2012 - a Year of Adventures!

Happy New Year! We certainly celebrated the new year with family and friends. My dad's side of the family (the Robinsons) came down from Ogden to Salt Lake to eat good food, visit and share memories of Christmas past. It was so fun to hear everyone's different stories and traditions. My dad shared a funny story about one year, when I was little, someone had convinced me that there was a scripture in the Bible that proves that Santa is real! And as a child, my faith in Santa now had a solid foundation! Ha ha I really liked that story. As an adult, I still find myself believing in Santa. This year, I clearly saw the resemblance between Santa and our Savior (both love children, love giving, and sacrifice their all for the happiness of the world).

New Years Eve night, we met up with some friends and went bowling. Chuck won every game, like he wins everything.. I don't know why I try! Afterwards, we picked up some Martineli's Sparkling Cider and hung out at our friends' apartment eating snacks and candy, playing Rock Band and hanging out late into the night. We watched the ball drop and watched how old Dick Clark is looking. We were up until 5 am enjoying the new year.

Most importantly, we look forward to what the new year will bring. Being finished with school, I am still working at the U hospital in the Maternity Ward and hope to take care of my sister-in-law in April when she delivers a girl! New to my career, I look forward to the many adventures it will bring. It is my goal to keep up my exercise routine, since I have lost 8 pounds since October, and want to get into great shape. We are working on reading our scriptures and praying together everyday this year, as well as increasing our temple attendance since Chuck will have more time on his hands. Chuck has many adventures ahead... He is quitting his job Jan. 6, and starting classes at the U and SLCC on Jan. 9. He is majoring in Health Education and Promotion with an emphasis in EMS. His career goal is to become a Paramedic and Fireman. He has applied for a summer job as a Wild Land Firefighter... don't know what I think about it yet, but we don't know if he will qualify just yet. We have a couple trips planned this year, that you will hear about later. As usual, we plan on continuing to play soccer as often as we can! We wish you a Happy New Year!

One Blessed Christmas

Throughout December, Chuck and I tried to capture the Christmas spirit... We put up a much improved Christmas tree from last year with new ornaments, put lights in our window, hung our stockings by the wall with care (no chimney), in hopes that Santa Claus soon would be here! We awed in wonder as we walked through the Festival of Trees at the South Towne Expo center and envied the talented gingerbread house makers. A night out with Santa (the Robinsons side) spoiled us with good eats at a steakhouse downtown, good presents and good entertainment at the Kurt Bestor Concert. A ride on the Heber Creeper Polar Express (the Martins side) brought holiday cheer as we sang songs, heard xmas jokes, drank hot cocoa and watched the nieces light up when Santa arrived! For the 12 days before Christmas, we read a set of scriptures each night about the birth and life of the Savior. With the spirit of Christ in our home, it made up for the few snowflakes that fell and the expectation of working on Christmas. I was scheduled to work Christmas Eve night and Christmas night. So we tried to make the most of our time during the week of Christmas. We saw the lights at temple square with some of the Martins. Chuck and I, and my parents went on a date two days before Christmas to my favorite chinese restaurant Enjoy, and afterwards we enjoyed visiting with friends from Washington. Christmas Eve day, we went to dinner and a movie with the Robinsons. After much dismay, to my surprise, a call from work said I wouldn't have to work until sunrise! I found out that Chuck was going to surprise me at work with egg nog and chocolate doughnuts, and my parents were also going to bring me a pull apart too! I ruined their service, but I am so grateful for their thoughtfulness. We spent the rest of the evening playing games at my cousin's house, put on our new pajama bottoms (Christmas Eve tradition in the Robinson family) and slept til morning. Excited as can be, I awoke at 6:30! Chuck made me wait until 8:00 am, first time in years that I opened presents in daylight. I made us some hot cocoa to start, and then we took our stockings apart. A brand new ornament and a handmade card for each. Chuck sure knows how to buy for his wife! After opening our spoils, we got ready for the day and headed to sacrament at my parents' ward. Then off to the Martins for lunch and presents. It was fun to be around the nieces and nephew, to see how much more they understand Christmas this year, and to watch them open presents. Chuck's mom made the nieces beautiful aprons and skirts, and the two little ones a ball each to play with. After most of his siblings left, I took a nap in preparation for work that night. We visited with his parents for awhile, and then left to meet my parents at their house to open presents there. We certainly feel blessed by our family for all the nice things they gave us, but most of all for the love we felt being with them. I did end up working an 8 hour shift that night, but I am so grateful I got to spend Christmas morning with Charles, just the two of us in our own home. We certainly tried to focus on Christ through all the commericalism and gifts, remembering that Christ is the greatest gift ever given. It will go down in history as One of the best Christmases filled with so many blessings!
p.s. pictures to come...

