A Whole Lot of Randomness

In no particular order......

We're moving Saturday..Again! We've had a lot of problems with the apartment we're in now and we're both driving about 20-25 mintues to work so we're moving to a nicer apartment that's closer to our jobs! P.S. - I haven't packed one box! It's going to be a LONG weekend!

MRA is playing their first playoff game Friday!!! If we win, we play for the State Championship the next week and sadly our season is over if we lose :( GO PATRIOTS!!!!

I've decided I'm ready to take on a full marathon. I did a 1/2 a couple of years ago but always said I would do a full one day! The Country Music Marathon is at the end of April and I think I can be ready by then. The new apartment we're moving in is really close to some nice trails so hopefully I can get started training within the next couple of weeks!

Work is kicking my hinny! I love my job but it wears. me. out. I do a lot of nothing on my days off which makes me feel SO unproductive and lazy. I'll figure it all out one day!

November and December are going to be busy months. Moving, my dad, step-dad and John's birthday in November, baby Katie will be here mid December and we'll celebrate our anniversary and Christmas after that! Whew!

And if you're still with me, some cute pictures from MRA's "Tackle A Cure for Breast Cancer" game!

The players wore pink tape on their ankles and wrist, along with pink arm bands and such. The coaches wore pink hats and their shirts said "Tackle a Cure" on the front pocket. The fans were also asked to wear their pink to the game! It was really cute!

What a wonderful photographer we had haha!! He decided baby Witt and his stroller needed to be in the picture as well.

This is John, Me, Coach Williams & his wife Elizabeth, Coach Stamper and his wife Leanne

John and his little buddy Hayden.

Hayden is called "little Weaver" at school because he's always hanging around John. Poor guy haha!

Sweet baby Witt.

This is Coach Williams & Elizabeth's youngest son. He's so stinkin' cute!

Courtney's First Baby Shower

Sunday was Courtney's first baby shower! It was so cute and she got a lot of great gifts! December is right around the corner! I can't wait to get my hands on this sweet baby girl!!!

The mommy to be! How great does she look???

MIL (Gigi) and Grandma Coomes enjoying the wonderful food!

Camo overalls and a MS state cowbell, her daddy will be so proud!!

Me, John, and Court

Family picture! Drew was at the deer camp of coarse :)

Happy 9th Birthday Juliana!!

Last Saturday we celebrated my baby sister's 9th birthday at Gattitown! I had never been to Gattitown before but it was a really neat place! All you have to bring is your cake and they take care of the rest! They played games, danced, painted faces, ate pizza and then went to the arcade. I think John and my brother had as much fun as the little girls!

The sweet birthday girl!!!

Juliana and her friends!

My Mom and her 3 babies :)

John Boy

Her cake was SO cute!!

The had a whole crew come in and sing happy birthday to her! Her little face was so red!

Arcade games!

John and Ryan hooping it up!

We all had a great time! I can't believe she is 9 years old! Happy Birthday Juju! We love you so much!!!

Boys...

A few pictures of John, Coach Stamper, and some of the MRA football team having a little pool fun...

Lazy Weekend

We had a lazy weekend and enjoyed every minute! Friday night consisted of MRA football- we killed Canton Academy 64 to 0! The game was over by the 2nd quarter so they ran the clock for the next 2, thankfully! (Btw-last Friday we lost to Prep- it was too awful to blog about!!) Saturday we slept late, my fav! John's parents got new living room furnitue so they offered us their old leather couch and love seat which we gladly accepted! So they delivered the furniture that afternoon and then we had lunch with them at Mugshots. Saturday night John and I went to the movies to see Rise of the Planet of the Apes, it was really good!! Today I caught up on some laundry and took the pups for a long walk while John watched film at the school. I thought I was going to have to carry Noah back home, he's spoiled and doesn't like the heat one bit! Hope y'all had a great weekend!

BIG game!

