The Kofford Guide to Survival

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Life Decisions

So. Life always keeps me on my toes. For the last two years Simon has wanted to do a Master's in Health Administration. He applied to 2 schools earlier this year. He applied to the Executive Master's of Health Administration at the University of Washington in Seattle and to the University of Colorado's Executive MBA in Health Administration in Denver. We decided to go the Executive route over the full time route so that Simon could still work while going to school. UW is ranked 10th in the Nation and CU's is ranked 17th.

He got into CU right off the bat. We waited on UW and finally found out. He didn't get into their Executive program (not enough work experience), BUT they offered him a spot in their full-time program. SERIOUSLY. We didn't even realize that would be a possibility... we thought he would either get in or not to the executive program, but of course life has plot twists.

I became seriously stressed over our decision. To give us some time we decided to defer from both until next fall. I started researching Seattle like crazy. We would have to move if we decided to go to UW. I was sick to my stomach at the cost of living there. The apartments in the city are tiny and rent is insane. My work just opened in office in Seattle, so I was hopeful if we did decide to go I could just transfer to that office. I couldn't imagine us saying no to a top 10 school... but I just didn't feel good about how much it would cost us to live there AND on one salary. I was losing sleep over this.

I decided to do some research on Colorado's program. The more I learned about it, the better I felt about it. It is still a great school and still in the top 25. I didn't feel overwhelmed and stressed when thinking about Colorado. So Simon and I discussed it....

At the last minute we decided not to defer. Simon starts school next week. Ha. Talk about a whirl wind. We decided to do the Executive program at CU. His job is ok with him missing 10 days of work a couple times of year to do the on campus part. He leaves for Denver next Thursday and will be there until July 18th for the initial on-site portion. He is VERY excited and I am happy that he gets to do something he loves that can help him advance his career even more.

Anyway, sorry for the long, wordy, picture-less post! Just wanted to update everyone on our life.

Oh and we are going to Virginia in September to visit. I can't wait. It has been way too long. Plus, Simon will get to see where I spent most of my growing up years. Love RVA!

Monday, April 20, 2015

A New Decade

Last week I celebrated my 30th birthday. I didn't experience any sort of life crisis... I was actually excited for it. I feel like my thirties will be a great decade and I am excited for the things that lie ahead. I pretty much had a week long celebration. I told Simon I only want to celebrate my birthday every decade, so we did a big shin dig. All my siblings came to town and so did my parents. We flew Joe in from Georgia and Becky flew in from California. They all got in on Thursday and then Friday-Sunday we spent in a rented home in Park City, Utah. Here are some fun picts from the festivities.

Friday night we went out to dinner at a restaurant called Maxwell's (http://www.maxwellsece.com/). It was featured on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives. They make all of their pasta from scratch. It wasn't my favorite, but everyone else really enjoyed it.

Simon, Joe, Dalt, and Kate

Mom, Dad, and Rach

Kira, Eve, Jeffrey, Jeff, and Beck

Saturday morning we had a nice big breakfast and then decided to go for a walk on a trail near the house we rented. We went for about an hour. It was a perfect day and really beautiful.

Simon with Baby B... she wasn't too thrilled

Pre-walk

On the trail

Walking

Beautiful scenery

Joe contemplating life

Baby B and Beck

Eve about done in

Push ups!

Dad and Mom

Post walk and lunch treat

After the babies had their naps and we all had a chance to shower and get ready we went bowling! It has been a long time since I have been. I think everyone really enjoyed it.

Getting ready

Eve and Baby B

Jeffrey wanted to wear his goggles... this is his bowling game face

Cutie

B and I

Jeff helping Jeffrey bowl

Simon's bowling pose

Jeff's bowling pose

Rach's bowling pose

Mom's bowling pose

Joe's bowling pose

Becky's bowling pose

Kira's bowling pose

Kate's bowling pose

Rach doing behind the back

Eve testing out the goggles

Joe behind the back

Beck behind the back

Blowing bubbles

Fun with Jeffrey

Faces

Model pose bowling

Hee

Becky was embarrassed, but did it anyway

After bowling, we walked around and did some shopping. I ended up getting a table cloth for my house and some bedding. I had been looking for a white comforter for my room and finally found one I liked. After that, we headed back to get my birthday dinner started. My favorite meal is my mom's chicken roll ups.

Joe and mom preparing the chicken roll ups

Moon cake... I have this every year for my b-day. It is my grandma's recipe and it pretty much is a giant eclair

Sunday after church with my sisters

Utah Lake

Mom, dad, and Rach left Sunday afternoon. Joe left Sunday night and Becky left tonight. I am very sad the weekend is over, but so glad I was able to spend time with my amazing family!

Sunday, February 1, 2015

Christmas with the Johnsons

My work had a Great Gatsby themed holiday party. It was 20's or formal wear. We bought Simon a tuxedo at this store that was going out of business. I just wore a black dress. They had a fancy dinner and a surprise guest, Brian McKnight. He did a private concert for the event. It was really good, he is quite hilarious.

He picked a random single girl to serenade on the stage and gave her a bouquet of roses

Jamming out

The decorations

Simon and I... we forgot to get a good pic

This year Simon and I went to Southern California to spend Christmas with my sister Becky and her family. They live in Redlands. We had a grand old time spoiling them and playing with the girls. We arrived late the night before Christmas Eve. On Christmas Eve we decorated sugar cookies with the Holton's (some of Becky and Kyle's friends). That evening we went to Kyle's sisters for food, fun, and festivities.

Cookies!

Mads licking the icing

At Bonnie's house, playing chimes

The nativity

Christmas morning I was the first one up, of course. I showered and Simon and I started prepping stuff for breakfast. I think we woke Kyle up and Kylie was the first one out with us. She patiently waited until her two little sisters woke up.

Kylie and Mads by their stockings

Phoebe and Kylie... with a little piglet I put in Phoebe's stocking

Mads and Kylie in the Elsa dresses Simon and I got them

Christmas dinner... Simon made us a delicious English dinner, Becky decorated the table

On Friday night Simon and I took Kyle and Becky to the Olive Garden, one of their favorite places to eat. We had a great time.

Ky and Beck

My love and I

Becky found a groupon to Hesperia Zoo. It was super ghetto, but we got a private tour which ended up being quite good. Since we were the only ones there, the zoo keeper took us to each animal and taught us a little bit about them. They use their animals in productions, there was the lion they used to create Aslan in Chronicles of Narnia, a deer in a Nikon commercial with Ashton Kutcher, and a mountain lion from a Dos X's commercial... among many others.