This is Halloween, Halloween, Hall-O-ween!

It has been a Robinson Family tradition for several years now to make a Haunted Gingerbread House during the month of October. We usually make one while we listen to general conference, but this year we had to do it a week later.

This year, my parents decided that since we put in all the time to decorate it, we should be able to enjoy it instead of just leaving it at their house. So we made our very own Martin Haunted Gingerbread House for 2011. After 5 hours of precisely cutting and setting the gingerbread with melted sugar, and after frosting and using several types of candy, this is our final product. We are pretty pleased with it and hope you enjoy some photos.

Side view of the entire house

Top view of the entire house

The front of the house

Spooky light post

Jelly Beans/Gum Drops Path

Newly buried grave

Ghost Family Tree

Black Licorice Tree

Ghostly Swing

Ghost Getting a Tan

Haunted Back Porch

Snake Eating a Ghost

It was difficult to really capture the ghost town we created in photos. But we sure had a good time making it together, and now we can enjoy the smell of Halloween sweets all month long. We also have one out of two wood crafts completed for this month. We've become quite fond of him!

Meet "Franky"

 

Hope you have a Happy Halloween!!!

California, California, CALIFORNIA... Here We Come!

In May, the week after graduating, Chuck and I travelled to San Diego, California with our friends Emmy and Aaron Barker. It was a spontaneous trip planned in three days and well worth it! We first stopped in a town near St. George to break up the drive and stayed at Emmy's Aunt's house. We continued our travels the next morning, stopping in Wendover so the boys could gamble and in Las Vegas so the girls (and the boys) could shop. We stayed in Mission Bay in a timeshare condo. That evening, we played some bocce ball on the beach and enjoyed to setting sun. It was a fun new game to learn and play for me! I wasn't very good at it, but it was really fun. There is a carnival set up there so we walked around even though it wasn't running at the time.

Mission Bay in the evening

Aaron, Emmy, MacKenzie & Chuck

 The next day, we ventured up to Magic Mountain Six Flags for a day full of amusement, fear, joy and motion sickness. Emmy had never been to Six Flags before, and tends to get motion sickness. But she was quite the trooper and went on a few rides. It was exciting to ride some rides new to me since going there several years ago. Tatsu was one exhilirating ride! You practically fly as you are strapped in facing the ground and pass through corkscrews and loops. At one point, I choked because of the speed and quick change of direction! And of course, our favorite the X2 Xtreme. Chuck took some great pictures at the top of X2 just before flipping backwards.

View of the Tatsu Ride from X2

The X-tremists

We also attended an a few innings of the Anaheim Angels Game. It was pretty cool to sit in a baseball stadium like this. Definitely a different experience from the local Bees Games. I learned a lot more about baseball having Chuck by my side sharing his knowledge and love for the sport.

Angel's field behind us

  For our next adventure, we visited the amazing Sea World. Another place Emmy had never been to... and going with someone who had never seen the ocean wonders that Sea World provides was like taking a kid into a candy store. It was so much fun! It had been over 10 years since I had gone to Sea World, so everything was new and different. We saw some amazing ocean animals, including our favorites- the dolphins, seals, killer whales, penguins, polar bears and manatees.

Emmy and MacKenzie watching the dolphins at play

Seal showing off his good looks

The Shamu Family, the baby is my favorite

Chuck picking up a star fish before we saw the sign that says not to

That evening, we walked along Crystal Pier and watched to surfers surf in wet suits. We also ate at a place called Luigi's where the boys were in heaven with six different televisions on the wall feature different sports channels. They loved it and the food was great! The next day, I began feeling the repercussions of nursing school... the stress cold of all colds came on and I was pretty miserable. Everyone was so kind to consider me and how I was feeling, however I felt like I was dragging the trip down. For some enlightenment, we traveled to La Jolla to do a session at the San Diego temple. What a glorious sight to see inside and out! And it is very special to us because Chuck's dad did some of the carpet carvings inside the temple. It was a wonderful way to spend the morning there. We spent to rest of the day waking along Seal Beach in La Jolla, resting in the condo, and playing games. That evening, we traveled to Coronado Island, an island that looks at the San Diego skyline at night. We enjoyed a fancy and delicious meal at the Bali Hai Restaurant while looking out across the bay towards San Diego. It was the perfect ending to a much needed and fun trip!

