' whole family came over to Eastern Idaho for Staci's baby shower. {did i mention how excited we all are to meet the new little Princess Anna {how cute is that!}.  We had a family dinner over at the Starnes' home and spent the evening playing out in the yard on the tramp and playing catch and making/eating smores.  Yum.  I then drove home to sleep at home, while James stayed the night so he could wake up at the crack of dawn to golf. Boys.  Saturday was the day of the baby shower!!!  It was so fun and so cute to see all of the little girl stuff that Staci got.  Baby stuff is just so cute. It makes you want one...NOT YET! We then spent that evening in Rexburg at the splash park and eating frozen custard from Nielson's.  Yum.  Again.  It was so much fun being able to spend time with the family! and excited to see them again soon.

Picture Time!

The whole group

Presents!

Presents!

Nat and Carter on the marry-go-round

Big Bryan and Lil' Bryan

Lou and Parks

Carter seemed to really love it!

James throwin the baseball 

Dal "hangin out" to dry

Lou and Dal layin out

This is the "what?" face