Comps and Trip to UT

Well, the good news is that I passed my comps!!!! The bad news now I have to be serious about the grant! I am meeting with my advisor on Monday to go over my outline and ideas and hopefully I will be able to meet the second week of June and move forward with this thing. My deadline for myself is before the family reunion at the end of July.
Here in UTAH - it has been a relaxing and fun week. Suzan and Abby are doing great. Abby is now 16 days old and very cute. We took her to the doctor yesterday and she is now 8lb even and 21 inches long and very very cute. We have finished up her room and decorated the rest of Suzan's house with her wedding presents, pictures, etc. It now offically looks like a family lives here and not a single person. I will post those pictures later.

Abigail Elaine Wallen (1 week 4 days)

Suzan, Lee and Abby

Suzan and Abby

Abby's little feet

Pictures of Abby

Okay here are the pictures I received from Suzan today! She looks really big in them but is only 7 lb 10oz (as of her first check-up).

A Trip with Dallas

Yes, I am going on a trip with Dallas, not to Dallas (in case there is any confusion!). Dallas and I are going on a trip to South Dakota, if you look at my post about the states then you realize I have not been there and want to, so we decided it would be a fun adventure.

We have decided to stay in little cabins that the KOA sites have and then rent a car to travel (it was the most economical). They are tiny (400 sq ft) but we really wanted to in nature and couldn't bring our own camping gear on the plane! So if you are looking at the map of South Dakota with the numbers we will be staying at #5 which is Mt. Rushmore for 2 nights then #1 the Badlands for 2 nights and then #4 the Deadwoods for 2 nights. The Deadwoods is in the Black Hills and so we may travel into Wyoming since we will be so close and Dallas has never been. We are really excited and just hope that everything will work out well.

Look at all the places I need to go!!!

I have added a bunch in the last few dasy so just keep on reading!

create your own visited country map

Where Have You Been?

create your own personalized map of the USA

The Wallen Baby

About the time I was writing last night about how Suzan's baby hadn't come yet she was pushing Abby into the world. Her water broke about 7 or so on Tuesdays night and about 24 hours later at 7:10pm Abby came, she dilated very slowly but she did it. She end up getting 2 epidurals because the first one did not work, had drugs and was up all night but she was a champion through it all! When I get pictures I will post them.
So here are the stats:
Abigail Elaine Wallen
7 lb 8 oz
20 inches long
dark hair that is already an 1 1/2 inches long
cute as a button (never been sure what that means!)
Suzan says she is a great nurser but not such a good sleeper :).
Suzan will be going home tomorrow. The timing is working out perfect. Lee (the hubby) will be home for a week and then I come in on the 23rd-31st and then her mom will come on the 2nd or 3rd because Lee is headed off for work so things will be good. I am really excited to see both of them!
The past few years have taught me how incredible each live birth is and how very grateful I am for the children in my life. I am just so thankful for all the sacrifices that I watch the amazing woman in my life so that they can bring children into the world - it has taught me so much - you guys are awesome!

Laziness?

I have been really bad at blogging lately - some of it has to do with a boring life, some with being lazy and a little because I just don't get around to it (which is of course like being lazy). Like I said my talk went well. I talked about righteous traditions in our family. Mama told me that I would have to make them up, ha ha. I talked about temple endowments and sealings, FHE, family prayer, always going to church (where ever and however small the ward or twig is), doing what the Lord wants you to do (everything from moving to Mandy and Nathan). I of course used the words of Sister Lant, who gave a wonderful talk. I felt the Spirit and I think others did as well. As far as talks go I think it probably went well.
I finished my questions and now onto my grant proposal. I asked my friend today how long hers was and it was 21 single spaced pages - yuck! I want to get the whole done by the end of July so I need to get started and move fast if I am to succeed! I think that the questions went well, at least I hope so. I am just so glad that that part is complete!
I start a new job on June 2nd and so that should be interesting. I will be working for the Nutrition Extension Program which is a part of MU that teaches the communities and school aged children about nutrition. Good idea to work for them because I am doing my dissertation on nutrition. Seems to make sense to me. I will be working on a paper with one of my bosses starting next week and have to finish up a study and write up a paper for that as well. I am busy but sometimes feel like I am not doing anything!
I realized today that June is in two weeks and I need to think about applications to MPH schools - crazy! So, I get to write another paper about how wonderful I am and how the school can't possibly live without me! How ridiculous is that? Of course they can, they have for this long and will after I am gone - I hate those essays! I am not that talented at lying about my abilities and desires to be something great when I finish their 18 month program - like 18 months somehow transforms a person! I am going to be a treat on entrance committees when I finally am done going to school.
Suzan hasn't had her baby yet (due date: May 6, 2008)! She is hoping soon, the baby is so low that the doctor can feel the babies head but she is at a 1 and has been for 2 weeks. She wants to do it all natural so she is trying hard to avoid the inducing date of May 22. I go out to Utah May 23rd - I hope that she is here by then!

Update

Well, I have been bad at updating this lately and tonights will just be short. I did give a talk today about Righteous Traditions - based on the talk by Sister Lant in the last conference. It seems to go well with all of the many people that came up later and talked. I will share more about what it was and what I said tomorrow.
Suzan has not had her baby yet - she is now 5 days overdue! She will be induced on May 21st if she doesn't come before that.
Today is Mother's Day - I am so grateful for my wonderful mother and all of the woman in my life that are mothers, aunts and friends that are such great examples of what a righteous woman is supposed to be! Thanks you guys!

A new nephew

Well, I know that most that read this already know that I (we) am getting a new newphew, Charles Jeffery Turpin (they are going to call him Jeffery or Jeff or soemthing), of course in addition to the baby that Laura has in September (still not sure what she is having). Shelly had sent me a picture at the end of last week and told me about him. He is so so very cute - he seems to fit right in and will look some what like Joy I think. By the way we need another initial soon - there are entirely to many J's in the family now, at least in the Turpin family! :)
Here is a picture of him. He is so cute. I am so excited to meet him!

this week

Well, it was busy but uneventful. I am turning in my questions on May 9th, which Alison's birthday and then heading over to her house for dinner and a movie. The next weekend is booked too - I don't remember when my social calendar was so full before. On the 23rd I am headed to Utah to visit Suzan and Elizabeth. By that time Abby will be here and most likely there will not be any family at Elizabeth's house.
Today, is Marcie Bottoms birthday and so Christopher took her out on a date and Zebadee and I made her a card, went and got some flowers, made her a cake and decorated the place for Marcie. We are awaiting her return to surprise her. Then we are going to BBQ up some good old ribs and enjoy this beautiful weather. Tonight we have Stake Conference and tomorrow morning. I am hoping to take some pictures tonight and then I will post them tomorrow. We have Stake Conference tomorrow at 10 and so I will be done with church by noon - I am not sure what I will do until FHE tomorrow. I am hoping to finish the dress U am currently making for Mandy and get it in the mail on Monday!
My boss asked me about my plans on Thursday and seemed surprised that I wanted to push things along with the questions, grant and proposal. Why wouldn't I want to is what I wanted to know. I am ready to finish this degree up and "proving myself worthy" is the step I am at. I can't believe how soon December is. I figured out that when I get my student loans in September that I can write a check for Sept, Oct and half of Nov and that is all I will owe - what a wonderful feeling! Then I can call and get a truck to haul my junk off in come December! Wow! I am getting really excited. Part of the reason is that many of my friends are leaving here soon - the Bottoms in June, Amy in July, Jen left this month. It is all too soon! Who am I supposed to hang out with from July-Dec? Maybe it will make me work harder! :)