Lovable Ryan

Ryan is one of those personalities that people just love immediately.  I'm glad one of us is that way, because I'm definitely more on the shy end when it comes to meeting new people.  I know I can always count on him to make a great impression, and it makes me so happy to be his wife!  Sometimes, however, we all can use a  little reminder that people really do love us.  Ryan's reminder was his birthday party.  We had about 20 people crammed into our apartment, all to celebrate Ryan.  This is probably the most extravagant birthday party I will ever host, and it really didn't take that much work.  I'm just not into perfectly coordinated parties.  I know some people love it, but I just don't have the time or motivation for it.  So hats off to you party planners, it's a lot of work and you deserve to be recognized!

Ryan has been begging me to buy the giant can of Nacho Cheese from Sam's Club for probably almost a year now.  Growing up, Ryan's birthday was most often centered around baseball and fireworks (it's July 3).  Nachos = Baseball = Ryan's birthday.  The nachos started the theme of Ryan's "Ballpark Food" Birthday Party.  We also had homemade funnel cakes (super easy if you ever want to try), peanuts, and root beer floats (not quite baseball, but one of Ryan's favorites).  

 

   

Ali and Daniel (Ali just graduated from Duke DPT)

  Maile, Steven and Keeley (from church)

 The cutest family - Kristie, Jared and Alia Ashworth.

As you can see, Alia loved the nachos, too!

 Not only were there 20 people, but 3 dogs!

Typical Pat (classmate)

 The yellow short gang.

 Ryan's birthday "cake."  One of our only family traditions is non-typical candles on birthday cakes.  It all started when we were celebrating my birthday a few years ago at my friend Pearl's apartment.  She was making the cake and goodies and called Ryan to bring candles.  He did not connect birthday and candles so he had no idea what kind to buy.  When he asked her "What kind?" her response was "Colorful ones."  So he showed up with 3 mini jar candles in bright colors.  Then it clicked - BIRTHDAY candles.  But we used them anyway and have been putting them on cakes ever since! However, this pie would not hold their weight so we went with tea lights instead.

 Thank you, Laura, for taking fun pictures! This one was frowning and winking...

 Isn't Ryan just so much fun?

 We decided to try to go see the fireworks show that was playing after the baseball game.

Ross and Megan graciously volunteered to sit in the Jeep's "trunk."

Unfortunately we missed them, but it was a fun adventure anyway!

 The last survivors of the party.

 We finished it off with a little Just Dance 3 on the wii.

 I'd call it a success.

Happy birthday, babe.  People really do love you.

Cabin on the Beach

In the 2 years we've been here, we've been trying to plan a beach trip with Mitch and Maile but our schedules just never work out.  But, the stars aligned and just 1.5 weeks before we leave, it all worked out.  We stayed in an un-air-conditioned cabin on the beach and we were a little worried as to how run down it would be, but it wasn't that bad! Much nicer than expected which was a very pleasant surprise.  I did a terrible job of taking pictures that show our whole trip so you just get a few pieces here and there. 

Ferry ride to the island.  Poor Ryno was car sick and HOT and drooling like crazy.

Mitch, Maile and Lucy

This thing was right outside our cabin.

Somebody is definitely a furniture dog.

Our cabin.

Beach wheel chair.

Ryan is surprisingly really good at this game. 

Fresh local shrimp.

This is how we felt, too.

Like a ROCK.

That's how I slept last night. For the first time in awhile.  Now I understand when Moms say their baby is too tired to sleep.  My body must hate me because that's what it was doing to me.  But it was all worth it.  I'm behind on my blogging again, so the anniversary trip will probably get pushed aside and hopefully Ryan's Birthday party and the beach trip will actually happen.  Fingers crossed.  

Happy Birthday, Hubby!

Happy 31st Birthday to my wonderful husband!  

We've decided he can probably start counting backwards for another 5 years before anyone would ever question his age.  So here's so a second 29th birthday!

Anyone who knows Ryan should not be surprised at all by the white tux.  

I had to talk him out of it for the wedding.

I'm lucky this pretty girl introduced him to the church...

