For Hannah

My sweet friend, Necia, has three just as sweet daughters - Ellen, Hannah, and Mia.
They all love Ryno (who doesn't) and Hannah was sweet enough to give him a bone for Christmas.  

She could not see him open it, so here it is.   He loves it!!  He didn't stop chewing on it all night.

Thank you, Hannah and the Gooch family!!

Almost.....there.....

So remember how my last post I said I never had time for projects? And if you're facebook friends with me remember my advent I've been working on since AUGUST?  Yep, it's now Dec. 22 and it's not done.

Wanna know why? I work full time and Ryan's out of school.  Which means I get to spend lots of time with him in the evenings and no time with my beloved felt tree.  BUT, I love Ryan and the time we've had.  I love him even more for allowing me to craft the past two nights.  I even stayed up until 1:00 a.m. last night.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Two hours past 11:00 p.m. which is when I normally crash!!

Since my last facebook picture, I embroidered each of the numbers on the little pockets and sewed them to the backing (they would NOT stay straight dagnabbit), sewed on the felt tree and then added batting and a back because I want it to be quilt-esque.  Last night I machine quilted it and hand stitched each of the 25 stupid buttons and added the string to hang the ornaments.  Welcome 1:00 a.m. and I can barely see straight but still can beat Ryan in a game of Soliatire on our iPhones (our new addiction).

When it is all finished (probably after Christmas, sadly) I will take more up close pictures of the ornaments.  I just love them!

Mr. Penguin and Mr. Snowman are still waiting to be hung, along with Ryan's favorite - the train, and finally the star on Christmas Day.

This project is a good reminder that I am an over-achiever but not a perfectionist.  I keep adding and adding little things to make it look better and better but it doesn't have to be perfect.  My pockets are crooked, machine quilting is mediocre and the back fabric is nowhere near straight but those are things I don't care about.  Thank goodness, or I might develop an ulcer or two from projects like this!

Confession

I'm already a little over Pinterest because I don't have time to do anything with the stuff I pin.  Vicious little circle, isn't it?

New shoes

So I never go shopping anymore because I am just not a fan of current trends and even if I find something I like it doesn't fit. But I tried something new on Saturday and I am shocked that I like how they look on me. In fact, I maybe love them. And I'm sad I didn't take a picture yesterday in my purple patterned tights and rockin' new shoes. I looked fashionable for the first time in four years or so. Go me.

An Almost Perfect Night

Oh boy, was last night needed.  The day we returned from our Thanksgiving adventures I woke up with a terrible sore throat that turned into full on body aches and sweats/chills.  Even after resting the whole weekend, it ran its course from phase to phase of a cold and I'm finally ALMOST over it.  Because Ryan was headed into his week of clinic and finals he was stressed out of his mind and could not afford to be sick.  So I sucked it up and took care of him by making dinner every night, keeping the house clean and avoiding him to reduce the spread of germs.  For over a week we didn't kiss and we could barely even hold hands or cuddle.  It was terrible! BUT, I think I'm finally mostly healed and Ryan only has one more test.

As a reward we took the last two nights off from EVERYTHING.  Tuesday night I scored free tickets to the UNC basketball game and Duke games are definitely better.  The intimacy of Cameron Indoor Stadium really IS all it's cracked up to be.

Last night was THE BEST.  After driving home in the pouring rain I had both a husband and puppy waiting eagerly at the door for me.  For dinner I made Thai Peanut Noodles and wait for it.... Tater Tots.  Yep, Thai and Tater Tots. Sounds like a winning combination to me! 

After dinner we curled up on our chaise lounge and finished the movie we were watching.  We were interrupted by Ryno who decided it was time to play so he ran right up to my face and barked.  He only does this if there is someone outside or if it's play time.  His whole butt started wagging back and forth and he lost it.  I need to take more videos of this guy, he is hysterical. You all need to see his reaction when I come home from work!  When the movie was over, I decided I was tired and Ryan let me go to bed! Yep, I went to bed at 9:00 pm last night and it was MARVELOUS.

I wish every night were that stress free!