We Love To See The Temple

Our delicious selections

Chuck and MacKenzie in front of Bali Hai

A view of the Bali Hai Restuarant at night

The next morning, we began our drive back home reaching Las Vegas around 3 pm. We were all exhausted and ready to go home so we decided to grab some gelato and run! We got some gelato from the Bellagio and pulled an all-nighter driving through St. George for dinner and finally reaching Salt Lake around 2 am. It was a fun and exhausting trip! We are thankful to the Barkers for taking this journey with us and for being such great friends.

Class of 2011 - College Graduation

Me and a few of my friends from nursing school

On May 5, 2011, I graduated from the University of Utah College of Nursing. During the evening, I attended the Nursing Convocation Ceremony, and was the first one to walk across the stage for the bachelor's degree candidates to receive my diploma. I was so nervous I barely heard my family proudly rooting for me. One of my classmates told me that Chuck out-cheered everyone in the audience. I am so happy my husband is so proud of me. My dad was my personal photographer, and showed up at every turn and place to take my picture. Afterwards, my family and in-laws joined us for dinner at Tucci's in celebration of my achievement. On May 6, 2011, I attended the University Commencement ceremonies, which include everyone graduating from the university. Mitch Albom, the author of "Tuesdays with Morrie" was the main speaker and he was incredible. I wish I would have recorded his speech! His main point was to remember and keep your relationships with others close. This is the most important thing in life. Later that day, my dad bought me his book so I would always remember that speech. I am grateful for those family members and friends who attended the ceremonies, and who have supported me through such a hectic and stressful time in my life, which has also brought me so much joy and compassion for all of those around us who suffer from illness. And today, it is official... my degree has been awarded and I passed!

The End of a Journey

I have finally reached the end of quite a long journey. For years, I have been working towards becoming a Registered Nurse. For the past two years, after much toil and tears, I can proudly say I survived nursing school. Today was the last day of all my college exams, papers, lectures and online classes... It feels good to be done and ready to move forward as a nurse. At the same time, it is a bittersweet goodbye. I have been working towards this for so long that it does not feel real. But in one week's time, when they hand me my "diploma", I will be proud to say I have accomplished much! Thanks to all of you who have so supportive of me during this time, and for those who continue to have faith in me as a nurse. I couldn't have done it without my family, my husband, my friends, and my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for leading me to success.

April showers bring May flowers... Hopefully!

What bleak weather we have been having here in Utah! Last week, I saw a duck sitting in my parents gutter outside of their house. Poor lost duck... the weather is confusing the ducks. But even though the weather has been bleak, the month has brought many joys into our life.

On April 19th, our new niece Paizli was born and it has been so much fun to have a new baby in the family! She is one adorable little girl, and her big sister is so proud to have her in the family. We spent time holding Paizli and playing with Emzli last Saturday. This wonderful Easter weekend we spent with family, enjoying food, candy and laughter. We went to a Desert Star Play with my family, and it was Chuck's first time there. On Sunday, we listened to the homecoming talks of my wonderful neighbors, the Roses, as they reported on their temple mission in Sweden. We made Easter cookies at my parents house, and had a delicious feast at the Martins' home. We were able to catch up with brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws and play with our cute nieces - Lucy and Addison. It was an amazing Easter weekend.

Graduation is in 9 days, and I can hardly wait! With a paper written, I only have four more tests and six more hours of clinical to endure until I become a registered nurse! Its been a long time coming, and we are very excited to move on to my career while Chuck pushes forward with his schooling in full force. We have been playing indoor soccer, and have just started another team. We play on two teams every Saturday, and Chuck scored 8 goals last weekend between the two teams! Wahoo!

Hopefully we will get rid of this bleak wet weather and be able to enjoy sunshine and May flowers in the upcoming month! Happy Spring to you all! We love you!