Life is Good!

It hasn't felt much like summer with the rain every day, but one thing we know for sure is that it is fabulous to not have any homework!!!!! We've mostly been busy with work. I have started to work as a dental hygienist and am loving it! I will be working Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and every 1st and 3rd Saturday at one office and Fridays at another office. I was really worried about being able to find work, but as always things worked out just great. Somebody's watching out for us!

Jake's Grandpa and Grandma Jensen have been married for 50 years!!!! It was so fun to get together with his ENTIRE family to celebrate it!!! We love them and are so grateful for their example in our lives!

It really was a better kiss than it appears....my camera is just really bad at getting a good shot when timing is an issue!!!! Hopefully when Christmas rolls around next year we won't be having that problem any more!!!!

Koda has taken a lot of time and patience like I knew she would, but we love her. This is what happens when she gets worn out...I love her nap times! She loves to lay on her back to get her tummy scratched, but it sure doesn't look like a very comfortable sleeping position!

The best part about getting a new puppy:

Getting breakfast in bed on a Sunday morning because Jake had to get up early to let her go out to the bathroom!

Jake's famous chocolate chip pancakes but in a special "I love you"! I love that boy!

We've got some NEWS!

We have been CRAZY busy the past month. Life just NEVER slows down!!! I'm going to try to keep this to a brief update.

We officially have a new address! We are still unpacking a few boxes, but it is great to FINALLY have a place of our own! We are so excited! It's been a LOT of work, but well worth it!

I found out that I passed my final board exam (YAHOO!) with 100% baby! Now I'm just waiting for my license and on the lookout for a new job!!! If anybody knows if a dentist in need of a hygienist you better let me know!

Jake and I have now been married for 2 years, as of May 24th! It is so crazy how the time flies! I am the luckiest girl in the world! I love him to pieces and am so grateful for how good he treats me! I look foward to so many more years to come...actually for FOREVER!

We went camping with our friends, Nate and Karlee, and brother Connor for Memorial Day weekend up BlackSmith Fork Canyon and had a blast! When these guys get together they are like little boys!

This is them with their homemade bat and ball they found while exploring!

Nate getting a hit!

They LOVE their sling shots!

Connor was up in the tree to help Jake and Nate spot the fish.

And the result.....

They even went on a bike ride.

We FINALLY talked the boys into putting down their toys for a few minutes and making us some shelter! I must say they did a pretty fine job!

Karlee and I hung out by the fire most of the time trying to stay warm. We had fun visiting and enjoying our books!

Thanks you guys for the fun, relaxing, wet weekend with such yummy food!

We've had fun being with family and friends:

I was able to get off work to go to my friend Trina's bridal shower. Stacy and I have been friends with Trina and Emily since we were 16 when we met them at EFY! I love these girls!

Trina, Jeff, Jake and I, Stacy and Jeremy. We are so lucky to have such great friends!

Congrats Connor on your highschool graduation! We're proud of you! (too bad it was from SV instead of MC :)

Celebrating at Cafe Sabor!

and our latest news:

After 2 long years Jake finally convinced me he needed a puppy. Actually maybe convinced is the wrong word, because I'm still not completely on board! I just told him I was going to have to trust him on this one!

She is a springerdoodle (mix between a poodle and springer spaniel). She shouldn't shed and should get to be the size of a springer. Jake is in heaven. I'm loving her, but just praying it wasn't a mistake!!!

Have you ever seen a HAPPIER face? I don't think its possible!

Koda getting her very first bath!

Update!

Wow, this past week was a busy one!!!

It started off with our niece Aubrey's blessing last Sunday. It was so good to see the fam and and celebrate Aubrey's special day!

Isn't she ADORABLE!?!

Jake, Carter and Aubrey. I love this picture!!!

Tammie and Jeff with Alan and Susan and Aubrey.

I love this picture just due to the fact that Jake conveniently-accidentally placed the string from the camera right between Susan and Aubrey!

On Tuesday we closed on our townhome...so as of last Wednesday we are officially HOME OWNERS!!! The sad part about it is that we didn't even get to go inside until Saturday night because the next few days were so busy!

This is a picture of what the outside of our townhome looks like. We're super excited to FINALLY be done paying RENT!!!

Last Thursday and Friday were my local anesthesia and dental hygiene board exams. Talk about 2 of the most stressful days ever. I found out that I passed my 2 local anesthesia boards on Thursday...Jake was a great patient and was a great sport to let me poke him 3 times!

Friday (my dental hygiene board) went well, hopefully well enough to pass, but I won't get the results for another 4 weeks!!! The wait is complete torture! I'm just glad that my patient showed up on time and qualified, and he didn't have a cold sore! What a relief to have that all over with.

We finally were able to go inside our new townhome on Saturday night. We are working on getting a paint color picked out and getting the show on the road with the few repairs we need to do and the cleaning!!!

Of course, yesterday was mother's day so we need to give a big shout out to our moms! We have the best moms in the world!!!! I don't know how we got so lucky, but I have a LOT to live up to from their great examples. We just want all 3 of you to know how much we love you and appreciate everything you have done for us and continue to do for us on a daily basis. You guys are the greatest!!! WE LOVE YOU!

GRADUATION!!!!

