Wallie

September 29 we welcomed this bundle of joy into our family... 

He was my 25th birthday present and I love him!

New Home!!

I cannot believe that I have not said anything yet, but Regan and I are the proud owners of a brand new townhome! We started looking back in February and decided to build... so May 30 we closed and then moved in over the next weekend!

The story of our buying adventure:

I originally was able to talk Regan into looking because by the time he is done with school (at least 5 more years) so we can buy our forever home we have already paid almost $20,000 in rent and will have paid at LEAST $50,000 more dollars in rent before we got to this point... soooo I explained how I think we should put our money towards something we own and hopefully gain some equity.

He was willing to look, we went into this thinking we would buy a single family home but were very discouraged at what we saw in our price point, houses that were not livable and said that they were sold "as is" this scared me more than you know thinking about a big money pit. We want to put the money towards a mortgage NOT fixing all the problems with the house. I am fine with cosmetic stuff, in fact I welcomed it, with all the HGTV that I watch... but these were things that needed immediate fixing. So we decided to increase our budget and look again, and this time include townhomes.

Well we found a home that we really liked in West Valley, in fact I thought that this could be it! The weird thing was the house (single family) had and HOA fee... weird. Later that day we were down in the Herriman/Riverton area and we saw a few townhomes, and then these brand new construction townhomes that were HUGE inside. This was such a relief to think we could have something brand new that would definitely NOT be a money pit.

We were left with two really great options and so we weighed the pro's and con's of each, and basically here is what we had.

The house and townhome:

were the EXACT same price

Both had an HOA that was the Same price

The house was 1800 square feet

The townhome was 2300 square feet

The house was 20 years old

The townhome was brand new with a 2 year warranty

The house better commute to work but not the area I want to raise kids

The townhome... LONG commute but I LOVE THE AREA

We may move away for Regan to go to Physical Therapy School... which will be the easiest to rent if he doesn't go to the U, something brand new or one that may need a lot of maintenance in the next few years like a new roof???

Well we both felt really good about moving to Herriman and going forward buying the townhome. Next was the decision to build or to buy one that was just recently built... we were in no hurry so we decided to pick out our finishes and build and we couldn't be more happy that we did! Here are a few pictures of the house before we moved in....




This is the view out our back windows, it is beautiful and we can see the whole valley!




This was during construction, the veiw out the front windows are equally as beautiful!





This is our kitchen before we got all moved in!



Ornament Wreath

Well I am very excited to show my latest craft! It is an ornament wreath! 

Supplies you will need:

• Foam Wreath- 12-14 inch
• Ornaments- in a variety of sizes (I used approx 36 small and 50 medium and large) you may need more or less of each depending on size of wreath and how full you want the wreath to look
• Hot Glue Gun
• Ribbon

1. Started with my foam wreath and wrapped it with ribbon, to give it a more polished off look in case you can see through the ornaments to the wreath.

2. Next I spaced out some of my large and medium sized ornaments in 

the center to figure out how many I would need. I then hot glued the ornaments to the wreath, at first I started taking off the "hanger" pieces on each ornament and then realized there was no point if it was the actual ball I was gluing to the wreath. (I think the point of taking them off is so that the ornament ball will not fall off if only attached by the hook) 

3. I then started placing the ornaments around the outside border of the wreath spacing them evenly. After I just started filling in the rest of the wreath with ornaments spacing out the larger ones and filling in the gaps with my smaller ornaments.

*Know that not all of the ornaments are going to be glued directly to the wreath, some of the ornaments are just glued to the other ornaments around it. 

*I would recommend spacing things out if you only have a certain amount of ornaments so that you don't have all small ornaments in one area and large in another. 

*Let your creativity do the work, go with what you think looks good!

The finished project! 

With some of my left over ornaments I just put them in this vase to add a little more color to my room, and another decoration instantaneously :) 

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas

The other day I was talking to Regan about how I wanted to FOR SURE decorate our porch this year with Christmas lights, so I asked him to assess our situation so we could hang lights... and he went above and beyond! I came home from work on Wednesday to a completely decorated front porch! I added a picture and just know that he gets ALL the credit for this one :) 

So after Thanksgiving we had a few hours and we started decorating the rest of our house, can I just say that it is so fun to decorate our own little home exactly the way we want to!

So I also wanted to post a few pictures to show off our decorations!  I LOVE our staircase it makes me so happy and our house looks so fun illuminated with the Christmas decor! 

We decorated our Christmas tree and added our new ornament for 2011,  we have a tradition of getting a new ornament each year with something to tell about the past year, so I decided to put up last years as well so that I can show off our large collection :) 

For our first Christmas I think it is a little self explanatory, we got married that was a HUGE deal!

