I'm back, but in Utah.

SO it's been a long time.
I'm in Utah now. Living the high life...sort of. Why did I move? It felt right and my sister Margaret lives here. It's been 3 years since we were roomies.
What did  I do this summer? Worked hard to save money to move to Utah. My siblings that live out East came and visited for a few weeks. It was awesome. Margaret and I tried very hard to be the favorite aunts (we succeeded) and we all know that the way into the hearts of small children is roller-coasters and goodies! We did it all!

After a fun-filled summer I quit my job and moved to UT. That was back in August. I searched diligently for a job and found one that I was fortunate to get! I now work at Central Utah Veterans Home! A long-term care facility for our veteran heroes. I love this job! I love my veterans. It's an awesome job. I don't have very many awesome medical stories, but I do get small memories that help me to realize what's important. My veterans are at the end of life and they impart wisdom (whether they realize it or not) on a young inexperienced nurse. For example, this place proves the importance of family and those relationships. Also, the smallest act of kindness NEVER goes unappreciated. My veterans thank me for the service I do for them, but what they don't realize is how deeply grateful I am for their service and sacrifice. It's a wonderful job and if that's the only reason I was suppose to move, then it was all worth it.

So I hope to be motivated again in my blogging. I took a break, but I'm back with more adventures to report on!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Yay for fall!

Summer Love- 100th Post!!!

HAPPY 100TH POST!!! Whoever comments 1st wins a liter IV bag of normal saline!!! :)

So... Summer is great! It's one of my top 4 favorite seasons! There are just certain things that make it wonderful and here are the things I love about the season!

1) Food: lemonade, popsicles, ice cream, BBQ, corn on the cob, & watermelon!!! A lot of food, but most of the things in life that I love have to do with food.

2) 4th of July! Yay USA!!!

3) Swim Parties: a necessity in AZ

4) Traveling: I have already been to DC and Utah this summer!

5) No school: Now that I am no longer a student, but a graduate...it doesn't seem to big a deal. I do love that some of my family members are not in school.

Summer is great! HAGS everybody!!! :)

January's Baptism!!!

Going out east is always fun. My parents, Marg, and I went out for a very special reason. My niece, January, got baptized. Here we are making silly faces after the ceremony.

I am so proud of her!
We also went out to meet my niece, Phoebe. She is six months old and I finally got to see her. Isn't she so cute???



I got to see all of my nieces and nephews in action, like playing basketball or playing scout games or drawing with chalk. So much fun spending time with them.

The Sunday we were there we went to a concert for Memorial Day at Wolf Trap (a national park dedicated to the preforming arts). The President's own Marching Band played an amazing concert and then we watched fireworks in the rain. Best firework show I have ever seen. Here are some of us in our seats.

My parents, Marg, and I also went to DC and went through the White House and the Holocaust Museum. The White House is beautiful inside and filled with so much history. It was so awesome! Got some souvenirs of course.
It was a great trip and I was sad when it was over! Can't wait to visit again...

Last Post of 2011! A Good Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Just want to reflect on this last year! I made a lot of new discoveries about life and myself. I made new friends and connected with old ones. It was a good year!

NOW TIME FOR HILAREE'S TOP 10 FOR 2011!!!! (blue are links)

10. Blog! -Metro Mondays

9. Westwood 50 years

8. Community Nursing: This was an awesome class and it started me thinking about do public or global health a little later in life.

7. Shoulder Surgery again: I had surgery in 2008 because of a torn rotator cuff. It tore again in May and I have been grinding down the bone over time. It dislocated at the end of the spring semester this year and had surgery a week later. Kept me from doing much this summer.

6. September 11th 10 years

5. Girls Camp

4. Heart Surgery: In my adult health clinicals I was able to be in the OR during an open heart surgery and it was amazing. When I was in 9th grade, my English teacher told a story about when he saw open heart surgery and that it was a very intense experience. It's true. It was awesome and I won't ever forget it!

3. General Conference

2. Trip Out East

1. 3 new baby girls (I love my nieces...and nephews!)

Kayli Mae

Alexandra Kensington

Phoebe Ariona (I actually haven't met her yet, but I already love her and think she is super cute!)

It was a great year overall and I am really looking forward to 2012!!!

We will always remember...

10 years ago I was eating breakfast. Getting ready for school when my brother runs up the stairs and yells that the World Trade Center has been hit. He woke up to his radio sharing the news. We quickly turn on our TV. Every channel streamed the news about how something crashed into one of the World Trade Center towers. Then suddenly we see another airplane crash into the other tower. I think fear stuck every American at that moment. It hit me! Then two more planes crash in DC and Pennsylvania moments later.

When you see and experience something like 9.11 you never forget it. I'm sure everybody remembers exactly where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news. It was a terrible day. It's been ten years today. We honor the heroes of 9/11 and remember all those who died that day.

We will always remember 9/11.

