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.