The Third of July, a.k.a. the Fourth of July!

Jonno and Nancy at the CARRIE UNDERWOOD concert!

Independence Day fell on a Sunday this year so we celebrated it on the Saturday before. It was a great day! We started out with the annual breakfast and parade at my family's cabin at Brighton.

Every year after breakfast, we go take family pictures on this humungo rock.

So, behold, the annual family picture on the big rock!

After the rock, we always rock, I mean, walk the trail around Silver Lake.

Jonathon found this stick and called it his "1820's revolver" and carried it the rest of the way.

Here he is shooting me with it.

Annnddd here we are happy that I didn't die with the shot of that almighty revolver!

Sisterly love.

My mom is always so festive. She loves holidays! Here she is with her great 4th of July outfit.

Jonathon captured this picture of my mom leaping off a rock. I thought it was awesome!

Great picture, Jonno!

Here we are in front of Silver Lake. Notice the revolver- again. Haha! :)

Me and my cute lil Grandma Richards.

We had a lot of fun at Brighton. It's always a fun event we look forward to.

This year we also did something we haven't experienced together before and attended the Stadium of Fire! It was SO COOL!!!! We LOVED it!

My most favorite singer in the world was the headliner performer: Carrie Underwood.

And the fireworks show was fantastic.

Here are some pictures:

These four jets flew over the stadium for the opening ceremonies.

They were really loud. And freakin' awesome.

The Stadium of Fire dancers. Pretty cool!

We also got to be a part of the largest Eagle Court of Honor in HISTORY.

Over 150 eagle scouts were awarded at the event. They asked all Eagle Scouts who were in the crowd to stand and hold this Boy Scout Eagle sign.

Our very own Jonathon got to stand with them- I'm so proud that I have an Eagle Scout for a husband. That really is a wonderful achievement!

And....there she is- THE Carrie Underwood!! Such a powerful voice and presence.

A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.

Me and Carrie :D Can you tell how excited I was to be there??

Fireworks:

My camera wasn't able to get the full effect of how cool these fireworks were. Hands down one of the best fireworks shows I've ever seen.

I especially loved that they played patriotic music in the background that matched the show. It even made me cry a couple times.

Jonno and me very satisfied after the show.

Here is a video of the night. Sorry it's kinda choppy.

A glimpse of Carrie!

So what do you think? Did I enjoy it or what?? Heh.

Happy Independence Day!!

I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased to announce that...

I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!!!!

I will try to put in writing how utterly HAPPY I am, but I believe it to be an impossible task.

I will be working part-time at A Kid's Place Dentistry in Murray on Tuesdays and Fridays. This is the same place I did my working interview last week. This is a newer office with a GREAT staff. I can't wait to start.

I'm so grateful for this opportunity. I had interviewed at an office in Draper two weeks ago and the interview was pretty bad. About an hour after that interview finished, I got a phone call to set up an interview for A Kid's Place the next day. I met with Quinndon and we had a great interview that really didn't even feel like an interview. I learned a lot of really cool things from him about life and what type of person I am and want to be. I was thrilled when he asked me to come back for a working interview. The next week at my working interview was the first time I'd ever really seen how an office is run. I felt like it went okay but could have been better, could have been worse. After that day, Christie, the owner, asked if I could come back Thursday. I was pleasantly surprised! I felt like Thursday was better, but still not perfect (of course). We got a call from Quinndon on Friday while we were driving, but I was too nervous to answer to Jonathon answered. I was scared to death and told him to say I wasn't there- he did, and then we didn't hear back from Quinndon until MONDAY. The anticipation was killing me. I thought "What if they were going to offer me the job and then I didn't answer and now they are going to give it to someone else??" So today he called again and said:

"I have good news for you- we'd like you to be a part of our team!"

I'm really excited to start. This is an amazing opportunity for me. I still can't believe it. I'm so happy and grateful. I said awhile ago that whoever gives me my first job I will always try my absolute best to do a great job for the company and go above and beyond to try and say thank you.