This years ornament is of a stone sea turtle, in May Regan and I went to the Caribbean. We spent 10 days there, we started in Puerto Rico and then sailed to different islands for one week. One of the highlights was while snorkeling and getting to see the many fish and even sea turtles! 

I am so happy with how we have decorated so far, and thanks to Pinterest I'm looking forward to making some different crafts to decorate our home and get ready for Christmas! I love the holiday season and I am excited to share it with friends and family!

Thankful for families :)

I love reflecting on the things that I am grateful for! This thanksgiving as my family got together for the holidays we have a tradition to go around the table and tell what we are thankful for. It pretty much is a testimony meeting... with an added emphasis in "thankamonies" Can I just say that I am so thankful for my family! What an amazing group of strong, encouraging people who each can be an example in my life, I am not just talking about the family I grew up with, but the family I am now a member of as well since being sealed to Regan. It is so amazing that I can be with my family forever, many times when it comes to weekends Regan and I will want to get together with someone from our family. As I sat at my thanksgiving table I thought about how much each person means to me. I love making friendships stronger with our family and to be honest I consider my family some of my best friends. I think one thing I loved on thanksgiving is actually expressing to everyone how I felt and that I was thankful for them. You know how it is said that when you express your testimony you make it stronger? I definitely believe that, and by expressing to others your thankfulness it makes my gratitude for those things that much stronger!

PS. I made rolls for thanksgiving with the help of my other mama Debbie and they were AMAZING! The recipe is on this website:

http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/10/worlds-best-dinner-rolls/

Here is my finished product just waiting to be eaten :)

... Back to School

Well it looks like I am heading back to school! I got my acceptance letter this week. I currently am working as a Registered Nurse and received an associates degree in nursing from Weber State a year and a half ago.... but I want to finish it with a bachelors ;)

So as many have asked... Will you get a pay increase? Sadly the answer is No, an RN is a RN those who finish with an associates and those who finish with a bachelors all take the same boards to receive their license so as it works out there is no pay increase because they are just paying for the degree. BUT with the fact that there is no longer a shortage in nursing a bachelors is preferred when applying for jobs, and this way I could always go into management... (doubt I'll do that) I have considered going on to get my Masters, but I'm not sure yet and at least I will be a step closer if I decide I want to.

So Regan is working towards physical therapy, he won't be able to apply to PT schools for about a year and a half, but with that being said... who knows where we could end up! So another reason for getting my bachelors.

It will be 3 Semesters, I start Jan. 2... I am doing an accelerated program so this first semester I have 5 classes! Regan and I will both be doing full time work with full time school... I'm a little scared we won't see each other... AHHHH!

One Year Down... Eternity to go!

It is crazy to say, but Regan and I have now officially been married for an entire year! I know everyone always says that time passes so quickly but in this case it is just crazy! I am so lucky to have an amazing husband, he is so loving, has an amazing testimony, is good looking, fun as can be, and laid back all tied up into one amazing package! All I can say is I am one lucky girl!

Happy Anniversary

June 24, 2010

The ABC's of Me

Hopefully I can get some pictures up soon of Regan and I's trip to Puerto Rico and the Caribbean... I saw this on a friends Blog and thought it was fun!

Here is a small sneak peak though :)

Age: 23

Bed Size: Queen. The few times I have been on a King with Regan he was a mile away! I like to keep him close!

Chore I hate: I don’t exactly like any particular chore… it’s more having the time to do all of them. I probably dislike laundry the most… its never done!

Dogs: Maggie was my puppy growing up and passed away this last October… Regan and I do not have a dog, but we will one day because we are definitely dog people!

Essential start of my day: FOOD! I am a breakfast person I need something within a small amount of time of getting up!

Favorite Color: Coral… and RED

Gold or silver: Silver, it is beautiful

Height: 5’7"

Instruments I play (or have played): Piano and the recorder in 5^th grade

Job Title: Registered Nurse

Kids: None yet.

Live: in Taylorsville, Utah

Mom's Name: Whitney

Nickname: Cookie

Overnight hospital stays: When I got my appendix removed… and then once or twice a week when I work the grave yard shifts…

Pet Peeve: Being treated like a child, I am an adult, I have graduated from College and I have a career… please don’t treat me like I’m two.

Quote from a movie: I like to quote Tommy Boy… “hold me Richard”

Right or left handed: Righty

Siblings: 1 Brother through birth Andy, then I have Alex, Michelle, Kelsey, and Jason…

Time I wake up: Depends on the day. If I work in the morning, around 5:30am, if I am Not working: Usually around 8am

Underwear: the Mormon ones.

Vegetables I dislike: Mushrooms… and Beets (sorry Regan)

What makes me run late: my computer… can’t set it down at times.

X-rays I've had done: My teeth, ankle, collar bone, and spine.

