Shopping and Marley & Me...

We woke up fairly early (not Black Friday early, but still...before 9a) to go shopping the day after Christmas. There was barely anyone out. Apparently (as reported on several websites) this day was supposed to have bigger and better sales in comparison to Black Friday. Well, we got a little ice overnight and that seemed to force everyone inside. The roads were actually good, so we ventured to the bigger neighboring city. I don't think we were really looking for too much in particular, and I guess it showed, because we didn't buy much, and I think I was in a haze all day. I had been up off and on since 2a because I had a HORRIBLE nightmare. (What is with me and not getting sleep lately?)

We were finished shopping around noon-ish I think, so when we got home we looked to see what time the movies were playing. Hol and I wanted to see Marley & Me, so that is what we chose.

I won't say too much for those of you that haven't seen it, but let's just say this... 1) This is NOT a kiddie movie. Anyone younger than 6 will probably be bored and moving around too much. Yes, the dog is funny and does some crazy things, but the movie is in essence about this couple's life and Marley is just a crazy part of that life. The end is SAD. I should not be the first person to tell you that this movie is a tear jerker, and quite frankly it was downright awful for me at the end. I wouldn't not recommend the movie, but it definitely wasn't what I was expecting it to be. Maybe it would have been better if I had read the book beforehand... I don't know.

Let me share the funny/typical movie-going experience that we had (just to lighten the mood). We went the day after Christmas... a Friday. That should have been enough of a warning for us not to go, but we did. The theatre was packed! It was half full when we got there about 20 minutes before the movie was to start, and it was pretty much full when it was time for the previews to start. We found a nice high spot in the middle and planted ourselves firmly. We would not move! Well, pretty soon we were surrounded. People were rushing to get seats. A woman (who I thought was a bit rude) abruptly asked me if I was using the seat next to me, I said no and she practically slammed the armrest down and threw her purse no the seat while she saved the other two seats next to it. I knew that could only mean bad things. Soon a man and a woman come up to sit with her and they all seemed a bit rude. Yay. They really didn't disturb me too much other than the man that sat next to me picked at his fingers throughout almost the entire movie. Eww!
On the other side, Lisa only had one seat separating her and the movie-goer on the other side. Well in comes this LOUD group. Basically it was one woman who was loud. She had a little girl with her and a couple of adults. Well, apparently they were one seat short, so one of the friends sat in front of them... next to Lisa. Let's call her Linda Belcher. Linda's her real name.. I'm not so sure about Belcher as her last, but it totally fits. Well anyway Loud Mouth was talking yelling to the little girl that "WE NEED TO WATCH FOR YOUR MOM. I HOPE SHE CAN FIND US. IT'S GOING TO GET DARK SOON. I'LL WATCH FOR YOUR MOM." Well, the little girl said something and Loud Mouth replied back, "WE HAVE TO BE QUIET NOW. I'LL WATCH FOR YOUR MOM." I think the whole theatre could have watched for her mom. Then she kept saying to Linda that she felt SO bad she had to sit by herself, and she just felt awful and blah blah blah.... Well, Lisa reported after the movie that Lnida kept belching. Ewww again! What is with these people??? You're in public!

Well, anyway, that was pretty much our day. Nothing much else was going on. I did some studying when I got home, and then read a book, watched a tv movie and went to bed. Nothing too exciting...

Until............................

Christmas

Quite honestly, there is not a lot to say about Christmas this year. We at our annual cinnamon rolls and we opend presents as a family. Surprisingly we got NO pictures except for the dog receiving the toys in her stocking....


How weird is that? We've always taken pictures! Quick run down on gifts.....
Dad: ipod, ipod case, itunes card for him to buy music for his ipod, a sweater and a thermal top, weird tee things for golf that he liked a lot.. I have no idea what made them so much better than a normal tee... I think that was it. His gifts were mostly ipod-centric.
Mom: robe, kitchen mixer, sweatshirt, hand made bookmark from Lisa, slippers... there's more, but I'm drawing a blank right now.
Lisa: Books, dvds, pajama bottoms, money, sweatshirt, gift certificates, sweaters, cds...
Holli: dvds, gift cards/certificates, pajama bottoms, pyrex dish...and that's about it.
Me: Books, cds, a dvd, underwear, socks, file folders, file box to hold file folders, money, money, money...
Sydney: squeaky toy, fuzzy "wubba" toy, new red ball.

