My Kern County Firefighter & Other Major Events!!

Ok, so I know I haven't been on here in FOREVER, since July I believe! But now that I actually have some down time & have some exciting stuff to talk about, I'm finally updating my blog!!!

Well as many people know, we are trying to buy a house! We started looking in February of 2009. We put offers in on a few, but all fell through! We wanted to stay in Quailwood or at least in 2nd ward! Well a short sale came up off of Calloway and Meachom, it was on a third of an acre and super cheap! Although the house was really boxy, I liked how much yard we would have! Well a few weeks in, a house came up in Quailwood and I fell in love!!! It was definitely a little wierd though because there were 5 families living in it, so there were some random walls, and it was in need of new paint and flooring! This was in August/September. We worked out with the partner of our realtor that he would buy the house for cash, remodel it and sell it to us! He was done after 30 days and we were able to move in, but unable to purchase it until 90 days after he bought the house. So we are all moved in and ready to purchase, all the papers are done, the inspection is done, and then I lose my job! And on top of that, Brandon was quitting working in the ER at the Heart Hospital because he was accepted into the Kern County Fire Department Academy! We were told that we would not be able to get a loan because we can't if we are on probation.. but luckily after talking with BofA they are giving us an exception & giving us the loan as soon as Brandon graduates! So tomorrow we are meeting with BofA, and hopefully the house will be ours by the end of the week!!

During the craziness of moving, Brandon & I were sealed for all of Time & Eternity!! Due to some unfortunate circumstances we did not get sealed initially, but after some hard work, we made it through our first year!! We were sealed in the Los Angeles, CA Temple on September 12, 2009!!

The orientation for the KCFD Academy was on December 18, 2009, and life for Brandon & I completely changed from then on!! He had 2 weeks to get everything together, uniforms and whatnot, & be ready at 5:00 a.m. on January 4, 2010 for his first day of the academy!!! It was originally a tough 9 weeks, but we were told a couple weeks before they were supposed to graduated that the academy would be extended 2 weeks! So instead of March 5th, he would now be graduating on March 19th, 2010! Now this academy was a shortened academy.. from 15 weeks down to 11 weeks! Brandon worked 12 hour days, and I hardly saw the guy! Waking up at 4:30, out of the house by 5:00 a.m., back home about 6:00 if not later, did his homework while I had his dinner ready & did his laundry, and we were back up again at 4:30! Definitely a long 11 weeks, but totally worth it!! They also had quite a few Saturdays they had to go in as well! In the end, they learned 15 weeks (if it was 8 hours a day) in the 11 weeks.. so there was a lot to learn, but all the guys in there were 100% dedicated and they all passed with more than a 90%!! Brandon ended up getting a 96%!!!!

Man, it was definitely an excited but very crazy week!!! Starting on Wednesday March 17! After work I went home & got ready for the couples dinner for the Academy guys! After dinner Brandon and I headed over to the South Stake Building to help decorate for my sister in-law Shannon's wedding, which was Friday!! We were there somewhat late, but it wasn't too bad. After a little talking and getting plans made, I was now going to be picking up my brother & sister in-law from the Van Nuys Flyaway!! So I left my house at 6:40 in the morning and got there about 8:30! I was totally more than happy to do it too!! More time with them is always fun since they live in Utah!!! Well when we got back to Bakersfield, we headed to the church to help decorate then I was off to take my final! Or so I thought! I went out to start my car, and it wasn't starting, stupid me forgot to turn my lights off! After trying to find my battery, thinking it was stolen from my car, we saw that it was in the trunk!!! So we got my car started again & I was off!! It was my Managerial Accounting Final, and the last final I had for my first quarter at CSUB!! After my final, I headed over to the Olive Drive Fire Training Facility where the KCFD was being held all this time!! They were having their Family Night, where they got to show off their stuff! I also got to go to the wives meeting which was fun too!! It was really fun to see my husband in action to really get a feel for what he is going to be doing! I'm so excited for him.. and a bit jealous too!! Thursday night after some more decorating, Jason & Sue (Brandon's Dad & Step-mom) & Shaun & Alyssa (Brother & Sister in-law) stayed the night! But not after the girls made a stop to Walmart to pick up a few things!! Well I was going to pull an all nighter, but my husband had me sleep.. since my day Friday was insane!! So I fell asleep at 1:30 and woke up at 3:30, then Alyssa, Jason & I headed to Shannon's so I could do her make-up and we could get ready! then we were of to the Fresno Temple for their sealing!! Man, it was amazing!!! I'm so extremely happy for Shannon!!! Then it was picture time & then a luncheon at Sweet Tomatoe, which was super yummy!!! Sue, Alyssa, & I headed up a little earlier to pick up some more food, and while we were at Costco I received a call from Brandon at 3:15 telling me he is officially graduating!!!! So we headed back to my house, went to the Graduation & then we were off to Shannon & Steven's Reception!!