Friday night is MRA's first game of the season and it's a BIG one! We play Jackson Prep at home! They are big rivals and both really good football teams. MRA put JP out of the playoffs last season so they are coming back for revenge! MRA has a whole new football staff so it's going to be an interesting game! I just pray we play our best with good sportsmanship and leave the game with healthy football players. But a "W" would be awesome! Go PATRIOTS!

God's timing is perfect!

Monday I started my new and FIRST RN job in the well baby nursery! To say I love it would be an understatement! The hospital is brand new and SO nice! And I get to cuddle and love on brand new babies all day! Perfection! But what's even more perfect is the way it all happened!

School was a nightmare, Hesi almost killed me, and boards were stress-FUL. Surely finding a job would be easy.. not! God's timing is perfect. It's something you hear and preach to others but when it's your turn to hear it and believe it, it's a lot harder to swallow! John and I were in Dick's sporting goods-John sees a young boy trying on tennis shoes-He asks him what school he goes to and if he plays sports-The boy says he goes to NWR and he plays football-John asks him why he doesn't go to MRA-The boy says he is interested but didn't want to leave his friends- They talk and exchange numbers- John introduces the boy and his mom to me-The mom asks me what I do- I tell her I just graduated from nursing school and I'm currently looking for a job-She tells me her husband is the CEO at River Oaks and is sure he could find me something- She gives me his number- I call and email him my resume-he sends my resume out to all the Chief Nursing Officers and makes phone calls- I get a call on Aug 1st for an interview on the post-partum unit- Another call on Aug 3th for an interview in the well baby nursery and offered the job on the spot. God is so so GOOD! This job couldn't be more perfect for me!

Girls Night!

Monday night the head coaches wife, Elizabeth, invited all the football coaches wives for a girls night! We ate dinner at McAlisters and then headed over to Easely Amused for a painting class. The theme for the night was "All I Do Is Win" and we all painted MRA football helmets! Most people painted their favorite college team but we decided to show the patriots some love! This was my first experience at EA so I was very excited and a little nervous because I am the least artistic person alive! It was so much fun! And they really do go step by step!

Elizabeth, Leanne, Anise, Me

My finished product! Not too bad for my first experience!

I'm going to have a NIECE!

My sister-in-law, Courtney, and her hubby are having a baby girl! They planned their doctor's appointment on her moms birthday so they could announce the big news at dinner! She had a family member make two cakes (one with pink in the middle and one with blue) so they could reveal the gender by cutting the cake! It was suppose to be dessert but we couldn't stand it so we cut the cake first!

Her name is Katie Lauren!

Drew new for SURE it was going to be a boy so he was by far the most shocked!

Opening their first baby girl gift!

I can't wait to spoil this little girl! She is already so loved!!!

New Hair Do

Monday night John and Nathan (John's coaching buddy) decided it was too hot for all that hair! Two-a-days just started and they needed a new 'cooler' do! I had never seen John with his head shaved so I was ok with it! Nathan's wife, Leanne, was not as on board! He begged and begged and she finally gave in!

Nathan saved the top for me!

Haha I love these guys!

Date Night :)

John and I received a Shapley's gift card as a wedding gift at one of our showers in October. We had never been but had heard great things! We couldn't find a good time to go while I was in school so we kept putting it off "until." We finally decided we had a lot to celebrate, so we went last night! It was a-mazing! I don't have any pictures, I hate asking some random stranger to take our picture - SO awkward! I would have asked our waiter but it was extremely dark and the flash would have been BRIGHT! So this is the best I can do:

It's pricey but definitely worth it! We didn't know the portions would be so large so we ordered way too much and had a lot to bring home! We highly recommend!

It's official!

I took state boards Thursday and I PASSED! Praise the Lord! I was terrified and the test was awful. I had to wait 48 hours before I could get my test results and I was a nervous wreck! On top of it all, John has been at football camp in Nashville since Thursday morning so I've been alone to sit and wonder! Pure torture. One of my friends who took the test in May said the website updated its results at 2:00am the day you're suppose to find out. So I stayed up until 2 this morning to look! "It's finally over" is all that came to mind. Now to just find a J-O-B! Happy Saturday!

