Mmm-mmm Salsa

My complaining about the lame salsa in Virginia has paid off. My mom gave Chris and I the following for Christmas...


I figure we're set for a month or so!

Mamaw's Hands

For years I have asked my brother, Dustin, to draw me something...anything. After I discovered he likes to draw hands and he discovered I collect hands it finally started to transpire. Here is a picture of my Christmas present...


They are our grandmothers hands. Thanks Dustin!

Thanks Grandma!

Emma had a great time killing her bear....

Christmas at Chris and Jenn's

Here are my Christmas favorites from our house...starting with our ficus tree covered with Chris's childhood ornaments.


Next up is an ornament given to me by a patient I cared for for quite sometime...it reads guardian angel.


The following need no explaination...








Inside this one is pink sand from our honeymoon in Bermuda...


This is one of Chris's childhood ornaments that made the big tree...who wouldn't love this face?


Stockings for a family of four...

ICE...a calorie free treat

Ever since Maize was a small pup, when she heard the ice maker drop ice or someone getting ice, she would run and ask for a piece for herself. She has done this now for nearly 9 years. Well, the other day she was begging for a treat and instead of getting up I reached into my glass and handed her a piece of ice. Here is what followed....

Team Lemons

My friend, Kendall, sent me this link in support of her nephew, Reid. Take a look...

THANKSGIVING

My Mom came into town for the holiday. On Thanksgiving, while Chris worked, my Mom and I read the paper (well, only the ad's) and went out to eat (to an undisclosed Chester restaurant). Then we braved Black Friday. We arrived at Wal-mart about 10 minutes before opening. The line was ridiculous! The best thing was when the doors opened people surpassed the lines and just went running. Afraid of getting trampled, we ran with the crowd! At one point I was laughing so hard I thought I was going to wet my pants. After all this we did not get what we came for...and we were gone by 0510. Oh, I did buy a TV but not the one I wanted.

We then went to the much more civilized Target. We joined a much smaller line where security gave us some ground rules and it was much smoother. While we did walk fast we didn't have a need to run! I got what I was there for and we were gone 10 minutes later!

Then it was on to Circuit City. The young man running the line let the power of Black Friday go a bit to his head thereby causing the line to take forever but I did get the TV and router I went for.

Next it was back to Wal-mart where I returned the TV I bought earlier. Then home to unpack and make a brunch sandwich.

Then it was back out for some furniture shopping!

Here is one of our purchases!

Cruel and Unsual Punishment

In lieu of a thesis, at the end of my graduate program, I have a research project/paper. The way it works is once I receive the assignment I have 48 hours to complete it. For practice, I have a mock 48 hour project this weekend. It's worth 25% of one class grade. Well, I mention this now because it starts this Sunday and runs til Tuesday. I expect this to be quite torturous! Wish me luck...

Chris the Builder Part II

This is the finished project: a TV stand for Mazie and Emma's room. The neighborhood dogs will be so jealous! Nice job my love.

Hot Dogs, Ketchup, and Tutus

While Mazie and Emma don't tolerate wearing clothes, they do love their Halloween tutus....




Emma helped us with the treat or treaters, while Mazie barked at everyone. Afterwards, Chris and I went to a costume party.


Some supermarket sweeps contestants were there...



All in all, it was a good night.

Oh My!

I am completely overextended these days. Between scrambling to get my own school work done, grading papers, and teaching community classes, I do tours of a local hospital for expectant families. Today, not only did I show up an hour early for the tour (accident) but we got stuck in the elevator. This was my first negative elevator experience...and I blame it on the fact I said to my students last week "I have never been stuck in an elevator." In hindsight, stupid.

So, it was me, 6 very pregnant women, 7 other adults, one very hyper 3-year-old and one baby. It was a very long, very hot 5 minutes. I took off my lab coat and had we been in there a minute longer I would have taken off my sweater (don't worry, I had on a undershirt). When I used the red button to alert someone about us being stuck, I said, "I am in elevator 7 with 15 people, half of whom are very pregnant." I was very close to saying one was in labor! Can't say I'd blame any of them if they decided to go elsewhere to deliver their babies...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

October is a busy month in my family-


Happy 17th Tristan!