That is exactly what I intend to do. :)

I officially start next week- I can't wait!

Our NEW Car!

So for those of you who don't know, Nancy and I have been with out a car for a long long long time now. Living in Salt Lake and both going to school full time in Provo/Orem without a car takes the term "paying your dues" to a whole new level. Seriously.

Now that Nancy has graduated, we thought it would be a good idea for her to get a job. That said, we also figured it would be a good idea to get a car so that she can get to and from work. So we looked at our checking account and figured out that we have around $3,000 to spend on a car and anything over $3,000 we would have to take out a loan for the remaining amount. First, after enormous feedback on which car to drive, we decided we would look at this sweet puppy:

A 2001 Honda Accord EX V6, fully loaded with black leather interior. It was way nice when we went to test drive it. It blue booked at $7,200, but the lady was asking $6,500 with the price not being "firm" ... reason being was because the transmission was acting up a little bit. I figured I could just buy a warranty on it and if it went out I would just use my warranty. Well, I did a little research and found out that the 98-2002 accord/civic is notorious for bad transmissions, even if you replace or rebuild them, these models will continue to have problems. This is just not something (potential car problems) we even wanted to mess with and we gracefully had to pass on this beaute.

Our next car was:

...a 2001 VW Jetta GLS V6 listed at $5,500. This was a nice car on the outside, but on the inside it seemed a little worn (though it did have power everything, loaded, leather seats, etc.). Not necessarily because it was poorly taken care of, but because VW's just start to look worn after a while on the interior. We took it on a test drive, and it seemed fine. We pulled into a parking lot and popped the hood. The coolant reservoir was unusually active. I followed the radiator hose to the engine block and could smell coolant as well as a pressurized sound coming from the block. They said there was nothing wrong with it. I should note that when I say "they" I mean that it was former Utah Ute center and 700 KALL radio personality Kyle Gunther. Not sure I want to call him and his wife out for intentionally omitting engine problems, but it seemed pretty obvious to me that there was something wrong with the vehicle. We took a quick pass on that one.

We decided that we would just try to find the best car for under $3,000 that we could find.

That brings us to our last, and final candidate:

Meet "The Pimped Perry."

This was the best car that we could find for our money. It was relatively cheap to fix, just had its radiator, water pump, timing belt, breaks and tires replaced. All stories checked out, Carfax was clean, test drive went great AND it got 30 mpg average. It was also really fun to drive, it felt good. Pretty nice.

We are going to go put a deposit on it tomorrow and then we just need to wait for the title to be mailed from the owners parents in california and we are just going to pay cash for it - no loans, no debt, that's just how we roll.

Honestly, I can't stop looking at her pictures. "The Pimped Perry" is all that we want in a car right now - reliable, recently serviced and cheap to fix.

We are just so incredibly excited. I might, for the first time in almost 2 years, DRIVE to school tomorrow.

Meet the newest Best Buy employee

I almost forgot to mention..

I am the newest Best Buy employee! I applied there a little while back in case it takes awhile for me to land a dental hygiene job and to help bring in all the extra dough I can. I have orientation this coming Friday. It's been a crazy month for the Huckvale family!

I can't wait for my first paycheck. I don't care how much or how little it is- it will be an INCOME!! YES!

My Second Interview- and I got a working interview!!

Day two of interviews. And I am thrilled!

I had an interview today at a place downtown called A Kid's Place dentistry. The job is actually for an office in Murray, but it is part of a company of dental offices.

I met with an executive of the company named Quindon. He was one of those types of people that just from meeting him, you feel like a better person. What a great person. I think it was what I read in a book once called "instant rapport." You know how there are just some people that you instantly click with and others you don't? This was a definite click.

I felt like this was my dream interview because it wasn't full of the typical "Why should we pick you over another applicant?" weird questions that were made for people who can talk real smooth. It was designed for a gal like me who gets nervous in an interview, but I'll make a great hygienist in the office! He really took the time to get to know me and who I really am and use that judgement to make the decision. I really appreciated this.

