Counting Down the Days... and a few weeks in review

I am currently counting down the days until I will be in Oregon! I am so excited to visit, and see everyone! I have a lot planned, but I'm hoping to make it all happen. I'm thinking that i need to sleep a lot before i come, so i have more time to spend with everyone. I will keep you all posted about my plans, and just call me to make plans with me.

The past few weeks have been good, here is a run down of what we have been up to-

Ashley's work- Work is good, i have good days and bad days and most days I'm exhausted when i get home. It is really difficult getting used to a new boss, new policy's, and new co-workers. I think that all in all it will work out... but I'm still finding my place in my new job. In the next few weeks, i will be finishing training, and have a schedule and responsibility's. One of the fun things that i have been helping with is freshman orientation. It is a blast working with freshman to get their schedules in and helping them figure out what they want to take. It makes me feel old in a way.. i kinda think I'm still really young, and think that i relate to the incoming freshman... but really there is a pretty big age gap.

This last Friday (June 27) I was able to leave work early and attend Kyle's pinning ceremony, which marks his entrance into his first round of clinical rotations. It was a nice ceremony with Kyle's class, and the 2nd year (soon to be third years). The second years got their white coats, and Kyle's class got their pins. Except Kyle's school forgot the pins so they just pretended to pin them. It was pretty funny! I was really happy to be able to go to the ceremony, and mark this big accomplishment with kyle. Kyle is in the back row (6 people in-I think). I didn't have my camera so I don't really have a better picture. Im hoping one of Kyle's classmates will send me a few.

Kyle is still busy with School but we were able to go out last last night to celebrate our friend Kristina's birthday. It was a lot of fun, we started out the night at this place called Dave & Busters (not sure if there are any in Oregon) but it is like a grown up Chuck-E-Cheez. There are all sorts of video, and arcade games, but they sell liquor and beer. We stayed there until 12 when they closed. There were still people with their little kids out until 12.... really weird! It was a great place to go to celebrate with a big group of people. We then went to Saddle Ranch - a country themed bar but they played hip hop music. They had a mechanical bull which was fun to watch (i didn't ride). Kyle and I partied hard... and were not feeling 100% today. It reminded me how happy i am that i really don't go out much anymore! I really like my evenings in spending time with Kyle, and waking up refreshed.

Here are some of my closest girlfriends in AZ. Kylee, and Kristina!

Kylee, Me, and Kyle at Dave & Buster's! Kylee did really good, and won a ton of tickets.... i think she's saving up for a really good prize!

Oh.. one more quick thing. It looks like Kyle and I will be moving! I am very excited about having more space, but I really hate moving, and I will miss my roommates Jay & Drew. We really did have a good thing at this place, but Kyle and I got an offer we couldn't refuse. I will update everyone more on the house another time. But all i can say is we will have room for people to stay with us!

All I need to do now is get through this week, and then I'm on VACATION! Cant wait to see everyone!

Fun Weekend.

Sorry about the small pics, but i had to steal them from my friends facebook page. We have been trying to stay cool now that the weather is in the 100's +, and this weekend it was 110 both Saturday and Sunday. We went to a concert at the Mesa Amphitheater (it really was pretty nice- we were not sure at first) and saw both The Roots, and Ericka Badu. The concert was great, though it was really hot at first it started at 6, and it was still 95 out, and there were really only places to sit in the sun. It eventually cooled off, and it was amazing. We are hoping to go see Death Cab this Thursday if Kyle's study schedule allows.

The Group- Adam, Kyle, Kristina, and Kristen. Me in the front.

Erica Badu- she wore this plaid suit the whole time- long sleeves and all. I'm not sure how she did it, it was hot in the crowd, and i can only imagine how hot it was on stage. She also had a huge afro! She really is a good performer, and the show was great.

The rest of our weekend-
it was good, i layed by the pool, and relaxed. I'm studying Kyle's old GRE exam book and its scary. I have a lot of studying to do, good thing I don't really have a time line. I ran errands today trying to find cute stuff to decorate my new office. Its hard though... the new office feels like a closet and is pretty small for two people. We will see, I'm sure i can make it feel like a home away from home. It does make me realize how good i had it at the SON! That office didn't need much decorating to make it feel homey.

Kyle has been busy studying, he has a 5 week summer term and it has three classes and they are very intense. All of his hard work is paying off, he got a 4.0 last term, and we hope that this summer term doesn't wipe him out. At least after this intense 5 weeks, he can relax back in Oregon and at the OCF.

I'm back to work tomorrow, and am looking forward to it. We are scheduled to help out at new student orientation which should be a lot of fun! I'm hoping this week will allow me to actually do some work, and also get computer access, and a computer (which after two weeks you would assume to have). Oh well! Hope everyone is good! Leave me a comment so i know someone reads my posts!

Week two..

Oh.. just thought I should let everyone know that I made it through my first week at the new job, I'm on week two.  Everything is going well so far, and Im learning a lot.  I will update you on how it goes, and what exactly I will be doing (honestly I'm still learning).  Im tired now, and have to get up early!  

Birthday Present....

My birthday was back in March, and I was given money from my parents, my Grandma B, and my Grandma & Grandpa Gale.  I wanted something special to remember my 25th Birthday, and thought it was fitting to purchase nice jewelry.  When Kyle, Barb and I were out and about in Scottsdale I found these beautiful earrings. I love them so much!!

Thank you to all that helped purchasing them!

Barb Visit's AZ

Barb came to visit us last week and it was so fun to have her!  We kept her busy with all sorts of fun stuff, and showed her all of the things that we love about AZ.  On Sunday we took her to the Desert Botanical Garden, and wandered along all of the cacti.  Its amazing how different things grow in different environments, and i really think cacti are super interesting.  Here are a few pics from our visit.

Kyle, Barb & I.  

Why I think cactus's are so cool!

Kyle and Barb next to a Saguaro cactus, you see lots of them in AZ

Kyle's artistic photo skills.

In addition we took her some of our favorite places to eat, kyle cooked up some wonderful dinner, explored, lounged by the pool, and relaxed.