Happy 50th Dad!


Happy 20th Austin!

90210

Is it sad that when CBS started playing obscure commercials for the return of 90210 I got super excited? Well, when it turned out to be a knock off I was less than thrilled. I have yet to see the new version but I recently found out that CBS.com has the first 4 seasons of the original online.


I just finished watching the series pilot where Brandon and Brenda start at West Beverly High. It was classic 1990 and I love it still. What I didn't remember was that Brandon had a semi-mullet (apparently he loses it by season 2)! It's funny how music to a TV show can put you in such a good mood...

"Texas-Texas-Yeeha"

And we did! Hook'em Horns!

SYRACUSE

Many people have heard me complain about my time spent in Syracuse. Well, I don't hate the place. How could I hate the place where I met the love of my life? Mostly, I didn't like the weather, specifically the snow. However, now that I'm a visitor rather than a resident I enjoy the area much more. During our most recent trip back we stopped by SU, where I went to Nursing School, and took a few pictures of my favorite buildings.



Undeniably beautiful...well, at least when snow free.

We also took a few pictures around the city. This is a special street light. Can anyone see why?



Cheers!

Not For Sale

When I am on vacation I am always on the look out for hands. Well, when we were recently in Myrtle Beach I walked by a store front window and saw a huge hand the size of the window. Well of course we went in. What did we find...well it was like a hand collectors dream. It was full of hands!




Problem was, they were not for sell! They were for decoration only. When I asked the young sales girl if I could buy one anyway she looked at me as if I had four heads. Turns out this store was not fun at all!

Camp Rockbrook

Here are a few pics from Kendall's 30th birthday bash in Brevard North Carolina. Starting with our accommodations, moving onto our guests (frog, snake and white squirrels), horseback riding, a waterfall and the sisters at camp (ten years later and for perhaps the last time). The video is of sliding rock...enjoy.

We (there were 6 girls in all) also went white water rafting, took a brief but steep hike, and made smores and banana boats while drinking wine around a camp fire. All in all we had a great time but I was glad to get back to my bed!



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Catch Up

Chris and I went to Derek and Risa's wedding in Syracuse last weekend. The rehearsal dinner and wedding were fun as expected. She looked gorgeous as usual. We got to spend time with his parents which is always nice.


A fiend of mine at work was diagnosed with stomach cancer five or six weeks ago. When I got to work on Tuesday I was told she had died the afternoon before. She was 34 years old. It's the first time in my life that a friend has died. Or a young person in my life for that matter. I have only experienced death with my great greadparents...at least in my personal life. In my work life I have a no funeral policy (for patients). It helps me keep work seperate from home.

On a more cheerful note. I leave today for North Carolina to celebrate my best friends 30th birthday. Kendall decided she wanted to go to the summer camp she attended for ten years. The camp is closed for the season and the owner is opening it up to Kendall and five of her girlfriends. White water rafting, ropes courses, hiking, a case of wine... I'll post pictures. I'm taking my laptop with hopes I can get a signal at a near by Starbucks if needed!

Five Hours South

Myrtle Beach is the miniature golf capitol of the world...who knew? There were probably 40 or so places to play and they are creative. So we played...



Of course we spent time at the beach. I wish I had a picture of Chris with his boogie board (it had a pic of a bulldog on top of a rebel flag).


And we hit up the new Hard Rock theme park. There were hardly any people there so we had no wait for anything, it was great.



We also went to a water park (in the rain), went to an impersonator show (where we saw Dolly Parton, Elvis, George Straight, Buddy Holly, and the Blues Brothers), and hug out at Broadway at the Beach (where we ate at Margaritaville). Overall, it was a great time!