Thanksgiving

HaPpY ThAnKSgiVinG EveRyONe!

I am thankful for all of you. I am thankful for this wonderful season in which we pause, reflect, and put our grateful thoughts into action.

Absent

10 Ways to know if you have been absent from regular life...

1. You have clothes in the dryer that you washed a week ago.

2. You open up your google reader to see that you friend (Kayla) has posted 25 times since you last logged on.

3. Your fridge is completely empty of anything that could be called food.

4. Your toilet bowls have rings inside them.

5. You have an ironing pile as tall as a small child.

6. You have 10 unheard messages on you answering machine

7. There is something that reeks in your pantry but you haven't had a chance to investigate it.

8. You call your husband by your boss' first name.

9. You can't remember the last time you cooked a meal that didn't come out of a box, or cooked anything for that matter.

And the #10 reason to know if you have been absent from regular life

10. Your husband is doing the grocery shopping!

Life has been just a little busy since Labor Day weekend, at which time I began taking an accelerated anatomy class online through Rio Salado. It ended on Halloween weekend with a whopper of a final, but I am proud to announce I pulled off an A!

Since the conclusion of my class I have been out of town every weekend. With a last minute trip to Las Vegas, and a wonderful visit to Ohio. And then just when I thought things were settling back into the old routine, I got sick, and regular life was put on hold again.

This weekend was my first weekend at home, since Labor Day, that I was able to be home and not worry about homework. It was amazing! My home is clean for the first time in 12 weeks, and there is food in our fridge (if only I could muster up the courage to tackle the ironing).

Thank you so much Dave for putting up with my crazy schedule and pitching in on all the house work! You are the best!

Coming soon... posts on Halloween, our trip to Vegas, and my visit to Ohio.

My Little Puppy is All Grown Up

Tonight we celebrated Elle's first birthday ("Why?" you ask, maybe it's because we like to spoil her, or maybe it's because we have no life, or maybe it's because she is just so darn cute! It was also a good excuse to make some really cute cupcakes.)

I love making cupcakes! They turned out pretty great if I do say so myself.

Our next door neighboors absolutley adore Elle, (how could you not?!) and came over for the celebration and cupcakes. Riley really liked his cupcake.

Dieter (my brothers winner dog) spent all night getting ready for the party. Elle was so impressed, but luckily she didn't eat him.

Instead she went to town on the new toy she pick out at PetsMart last night.

We are so glad to have Elle fill our house with joy everyday since we brought her home. I can't believe how big she has become.

Toyota Commercial Isn't Dog Friendly

While watching our prerecorded version of the Office, "Jim and Pam's Wedding" (which ended up being a bit disappointing) a Toyota commercial featuring a squeaking dog toy, similar to many of Elle's toys, came on and had Elle running in circles. We couldn't stop ourselves from playing the commercial again and again as she continued to run in circles looking for the toy.

How to Save $30

The other day I was in Old Navy's dressing room trying on a jean skirt. I looked at the price tag, $30, I debated it and then tried it on. I was glad to discover that the skirt made my butt look 3 times larger than it already is, cus then I didn't have to decide weather or not to spend the $30. However, I still really wanted a new skirt.

The next morning I was hanging my new jeans in my closet when I decided that more than two pairs were overdue for a tossing out. And that's when I had a brilliant idea, and less than two hours later, and just in time for church, I saved myself $30, and my old jeans a trip to the garbage when I turned this:

into this:

It was so easy even I could do it. It was fun too. All you have to do is google "jeans into a jean skirt" and you will find tons of instructions.

Amelia Marie Rowley

My sister Lonica had our families first grandchild yesturday at 5:30 Eastern time.

Date: 8/29/09 Weight: 8 pounds 15 ounces (just shy of 9 pounds!) Height: 21 inches

And already sucking her thumb, just like her Mom.

Meet Erin

Erin and I met in 9th grade when were put on the same AYSO soccer team. We instantly became friends, and then tried out for Mountain View's team. After making the team, the two of us became inseparable.

We had great times together; at soccer practice, at games, and during long car/bus rides to and from games. With tons of inside jokes we never stopped laughing even when refs were dumb and coaches were dumber.

We decided to go to NAU together where we were roommates in McConnell Hall (yeah for 2:30am fire drills). It's been a long wonderful friendship. Filled with great times and not so great times. (I looked for some old photos of us, but it would require scanning to post any and I'm just not that committed.)

After hanging out a couple weeks ago and discussing future wedding plans for Erin her fiance (and bf of 5 yrs.) called to tell her that moving alone to Alaska sounded like a better plan for his future. My heart brakes for my Erin! I know she is strong and will persevere, but I wish I could make all the pain go away.

In attempt to do so Erin and I and our other favorite high school friends (Kayla, Shawna, and Joslyn) went out to lunch.

It was so great to all be together again. I love these girls!

Erin (in green) and Joslyn.

Kayla and her boy Wes.

Shawna was very proud that day, as it was her first day with health inssurance since graduating.