In the beginning of the interview, he told me that the way they do things, they will call me within one week if they want me to come back for a working interview and if I don't hear from them, it meant I didn't have one of the qualities they were looking for. At the end of the interview today, he said

"Now, do you remember what I said at the beginning of the interview? Going back to that, how I said we'd call you within a week? With that said, I'd like you to come in for a working interview next Tuesday. I want you to work from 9-5 and we will pay you."

Can you believe it?? I'm so excited! What a great day! And interview. I cannot wait for Tuesday- it is going to be so fun! And so nice to get a paycheck, even if it is just one day. :)

My First Interview

Today I had my first interview at a great little office in Draper, Utah. It went okay. Not great, not terrible. The staff was all very nice and positive and the office was very high tech and awesome. I would really love to work here. It seems like it would be such a great fit for me! And me for it! I would love, love, L.O.V.E. to get this job!! We will see..

I've had so many different emotions about this and about finding a job period.

It is a scary thing to apply for jobs. You're throwing yourself out there completely, giving it your all, and it can either end in complete and utter thrill and excitement of getting that job or complete and utter misery that someone else was a better candidate than you.

I've learned I'm not very good at interviewing, but I've been practicing! And Jonathon helps me a lot. He's always one of the last three candidates in every job he applies for. It just comes natural for him to talk with people. What a lucky talent to have!

I have another interview tomorrow at a Pedo office in Murray- this is an office specializing in working on kids. That would be fun too. I'll keep you posted on how everything goes!

k, I don't know how to get rid of this blue underline thing... sorry!

Why I hate Taco Tuesday and will never eat at Del Taco again...

I more recently introduced Jonathon to the beauty that is Taco Tuesday at Del Taco. He was quickly addicted. I'm sure you are all familiar with it- you get three hard or soft shell tacos for just a dollar! Sure they are as American as can be, but oh so good. At least they used to be..

I, Nancy, vow after my last experience at Del Taco, to never choose to eat the famous Taco Tuesday adventure again!!

Now, let me explain why.. (Even writing this post is making me feel kind of sick... blahhh!!)

WARNING: ADULT CONTENT. Well, no nudity or anything but, I might throw in a description of my throw up bowl or the toilet when I was done with it... PHEW.

So I picked up Jonathon from the bus station early last night and he (and me too) was craving Taco Tuesday. We headed out there and ordered a typical serving of 12 tacos- 9 soft and 3 hard and 2 churros. It was all great and dandy! I had four myself plus my churro. On our drive home, we decided those churros just didn't satisfy our sweet tooth and decided we'd try to recreate the blondie from Applebees- AMAZING. As I was baking it, I started feeling really sick. When we finished, I couldn't believe that after all that work I put into it and how it was so perfectly golden, I couldn't even try ONE BITE because I felt too sick!! If you know me, you know how much I love my sweets and this NEVER happens. Well, it happened.

The rest of the night was spent with me throwing up every hour and... well... on the pot, to be quite frank! I don't know what time it was the last refried bean I threw up, but let me tell you Taco Tuesday does NOT taste as good coming up as it does going down!!

I have stopped with the throwing up and other goodies, but have still been weak and had stomach pain all day. I think I have started to make an imprint of my body on the couch from laying there so long. Sprite, otter pops, jello, and saltine crackers have been my best friends today.

And THAT, my friends, is why I will never eat at Taco Tuesday again.

OH, and by the way, Jonathon was just fine. Very satisfied actually. Agh. Not that I'm spiteful or anything but.. come on!!!

That is all for now.

Sincerely,

Nancy

P.s. Jonathon was really sweet taking care of me last night and today even though he's been really busy with school. THANK YOU JONNO! He helped me with all I needed and even took out the throw up-py garbage for. What a dear, sweet husband.

