‘Tis the Season, I Guess!

I always seem to say this, but the fall is crazy.

Not only do you have the start of a new semester – but this is the last law school semester Hubs will ever start! Yay! – but you also have a bunch of work events. We have the usual events that are every year plus new special ones that got added to the calendar that cause me to twitch a bit. At one of them a few weeks ago, I ended up pulling a shoulder muscle and didn’t realize it until I got home and Hubs went to hug me and I started to cry because it hurt so bad. He tried to give me a massage that night but it was clear that I needed professional help. The bestest mama in the world hooked me with a massage at a local chain and I felt MUCH better after that. Almost human, even.

Then we’ve got all the holidays coming up. One of my work parties includes a Halloween dress up function, so that’ll be fun! Then there are conferences and more events and then the big annual dinner and then Thanksgiving. Then before we know it, it will be Christmastime (and maybe a trip to Vegas). That means Hubs finishes up law school (oh my goodness, it’s really here!), does the non-regalia ceremony thing, and then starts studying for the bar. Yikes.

I’ll be a single lady until the end of February when the worst road trip to Jefferson City and the two day bar test for Hubs happens. I think I might even be more nervous than he is – if that’s even possible.

That’s why I’m really glad we’ve been able to spend time together…

Late night Ted Drewes run the other day…

An afternoon in the apple orchard in Illinois a few weeks ago…

And a weekend with my mama and brother in Texas a few days ago.

Best times ever.

I’m saving up the moments because come bar-prep and then (hopefully) full-time-job-land, our dates will be fewer and farther between. Not that I’m going to complain about my husband starting his law career and going to a job every day that he (hopefully) loves as much as I love mine. It will be hard – students loans scare me – but the idea that he can start up his career is really exciting to me.

So here’s hoping to more time hanging out on the couch, snuggling in the fall and into the winter, drinking new pumpkin beers, and enjoying our last semester as a law student husband and law school wife.

Another Year, Another Birthday Celebration

On Tuesday, I turned 29. But, as my family usually does, I celebrated all weekend!

I slept in a bit on Saturday morning, before heading out for a friend’s bachelorette party at a winery that afternoon. On Sunday morning, after lectoring at church, I went to the same friend’s bridal shower. It was a tea party and we had a lovely time! I even got a fascinator. It was the first of two for the weekend!

On Monday morning, however, Hubs surprised that morning after my work out with my birthday present from the family – a new iPad! I still have got to figure out how to blog from it. Maybe I will post more if my tablet is with me the entire day!

Of course, we had to go old-school for the present as well. Hubs got me the most beautiful edition of the Complete Works of William Shakespeare. It will start our fancy book for nice book shelves in the living room collection we want to start.

We spent Monday afternoon shopping for my wedding planning emergency kit. It’s an exciting time around our house! Don’t you wish you were me? ;)

That night, we went out to the in-laws for dinner and cake. This was what I was waiting for. My cake. It was white almond cake with raspberry filling, from a local bakery, Lubeley’s. Oh. My. Goodness. It was AMAZING.

Of course, my in-laws wanted me to have something to open that night so I got my second fascinator of the weekend! This was one I was drooling over a few weeks ago at the craft festival in St. Charles. I want to wear it to work, but I wonder if it’s a bit over the top. But come the right event, I will actually pull it off! I promise.

The best present of all was my precious nephew in a onesie I gave him – stating that his auntie is the best. Which she is. I am. :)

Isn’t he getting so big? He was four months old on my birthday. Seriously, it’s like light speed! He needs to stop growing.

On my real birthday night, after a very long day of work and meetings, Hubs took me to Vin de Set, a wonderful French restaurant that we hadn’t tried before. It quickly became one of my favorite restaurants that we can go to for special occasions! YUM. The scallops were amazing, the trout was perfect, the wine was lovely (and expertly chosen by Hubs) and the crème brule was not only yummy, but complimentary for my birthday. Fabulous on all points!

