Oh the things you see in Portland...

     Since Race is gone I wanted a little get-a-way myself so time would go faster and I could focus on something else besides Race not being with me. My brother Levi and sister-in-law Christine and Ezra live in Portland and I hadn't had the chance to visit them yet, so I took the opportunity and flew up there. I had heard Portland was beautiful and Levi loves it up there so I was really excited to go. 

    Christine and Ezra meet me at the airport and then we rode the MAX train back to their place. We had to walk on a little trail to get back to the house and on the way Christine found a baggy with Meth in it... yes meth so her being the person she is picks it to make sure it doesn't get into the wrong hands and took it home and flushed it down the toilet. Yep that was my first experience of Portland. So anyway Levi got home and we headed up to some beautiful waterfalls. I loved them and to make the little trip better on the way up I got a call from Race! It was a huge surprise because they were told they weren't going to have any communication but I'm so grateful I actually got to hear his voice and have a conversation with him, it totally made my day.

Over looking the Columbia River

     After that Levi had to go back to work so me Christine and Ezra heading out to explore Portland. We had a fun time and it is seriously so beautiful up there everything is so green and there are so many trees and beautiful things! 

     On Saturday we headed to the Saturday market, I think this market along with riding public transportation is were I got a taste of the people of Portland. There is some dang good people watching in Portland, everyone is so different and EVERYTHING is accepted there. You see things in Portland you would never see in Utah or a lot of other places, it is so diverse it makes it very entertaining. If you love people watching go hang out in Portland... 

Here's a juggler with very short shorts

I wish I could have gotten a better pic of this guy but he was an angry person

     The next day we took a trip to the coast. I'm so glad I got to go. The drive there was even gorgeous. The first place we went was Astoria, this is where the Goonies was filmed so it was pretty cool.

In Astoria, pretty sure this bridge is in the movie.

 After that we headed to a beach and had a BBQ and hung out. it was so peaceful. It was chilly but it didn't rain thank goodness, I love the beach it is one of my most favorite places in the world. Then on the drive back we stopped at another beach that was amazing and had those huge rocks. 

Hanging out at Seaside Beach

Ezra LOVED the sand and the beach

Canon Beach

    My last day there we hung out and saw a few more places. We went and rode on the Arial tram and saw some amazing views. and we also went to the famous Voodoo doughnuts... I didn't get the bacon maple bar, but I did have a bite of Levi's. 

The view from the Arial tram

Voodoo doughnuts

    That's the short version of the trip, I wish I could write about every funny thing I saw and all the experiences I had, but that would take forever! I loved spending time with my family though. Levi and Christine were so dang nice to me and Ezra is so cute and so much fun! He laughs ALL the time, most of the time at absolutely nothing. And the best part about being an aunt and having good timing was Ezra started walking when I was there! It was so cute and now he is walking all around! I'm one lucky auntie that's for sure! 

Graduation

It finally arrived! I really can't believe that school is over for me... well basically over, I'm doing the online bachelor's program that is 2 semesters and a senior project, but i'm done with the stress of hygiene school! Don't get me wrong, there we some great times, mostly because of the great friends I made while in the program and getting through the stress with them. I really am going to miss the girls!

For graduation we had a pinning ceremony with our program where we are pinned a registered dental hygienist and welcomed into the professional field. It was so nice and our class has huge support from families and friends and it was great to hear from some of our instructors that have taught us so much. Then the next day was graduation with the college. It was pretty cool because the commencement ceremony with the entire college featured Pres. Monson as the speaker. He is so amazing and basically his talk can be summed up like this: Have a good attitude, do service, and have integrity. I believe this can be applied to every single person no matter where there are in their lives. His talked was ended in the name of Jesus Christ Amen and then the entire arena erupted into a standing ovation! it was sweet because sometimes thats what you want to do after an amazing talk or performance in church and we actually got to do it and it was totally appropriate. Anyway that sums up the exciting parts about graduation. and now for me it's off to job hunting since I received my degree. And since Race received his associates degree it was an easy transfer to the U and now he can continue on with his education and somehow survive this next fall semester of 18 very hard credits. And just a side note we have a picture of us together on high school graduation day as best friends and now here's the pic of college graduation as husband and wife :) 

Best Friends High School Graduation 2007

Husband & Wife Dixie College Graduation 2011

And life can go on!