Must. Do. Better.

I'm not good at this and I have no excuses. I started a blog because my sweet friend Margie talked about her blog all the time and I was very curious! Anything Margie does is fun! Well I loved the idea but it was too hard to keep up with the blog when I could barely keep up with school. Now school is over and I want and need to do better. I think I will really thank myself years down the road when I can look back and read about things we did, no matter how big or small. I can count on one hand how many pictures John and I have taken since we got married. It's sad! So, starting today I'm going to document more of what goes on in our lives, which will probably be so boring for most! Sorry ahead of time!

I have tons of areas that need improvement in my life and maybe writing them down will hold me more accountable. So here goes!

1. Exercise- Holy cow. I never thought I would call myself lazy, and as a whole, I'm not. But in the exercise department I have been so lazy in the past year. It's gone on for too long now. I use to run all the time and could run for miles. I LOVED it! It was something that I enjoyed and it made me feel so good. I get out of breath just walking up stairs now :(
Goal: Exercise for 30 minutes a day, 5 times a week.

2. Cooking- I need tons of improvement in this area! It all comes down to planning ahead. We eat out so much these days. If I would plan ahead we wouldn't get caught starving with nothing in the freezer and make a mad dash to the first fast food place we come across. It would save money, time, and our waist lines!
Goal: Meal plan on Saturday, grocery shop on Sunday, eat out once a week or less.

3. Dog walking-My poor pups. They have been so neglected in this area. I walk them everyday (several times) to go the restroom but I never walk them for leisure. We just go outside, tinkle, and come straight back inside. Partly because it's 100 degrees outside but mainly because I'm being lazy. They love to walk and NEED to walk to burn off some of their energy and to keep them healthy. (I can't wait to have a fenced backyard!)
Goal: 30 minute leisure walk every other day.

4. Cleaning- I'm pretty good in this area but I need some improvement. Our apartment stays fairly clean but I need to get into a good cleaning routine. I clean sporadically and that annoys me. I'd like to clean once a week on a specific day and just "pick up" the rest of the days.
Goal: Clean top to bottom one day a week (probably Friday) and just maintain the rest of the week.

Hopefully I can do better! I've been in kind of a rut lately and just need to start fresh!

Update on Life

So a few post back I talked about the Hesi test that I have to make a 900 on to officially get out of Hinds. Well I took it again last Thursday and made an 894. Seriously??? I wanted to cry but all I could do was laugh. God has a great sense of humor!

In other news, my Hubby got a new job! He's now the head track coach and assistant football coach at Madison Ridgeland Academy (MRA). I had mixed feelings about it at first but I'm warming up to the idea. It's a great opportunity for him at a bigger school plus they offer benefits so it was kind of a no-brainer! Our lease is up at the end of June so we'll be moving to an apartment July 1st! I'm really going to miss all my Vicksburg friends! But we're only a 40 minute drive away, a drive I'm sure we'll make often!

I've known for a while but I just completely forgot to blog about it! I'm going to be an AUNT! John's sister Courtney is preggo and due around December 15th! I am SO excited! She had her first doctor's appointment last week and the sonogram is unbelievable! You could see everything so perfectly! We'll find out what baby Warnock is sometime in July! I'm just going to throw this out there, I already know it's a girl :)

Water for Elephants

(picture from whoopne.blogspot.com)

I have been waiting so patiently to see this movie and yesterday I just couldn't stand it anymore! John took me to Madison to see it and oh my goodness it was worth the wait! I loved it!!!! Go see it if you have the chance, you will not be disappointed!

I DID IT!!!