Yummy food I make: lemon cake cookies, sweet potatoes

Zoo animal: Monkey’s and Elephants

Update on life...

So the other night I was at work and one of my friends said I should start blogging again, I was thinking about it, and for some reason I only had felt like putting things when big events happened in my life... fun vacations, becoming a nurse, getting married... but really everyday life is great too!

I am coming up on ten months of being married, and I love it! I couldn't ask for a better person to see everyday, talk to about everything and spend time having fun with. We are living in a cute little townhome in Taylorsville we rent for an amazing price and absolutely love! We also have great neighbors, we occasionally do FHE together and it has been good to get to know everyone a little better. Regan is currently working with the Young Men, and I am teaching the 11 year olds in Primary... I also get to be the Young Womens basketball coach and a Counselor at Girls Camp (which I must admit I am very excited about) I loved everything about Young Womens growing up... probably a lot because my mom was always so excited about it, and served in the young women for about 20 years!

Tomorrow is my one year mark from graduation from nursing school... now that is just CRAZY! I am still working at Primary Childrens for the Infant Unit, I couldn't ask for better people to work with and such sweet little ones to help take care of! Regan is working at University Credit Union as a teller with some of his friends which I think makes things fun, he coaches the West Jordan Lacrosse team, and goes to school at SLCC (add in Young Mens... he is one busy boy) Regan is leaning towards occupational therapy, and should be transffering up to the U or Westminster by next spring... Just in time to play lacrosse, I think coaching has been hard on him and he wants to play again... so Westminster of U of U... I guess only time will tell!

Hmm I couldn't leave out two of the most amazing additions to our family in this last year, Mr. Corver Cook and Miss Paisley Bushnell they both made their debuts into our family in November last year, are 8 days apart and it makes for lots of fun at any family event! I know I work with babies but it is so much more fun now to see theses two grow and the changes from week to week with there personalities.... Paisley currently loves sticking things in her mouth her whole fist or any toys we stick in her hand, and apparently hates bath time, she loves to listen to her dad play the guitar, and has quite the variety of leg warmers. Corver would jump all day long if you let him... litterally. He enjoys watching Kenny Chesney music videos, sitting up in his bumbo getting kisses from Bella, and my favorite... he gets babysat by Mama Cook a few times a week while Alex heads off to work which means I can see him more often than just Sundays :)

Mr. Corver

Miss Paisley

In the near future...

- We are excited for school to be finishing up for the semester so we can spend a little more time together.

- We are going on a cruise out of Puerto Rico in TWO WEEKS! just the two of us I am SOO excited!

-Summer! Camping, doing things outside, boating, baseball games, KENNY CHESNEY concert.. and my seven peaks season pass!

So I should be all caught up now, NOW hopefully I won't just tell about the big things but everyday things too :)

I got married!!! ... i'm Mrs. Bushnell

Sami & Regan at the Salt Lake Temple from Davey Orgill on Vimeo.

I have not updated this thing in FOREVER! I need to put some of my favorite pics together, but for now... here is the video from the Temple after Regan and I got married :)

Spring Break!

Spring Break

Well over spring break I went with Regan’s family on a cruise down the Mexican Riviera, it was exactly what I needed, school has been so busy and I needed time to stop thinking about nursing and just spend time with Regan doing absolutely nothing!... well obviously something but we had no where to be and nothing due at a certain time. We could relax and sit by the pool and it didn’t matter how long J

Just got on the ship

All ready for dinner with the family

The first port was Puerto Vallarta we did the most amazing excursion. We took a speed boat to this small village got on these huge jeeps and went to the top of the mountain where there was a base camp. We then rode burrows to the top of the VERY top of the mountain, mine was named “batman” after that we were able to zip line down through the jungle lots of times, we also got to rappel down a few waterfalls into water, it was such an amazing experience!

Getting ready for the zip line and rappeling

In Mazatlan we headed for the beach and we rented boogie boards and had so much fun playing out in the waves, this was my first experience with them and I think they are so much fun, I just wish I lived near an ocean.Regan also went parasailing.

Our day on the beach... we got fried :)

In Cabo, we rented snorkel gear and went out by lands end and then to lovers/divorce beach. The water was rough so in order to snorkel we also had to get life jackets. Regan saw a parrot fish… lucky guy. But it was really fun!

Out by Lands End, I think the arch looks like a dragon taking a drink of water

A few fun things we got to see were Whales and Dolphins while we were on our cruise ship, we would watch for them and they would come up and breach, it was fun because the whales are going up to Alaska now so we were able to see them. I also saw a sea turtle in Puerto Vallarta which was amazing!

Following the cruise we stayed two extra days and we went to Disneyland and Knotts berry Farm, I loved California Adventure because not as many people were there, and I love the roller coaster, Tower of Terror, and the Toy Story in 4D… brings out the competitor in me.