     So here goes the rest of my experience with the dreaded boards... I had already written about the national written boards but I still had 4 more to go after this one. I took a process of care test that was on a computer and it was new this year and we had no idea what to expect, so I kinda went into it blind without studying much. It was a very subjective test, so I wasn't sure how to feel about it, but at least I was done with it.
      Then came the biggest scariest test... Clinical and anesthesia. So the first day was anesthesia this was the last written test I had so I had been studying alot for it. We took it in the morning and found out the results right after. We had to pass the written part in order to take the clinical anesthesia that afternoon. The examiners just put all the envelopes on a table that has our ID number on it. So you have to search the table and then open it, it was very  nerve racking to do, but I passed! Then I took the clinical part of anesthesia that afternoon. Lucky Race got to be my patient, poor guy he has gotten so many shots in his mouth only for the purpose of helping me with my education. We had to give two injections with the examiners watching and breathing down our necks. I gave the two shots, the examiners left and then came back and told me to excuse my patient, which is great news because if you didn't do it right they have you do it again. So I let Race go and luckily he was still just waiting for me. The examiners came back and asked me to bring back my patient because they had a miscommunication. So I gave one more shot, which was fine because you get two chances anyway. Well then I waited around and I got my results, and it was the coveted purple success memo card, I passed! I'm so glad I didn't have to do it again, it is extremely nerve racking and I was much more shaking then I would normally be. So that day was a success and I was very happy :)
     The next day was the clinical or practicals, I had to find my own patient with very specific requirements, it was a lot of stress and it was hard to come by the perfect board patient. I found one that was going to be really hard, but it was all I had. Our patients have to have teeth with a lot of tarter, so it is tough to get off. As I walked my patient back so we could get started he said he could feel the stress in the clinic... yes it was very stressful. I submitted my patient to the examiners that are behind a curtain so it is anonymous, this part of the test is critical, the examiners check and make sure your patient really does meet the requirements and if they don't you have two more chances to either re-submit the same patient with different teeth or use a back-up patient, which I didn't have. If you don't pass submission you fail and don't even get a chance to clean your patients teeth and show your skills. So anyway my patient came back around the corner and he had a blue paper in his hands, which is great news, he passed on first submission! So then the race against the clock begins. We have two hours to get our patient numb, without anyone watching because I passed anesthesia, and then we had to clean a quad and I had two extra teeth and we had to do probing depths also. It sounds like a long time because most normal people go into a dentist and are completely clean and done with their appointment in an hour or less, well our patients haven't been to the dentist in years, mine hadn't been in 6 and it is very difficult to clean. So I started cleaning away, and all of a sudden the 2 hours were up. I literally was running my patient to the check in desk so I wouldn't get a time penalty. I really didn't feel like I had enough time and didn't feel like I got everything clean. The examiners then grade your patient but you don't get the results right away.
     When I got home and Race asked me how it went I just started bawling, all the stress and my worry that I didn't pass all came out. I was not very optimistic about the test and was worried I would be searching for another patient and waiting months to re-take it and paying another 1,000 dollars. We looked into what we would have to do in order to re-do the test, thats how crappy I felt about it. And then the waiting game began... I think this was a tie for the worst part of the test. They said it could take up to 30 days to get them. They come on the computer, so every day like a million times a day I was checking on the computer. Three weeks had pass and still no word. The day after the three week mark I got on facebook and one of the girls said she had gotten her results... so I started shaking and opened up the results... and the best news ever I PASSED clinical boards and the process of care exam!!! I seriously couldn't believe it! I passed all the boards 5 for 5. Obviously I was preparing for the worst... and the best happened! I was so grateful, I had prayed so much and just had faith I passed and by a miracle I did! I'm so grateful for Heavenly Father helping me through all of school and especially boards, there is NO WAY I could have done all of that on my own.
     Race had already left for his annual training for a month, they are going to Africa and luckily they hadn't flown out yet, so I got to tell him on the phone that I had the best news ever and our lives could go on as we wanted and I was forever done with hygiene school (well besides the on-line bachelor's program)   and boards! I'm grateful I at least got to tell him on the phone and not through a text that he may or may not have gotten. But the day would have been perfect if he was actually here with me and could celebrate with me, but with the military I take what I can get. I love Race so much and he really put up with a lot while I was in school, especially crying and stress break downs... I'm sure he won't miss that, but he is a great comforter and solution finder. I really do miss him, it's going to be a hard month without him, but it is ONLY a month and then it will be in the past... Now I apply for my license and that takes a couple weeks to get, then it's on to job hunting, which I would much rather be doing then patient hunting again. And the hygiene school phase is behind me, THANK GOODNESS, sometimes it felt like it would NEVER end, but it did :)

22

     This year my birthday landed on Easter, which it never has even been close to... who decides when Easter is anyway? But that's besides the point, I did have a great birthday this year. It started out with my husband bringing me breakfast in bed (first time I've ever had that, it was so sweet) and then I went to my Aunt Andrea's for an Easter brunch and to celebrate my birthday, we had a good time. Then off to church where Race and I got to speak in sacrament meeting... I know good birthday present right? I like preparing for a talk and studying the gospel and learning a lot, but actually getting in front of people scares me! The 2nd counselor in the bishopric gave us two topics, of course they were the atonement and the crucifixion/resurrection and told us to decide who speaks on what. Race decided he wanted to talk on the atonement (which he did an excellent job!) but he felt bad that he took the 'easier' topic (I don't think either is easier...) so he helped me and gave me tons of ideas on which direction to go and really got my brain flowing and even found an awesome talk to go off of. Anyway, we were told we did a great job... I really do love my Savior and Easter is an awesome season to remember Him. I'm so grateful He is always in my life and has helped my through so much, especially recently with all my school stuff!