So my 29th birthday was officially a success. It’s a little surreal having completed the last birthday of my twenties. When I turned 20, I was in college, dating someone who I thought I would marry, when I planned to be an actor. Turning 29, I am married to the love of my life, in a job I adore, friends in person and online who are pretty darn amazing and I’m happy with where I am. Hopefully this next year will be just as amazing as the last!

August Awesomeness in Disney, Part One

When we last visited Walt Disney World for New Year’s, I wasn’t sure when we would be able to come back. That trip was amazing because my mom and brother came with us and I got to show them why exactly I love vacationing at the House of the Mouse.

But when we came back, our annual passes were burning holes in our pocket. We had purchased one for my birthday trip last September, knowing that we’d get at least two trips out of them. It makes much more sense to get an annual pass if you were doing two trips. But towards the end of the trip, I started to wonder when exactly we we could get back to Orlando.

With Hubs heading to France for the semester, and starting his last semester of law school in August, we thought that an early August trip might work (and at that point we weren’t sure if he was coming home for the summer or not). It would be a reunion of sorts, for his parents and brother to spend some time with him before his last semester. When our nephew came along, my brother-in-law and his girlfriend decided to bring the little one for his first trip! So an early August trip to to WDW was planned!

I left work early on Friday afternoon to meet Hubs at the house and head to the airport. Let me just say that I feel so badly for my colleagues at the office that day! I think I was doing the happy dance all.day.long until I left around 2:30 pm. They understood though.

After many trial and tribulations, we ended up in our correct room very late at night. But we weren’t there for very long – we had an early morning date with the Magic Kingdom!

We were able to get there for Rope Drop, or, first people to get into the park. They do a fun opening ceremony with the Mayor of Main Street plus the characters coming in on the train, right in front of the train depot. I loved it.

Later that afternoon, we met up with my in-laws to celebrate our nephew’s three month birthday. I can’t even believe how big he’s getting!

The Kitchen Sink at Beaches and Cream was a fitting celebratory dessert for the adults… he had milk. ;) 8 scoops of ice cream, every topping in the joint plus an entire can of whip cream.

And the aftermath…

We didn’t really eat a lot the rest of the day. But eating ice cream for dinner is just what vacation is for, right?

And this was just the first day.

To be continued…

Celebrate Good Times, Come On!

We’ve been very lucky to have a low-key summer around here. Hubs has been off from school, but he’s been working as a research assistant and an admin help around the school, so that hasn’t really meant he’s been any less busy.

There was a trip to DFW back in May and then it’s been kind of quiet, at least, by our standards. We are gearing up for a VERY busy fall around work, but we had two trips in the past two weeks that would just get us geared up for all the craziness to come.

Hubs’ family has a wonderful friendship with another family from when they lived on the same street when Hubs was born. The kids are the same age, and they have been friends ever since. Their only daughter got married at the end of July and we packed up and headed to Columbus, OH, for a celebration at Ohio State. The family drove up on Thursday night so everyone could participate in the pre-wedding activities and I flew in after work on Friday.

Saturday morning, everyone including my nephew, got gussied up for the wedding.

Brother-in-law, nephew and his mama

He will sleep anywhere. And how is this position even comfortable?!

The ceremony was at the family parish in the Columbus suburbs, and it was a beautiful church. The bride was glowing, of course, and they played my favorite song – “How Beautiful” – as the communion meditation song. I cried, of course. ;) We did, however, have an unusual priest. Something about having fun rather than focusing on the solemnity of the occasion just put an odd spin on the whole vow portion of the afternoon.

The food at the Blackwell was wonderful! The couple had an open bar during the cocktail hour and then limited beverages with the drink tickets. It turned out really well and I’m sure saved them some cash! Besides, Hubs and I “borrowed” his parents’ cards and really enjoyed ourselves!

