NEW WITH US

Well, once again it has been a long time since I have posted any thing about us. Clay is still working. He quite building houses for Ryan (EastSide Construction), and is now doing jobs on his own. He is also in the process of trying to buy more cows! I am just working and keeping myself busy with school. It is going ok... not my favorite thing to do, but i guess its what I have to do. I am working at the hospital in Montpelier and I am loving it!
Thanksgiving was wonderful. My grandma and Grandpa Hopkins came home on NOvember 1st from their 3 year mission. They were serving in Montedevideo Uraguay as temple presidents. (This is the grandpa that married me to my husband!), So we had Thanksgiving in Utah with my moms whole family. It was good to see everybody and especially have my grandparents home... for now anyway. This is their 3rd mission totaling 8 years out of the country... so who knows how long they will stick around.
Now we are just getting ready for Christmas. I am planning on getting my shopping done on Saturday... Yes I have hardly started! We don't know what our plans are yet, but hopefully we will be home for the holidays.
Also some other good and new news... We bought a home (in September :)- we are loving our place... it is a single wide trailer- 3 bedrooms and 2 baths- it has three acres of land, corrals, 2 barns, and yes... a big field- the perfect place for an arena! It has enough room to set a full set of barrels in there, but clay is just making sure it is long enough to bulldog in. Its nice having our own place and not having to rent.
Anyway... I will try and be better about keeping things up-to-date.

State Boards

Well it has been a long time since I have posted anything. Not to much going on. Just wanted to let everybody know I took my nursing state boards to get my license on Tuesday. Me, my mom, sisters Mckenzie and Callie went and spent the night in Ogden on Monday and then I got up early on Tuesday and went and took my test. Oh Man! It was horrible. I studied my butt off, and still didn't know half the questions they threw at me! But don't worry, I passed. So now I am officially a Licensed Practical Nurse, not just a graduated nurse. My only advice from my mom was just wait til you take your RN boards! I am already dreding for that day to come!

1/2 wAy tHeRe

So I graduated on Saturday from the ISU Practical Nursing Program. It was weird because it doesn't quite seem real just yet. School was wonderful. I met alot of new friends! There were so many fun people in my class and Im really going to miss going and hanging out with them during class. It is such a great feeling knowing that I am 1/2 done with my college career. 1 more year of pre-requesite classes and then 1 year of RN school. So for now its just studing for my boards in August and hopefully getting a job! Hopefully the next two years will go by just as fast as the last ones have!
P.S. by the way aunt Lisa... I LOVED the dress. THANKS!!!!

LaTeSt NeWs

So I haven't posted in a while. Nothing new or to exciting is going on in our home. 13 days ago we celebrated our 2 year anniversary! I can't believe how fast time goes by. It is so fun to be married. I really enjoy being with my husband (which is probally a good thing). I have been going to summer school. But I only have 21 days and I will be a graduated LPN, then all I have to do is pass my state boards and find a job! Im so excited to be half way done! It will be such a relief! Then only 2 more YEARS and I will hopefully claim myself as a RN! So this weekend we have been traveling all over to rodeos. We left for Pleasant Grove Thursday night and got their early Friday morning. Clay was up in the slack. He did really good and hopefully he won't get pushed out of the average. ( I haven't heard how Saturday night went.) Then from there we headed to Cedar City. Clay was one out of the money! We hung out there all day Saturday then after the rodeo we headed to Reno and got here at 5 am. Hopefully Clay does well and we can come back down to the short round on Saturday. Its so fun to be able to go with Clay and support him, it just makes for late nights and early mornings but I guess thats all part of the sport that we love!

Unlucky

So last summer I started this horse on the barrels. He picked up on them so fast and really enjoyed running... everything was going the way I wanted it to other than he kept getting lame on his left front leg. So we took him to the vet and was told he was navicular and needed to be nerved. Anyway we thought about what we wanted to do and we decided that we would just lay him off for the winter and see what happens this spring. Well spring came and he was still lame, so we took him back to a different vet in Albion and he told us he had bone spurs on his navicular bone. Anyway so we put him in Eggbar shoes and buted him twice a day. Well it been over a month and he was still super lame and could hardly walk on his leg! So we decided we were going to nerve him and get it over with so we could use him so I took him up on Thursday and the vet ultrasounded his foot. Well anyway now he has a hole in his tendon that runs along his navicular bone and needs to be laid off for 2-4 MONTHS!!!! Yeah holy cow! Could it get any worse???