The end products...kinda

Before coloring the eggs...

      After church Race and I colored eggs (this is the only thing I have a picture of, it's hard to get lots of pictures of us when we usually are doing everything with just us two). Then we just watched a movie and enjoyed a day of not having to do homework or study! I also got phone calls from my parents and my in-laws and all my siblings, which I always look forward to!
     My parents had sent me money for my birthday so I went shopping and got some great deals and ended up with a lot of stuff! I got earrings, a purse, a dress, a watch and a shirt and I love them all. I also got earrings at the arts festival from my aunt that we went to. My in-laws gave me a nice set of towels, which was much needed, earrings and a necklace And Race always does such a good job shopping for me. He really does listen and I don't even have to hint too hard. Awhile ago I was putting my shoes on that I wear like everyday and I was like wow these really are getting worn out, I didn't think much of it I was just stating a fact. So he got my some very practical  and cute converse, and he also got me a shirt and some cute cargo pants, that aren't jeans because thats all that I owned. He always does so good and I'm glad I don't have to buy my own birthday gifts from him ;) We also went out on Saturday night and got dessert and went to a movie, I love spending time with him, he is a great husband!
    I'm not going to lie, I still love my birthday! I love feeling special and getting lots of birthday wishes and getting to hear from people I love. So it was a successful birthday:)
  
          

The most Handsome 1 year old nephew!

Ezra Wetzel Roberts turned 1 yesterday! I can't believe how fast time is going. He is so dang cute :) And he is one lucky baby and got to spend his first birthday is Hawaii! I wish I was there too! I'm very grateful to be this little guys aunt!

Boards Boards Boards!!!!

Not to be confused with bored bored bored... this has been my life since about Christmas break I have been studying for my national written boards test, the first of five tests I have to pass to become a hygienist. This test involves a TON of studying... First I paid $350 to attend a boards review class for a weekend, it was totally worth it. We got the review book and that has been my lifeline. I made flashcards from the book and reviewed through the book many times. The test covers everything we have learned in hygiene school since the beginning and even from some of our pre-req classes.
I'm a flashcard studier... thats how I learn writing down things and go over them again and again, needless to say this made for a lot of flashcard making and cramped hands but...
It all paid off! I passed!!!! I had to go take the test a a specific testing center and the closest one was Vegas. It was nice once the test was over but it was the weirdest feeling because I didn't know if I passed or not. After testing for about 5 hours I didn't know what to think or how I thought I did. I just had to play the waiting game which was really hard to do... Everyday I checked the mail and it wasn't there it was such a bummer. But finally two weeks and a day after taking the test I checked the mail and there was the envelope. I was so nervous by the time I opened it and figured out what it said I was shaking really bad. But I PASSED! All the studying was worth it and my flashcards worked for me! My parents sent me these pretty flowers to say congrats, that was a very nice surprise :)

And now on to the other four boards... in about a week I take another computer test that goes towards our clinical score, it's a new test and no one knows what to expect. Then at the end of April I take the anesthesia board including a written test, more studying to come, and a clinical portion and then I have the clinical boards where I find a patient that meets the requirements and I clean their teeth. I've made it this far through hard work and a lot of prayer! So wish me luck and pray for me as I finish up this journey in my life.

Really late Valentine's post...

Obviously it's been awhile since I posted so the next couple of post are of the recent past that I want record of... so first off was our first Valentine's as a married couple. Both of us in the past have hated Valentine's day and never really wanted to make a big deal out of it so we didn't expect nor plan too much. Honestly I didn't expect anything. I just made Race a candy bouquet that turned out pretty cute and it was the thought that counts :)
I went to school that day and came home to this...a kisses

trail going throughout our apartment and leading to meaningful cute little gifts at different spots. I was way surprised a super impressed! I do have a cute romantic husband that shows him self every once in a great while. We've been so busy with school and studying we didn't really make any plans, late that night we went to Chili's and got our favorite chocolate molten cake with our gift card our other favorite thing... saving money! We did go to Vegas the next weekend and went out the Benihana's which was delicious and we both had never been so that was a fun treat! Even though we aren't big into Valentine's day is was still fun to do a little something for each other.