HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY BRAYDON!!!

This past weekend was Braydon's Birthday. We had a party Saturday with the Moore's and the Rogers. It was a nice day outside and decided to have the festivities in the backyard. Braydon opened his presents (he got spoiled!!!) and then had some cake and ice cream. The cake was made by Katie with assistance from Angela (it was very good!!!)

After that, we went to the Kangaroo Zoo in Pleasant Grove to let all the children run around. It's a place that has 8-12 giant blow-up jumpers. We were there for about an hour and all the kids were all "red-faced", "hot and sweaty", and all were ready to go to sleep. They all had a good time and enjoyed themselves (even Katie got into it!!! Check out the pictures)

Monday was his official Birthday and we had a special Family Home Evening with it all planned by Braydon. He wanted spaghetti noodles with Parmesan cheese for dinner and for treat he wanted fried tortilla's with cinnamon-sugar. I wasn't feeling to good so I laid on the couch and Katie played with Braydon and all his new toys.

I did add a photo album for Braydon's Birthday from the cake to the Kangaroo Zoo so check them out.

VIVA LAS VEGAS!!!!!

It's official!!!

I have accepted a new Physical Therapy job in Las Vegas. I will be working for Mountainland Rehabilitation at Spring Valley Hospital in southwest Las Vegas. The hospital has four floors and I will be mostly working on the Orthopedic floor with patients who have just had surgeries (Total Knees, Total Hips, Total Shoulders, Various Back Surgeries, and any other surgeries you can think of). The nice thing about working in a hospital is that you get to see Physicians (Surgeons) on a regular basis and if (or when) the opportunity arrives to work in an Outpatient setting, I will already know the Physicians. I my have to work an few weekends or holidays but since it is in Las Vegas, a lot of PT just want to work a few shifts including weekends or holidays.

We are VERY excited to have this opportunity to work in such a nice environment. My manager is from Utah county and went to BYU. I even know some of his relatives that live in Springville. I felt very comfortable throughout the interview process and felt very good about working with the PT's in my department and living in Vegas.

We had several other jobs available but looking at the starting salary, cost of living, and house prices (thanks Jake), it just makes sense to move to Las Vegas and get some experience and maybe (most likely) getting back to Utah if I get a chance. We have started looking at some houses to see what we can afford with all the student loans hanging over our heads.

Katie is excited yet scared to move to a "Big City." I think she is even more excited about not having to work anymore (at least until she gets bored) and not having to drive in the snow!!!

Braydon is also excited to get to play with his friend Ryan on a more regular basis but will miss his cousin very much. He is also excited to start kindergarten when he moves there (can you believe that???)

So, if anybody wants to spend some time in Las Vegas, we will always have an open door and free room to stay in. I will let you know how the house hunting goes.

By the way, I will most likely leave for Vegas around June and Katie and Braydon will come down in August so Braydon can start school in September.

PS: I did put some Easter pictures (With the Crane's and Rogers) up in our Photo album along with some other random pictures from home.

Exciting Week Ahead!!!

This last few weeks have flown by as if they were just here yesterday! I had an un-expected phone call from a Clinic Director from Mountainland Rehabilitation (MLR) last week. I had spoken to a fellow NAU classmate (well, he graduated a year ago) who works for MLR and was asking him about any job openings that he may know of. He gave my number out to a few people and one called me and set up an interview for the next day. The clinic is about 11th E and 3900 S in SLC. I went up there and had a good interview and he asked me back for a second interview in the middle of April to see how the clinic runs and to see it in action. I is exciting to get out and start interviewing with potential job opportunities.

The end of this week I have two more interviews. One interview in Las Vegas on Thursday and one in Kingman, Az on Friday. I'm looking forward to visiting them and learning more about their clinics. I feel that I got some of the "rust" out during the SLC interview and feel confident that these next two will go even better.

We went to Katie's parents house for a early Easter party. The kids got to build a bunny gingerbread house, make cupcakes, and color eggs. They also got lots of candy and toys from the Easter egg hunt. The adults had a good time playing Texas Hold'em (Yes, I think we ALL have a gambling problem!!! J/K!!!). I was able to win the tournament over Katie's Aunt Heidi and earned a cool $70 (Since I didn't have to "buy-in" thanks to my brother-in-law).

I will let you all know how the interviews went next week.

I did put 3 new photo albums up so take a look at them.

Job Interviews!!!

It's starting to feel as if I am actually done with school. I have started to put my resume out and getting contacted for Physical Therapy positions. I have one interview in Las Vegas in April (dates to be determined within the next few days). I am also hoping for an interview in Kingman, Az during the time I'm in Vegas to cut down on the travel time. The job in Vegas is an Inpatient Hospital job with opportunity to go to an Outpatient job in the future. Kingman is a Outpatient job. I eventually want to work in Outpatient so I have to start deciding what is right for our family. It's good to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

My NCAA bracket is still looking pretty good. I got 5 out 8 in the Elite 8 and 3 out of 4 in the Final Four. I still have both teams in that I picked to play in the Championship game (UCLA and Georgetown) with Georgetown winning it all!!! I don't think I will win the pot at my internship but could finish in the top 5 (GO UCLA & G-TOWN!!!!).

As for the family, we as all doing well with no sickness or complaints (knock on wood!!)

We're Still Here!!

Nothing exciting has been happening with us at the time being!!! We had a good St. Patricks day with a poker party that night. The whole basement at Katie's Uncle's and Aunt's house was green and had a lot of green food to partake of. We started with about 14 people. We decided to have two table of seven. We combined the tables when only 8 people were left. Katie took 10th place and I made it to the final table. I was the short stack on the final table and went all in on a pair of 10's. I lost to a pair of Jacks (thanks to my mother-in-law). I ended up taking 8th spot. My brother-in-law won it all with his wife taking 3rd.

My NCAA bracket is doing alright. I still have 12 of the 16 teams still in it (thanks to Maryland, Texas, Wisconsin, and Virgina Tech all losing). I can only get 6 out of the Elite Eight and still have all 4 of my Final four teams still in it. I will keep you updated next week.

I'm starting to look for and apply for jobs now. I have just updated my resume and have sent it out to a few people. I am looking at jobs right now in Utah (anywhere), Las Vegas, and Kingman, Az. I'm just excited to start taking the first steps in finding a "real" job!!! So, if you know of any Physical Therapy job openings, let me know!!!