Taylorology

Let others know a little more about yourself, re-post this as your name followed by "ology".
***********FOODOLOGY***************
What is your salad dressing of choice?*ranch What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?*Texas Roadhouse What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of?* steak and potatoes- thats what clay says What are your pizza toppings of choice?*meat lovers What do you like to put on your toast?*butter and rasperry jam- peanut butter every once in awhile.
***********TECHNOLOGY***************
How many televisions are in your house?*just one What color is your cell phone?*lime green

***************BIOLOGY******************
Are you right-handed or left-handed?*right Have you ever had anything removed from your body?*tonsils What was the last heavy item you lifted?* probally my saddle Have you ever been knocked unconscious?*nope- clay has a couple of times
*************BULLCRAPOLOGY**************
If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?*no because then it would be like counting down If you could change your name, what would you change it to?*um I like my name Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $ $1000* I don't think i could do it. I don't handle hot stuff very well
************DUMBOLOGY******************
How many pairs of flip flops do you own?* oh prob at least 10- I love Old Navy's Last time you had a run-in with the cops?*oh couple months ago heading to school. Been pulled over at least three times since last August! Last person you talked to?*Clay Last person you hugged?*Clay
*************FAVORITOLOGY****************
Season?* rodeo Holiday?*Christmas Day of the week?* probally friday Month?*Probally May or April when rodeo starts
***********CURRENTOLOGY*****************
Missing someone?*nope Mood?*tired What are you listening to?*nothing Watching?*just got done watching DVR of Dancing with the Stars- I can't believe Ty is still on there! I guess my votes do count!!! Worrying about?* my horse ***************RANDOMOLOGY*****************
First place you went this morning?*Preston to get my hair done What's the last movie you saw?* Taken Do you smile often?*yes Sleeping Alone Tonight?*no
***************OTHER-OLOGY*****************
Do you always answer your phone?* sometimes Its four in the morning and you get a text message, who is it?*either Shalane or My dad when he is out on the Semi If you could change your eye color what would it be?* probally blue or really dark brown What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic?*haven't been there in a LONG time Do you own a digital camera?*yes Do you have a pet fish?*no just a dog Favorite Christmas song(s)*Mary Did You Know and Let it be Christmas What's on your wish list for your birthday?* probally new stirrups, or hair extensions again Can you do push ups?* yep Can you do a chin up?* like 2 or 3 Does the future make you more nervous or excited?*excited and nervous at the same time Do you have any saved texts?* no Ever been in a car wreck?*yes just a couple weeks ago! Do you have an accent?*nope What is the last song to make you cry?*can't think of one Plans tonight?*going to bed Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom?*um maybe Name 3 things you bought yesterday.*sawdust for the trailor, a drink and a NEW HORSE!!!! Have you ever been given roses?*yes Current worry?*That my horse will never get better Current hate right now?* cant think of any How will you bring in the New Year?*probally with a bang What song represents you?* um i don't know Name three people who might complete this?*whoever wants to Would you go back in time if you were given the chance?*no Do you have any tattoos/piercings?*my ears are pierced.Will you be in a relationship 4 months from now?*of course! Eternity too!! Would you be a pirate?*no What songs do you sing in the shower?*none only clay sings every once in awhile Ever had someone sing to you?*yep When did you last cry?*can't think of the last time Are you afraid of being alone?*yeah especially when its dark Do you like to cuddle?*sometimes - when I am in the mood Have you held hands with anyone today?*no i dont think so Who was the last person you took a picture of?*probally me and Clay What kind of music did you listen to in elementary school?*I don't remember Do you believe in staying close with your ex?* No Are most of the friends in your life new or old?*New and Old- I enjoy meeting new ones along the rodeo trail Do you like pulpy orange juice?* no it makes me gag! What is something your friends make fun of you for?* well i don't know but i should probally be a blonde!!
I TAG ANYONE THAT WANTS TO DO THIS :)