Man it was a busy, but amazing week! It's nice having my spring break this week!! I'm ready to start living a new lifestyle!! So many great changes in life, with Brandon's new career & us buying our first home! Time is flying by, but we are growing together and loving every second of it!!!

It's Been A While.. But I'm Back!!

I know it's been forever since I've updated.. and a lot has happened!! I was just super swamped with my finals.. but they are finally all over (for the semester at least)!! So my car is now 100% completely done.. well for the most part.. now it needs actual maintenance.. like new shocks.. but other than that it's perfect!! & For Brandon's birthday.. my parents gave him some money.. so we splurged a little on Dodger tickets!! We were super close & got to see Manny play before the whole "steroid" incident happened..After this is when I became engulfed in school & studying for finals! So we didn't have much news.. except the 2nd house that I feel in love with didn't work out either! We were so ready to move in too! We put in our offer, they countered, and we accepted! But they didnt' sign the papers saying they accepted our acceptance.. How freaking gay is that?! Oh well.. we are going to find our perfect house & it will all work out in the end for sure!!

This past weekend we headed up to Vegas because Brandon's dad was going to get married!!! So we left Friday night after Brandon got off work & went straight up!! We made it in 4 hours.. & that was with some traffic! It was tons of fun though! Friday night we got there around 1130.. then went and got ice cream with Shaun & Alyssa (Brandon's brother & his wife)! I didn't fall asleep until 4 the next morning.. but it's all good! Saturday was fairly busy.. Shannon got there first thing in the morning.. we made some interesting shaped pancakes haha but man were they tasty!!! After breakfast we swam in the pool for a bit and then changed and went to the Excalibure for a buffet lunch! Super yummy!! Did some shopping after and walked around the strip for a bit! Where we actually ran into some of our friends from Simi Valley! Craziness! After that we headed back to our hotel (we were staying at the Grandview at Las Vegas) and got ready for the wedding!!! It was tons of fun! Elvis was there (& actually he was from Granada Hills where I lived for a little.. but also Jason-the one getting married/Brandon's dad-graduated from the same high school as him! haha) it was short & sweet & Sue (my new mother in-law) was super happy!! After the wedding we went back to the hotel to party it up in their hotel room.. they had super yummy snacks!!! So it was fun!! Then Brandon, Shaun, Alyssa, & I went and walked along the strip.. saw some interesting stuff.. almost won money.. it was a good time! I felt bad though.. after we got into our hotel room.. at 3ish.. Alyssa made some apple pie. Brandon and I were supposed to stay awake, but before I knew it was sunny outside! We slept in until we had to check out (oops!).. but they gave us an extension! We ate at Buffalo Wild Wings.. super yummy! Watched the Lakers on the big screen.. then Shaun & Alyssa left back home for Utah.. & Brandon and I went and met my Best Friend Kelly & her mom at the M&M Factory!! She was on her way back from Wyoming! So it was nice seeing her! Then Brandon and I headed home.. ready to take on life back at home.. would be nice to vacation more! :)

Brandon's 24th Birthday!!!

Brandon turned 24 on April 13th! We took a couple weeks to celebrate it though!! Starting in Frazier on April 5th! We went up there after Conference & his mom made some yummy dinner!!! We had steak.. & for dessert a super yummy strawberry cake!!! Then he got to open his presents.. We are sooo obsessed with Nerd Ropes it's not even funny!! So his mom gets us those all the time! They also got him a PEZ dispensor! I got him a couple of books for his first set of presents.. he LOVES WWII! & The firefighter one is pretty sweet too!!

Then Sunday April 12th we headed down to my parents house in Simi.. we celebrated Brandon's birthday that night with my side of the family.. & also had some Easter dinner with my Aunt & cousins! We got Red's BBQ.. it's amazing!! One thing I definitely miss about Simi for sure!! And I made Brandon a super cool & super yummy birthday cake!! It has Mater the Fire Engine & Lightening McQueen from CARS!!

I got him a Superman Belt & A super sweet Fossil watch! It was fun cuz I got to customize it too!!

My cousins LOVE him.. Brandon always wrestles with them.. & they have a blast!!

Then on Monday April 13th.. we went to Disneyland!!! It was amazing!!! When is it not though? We met up with his Dad & his dad's girlfriend!! It was sooo much fun!!

We went into ToonTown.. went into Mickey Mouse's House.. then met him!!!

I kicked his trash on the Buzz Lightyear ride.. He says he lost on purpose.. but we all know I'm amazing!

Over on the island.. everyone had to duck.. but me.. my shirt fits in perfectly here.. "Judge me buy my size do you?" Gotta love being short!! I'm not even bending my knees!!