The centerpieces were old lanterns surrounded by oranges and other greenery. Real candle light added a nice touch! The little lantern next to it was our place card and our favor! Great way to do double-duty.

Her colors were pink and orange, which turned out really well. There was nice lighting and the chair ties were a pretty touch. The cake was the centerpiece of the room, as it should be!

A self-portrait. I hate the lighting in receptions for taking pictures, though – they never turn out quite right!

There were desserts galore at the reception! First, cake pops, then wedding cake, and Rita’s Ice afterwards! I was a very happy camper.

See also: photo booth. Very amusing!

There was a lot of dancing at this reception and lots was done by Yours Truly. Husband even came with me on the dance floor for a few of them – and that is quite an unusual occurrence! But we had a blast (could that possibly be due to the open bar and extra drink tickets? Don’t know!). At the end of the night, I caught this adorable picture of my in-laws. They are so truly in love, I had to snap a photo. Aren’t they adorable?

In the end, what’s not to like about weddings? They’re so much fun!

A Sobering PSA

This is a Public Service Announcement… remember my brother’s accident back in March? And when he was a smiling happy kid again, with a skull that got put back together again? Well, my brother is doing really, really great. In May, they did the surgery that added the skull piece back in to cover the hole made in the skull to allow the brain to swell without damaging the tissue. More therapy, more tests, but step by step, he’s getting better. It’s really wonderful and truly a miracle.

So Hubs showed me Facebook the other day and I saw these pictures, well, it brought everything back from that day when I got the phone call. Mom said that she cried when she saw the car in person. I almost burst into tears, too.

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It seems that part of the car is actually missing, it was sheared off.

You can see why his left foot and part of his left backbone was broken, and why the injury was on that side of his head.

This one really got me – you can see the seat and then the side console that came over into his seat. The metal of the door completely buckled. And do you see what’s missing? There’s no steering wheel. It was sheared off and we think went through the windshield.

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The next time you think about getting in a car after drinking one too many at dinner, please think twice. Because one inch either way and my brother would not have walked away from this car. We are incredibly thankful that he actually did.

Kind of a sobering way to spend a Friday night, huh?

Happy Father’s Day

If today were three years ago, I would be calling my Dad to tell him about the Cardinals game from Wednesday night where I sat in a fancy box with free food.

I would have told him about the awesome home runs from yesterday’s game where I was high up in section 300 and almost passed out from dehydration because it was so hot and I ended up drinking a beer.

On our phone call, I would have told him about my best friend’s wedding from last week, and what a gorgeous bride she made. Then he would have told me that she may have been pretty, but the most beautiful bride he ever saw was me (besides my mama though!).

We would have run down the family list, me asking about all the relatives I hardly get a chance to talk to, and him asking about Hubs, and Hubs’ family. It’s what we always did.

He would ask about what books I’ve read lately and when we were going to Disney next. I would ask him how many miles he ran on the treadmill today, since he had become a health nut.

I would tell him that I love him, and he would tell me that he loved me too, and that I was his ducky.

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Happy Father's Day to all the amazing dads, grandpas, and soon-to-be papas out there! Hug your children, grandchildren and adopted kids because days like this are precious.

A Year Goes by So Quickly

Two years ago today, my father entered into his Eternal Life. We know that he waits for us there, to welcome us there with all the angels. He is there with his parents, grandparents, and aunts and uncles and cousins who have gone before him. We know that he even was reunited with his father who died when my dad was 10. That is an amazing thing to think about, that they are able to be reunited in their eternal life.

Our faith tell us that this is true. God is good even if we don't understand His ways.

I sure do miss my dad today.

I may have some more poignant thoughts later today, like I did last year, but I’m not sure. I won’t be able to share this day with my mom or my brother and work will be busy. Maybe that will keep my mind off things? I don’t know. I guess at some point anniversaries have to start to become just another day on the calendar? I hope not.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." 2 Timothy 4:7-8

When it Rains, it Pours…

What I failed to mention in my round up of our week-long stay in the Metroplex was the activity of a Friday morning at my mom’s house.