Oh, and you can find the noodle recipe here.  This is my favorite blog and cook book!

http://www.ourbestbites.com/2008/09/thai-peanut-noodles/

Thanksgiving Break Pt. 2: St. George

After Houston we went to St. George, UT to have Thanksgiving with Ryan's "family."  The only other time I've spent time with them was right after we got engaged so this was so much fun to get to know them better.  They were so welcoming and willing to show me the town.  When another of the kid's, Kaylee, and her husband Ryan came into town they took me up to Dixie Rock which overlooks the town.  Ryan is a professional filmmaker/photographer so we got some great shots!  St. George was gorgeous this time of year with the yellow trees, blue sky, and red rocks.  

Kaylee and Rita (mom) decided that they should take us through the crack AKA the "birth canal."  They insisted Ryan could fit, but when even I was touching on the front and the back, he quickly gave up.  And I do not don't blame him one bit. 

We also went to Zion's National Park and hiked Angel's Landing.  Just when I thought we were at the top I saw that we had to hike that small ridge leading to the even bigger mountain!  It was again such a gorgeous day though, that I didn't care.  It's no wonder that people live in St. George.  There is so much to do and see outdoors!  Ryan might even be considering living there...

Of course I didn't take any pictures ON Thanksgiving.  But it was full of food, as required, and all our evenings were spent playing games, as also required by this family.  I lost every single time, which seems to be a trend with them as well.  But I loved the time I spent with Ryan's family.  I learned so much from them and I can't wait to go back!

Amazingly, this marks the end of Ryan and I's travels for the year.  After 5 weddings (maybe more?), a return missionary, weekends away during the summer and now Thanksgiving, we're here to stay.  I am so looking forward to the next month where Ryan and I get to spend our first Christmas together with just the two of us in our own little home.  And when I say the end of our travels, it really is.  We have zero plans of going anywhere until we leave for Alaska in July.  Pretty wild, huh.

Thanksgiving Break Pt. 1: Houston

The nice thing about being a temporary employee is that I'm not limited on the number of days I take off.  Granted, I don't get paid for the days I miss, but it's nice to have flexibility that will match Ryan's school schedule.  A few months ago we got a call that his friend Robert Krenkel or "Special K" as he is known (from the movie Can't Hardly Wait if you know it) was getting hitched.  Special K is more like a little brother to Ryan and they haven't stayed super close but somehow we ended up making it down there.  It also helps that an old mission companion, Theo (although his name is Jared), who IS very close to Ryan lives there and was our gracious chauffeur for the few days.

Houston is HUGE and spread out and I do not want to live there.  I think on Saturday between the wedding at the temple, lunch with my friend Mandy, back home and to the reception we were probably in the car for a total of four hours.  No. Freaking. Thank you.

Theo insisted that we went to Pappadeoux's for some traditional southern food which consisted of fried alligator (as pictured - very tasty), frog legs (I was not a fan) and some old fashioned banana pudding.  Overall there was too much food and too much grease but that is the south, right?  I was so glad I got to spend an hour or so with Mandy.  I realized that she is person I've been good friends with the longest (does that make sense)?  We were friends in middle school and remained in contact through different high schools, different colleges and continue to stay in touch.  Sorry, Bri.  I liked her before I liked you so she gets the "longest friend" title.  Due to emails and chats with her, I have a written record of the entire time Ryan and I were dating.  We used to send daily emails to each other when we worked boring summer jobs and I have emails starting from the day Ryan and I met.  Reading those initial emails, you'd have though Ryan and I never would have lasted!

On Saturday we headed off to the gun range because Ryan has never shot a handgun.  He's just not one of those hunting "manly man" kinda guys.  However, he's now considering getting a handgun for safety.  I didn't see that one coming!  But he insists he's serious.  Greeeeeeeat.

Not pictured:

We went to Kemah Boardwalk which is full of restaurants and rides and lots of tacky carnival type things.  But it also had a 60+ish white-headed man shakin' it with a little black woman to the live entertainment.  And by shakin' it, I mean they were practically grinding.  Eyes permanently scarred, for sure.

Ryan was craving wings the night we got in and unfortunately there was no B-Dubs around.  But, wait for it.... he claims the place we went is actually BETTER than BWW's!  It's almost a sin for him to say that because he loves BWW's.  But he still believes it to be true.  So if you're in Houston, hit up Bayou City Wings.  You won't be disappointed.  Just don't go to the one we went to in South Houston, it's a little sketchy and dangerous.

Did I mention that all 3 of us slept in the same room in two twin size beds? That's mission love, right there.

Next up - Thanksgiving Part 2: St. George!