Oh so much has happened!

Well, so much has gone on in the month or two since I've written that I'm now going to have to give the brief version of it all. For starters, I got a job!!! I got called in for an interview at Good Samaritan Society, a nursing home a half hour away in Idaho Falls. I was so nervous for the interview. I was called on Tuesday and they wanted me to come in on Wednesday. I called my brother Daniel on Tuesday night and had him help me out going through interview questions and such, because he gives interviews at his work so he knows what kind of things are annoying and good to say. The interview ended up going really well and they offered me the job on the spot. I have to say though, they ask such weird questions in an interview! I started orientation

on Monday, Nov. 29th and then had my first night on the floor, Tuesday Dec. 2nd. I work the graveyard shift. 9:00pm - 7:30am. I work 4 days on and 4 days off, it's really not too bad, minus how horrible it is! I just really really enjoy the day time, and to have to sleep through it is so depressing. I'm getting used to it though. I don't mind working nights, I actually prefer how few of us there are at night, it's just sleeping during the day, and leaving my husband at night that bothers me. Starting this job has been one of the hardest times of my life. Not so much the shift, but because I feel like I was thrown into a lot of things right at the beginning that I wasn't comfortable with. I don't feel like I had time to be trained before I was required to do things independently, especially as a new grad. It's slowly getting better though and I'm even starting to enjoy the work. There's just so much I still need to learn.

So, now for Thanksgiving! As you noticed, I didn't start my job until after Thanksgiving. So Justin and I decided that since he was going to have the week off for Thanksgiving and I wasn't starting my job yet, we might as well go home for the week! We came home the Friday before Thanksgiving and left on Black Friday evening. Since we had planned it last minute, we decided to surprise most everyone on us coming home. Only my Mom and Dad new because they provided the buddy passes for Justin and I to fly with. We kept surprisingly busy the entire week and had so much fun! Justin and I went scrub shopping for my new work, we scoped out the stores to find what I wanted to buy on Black Friday. I got to spend a fun afternoon with my sister Marie. She took me to lunch and a movie. And in between we got to go shopping and I was able to be with her and her boyfriend Mark as they went ring shopping! Marie is now engaged to be married sometime in May. Thanksgiving was awesome! The boys played football,

and I'm happy to say that Justin did not get injured this time. Last year he fractured a rib, and the year before he dislocated his shoulder. We had dinner at both our families. Justin's family dinner was at 11:00, well noon really, and then mine was at 2:00. It worked out perfectly to go to both but man we were stuffed! Then for the best part, Black Friday shopping!!!!!!!! My sister Kristi and I go shopping on Black Friday every year. We didn't think we were going to be able to go together this year because I was in Idaho, but you know, we came home! So I slept over at Kristi's house on Thursday. I got up at 2:50am and we headed to Target first. We didn't get everything there that we wanted there, but we got some good stuff. Then we went to our favorite place, JC Penney! We were there for I believe 2 1/2 hours, and it was great the whole time. I got a lot of winter stuff for Justin and I that we were needing as well as helped some of my siblings with their Christmas shopping. Kristi and I has so much fun and I'm so glad that I have a sister who can last through so much shopping with me! When we got home my brother Nathan and my Mom had a fun breakfast for us. It was something that Nathan had done at our cousins, the Lilly's, earlier in the week for dinner. He gave us all a menu with names that meant nothing to us for the food. So we would order our food not actually knowing what we would get. We had a utensils section to choose from, appetizer, main dish, and dessert. I was lucky enough to choose a drink and spoon for my utensils. Others got things like a knife and a popsicle stick. It was pretty funny. I had a grapefruit for appetizer but others got some delicious smoothies. Anyway, it was a lot of fun! That Friday night Justin and I flew back to SLC. We stayed with my brother Ben who lives in that area, and then we drove home on Saturday. It was sad to leave, but lucky Justin and I were going back again in a couple weeks for my cousin RosaLee's wedding!

A fun video of my brother Ben and the weird things he teaches his son!