Mom was making breakfast for brother, and we were going to spend the rest of the morning finishing up the paperwork before brother’s family conference at the rehab center. I was in the guest bedroom, doing my hair, when I heard a huge KABOOM!

When it was silent afterwards, and not even a curse word uttered, and then in the next moment heard my voice called softly, Hubs and I came running. He got to her first and she was just sitting up. The breakfast plate and coffee were everywhere but Mom was starting to get up. Once we figured out that everything was ok, we went on with our day, albeit with Mom on a bunch of pain meds.

Flash forward to last Friday, when she is still hurting and can barely walk! There was another visit to the Doc in a Box and then an ER trip on Sunday. Then the orthopedist confirmed today what the ER doc said – she has a broken bone in her hip. Mom tried to explain to me that she didn’t “break her hip” just has a broken bone in there. Same difference.

So it’s bed rest and limited mobility for the next month!

And it’s times like these that living 600 miles away from one’s mom SUCKS. That’s the only way to put it.

If you’re the type that prays or thinks good thoughts, please send them to my mama. She’s the bestest mom a gal could ask for and I hate it that she’s just hanging out in the house watching Netflix on bedrest without me! I hope she gets better and quick.

There’s Nothing Like Going Home Again

This past week, Hubs and I took a long road trip from St. Louis to the Dallas Metroplex to help my mom out with some awesome organizing projects. Of course, we had some fun too. Since I’m exhausted after a ridiculous 12 hours in the car and a long week of working hard, I’m going to brain dump into a long picture post… and hope that I have more time to write words here and soon.

I love road trips. :) Even if we didn’t stop at the biggest McDonald’s, it’s fun to drive under it.

I love seeing that flag flying!

Sunday was brunch at Blue Mesa grill (YUM) and the art museum to see an impressionist exhibit. I ended up getting a yellow silk scarf from the museum shop. I can never resist their things!

We also stopped by Central Market to grocery shop. Oh my. My checkbook is VERY glad there is not one of these near my house. We spent a few minutes examining the cheese orphans and ended up with some yummy choices!

For Memorial Day on Monday, we were at my uncle’s house for swimming, burgers, and of course, video games. ;)

My brother is doing so amazingly well two months post-craniotomy. He just got the skull replaced a few weeks ago – he’s still got a wicked scar.

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With the long weekend behind us, Hubs and I went to work with Mom’s to do list. It was rather long. She had been building it up for a while!

First there was filing…

And then the shredding…

We donated my dad’s old suits to a shelter that has a back-to-work program. He would have liked his clothes helping people who need the hand up.

We even found some money in the pockets! Mom let us keep it, too. WEE!

Organizing makes me happy, mostly because of the shopping involved. We found the Sharpie aisle at Office Depot!

We donated a bunch of Mom’s electronics.

I burned breakfast, which tells me I just shouldn’t bother cooking it anymore.

We all yelled at the cat when he arrived with a bird for us as a present (first time he’d done that).

Hubs attempted to fix Mom’s speaker system that we’ve had since before I was born. We ascertained what the problem was but he wasn’t able to fix it. Bummer.

We got to see Paula Poundstone live in concert, er, whatever. She was SO funny!

We picked up my brother from an anime convention in Dallas one night and saw some, um, interesting costume choices.

And for the week and a half I was gone, I didn’t track one thing on Weight Watchers. I ended up the eating extravangza at Lambert’s, the most fabulously awful for you place in the Ozark’s. This was not on the diet of course, but SO GOOD. They throw you rolls, too!

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So now we’re home, the laundry is going, the snacks are put away in the pantry, the ice chest cleared out, and I’m frantically going through the DVR to make sure none of my precious shows will be deleted to make way for other shows coming down the pipeline. Ya know, the usual. How did you spend your Sunday night?