AND my mom rescued me by bringing me the food for the day. I don't know what it is, but there is nothing like being taken care of Mom when you're sick. My mom was sooo good when me and my siblings were growing up to do what ever our little heart desired. I think she spoiled us because I was sad all day today being home alone with out my Mommy here to help me. :( So THANK YOU MOMMY for helping me today while I was sick! She's so cute.

P.S.S. Cosmo is the cutest dog in the world and laid by me on the couch alllll day long. What a good friend!

I gradulated!

Jonathon asks me all the time "Nancy, is life really that great after you graduate or do people make it sound better than it is?" and I always respond "It is even BETTER!!!" I have loved being graduated. I feel like a completely different person- a huge weight of stress has been lifted off my shoulders. I've still got stress- applying for licenses, trying to find a job to pay back $40,000 worth of loans, figuring out what to do about a car... but it's different kind of stress. At this point in life, it seems easier to manage than the stress of tests and school and homework.

I love it!!

Maybe someday I'll do a post on my graduation, a.k.a. the best day of my life. :)

Pictures!

I realized this week that I've only got TWO MORE MONTHS left in the "college" chapter of my life. I've made plenty of great memories of this time that I'll cherish forever in my heart and mind, but... it's so much easier to remember those times when you have pictures! Jonathon and I haven't gotten hardly any pictures during the 2 1/2 years of marriage- ever since I sat on my camera at a BYU football game a month after we got married! (Those five pounds I gained after getting married really went a long ways!) Anyway, like I said, I realized this week that we have hardly any pictures from this time in our lives and that has made me sad because we've really enjoyed it and had a great experience. I decided I want to start taking more pictures (and also blog more!) so years from now, I can look back at this time and remember everything I can! Jonathon likes this idea too so hopefully you'll see a little bit more from the boths of us. :)

Here are a few pictures to introduce you to our life...

Here's "Homie Mo" getting ready to go out for his walk down to Murray Park

A lot of gangsters "pop their collars"

....this gangster 'Mo pops his coll-EARS. BAM!

First stop.. Cosmo's favorite tree. This is the place we always drive down at Murray Park to let Cosmo do his thing three times a day. This is his favorite spot. And trust me, you bet your bottom dollar he "owns" every square inch of grass, tree, and fire hydrant in that area. He has got it MARKED.

Here's Jonno and Cosmo walking. Aren't they cute??

My favorite part of Murray Park.

We always walk around this big circle around the park because two of those circles=one mile.

It's easy to keep track. This is a fun spot because there is a big field on the left that always has friends and families playing in and a pretty lake with geese on the right. Jonno and I love to sit on that bench up there and chat and let Cosmo go smell stuff.

This is so funny- I had to post this! Jonathon got mad at Cosmo because he wouldn't go chase the ducks- he just kept peeing on stuff. haha! I thought it was hilarious.

We told Cosmo to go get the geese (he used to LOVE this!) and he wanted to go mark his territory first. Jonathon talks about how Cosmo's got problems.

And here, Cosmo finally conquers the Geese!!

Here is another one of my favorite places. It's a cute little bridge.

(Cosmo also owns this.)

Here is when we've finally made it back from our walk- Home Sweet Home!

I was number 17 for lacrosse in high school so I thought it was fate we ended up here.

Here's what we see when we walk in. We have a balcony to the left that overlooks Murray park and is AWESOME! We LOVE it! And I love our little living room!! It's so dang cute.

Here's another view. :)

And here is the front of our living room.

We used to have a gigantic TV up and a sweet set-up there until last September when we sold it to Robby, Jonathon's brother. So we replaced it with a pretty picture of the Portland temple my Grandma Roush made us for our wedding (she picked flowers from the day of our wedding and used them as a border) I love that picture.

Okay, well, you are officially caught up on my life today. Oh wait, maybe not.. I think Jonathon still wants to post about our 50 piece chicken McNugget and Paranormal Activity experience tonight too. Ah! You are in for a treat!

Peace.