 And for this handsome guy who was patient with Ryan for the few years it took him

 to finally make the big decision to be baptized.

I will forever be grateful for his amazing (grand)parents who raised him

 and made him the man he is today.

  

Ryan has had amazing friends over the years that he still stays in touch with to this day.

  

He was blessed with a second family from church who took him in after his parents passed.

They are amazing!

When he's not stressed with school, he has PLENTY of personality to go around.

Happy Birthday, Ryan! You don't look a day over 25. :)

I spoke too soon

So If you read my first post from today you'd have heard about how quickly the quilt I'm making is coming together. As I planned, I was preparing to baste it and actually start quilting it today. As I was ironing it, my iron spit nasty rust water on it and I freaked out. I sprayed it with spray and wash and immediately threw it in the washer. BIG MISTAKE. It's ruined. The seams split and it's just coming undone. What the heck?? I'm still so shocked I can't even be mad yet. Thankfully I have extra fabric because I get to redo the whole thing. Awesome.

What I've been up to

I was so excited about all my newfound free time that I just dropped off the blogging world. My bad! I'm actually trying to stay away from my computer as much as possible because it sucks me in and drastically reduces my productivity. As I'm sure you all know, Facebook is the worst so I'm really trying to stay away from it in particular. I deleted the app on my phone because I found myself on it first thing in the morning, right before bed and everything in the middle. Not good. So I'm trying a new thing where I avoid it all together and stick to the blogging world. Wish me luck!

Anyway, you may wonder what I've been doing with all my newfound freedom. Well...




I don't sleep in, but oftentimes I cannot drag myself out of bed.  (And by cannot drag myself out, I wake up at 7-7:30 and still get out of bed by 8ish).  I'm not THAT lazy.








On my very first day off, Ryan insisted we get to the Duke Surplus Sale by 8 a.m. and it's a good thing we did! We scored all sorts of good work out gear for cheap.  I now look legit running in my Duke Rowing, Fencing, and LaCrosse shirts.









We've been doing plenty of organizing and trying to pack.  But there is little in this house we're not using at the moment.








We keep finding things wrong with the vehicles.  At the moment, the motorcycle's in the shop and the car has been acting up so its turn is next.  Then, we get in the car the other day to find this.  Yep, it just fell down.  Thankfully a little superglue later, it is hopefully all better.  Ryan's driving it today, we'll see how it goes.











Of course I've been spending plenty of time with this cute face and his new little sister, Lucy. (Mitch and Maile's new tiny Schnauzer puppy).  He just loves her to pieces!










I've been doing plenty of cooking and taking the time to try new recipes.  This one isn't new, but definitely a favorite.  Homemade Green Enchilada sauce that we use for Honey Lime Enchiladas.  Or, that Ryan just uses as a chip dip and it's gone before I know it.





There has definitely been some pool time. My goal is to get so dark between my time here and in Arizona that I have a tan that lasts through the frigid Nebraska winter.

Lastly, I've been crafting, duh. I've been finding little projects here and there until the fabric came in for the quilt I'm making.  I made burp cloth and pacifier clip sets (Thanks Kristina for the clip tutorial!) to give as my new default baby gift.  They are CUTE if I may say so myself. Full pictures may follow, but it would also give it away to you friends who read this blog and are soonly popping out a little one.  I spent a whole day fixing the pile of clothes we have that needs repairs (buttons, split seams, etc).  I also decided to turn the dress I wore when I met Ryan into a maxi skirt because I never wear it as a dress.  Lastly, the fabric finally came in for a baby quilt I'm making which I anticipated would take me a month to make.  Well, I sewed the top and bottom together in one day. Yeah, that came together much quicker than I expected.  I decided to do some hand embroidery instead of the machine and goodness, that took me 3 days just for that!  Today I'm hoping to actually start quilting it (by machine, unlike my talented Mama who does it by hand).  Not enough patience here for that.  I really want to post pictures, but I want the new mommy to see the quilt in person, first!  It's adorable.  Really, truly, you will all love it. :)

    

Possible future posts - our anniversary and ziplining!