I'm dating Forrest Gump

Most of the world should know by now that I am in fact dating Forrest Gump. If Forrest Gump was a real person and not just a character played by Tom Hanks in 1994, he would be my boyfriend Tyler.

The friendly Lieutenant Dan wave in Madison, Wisconsin...

 Tyler and I as Forrest and Jenny for Halloween...

 Forrest smile...

 Forrest pose in Minnesota.

 Forrest pose at a wedding...

 Forrest smile at another wedding...

 Forrest pose number 2 in Colorado...

 Forrest on the park bench outside Bubba Gump Shrimp Co...

 He definitely felt at home...

 Lieutenant Dan, he made it to Bubba Gump Shrimp Co in Breckenridge, CO!

 And the Forrest smile at yet another wedding.

I'd say the pictures are living proof that I am dating a Forrest Gump wannabe.

Since last time...

Since the last time I posted on my blog (back in March)...
-I turned 24 in April.
-I graduated with my Masters Degree in Speech-Language Pathology in May.

-I ran the Lincoln Half Marathon in May.

-I went on our family's annual fishing trip to Minnesota in May.

-I entered the 'real world' as a school based speech-language pathologist (and continued working part time in Hy-Vee's floral department as a floral designer).
-I've attended 5 weddings with about 5 more to go in 2012...

-I celebrated 4 family member's birthdays in July- Mom (50), Dad (52), Tyler (27), and Brylen (1).

-My parents finally moved into their new house which means I have settled all of my stuff into their temporary (my new) house! I also helped Tyler move to Columbus : ( so he can start his teaching/coaching job in a few weeks!
-I've started eating much cleaner and training for the Omaha-Lincoln Market to Market Relay in October!
-And I've also golfed quite a bit!

What have you been up to this summer?

st. patty's day

Tyler and I had a few people over to his house for some brews and munchies before going to listen to a local band, Third Frate, play at a bar in town. There was plenty of green beer to go around on St. Patty's Day!

march 15

On March 15 I celebrated the last day of my school internship and my sister celebrated her birthday. My supervisor got me this fun cake, but unfortunately some of the teachers cut into it before I got a picture. My mom made my sister this beautiful red velvet cake and recycled the bow from my cake : ) She also made us a wonderful dinner full of steak, salmon, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and green beans! Mmmmm.....

spa day

Two weeks ago, I spent the day at a salon and spa for my friend Karisa's bachelorette party. Her sister Kilie put out an amazing spread of mimosas, coffee, bagels, and fruit; she even got these adorable "sweaters" for our coffee mugs! There were also labels on the champagne bottles that said "Pampered Princess" sent from our good friend Sarah down in Florida. I got a facial and a massage; the facial was fabulous, but the massage wasn't my fave, needless to say it was still and wonderful day of relaxation and catching up with great friends!

Grandma's 80th

We also celebrated my Grandma Sally's 80th birthday in February. My mom, aunts, cousins, and I prepared all of the food and decorations at the family farm. Several of my grandma's friends and family came; it was a beautiful party filled with laughter and memories.

valentine

I had the opportunity to help out at Hy-Vee floral here in town during the busy Valentine season and it was a blast! It definitely gives me a new appreciation for flowers on Valentine's Day! I picked out this bromeliad plant for my dad to give to my mom and it is growing like crazy on our kitchen table! Tyler took me out to dinner and got me wine and chocolates-- he definitely knows the way to my heart : ) I gave him this tackle box filled with lures and other fishing gear, as well as gummy worms and a chocolate fish! Needless to say he's ready for my family's annual fishing trip to Minnesota in May!

St. Pete's Beach

In mid February I flew down to St. Pete's Beach, FL to be a bridesmaid in my friend Jackie's destination wedding. We had a beautiful ocean view from our hotel room. The flowers were gorgeous and everyone looked stunning. The day after the wedding, we enjoyed a poolside lunch, had some cheep buckets of beer, and had an fun dinner which included mahi mahi, shrimp, crab legs, lobster, crawfish, gator meet, and frog legs! It was an awesome four days and I wish Andrew and Jackie the best of luck as they begin their new life together in western Nebraska!

KC, MO SURPRISE!

In mid January my family took a little road trip to Kansas City, MO for my aunt Joyce's surprise 60th birthday party. She was as as shocked as could be, especially when she saw all her Nebraska relatives : ) After the party, her son Tyler who is the current drummer for the band Love and Theft out of Nashville, played guitar with a friend's band at a local bar. He's so talented and we all had a blast watching him play again.

Birthday Girl!

Cousin Lovin

cake balls

I made red velvet cake balls for New Years Eve and I wanted to share with ya'll how simple they are! Bake a cake (flavor of your choice) according to the directions on the back of the box. Let the cake cool then crumble it up in a large bowl. Mix in one can of frosting (again, flavor of your choice, I used cream cheese frosting). Using a cookie dough scoop, form your cake/frosting mixture into balls and place on a cookie sheet covered in wax paper. Refrigerate your cake balls until firm. Dip in white (or chocolate) almond bark and place them back on the cookie sheet. Add sprinkles or decorations of your choice and enjoy!

notorious

For those of you who are faithful followers of mine may have noticed by now that I am notorious for having "blogging droughts." I believe these past 2.5 months have been my longest drought; my excuse = my internship. Although I haven't had any homework for the past 11 weeks, spending all day everyday with little munchkins at school wears a person out! I loved every minute of my school internship (including carpooling with Tyler to and from Yutan each day) and I am definitely excited for my own caseload in the schools next year. I have this week off and I begin my medical internship at the Fremont Area Medical Center and surrounding nursing homes on Monday! I'm looking forward to my medical internship, but I am also very nervous as I have no experience in the medical setting-- wish me luck!