The Kids...

Just wanted to say hello and post a new picture of Lady and Deacon! :) At our last vet appointment, Lady was 30 pounds (think that's gonna be it for her) and Deacon was already 21 pounds! I have a feeling "Little Boy" is gonna be a bigger boy than my little girl! We have another appointment for his last shots in 2 weeks, so I'll keep you posted. They are doing great. They get along really well, and play together all day. Here they are: (Lady, almost 11 months old and Deacon, 16 weeks old)

Hope you're all well and starting to cool off! Lots of love from CA!

It's my birthday week! :)

It's actually only a couple days away from the start of my birthday month! :) I figure...since I was born on the first, October is my birthday month...sounds good to me! So I'm hitting the big 3-1 on Friday, and I'm pretty ok with it! I was talking to my mom about it today, and so far, I haven't hit an age that's really bothered me! 25 was fun, 30 has been great...31 is nothing to be scared of! :) I think it's all in how you look at it! I am married to the man of my dreams, I have a job that I love going to, and I'm really loving where I'm at right now! From the looks of it...31 has some great potential! :)

Yummmm!! :)

Thanks to my good friend, Amy Frahm, I have a YUMMY recipe to share with you guys! I haven't made it yet (I will this week), but after looking at the recipe, I don't see how it can't be delicious! :) Happy Fall everyone! Lots of love from CA! :)

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
4 cups All-purpose flower
2 cups Sugar
2 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
2 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Salt
1 can (16 ounces) Solid pack pumpkin
1 cup Vegetable oil
2 Eggs
2 Tbsp Milk
2 tsp Vanilla extract
2 cups Semi-sweet chocolate chips

In a mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, pumpkin pie spice (or cinnamon), baking soda, and salt. Add pumpkin, oil, eggs, milk, and vanilla; beat on medium speed until well mixed. Stir in chocoalte chips (and nuts if desired). Drop by tablespoonfuls on greased baking sheets. Bake at 375 F for 13-14 minutes, or until edges just begin to brown. Cool for 2 minutes, and move to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!! :)

Introducing..

Mr. Deacon Bender! :)

Last week, Jon and I flew on a whirlwind 24 hour trip to Georgia to pick up this little bundle of love! To make a real long story short, he's Lady's baby brother...for reals...same mom and dad! We flew into Nashville, then rented a car for the 3 hour drive to Ringgold, GA. We went straight to the farm to see him, and brought him to the hotel with us that night. He did GREAT on the plane! The people around us didn't even know he was there until we got off and they saw his carrier. He's a great addition to the family. Lady loves him, and they play non-stop! He's 10 weeks old now, and he's a very smart little guy! Let me know when you want to come meet him...he loves visitors!!

As for work...I LOVE IT!!! :) I leave everyday thinking..."I can't believe they pay me to do this!" I work with the nicest people, and have so much support from my preceptor, the other nurses, and even the hospital administration. It's been a great experience so far, and I've learned SO MUCH already. I feel so blessed to have a job that I can't wait to get to every morning! :)

Hope you're all enjoying the end of summer, and the great weather that we're getting a taste of! Come on Fall!! :) Have a great weekend! Lots of love from CA!!

Settling in...

Hello All!
Has it really been a month since my last post? SORRY!! :) Here's a synopsis of the last month, and some fun things coming up! We are pretty settled in to our new home now. There are a few things yet to be put away, but we made great headway the week before I started work. Jon was able to take the week off, so we really kicked it into high gear and made the house a home. It's a very liveable house, and I really love it. I can't wait for you all to come visit and stay at the Casa de Bender resort! :) For those of you that still might use the US Postal service every now and then...if you want my address, just email me and I'll be happy to share! :) I'll post pics soon...just haven't gotten around to snapping any just yet. As far as work goes...I LOVE MY JOB!! I work with the nicest people, and we're getting so much support from our hospital. I have a day or 2 of class each week, and at least 2 days on the floor (in the NICU). I have the best preceptor, and have learned SO much already! I giggled the first time another nurse asked me to verify a medication, and I signed the chart "S Bender, RN." That made it feel very real! :) My preceptor is a day/night floater, so we have a few night shifts each month. That's been interesting, but really neat to see the life ofthe hospital at night too! I think we were busier during my first night shift than my day shift (Thankfully! It helped keep me awake!). There was about an hour...between 4am and 5am that I had to keep walking around and drinking cold water to keep me awake. This week, we work tonight and Saturday night, then I'm on days only for the next couple weeks. Did I mention that I LOVE MY JOB?!!!! :)

Amy and David were just here from Oregon with the 3 boys for 2 1/2 weeks. It was so fun to see them, and spend so much time with them while they were here. Those boys are so sweet, and getting so big! We had a birthday party for Isaac's 3rd and Xander's 1st birthdays! David's little sister, Sara, got married 2 weeks ago...the reason for the visit...and it was a very special day. Congrats to Mr and Mrs Taylor and Sara Miller! :)

What else...Oh! A very special happy 1st birthday to little mister Warren Jack Sunderland! :) What a cutie pie that little guy is! It's been fun to see him and his mom and dad when they come to Bakersfield to visit family.

One more little tidbit before I go...Next week I'll post pictures of the newest addition to the Bender home. We are picking up Lady's baby brother on Tuesday. And, yes, he really is her baby brother...same mom and dad!! :) We've only seen pictures of him so far, and he looks like he could be her twin, only smaller. We haven't picked out his name yet, but I'll be sure to formally introduce him next week!

I think that's all for now! I hope you all had a nice summer, and are ready for some nice, Fall weather! Good luck for those of you with kiddos starting school. Miss our AZ "family" but really enjoying being around our friends and family here too. Have a great weekend. Lots of love from CA!! :)

So many things...

Well...I can officially tell you everything that's been going on since graduation! :) Well...I guess you already know some of it...and some of you know more of it... BUT, the weekend I passed my NCLEX, I had an inteview in Bakersfield at Memorial Hospital (side note...where I was born!). I got a call a couple days later with a full time offer as an RN in their NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). The reason I couldn't say anything right away is that I was tied into a 2 year contract for employment in Arizona, in return for some money for school loans. Turns out, they had 60 days from graduation to place me, and they never did...and 60 days ended this last Wednesday. When my time was up, I officially announced that I had accepted a position elsewhere, and I was relieved of my contract! SO...it's official! Jon and I moved to Bakersfield this past Monday (what a trip!), and I will be starting work as a NICU RN in 2 weeks! I go on Tuesday to fill out all my paperwork and all that fun stuff...and orientation starts on August 9th. Jon and I found a house...a super cute one...and we get the keys on Monday! I'll post pics as soon as I get in there and get the house all set up! I'll keep you posted on fun stuff from work! Bought all my scrubs, my infant stethescope, and I'm all ready to go! Miss our friends in AZ SOOO much, but it's also fun to be home with friends and family here. We'll be back to visit AZ, FOR SURE!! Guess that's it for now...a very brief synopsis of our last month! Hope you're all well and enjoying summer! Lots of love from...CA!!!! :)

It's been a while...

...BUT, I haven't forgetten about you all! :) It's been a crazy, very busy last 4 weeks! SO much to catch you up on...but it's gotta wait until Thursday...You'll see why when you come back to read! :) Hope you're all well and enjoying the summer! It's been hot, hot, hot here in AZ...basically 112 degrees everyday! But, thank God for a pool and AC!! Come back Thursday for the whole story...Lots of love from AZ!