On Friday May 1st I graduated from Weber State University with my Bachelors of Science degree in Dental Hygiene!!! It was a great day!

To make the day even better, we found out that our whole class passed the national written dental hygiene exam! What a relief! I'm still waiting for my score to come in the mail, but all I wanted was to pass so this was some great news! Unfortunately, we still have 3 more boards to go this Thursday and Friday! I'm scared out of my mind, but I tried to push that out of my head and just enjoy graduation.

CLASS OF '09!

Myself with Prof. McConaughy, Prof. Alexander, and Prof. Bossenberger. I was so blessed to have such great faculty to learn from and look up to. These guys are awesome! Below is one of my other professors, Prof. Hansen. They dedicate so much time in our behalf!

Chelsea, Emily, Prof. Hansen and me.

I made so many great friends while in the program. This will probably be the only thing I miss about school. I just hope I can keep in touch with them. It was good to have someone to vent to about the frustrations about school (I'm sure Jake was also grateful I had some other people to vent to give him a break!)

Mindy, Me and Chelsea.

These two were my partners that I worked with on my BS thesis. We researched what health care professionals along the Wasatch Front were telling women of child-bearing age about the importance of getting to the dentist to help them have a healthy pregnancy.

Camille and I are also able to work together at Pediatric Dentistry.

I was so grateful for all the support from my loved ones! They helped make it a special day for me! I know they had to make some sacrifices to be there with me, and I want them to know that I really appreciate that!

My grandpa came all the way from Preston ID!

This is the only pict. I got with my step dad Woody...what a shame!

Jeff and Tammie even brought their cute family to cheer me on! Jeff will be graduating in 2 weeks from the University of Utah Law program. Congrats Jeff on all your hard work!

Jake, Me, my dad, and my step-mom Linda.



Me, my Dad, and my little sis Kylie.

Me and my cute mom!

Jake's parents were in St. George for some business meetings and weren't able to make it. I wanted to thank them for all their love and support as well!

Afterwards we went to the Pizza Factory for some yummy food and celebration!

Last of all I have to give a big shout out to Jake. He has been the biggest support to me of all through all of this. He is so amazing. He has put up with sooo much. School has caused me a lot of stress over the past 2 years and he's stuck with me and helped me get through it. I owe so much of where I am today to him. I love him with all of my heart and want him to know how grateful I am for everything he does for me. I'm so lucky to have him in my life. He has even volunteered to be my patient for my local anesthesia exam...what a great husband! (ok, so maybe he didn't volunteer to let me give him shots, but he did agree to do it!!!)

Jake and I at my graduation banquet at the Timbermine.

Thanks again to EVERYONE for supporting me in my goals! I'm so LUCKY to be surrounded by such AMAZING family and friends!

One of a Kind

I saw this website on my friend Shannon's blog and figured I would try it out (EVERYBODY needs a break from work and studying...right?!)
Here is the website to try it out for yourself: http://howmanyofme.com
I don't have time to mess with it and the darn HTML stuff is giving me grief so I'm not making a link so you can just type the address in...sorry!

Well, Here are the results:

Kristin

There are 151,624 people in the U.S. with the first name Kristin.
Statistically the 397th most popular first name.
More than 99.9 percent of people with the first name Kristin are female.

Balls
There are 1,960 people in the U.S. with the last name Balls.
Statistically the 15605th most popular last name.


Kristin Balls

There is 1 person in the U.S. named Kristin Balls.

I always knew I was one of a kind....but here's some cold hard proof for ya!


Jacob
There are 252,707 people in the U.S. with the first name Jacob.
Statistically the 259th most popular first name.
More than 99.9 percent of people with the first name Jacob are male.
Names similar to Jacob:
Jake
Jay


Jacob Balls
There are 2 people in the U.S. named Jacob Balls.

We make up quite the original couple!

Last exam!

I took my last ever college exam today!!!! It's so crazy!!! Now I'm just waiting for my 3 licensing boards to roll around May 7-8....and THOSE are the big ones!!! I'm still waiting to hear if I passed the national written dental hygiene board exam, so hopefully when it comes in the mail in the next week and a half I'll have good news to report about that! It's all winding down so quickly! Graduation is May 1st. However, it won't completely feel official until I know I passed all my boards 4-6 weeks after I take them! I HATE waiting for the results!!!

Conference Weekend!!!

Unfortunately on Saturday Jake and I had to work like usual. We did make it in time to make it to Logan so Jake could could go with his brothers and dad to the priesthood session. While they were enjoying that and their tradition at La Beus afterward, us girls headed to Cafe Sabor for some dinner! We also had treats afterward and Susan and Kathy helped my little sister, Kylie,and I to make some bracelets with their beads!

We had so much fun with the fam this weekend. Sunday was filled with Susan's yummy blueberry frenchtoast, lots of good conference talks and Jake's grandpa's birthday party.

These two are little buddies and I just love to watch them play together! Carter forgot his hat at home so Jake made sure he found one for him that used to be one of his favorites. I think this picture is stinkin' cute!

We also got to see our cute niece Aubrey. She is now a month old and I can't believe how big she is growing!!!

We are so grateful for our family. We are really lucky that we have so much support and love shown to us from everyone on our family. You guys are the best....we love you!