PROM 2009

It was a last minute decision for me to attend, but Prom 2009 was quite the night. As many of you know, Nick Dj's on the weekends as his side job as he is in school. So Saturday April 25th his services were requested for Sequoia High School in Mesa. I had a night out with a few girls, but when I got home early I threw on a dress that I had bought for a formal night of our honeymoon cruise, and next thing I knew I was ready for prom!

The school rented out an airplane hanger at Falcon Field which was very cool. It houses a museum of old airplanes that surrounded the dance floor and all the kids took their photos next to these planes. Shoot---nothing like my prom days that is for sure. The kids of course loved Nick and his mad skills. For sure the song of the night that the kids absolutely loved was "Boom Boom Pow" by Black eyed peas and "I know you want me" by Pitbull. Whoa--that made the kids all bust some moves. And the best thing about Prom are all the slow dances. So Nick and I got to do a little dancing to "At Last." I don't know why I am even calling them kids at my final count I think I saw three girls that were pregnant. So sad! Interesting is that this school has a school for the deaf that is part of it-so there were probably 20 kids there that were all signing to each other. So it was fun to see them also having a good time, so Nick kept making sure the music was way too loud so those kids could feel the vibrations on the floor from the amps. Here are a few pictures from Nick and I at Prom 2009!!

Me with a military helicopter in my 'prom dress'

Nick at the end of the night-minus the tie-he said that had to go!

A Lover's Date

With Nick being gone this whole week, I was so excited for him to come home. I wanted to plan something fun for us to do since I know that with the semester winding down he is about to be S-T-R-E-S-S-E-D! So I thought a "Lover's Date" was in order. Yes, there is a story behind not just calling it a date, but a lover's date. For Valentine's day a few months ago, everything that Nick had planned had the word 'lovers' in it. We went on a lover's hike, had lover's lunch, saw a lovers play at the Mesa Center for the Arts, and pretty much any noun that was used that day was prefaced with the word lover. It made me laugh everytime I heard the word "lover."

So I thought it was fitting that this date I was going to plan be appropriately called a Lover's Date! The morning started out extremely busy. Nick had his usual Saturday morning shooting trip planned with the guys, and I had to head to a 5 hour CE class on OSHA and infection control. It goes without saying that after going to those things I get a little OCD about washing my hands, and making sure everything is clean. Then I was off to a bridal shower for a friend that I knew from the singles ward--and by the time I left there it was 4pm already!! So I ran home a tried to get ready--of course having the typical girl response where you stand in closet and say "I have nothing to wear." Nick has learned to just ignore those statements. I think he is getting smarter. Hah.

Once I hurry and get ready of course on the kitchen counter is a vase of flowers for me and the sweetest card. Even when it is my date for him, he never fails to add his final touches to it. The flowers were beautiful.

With Nick in suspense (although it isn't too much fun because he doesn't sweat surprises like I do) we got to Gecko Grill for dinner. It is this quaint little mexican/bbq place out here in AZ that has recently become somewhere we like to go because of their delicious bean dip and green salsa. After eating way too much we head to the nights activity. I had gotten tickets to a benefit concert for a family whose mom and dad survived a plane crash and were raising money for all of their burn treatments. They have 4 young kids and after 8 months, the wife has been in critical care still. Well, this benefit concert had 16 performers, and the head-liner was Brooke White (most people know her from American Idol last year). Now we are avid Idol watchers, and being that she is from AZ, Brooke is quite the big deal out here. So it was open seating, and after finishing dinner earlier than expected we went an hour early. I couldn't believe all the people that were there in line! Again I was reminded how rude people can be in mass crowds (bad memory from the Rihanna/Pussycat dolls/Jesse Mccartney/Fall Out Boy concert where I had to put this girl in check....hah...funny story for another time--"I'm Posted"). All in all great concert, Brooke White sounded really good, we were able to support a great cause, and for only $12 bucks a ticket I feel I got my moneys worth in the 2 and a half hours we were entertained. Here are a few pictures of Brooke White performing.

When It Rains...It POURS!

Lots of things have been going on on the Styer side of things. Nick flew out Monday to Virginia after getting word that his Mom was in the hospital. For those of you who don't know Nick is the baby boy of the family, and he would do anything for his mama. So off he went, this just days after hearing that his Dad (who lives in OH) was in the hospital and so was his aunt (who lines in NC). But, that's not all....then Nick's sister was admitted to the hospital yesterday!!

At at time when it is easy to have the 'ultimate' breakdown, Nick has held his head up high and been the rock solid support his family needs. His brother Jake and several aunts and uncles all flew to VA to be by their families side. No matter how much distance can be between a family, all it takes is a phone call to have everyone together and standing as a united front.

I was nervous for Nick as I wasn't sure how he would hold up with everything going on, but every time I talk to him I sense a confident, calm, and assuring voice that things will be ok. My prayers are with all of Nick's family as I know they are going through so much. I love you Nick for being everyone's strength through this all. I can't wait for you to come home to me.

Hurray for the Weekend

In case you don't already know I have a four days off every other weekend. And I LOVE it. When I moved to AZ (3 years ago this coming summer) I was so excited to start my new job. I knew I wouldn't love the nearly ten hour work days, but to have 4 days off in a row makes it all worth while. On these long weekends Nick and I might take a weekend trip or simply relax and do nothing! Typically my 4 days are spent like this:

Friday-sleep in until 7am!!! Gotta love that! Watch some news, catch up on facebook, pay bills, and grocery store trip
Saturday-sleep in until 8am!!! Although Nick will get up at 5am to go shooting with his buddies, so by the time I get home from my morning walk he is home and we figure out that days plan.
Sunday-Church, church meeting, and more church responsibilities
Monday-laundry day! whew---since we only do laundry every two weeks...it takes all day to get done.

Even though the weekend flies by, somehow by Tuesday I am always ready to go back to work. Then the countdown begins until the next 4 days off!

2:52am....and BLOGGING!

So, it is 2:52am and due to my current losing battle with allergies I can't sleep. Last night as Nick and I were watching tv, I was doing my usual 'blog stalking' and Nick busts out with, "Jen, I don't get you. Why don't you just make your own blog. You spend so much time looking at everyone else's--just make your own." So here is my attempt and something I thought I was never going to fall a victim to--the world of blogging.
For so long, I thought that I could get away without having to join all this blogging madness. What is so exciting about our lives? I go to work everyday, and despite actually having some really great stories, a little thing called HIPPA keeps me from divulging that information. Nick is in school and we all know how 'exciting' that can be. No kids yet, so another reason I kept saying I don't need to keep an online journal. We do take our occasional vacations, frequent long weekend trips, and night out with friends. So maybe that will interest some of you.
So to Nick's surprise when he wakes up in about 2 and a half hours we will be co-owner of the Styer blog! Depending on the stories I tell, he might be regretting his encouraging push for me to make a blog. Hah! Oh well! Hopefully I will have better luck blogging when it isn't this early in the morning.