Emily's Birthday Events

Emily is one of those lucky enough to have a birthday so close to the holidays. It is hard to make the day special...but I think we succeeded. Charles took Emily out to dinner for some daddy daughter time. I enjoyed dinner with Miss Abigail. We then all met up for some yummy Sweet Sammies ice cream sandwiches and an excursion to Sundance Square.

 Emily celebrating her 11th birthday

 Sweet Miss Abbey

 Charles' sweet girls and woman

 The Thomason clan

 Love this holiday picture

 Picture says it all

 this young lady ate a double double

Fall Spirit, Plants and Pumpkins

Since the weather has started cooling off...I have had a great desire to be outside more...and with my old Friday pal Axel Ryan getting close to moving.... I have wanted to hang out with this little man.  I needed to find a way to combine both of these and the answer was The Dallas Arboretum.

I have an awesome brother and sister-in-law that let me have this little man over the years. I am very close with Axel Ryan. 

 Axel happens to like Charles and has named him "Lobster"

I was excited to go and see the pumpkin village. I always like seasonal and holiday festivities

Cables X-Tremos in the Atitlan Nature Reserve

After arriving in the late afternoon the day before, Sunday was a free day. Half the group went to the ruins and then there was the daring who chose zip-lining. What a great experience...definitely on my bucket list of adventures to have experienced. 

 Getting all geared up

We hiked straight up in a beautiful mountain approximately a half mile with a 486 ft elevation.

My lungs gave me a little grief on the last part of the hike...but the group was totally supportive.

This water fall was beautiful. It was in our view everyday on our drive through the mountains on our way to clinic. Being able to get up close was breath taking. 

 We had to walk a fairly long suspension bridge allowing us the great up close view.

There were numerous suspension bridges that had to be crossed.

 

 A selfie somewhere along the path

 

 

This might give you an idea of the thrill. Our course had nine lines. the first four were pretty extreme. I think our longest line was 3/4 mile at 60 mph. It was a bit scary and an adrenaline experience that I am so glad I got to experience.

I Graduated...Finally!

I have taken the longest road to completing my bachelor degree...and I am happy to say that it is done. I did an 8 month accelerated program. Honestly, for years, I did not even have the desire....and then the medical industry decided to want to make it a necessary norm...and I got on board. I feel quite accomplished...learned a thing or two about research and writing...and writing....and writing {need I say more}...and it is a good thing that I learned something {as no pay raise comes with this}. I finished with 7 A's and 1 B...not too bad I guess.

So my educational path goes something like this:

Completed my LVN in July 2000

Completed my ADN in April 2007

Completed my BSN in August 2014

(Do you see the seven year pattern?)

As I am contemplating earning a masters degree...I ponder if it will take another seven years

 In front of the Texas Tech University Marquee

 Guns Up

 My parents decided to make the six hour trek to Lubbock to watch me have my moment of fame

 and so did Nathaniel

 this awesome man came to play with me in Lubbock and we made a weekend out of it

Check out the awesome Converse that Charles gave me for graduation....LOVE THEM!!!