Branding Season

So branding season has begun and I think its one of Clay's favorite times of the year. It was such a nice weekend that we couldn't give up the opportunity to brand our calves. Clay's brother Shawn, his wife Tasja and there kids Jimi, Rhett, and Paisley came down from Wyoming. Clay's sister Laurie and her husband Ben and there girls Paige, Darby, and Brynn were there also. It was so fun to hang out as a family and do what we all love to do. Clay roped and branded, and I was the vaccinater. One time I forgot to fill up the syringe- and I'm going to be a nurse? Clay's dad was giving me a pretty hard time. Yeah I don't think I will ever live that down. After we were done, Clay's mom made us all a delicious lunch. Thanks to Clay's friends Jentz and Dustin Skinner for helping us rope! It was a fun time, but glad its over and now we can turn in the bulls and wait for next year.

Poor Car! :(

So as many of you might know, I fell asleep and rolled my car last Monday (the 13th). It was kinda a rough morning I woke up at 4:30 to go to school, and I was exhausted! When I got to Soda Springs, I was out cold! I got passed the turn to Grace (who knows how) and a little ways past there is a road called " Lloyd Road" (weird I know). I woke up and I was about 2 feet off the other side of the road and over corrected and off I went! Everything is ok, other than my car. I am fine just a couple of bruises and stiffness in my back, neck, and shoulder. I was pretty lucky considering I didn't have my seat belt on! I guess somebody was watching over me!

DNCFR

So this past week, as many of you know, was the Dodge Rodeo in Pocatello. We had so much fun getting to hang out with our family and some of our friends that we haven't seen in a long time! Clay was up Thursday and Friday night. Thursday he was a 5.0 and ended up 5th in the first round! I was at school and didn't make it to watch him, I was a little sad! Friday night Clay was 6.7, didn't quite place in the round, but ended up 7th in the average and qualified for the short round. In the short round, he was a 4.8 and ended up 2nd and qualified for the final four! I was so proud of him! In the final round he had a little bad luck and broke the barrier! O-well it was still fun to go and I'm so proud he has made it this far! It was so great to have the support from our family and friends. Thanks for everything they have done for us and to help Clay make it this far! Thanks to Logan and Marilyn for putting up with us for a week, we really appreciate everything they have done for us!

TWILIGHT PARTY

Yes I am a big fan of Twilight. I was out of town when it came out, so of course I had Wendy pick one up for me. We went out to my mom and dad's on Saturday to watch it with them, Mckenzie and Miles, and my little sister Callie- who had never seen it. My dad and Clay aren't big fans so they stayed in the bedroom and watched basketball!

~RODEO WEEK~

Yes we had an amazing week in Arizona and Nevada! It was so nice to get away and enjoy the sunshine. We really enjoyed our time relaxing with each other and hanging out with Lex, Beau, and Clint and Chelsey. We went bowling many times at the Riverside Casino- it was pretty much the only thing to do. In Buckeye, AZ Clay had some bad luck. His steer fell the wrong way and so his time was really long. I wouldn't recommend the motels in Buckeye- ours was pretty nasty. Lex named it Cocroach Inn! Then in Laughlin, NV Clay was really good on his 1st steer. He would have placed 5th or 6th but he broke out! Then on his 2nd steer he was 6 seconds and needed to be at least a 4 to place! Better luck next time. While Clay was busy riding his horse, I layed by the pool! Yes it was so nice! We stayed at the Colorado Belle, it was nice and clean. Its amazing in Laughlin cause the Colorado River runs right next to the casinos and if you cross the river you're in Arizona! Its a good thing me and Clay aren't really gamblers or we probally would have lost alot of money on the tables!

3 DAYS!!!

3 more days and we leave to go to Arizona/Nevada for a week! Clay is going to the Buckeye, Arizona and Laughlin, Nevada rodeos. and I can't wait to get out of cold and snowy Bear Lake and go to warm sunny weather! We are going with Clay's friends Lex and Bo Smith... so it will be interesting to be the only girl.... wish you were going Mckenzie & Andy! I will post some pictures (or at least try) when we get home!

Figuring this out!

So we will try this blogging thing! I hope its not to hard!