Regan and I about to see "Its tough to be a bug"

Favorites

I got to be with Regan all day for 9 days

I rappelled down waterfalls in the jungle

Playing in the ocean

My tan

Doing Nothing

I graduate in less than a month and I pray I do okay on my boards, I have been hired on to the Infant Unit at Primary Children’s where I currently work now as a tech. So starting May 2nd I will be working as a registered nurse! I think my life will be changing quite a bit in the next few months and I can’t wait!

ENGAGED!

Update on my life since last post is about Regan getting home…..

So its official, Regan asked me to marry him so I am super excited to announce we are ENGAGED! We are getting married on June 24^th in the Salt Lake Temple and having a small reception at Tuscany that evening. I don’t think it can come soon enough. What is better than marrying your best friend?

Engagement Story:

Regan asked me on February 17, he came over and we read through some of the letters we had written each other while he was on his mission, it was amazing the order in which we read the letters. I didn’t write mushy letters since he was on a mission but there was one letter I wrote him of a conversation I had with a friend about how I just “knew” Regan was the one for me. So I read that to him and pretty much told him lots of reasons why I am completely in love with him. After he read one to me he had written after my Grandpa passed away, it talked about eternal families and one day going to the temple together and how hard one day it will be to be separated by death for that short time. In the letter it said, “I guess now is a good a time as any to ask you this..” well Regan took the opportunity and got down on his knee and asked me to marry him J

Gorgeous Ring

This was our Happy Engagement celebration at Tuscany

Finally Home!

Well the time has finally come! Regan is home again! Lets just say that was the best Christmas present I could have asked for! He got home around 11:45pm on the 23rd and didn't get released til the next day at 4:00pm so it was weird being around him and knowing he still had all of the mission rules of like being an arms length away and things like that, so lets just say after his release everything has been FANTASTIC! The last few days it is weird because I have spent so much time with him yet when I go home at night or I am alone, I almost don't believe he is really home because he has been gone so long! I am going to enjoy every second with him this week before I start my nursing capstone and go full force til April when I graduate. But I will have one fantastic week in March when I get to go on a Mexican Cruise with his family for spring break! I am so excited! I have a few pictures from the last few days :)

107 LONG days ahead

So as most people know I have a few countdowns going right now, between graduation (228 days) and Regan coming home. Regan heads home on Christmas Eve... only 107 days away! I am super excited and I hope for time to just fly by! A few weeks ago Regan could barely hold back telling me that he was going to become an assistant to the president, he was super excited but told me it could mean that he wouldn't be able to write as often because of how busy the AP's always are. I totally understood and have just been plain old excited for him. Well, with this new calling he also said he didn't know when he would email, but with my online classes I figured I would probably catch him here or there when he was on... well it has been two weeks now and with no letters or emails I have been getting kind of sad, but at the same time... I know he is busy and we are on a countdown here.. only three and a half months. I have still been faithful writing him letters every week, although writing to him with no response gets a little hard to come up with things to write about. Well, I got a phone call from Regans mom today as I was driving home from camping. I guess with Regans new mission president came the rule to only write family on email, not "to be family." Regan wanted his mom to check up on me and make sure I was okay since he has been unable to write me a letter yet as an AP and now not being able to email... no communication has been coming my way. He told her he is just trying to make the most of these last three or four months and put his full heart to the Lord. I never question how much Regan loves me because I know I mean the world to him, It is just hard to go from a letter and an email every week to pretty much nothing... I have 107 days and who knows when he will be able to write me, or when I will hear from him, all I know is that hearing from him has made things so much more special because I feel like I have shared in his mission experiences, and it doesn't make him feel 2000 miles away. I feel like these next few months could feel really LONG but I am just praying they fly by, and I can see my boy :)

I passed.... I'm a NURSE!

Okay so it is official this week I took my NCLEX- PN boards to become a licensed practical nurse and I PASSED!!! I am super excited to now say that I am a nurse. I still have another year of school until I am a RN (Registered Nurse) but I just think it is fun to advance my licensing as I go along. I love my job on the Infant Unit at Primary Childrens and I will not be leaving to work somewhere else for the next year since they do not use LPNs (I wish they did... an increase in pay is always nice :)  I will continue to work as a patient care tech til next year when I graduate! 

Lake Powell Photos

I just thought I would put some pictures up from my trip to  Lake Powell this month, it was so much fun to be down in the sun while it was raining up here! Lake Powell is one of my favorite places on earth and one of the funnest ways to spend a week of your summer! I love when the Koplins invite me down, I get to spend time with my cousin Heather and love every second.. in the pictures below there is just scenery, wake boarding, tube wars, rainbow bridge and just fun pictures of Heather and I! Can't wait til next year when I can bring my boy!