We at the most amazing restaurant ever!!! The Blue Bayou!! It's my favorite for sure!!! He got a pretty sweet Pirate Treasure Chest Birthday Cake!!!!!

Taking a ride on Maliboomer!

Waiting for the fireworks.. Sleeping Beauty's castle looks so pretty!! The fireworks got cancelled after the first few minutes.. cuz it started to get really windy! But at least I got to see Tinkerbell!!! She's my favorite part!!

Brandon, Jason, Sue, & Me!!!!

I'm allowed one souvenier each time we go.. or I would buy everything! Haha.. so this time.. Brandon spotted the cute blue bird from the Disney Pixar shorts!!! It just happens to be my FAVORITE short too!! The best part about this bird... it's squeeks when you sqeeze him!! We named him MO! & I love him!!

It was such a fun day!! Though the lady at the ticket booth was really really really retarded.. she did not know what she was doing!!! But we ended up going to the Bank.. so find out more about season passes.. because his Dad was getting his all done.. so we had a few questions to ask!! Well.. what ended up happening was the free ticket Brandon got (worth $69) + the $40 I paid to get in (we went on a black out date for us).. totalling to $109.. put a down deposit for renewing our passes.. but we upgraded to southern california.. and since they're doing they're montly payments.. we only pay $19 a month!! And our passes don't even expire until May 2010 now!!! It ended up being such a fun day!!! Which is awesome because I usually have a little more fun than Brandon does when we go there.. cuz I get excited by everything.. as you can tell by the stuffed animal that I got!!

Dealing With Lovely Insurance Companies.. After An Accident

On March 14 I got in a small accident on my way home from work. I was getting off the freeway at California and got rear ended.. I was a little shook up, but nothing major. We pulled into the gas station right off of the freeway and exchanged information and went our seperate ways. His car had hardly anything.. that we could see at least. These are pics of what happened with my car...

Overall, the damage is pretty minimal.. I needed a new trunk cuz it got smashed in a little, a new bumper (which I got last time I was in an accident a year ago). I didn't think it was going to take to long, and because it wasn't my fault I didn't mind waiting a little bit since I wasn't going to have to pay for a rental car or anything like that.

Well after a couple of days we finally we able to get the car into the body shop.. and it's been in there now for a couple of weeks. The body shop called me last Friday (3/27) saying my car was ready, but the reverse lights were not working. So they asked me if they were working before.. and if they weren't working before. So instead of the car being ready that Friday.. they had to wait until Monday when they said the car was going to be worked on.. and they had to make sure it was ok with the insurance company. So a week passes by.. and today I get a phone call that the car is ready, they can't do anything about the reverse lights, I have to return the rental car.. blah.. blah.. blah! So I called Brandon and gave him the story.. so my morning did not start off to good! After fighting (both Brandon and I) with the insurance lady.. talking with our insurance company, and leaving messages with managers.. we are able to keep the rental until Monday and they are going to fix the car! Lol.. Brandon said we make a good team! Haha!

Today was just one of those days.. crazy at work.. but tonight will be good! We already have tickets to see the FAST & THE FURIOUS at 8:05 tonight!! I'm sooo excited!!

The Start of My Blog Life

New to the blogging life! Yay!

Well Brandon and I got married on September 6, 2008.. and moved out to Bakersfield!

We moved out here for Kern County Fire (yes.. Brandon is going to be a firefighter.. super HOTT right?!) So he's in for sure.. the chief LOVED him.. he actually went up a few rankings after his interview! And he would have been in the first academy in October.. but they only took the top 21.. well he's tied for 22nd! He's already been to Oxnard College Academy & he has his Associates in Fire Science! Anyways.. so that's just what we're really waiting for now.. we're hoping it will happen in July.. that's when the new budget stuff is happening! So cross your fingers for us!!

I was really skeptical about moving to Bakersfield at first, I had only been out here a few times for soccer tournaments and was not a fan of the city then. But after actually living here, I've really come to like it.. but I love the people more for sure! I have definitely fallen in love with everyone in the ward!! And now we're looking at houses to stay out here for a while!

Right now Brandon is working full time (plus over time.. so like 60 hours a week) at the Heart Hospital. He's an E.R. Tech & gets to see a lot of fun stuff! I'm going to school at BC and Taft College.. so I've got my hands full with that, plus I'm working full time at Belcourt Apartments (but not sure how much longer.. I can't really stand it! I've been applying for a bunch of other jobs!) So we hardly see each other.. we work out at 5 in the morning together.. we're doing a Boot Camp & when he gets home after his 12 hour shifts.. we have some time together.. & our only day off is on Sunday! Hopefully it will slow down a little soon!