I graduated nursing school!! I honestly thought this day would NEVER come! It was definitely the longest two years of my life and I wouldn't go through it again for anything. I have never cried so much in my life! But it's over and now the real fun begins! I still have to pass Hesi, an exit exam given by Hinds, before I can go take boards. I have to make a 900 and I've taken it three times and made 849, 779, and 809. I have until November to make the 900 but hopefully it won't take that long! I've worked wayyy too hard to not get over this small hurdle. I keep reminding myself that God's timing is perfect and when it's time I will make whatever I have to make. Thank you all for your prayers! I know all the obstacles I have overcome in the last two years is nothing short of a miracle!

He definitely gets the BEST Husband award! He supported me every step of the way. He let me yell at him, cry on his shoudler, wake him up at 4 a.m. just so I didn't have to get ready for clinical in silence, cooked, cleaned, took care of the pups, helped me study, helped me do projects, typed papers, etc.. The list could go on for days! Thank you John Boy! I love you so much!

My good friend Jillian :)

My sweet Daddy. Hardest working and most selfless man I know! I love you!

I love this girl! Lara Higginbotham, aka "Higgybottom"

My Mama! I could not have done this without her! Everyday I would get a text or a phone call from her with something encouraging to say. Those text/calls got me through some of the toughest times! She wouldn't let me quit, although I wanted to so bad some days. I love you Mama! You'll always be my best friend!

"The Pitts"

My Dad lives beside an airport owned by one of his good friends, Jimmy Wade. Mr. Jimmy is an amazing pilot and can fly anything! There's a plane in the airport called "The Pitts" and it's strickly an aerobatics plane. I have been dying to go for a ride for over a year and last weekend I finally got the chance!

For thirty minutes we did nothing but flips, barrel rolls, hammer heads, and 8-point rolls! To ride you have to wear a parachute and be instructed about how to depart the plane in case there is an emergency. I usually don't get nervous about stuff like that but when Mr. Jimmy was telling me what straps to unlock and what cords to pull (below), I started praying silently!

I posted these pictures on Facebook and someone asked me if I was flying the plane since I was in the front seat haha! Absolutely not! It's controlled from the back seat and they want the passenger to have to best view of course!

Throughout the ride, Mr. Jimmy would ask me how I felt and I kept telling him I felt good. I never once felt sick while in the air but once we landed I felt queasy for about an hour! It was definitely worth it though! I can't wait to ride again!

God is Good

As most of you know I made the grade I had to make to get into transition! What a relief! It's not a good feeling when everything is riding on one test! But God knows what He's doing. I started transition clinicals this week (10 hours every Monday & Tuesday) and it has been tough. My whole body hurts when I get home and I have no energy to do anything. Thankfully I only have 5 clinical days, 3 tests, and 2 lectures to go! But I'm not counting or anything.. Thank you so much for all of your prayers!

Prayers Needed!

I have a HUGE test coming up (April 4th) and I need HUGE prayers sent my way. The test really isn't any bigger than any of my other test but it's carrying a lot of weight! We have four test before transition (the big step before graduation) and out of those four test we have to have a 78 average to go! Below a 78 average means returning to Hinds in the Fall to graduate in December, boo! I can't handle another semester. So.. I have to make above an 88 on this next test to have 78 average to continue on to transition. The last test really set me back, only 12 out of 41 people passed and I wasn't one of the 12! Anyway, please pray for me as I prepare for this test!

Weddings, Weddings, Weddings!

Before being a part of my aunt's wedding in August I had not been to any weddings that I could remember anything about. I was always in weddings growing up but I was too young to even care what was going on. Well I definitely got my fair share in the last 7-8 months! Lara (my aunt) was married in August, John and I in December, John's sister Courtney in February, and my sister Rachel in March! It has been madness for sure. Although I enjoyed them all I'm SO glad they're all over as is everyone in our family! Here are some pictures from the special events!

Lara & Tri's big day!

August 7, 2010

One of my favortie girls, Olivia!

December 18, 2010

My favorite sister-in-law, Courtney!

February 5, 2011

Rachel & I (slightly off center)

March 12, 2011