Justin and I threw a couple of different parties for Christmas. Ones that we enjoyed back home but were going to miss this year. One of them was the Ugly Sweater Mustache Christmas Party. Everyone wears ugly sweaters and then men grow mustaches. It's a pot luck. The hosts of the party we always went to usually made meatballs, so that's what we did. Their was lots of good food and we had a pretty good turn out. We did a white elephant gift exchange that was really fun. Most of the gifts were gag gifts, and then we played a bunch of games. The other party was the Awful Waffle. It's a tradition in Justin's family. The 2nd Monday of December the Connolly clan make green and red waffles and serve sausage for everyone. Hundreds of people show up every year and Justin's Grandma's house for this event. Justin was so sad to miss it so we threw our own little one this year. It was much smaller but it was a lot of fun!

Justin and friends at the Ugly Sweater Mustache Party

Kim and Josh

Ephrium, Danielle, Chris, and Katie

Justin took all of his finals the week of Dec. 13-17th. He did pretty well and is so glad to be done with this semester! My cousin got married on Friday the 17th. Justin and I flew down on Allegiant Air, and they only had a flight on that same Friday. So Justin and I flew down the day of the wedding. We were supposed to get to Arizona with a couple hours to spare before the actual wedding. But due to fog in Arizona that morning our flight was delayed. We arrived in Arizona and went straight from the airport to the temple, changing in the car on the way. We arrived at the temple at 4:20pm and the wedding started at 4:30! We were so happy that we made it in time! They had a nice dinner before the reception catered by Costa Vida, it was so delicious! The reception was beautiful and RosaLee looked amazing! Not to mention it was a great way to see a lot of my family while I was in town.

Me and the bride!

Saturday morning, my Shaw family had a Christmas morning, since my sister Rachel and I were both in town then, but wouldn't be for actual Christmas. We had a great breakfast of Biscuits and Gravy. Then my Dad passed the gifts out one at a time per tradition. It's one of my favorite times of the year! I always like to give some little gift to all of my family every year. I usually give the same thing to all the girls and to all the boys. I had cute bracelets for all the girls, every girl got a different color. But I had issues with the boys presents. I found something practical to give but it was pretty embarrassing to give. But I had run out of time and ideas. I gave all of the men... extension cords. Lame I know, but they are useful! Justin and I had so much fun that week we were home! I did end up being sick for most of the time which put a damper on it but I still managed to have fun! We went swimming, visited family of course, went to the temple lights, and all sorts of stuff!

Kristi, Rachel, me, Marie: my sisters!

Justin and I opening presents!

More opening presents with the family

The bracelets that all the girls got!

We came home the morning of Christmas Eve. Justin and I did some last minute shopping that day and I did some shopping with my sister, Rachel. Here's the thing with shopping with Rachel. I was actually taking her out of the house as a decoy! Her husband Albert bought a really nice new dining table for her for Christmas. It was being delivered Christmas Eve and so I was taking her out during the time that it was supposed to be delivered. Albert was still at work so my husband hung out at their house to "babysit" their son Edgerrin, waiting for delivery. I managed to stay out with Rachel for two hours, but turns out the delivery was late. So we went back to her house and Albert got home from work. So then Justin and I offered to stay at their place while they went and got dinner. Rachel thought that was a little weird for Christmas Eve but was excited. But then as they were getting ready to leave, the delivery truck showed up. So the surprise was defeated. Rachel still didn't know what was going on even after the delivery guy came to the door and I told them they were at the right place and to go ahead and bring everything in. Albert wouldn't tell Rachel what was going on and what they were delivering but then she saw them taking out a big dining table and she started freaking out. The table looks great in their kitchen and was much needed. The surprise didn't work out quite as planned but it was still great and Rachel was so happy! Rachel and Albert ended up picking up Chinese at a new place in Rexburg for dinner and we ate it on their new table! Justin and I went home and just relaxed the rest of the evening, nothing special.

Christmas morning was nice exchanging gifts and opening stockings but then I had to go into work. They needed someone to come in Christmas day who had their RN, and not just their LPN. So I came in as charge nurse. It was supposed to be "easy" we "just need your body there". I had never worked a day shift and they're much different then the night shifts. I'll just say it wasn't as easy as they had said it would be. It was the same old thing, me having to do things that I've never actually been trained how to do. At least I got time and a half, even it was my worst Christmas. I got home at about 7:00pm and went right over to Rachel and Alberts house. Justin and them had made a nice dinner of ham, stuffing, funeral potatoes, and rolls. It was so delicious and so nice to have a little bit of a good time on Christmas!