Patriotism (not just another ism)

I love being an American and I love when we stand together and honor our heritage! And I especially love when we honor those we have lost. Freedom is important and being patriotic is important. Remember this weekend!

Remember 9/11

The 4th of July

The 4th of July is always fulfilling if I go to a Bar-B-Q, go swimming, and watch fireworks! There is one thing that must always happen on the 4th. I have to watch Independence Day with my family. This year was the 15th time watching it! Still awesome! The best part is the speech the President gives. I'm posting that clip!

It always gets me!

So, I went to a BBQ at my sister's in-laws. Yummy food! We also went swimming. My nephew and niece are super cute. I wish I had my camera. I didn't, so I didn't get any pictures, but trust me, they were super cute!

Afterwards, Margaret and I watched fireworks from our roof! We usually can see 3 different shows going on. It was really cool! Our dog Charcoal came up and joined us. He's a big black dog and he loves being on our roof. Silly dog! It was a good day!

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!

So I decided that I would take Sundays off from blogging. But something special did happen yesterday that deserves a post. My little sister Margi wrote me a poem! She gave me permission to share it with the world wide web! Here it is...

Ode to Hilaree

A Hilaree is such an interesting thing.

She's not a box, a cow, a jig,

But rather a more beautiful thing.

Such as flowers and fairies, but big!

A Hilaree is such a powerful thing.

She's strong and bright and true.

She will excel in everything,

Except maybe turning blue!

A Hilaree is a special thing...

...a sister and friend, times two!

Isn't that the sweetest thing ever?!? Although, I'm sure I could excel at turning blue if I really tried! Margi is wonderful and check out her blog at margaretsmakings.blogspot.com or click the link in my fave blogs list! (Little shout out for Margaret!)

Enjoy your Independence Day (Yay USA!) and I'll blog about mine tomorrow after I've had it! Ta-ta!!

From Sea to Shining Sea!

Before I begin with the subject of this post, I would first like to give a Happy Birthday shout out to my niece Asia! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ASIA-SNASIA!!!

For today's tribute to America, we are going on a road trip! I have travelled across the US quite a few times. When I was 7 we went from Arizona (home) all the way to Illinois. At 12, AZ to NY! At 19, AZ to Montana to Maine, down south to Georgia, then back west to AZ! This summer my family is driving east to DC and NY once more. I have been to 41 of the 50 nifty united states and all 13 original colonies! :)

I have seen the Grand Canyon, the purple mountains majesty...

...and Yellowstone!

I've been on the highest highway in the US, seen the Teton Mountains, and posed in front of Mount Rushmore!

I've crossed the mid-Western plains. I have ridden the highest and fastest roller coaster (it's at Cedar Point, OH) and I have eaten at Grand Central Station!

I have shopped in New york City, seen lighthouses in Maine...

...and even mailed a letter while in Vermont!

America is totally awesome, not just because of the totally awesome people that live here, but also because of the totally awesome land that we live in! I love seeing America! There are so many cool things and cool places in the US and I want to see them all. I still need to go to Hawaii and Alaska! I'll get there someday!

Patriotic Prefrences

It's Independence Day weekend (hence the background!) and I want to tribute my posts to all things American! To start off Freedom weekend is a list of my all-american, all-time favorites!

1 & 2. Whenever I ask someone what they think of when they hear the word "American," they usually say "Apple Pie" and "Baseball" I love both of these and I also think of them when I hear the word American!

...I love technology...

3. Another Favorite of mine would have to be the great and super, Superman!

He is tied for first as my favorite superhero (Batman shares the title!) and he is truly American!

4. Another character that I believe represents America is none other than that red shoe wearing girl from Kansas...

...and her little dog too!

5. We like music in America and one of my favorite American boy/singers would have to be the King of Rock!

...You can never go wrong with Elvis!

6. We also like our movies in the good ol' USA! Every 4th of July my family watches one of the best movies of all time..."INDEPENDENCE DAY"

...action, comedy, romance! It has everything you need including a few attractive actors! :)

7. Speaking of attractive actors, a favorite American of mine is the legendary Robert Redford...

...and he's even in uniform! How patriotic! :)

8. Along with our great entertainment, America has great eating habits. We have an entire holiday surrounded by food to honor the 1st Pilgrims to this land and 4th of July is a holiday for Bar-B-Q-ing! We also have many fast food joints. My favorite is Subway...

...I don't think America would be the same without it!

9. One of the greatest things that I love about America is our freedom and those who fight to protect it. I favor the Marines and that's probably because I have a few friends who are Marines.

But whether they are Marines or something else, I am grateful that they fight and protect my freedoms. This includes the founding fathers. (George Washington is my Favorite Patriot!)

10. My all time favorite American Favorite would be my family! All-Americans! :)

These are just a few of the things I love about America! I know it got a bit mushy towards the end, but America can be sort of a mushy subject! It is built on mushy ideals such as freedom, liberty, and happiness. We should all get a bit mushy when we talk about America and the miraculous country that it is!! :) Yay USA!