We had about 4 hours to kill before dinner at my aunt's house, so Lisa and Holli started reading books while I was hooking my dad's ipod up. Our internet has recently had a speed issue (Diagnosis: incorrect modem due to Comcast's uninformed switch) so it took me a little over 2 hours to download itunes onto his computer. Needless to say, I was frustrated by the end of it.

Dinner went as it normally does for Christmas except we were greenbean casserole-less and my mom forgot the rolls at home in the freezer... so when we went to cook them the results were burnt roll bottoms. Oh well...

The real fun was when we spontaneously started to spell Christmas words with our bodies. That's right folks.... Here's are "living art"... See if you can figure out what we were spelling....

(#1)

(#2)

(#3)

(#4)

(#5... this is just a funny one)

(#6)

(#7)

(#8)

(#9)

(#10... my mom's letter is backwards here, don't let that confuse you)

(#11)

See how much fun we had??? The funny thing was that I just kept calling people down and they came...no questions asked. :)

Well, I guess that pretty much wraps it up. Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Until.......................

Christmas Eve and a Movie...

Both parents had to work the first half of the day so the three of us girls were on our own. We decided to go see a movie around noon. We decided on Twilight. I was already... familiar... with the movie, but Hol and Lis hadn't seen it yet. So off we went...
The movie was very good, and we all enjoyed it. It's not just about vampires. It's more of a love story than anything. I'm reading the book right now, and the movie is very true to form. I'm quite pleased with both. I just have to put a disclaimer here though... there are some freaky fans out there. I am NOT one of them. I really enjoyed the movie, and am anxiously anticipating the one to follow, and even have the books, but I am not a "fanpire" or whatever they're calling themselves. Those people quite frankly scare me sometimes. I am not one of them. Oh, and I am definitely NOT running around asking people to "bite" me. Yes, that has been happening with these fans. Weird I tell you... Ok... I just had to put that out there.....

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Christmas Eve service started at 4p, so we didn't have too much time in between the movie and then before we had to leave. Mom and Dad were home when we got back from the movie so we got some stuff ready for later that night and then were off to church. There were scripture readings, music, and stories. The service only lasted about 45 minutes and then we were off to our family celebration....

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Ok, so this year our annual tradition was re-instated. Last year we didn't have Christmas Eve festivities at my aunt and uncles because my aunt had some health issues and was recovering from surgery. This year.. it was back on!

A little background.... Every year since I can remember my mom's side of the family has gotten together for a big exchanging-of-gifts extravaganza between the family. It's when all of the aunts and uncles give their gifts to the neices and nephew (yes, that is no plural. My poor cousin Jared was the only boy out of the 12 cousins. In fact, he was a twin, so he was like a bonus baby). Over the years some of the cousins have gotten married or had babies so our size/number has fluctuated over time. This year was a bit smaller than normal, but none the less it was still a good time. The night was consumed with Guitar Hero for the younger ones, and even the real guitar at times. There was way too much food, and my aunt made her famous barbeque which was especially good this year. I think I devoured my sandwich in all of 2 minutes. :)

(Rach...)

(...she had some mad skills on GH)

(Holli...)

(...not so much)

(Rach showing Lisa how to play the real guitar)

We eventually opened presents...

(Dave and Andi (+ little baby girls...still in utero))

The night ended pretty early for me because I hadn't slept good at all the night before. I was exhausted. More festivites to come in the morning anyway.......

Until.......................

Sydney-deer...Session II...2008

Well, with Dad on hand we took another stab at getting a picture of Sydney in front of the tree. She is a stubborn beast, but I am even more persistant and am happy with the results....

She looks so tubby in that last picture... maybe she's put on some holiday weight. I might have to take her walking with me. I'm going to be a workout fiend after the new year and everything gets settled. I'm going to be in a wedding in October, so that gives me 10 months to slim down and tone up.... we'll see how it goes.... All I know is I wasn't going to torture myself and restrict all things that are good this holiday season. I'll start after the foods-of-plenty and stress have subsided. That'll be soon, right?

Until.........................

Sydney-deer

Well, I tried again this year. She seems to be getting more and more freaky about wearing the antlers but she jumps around all excited and wants to have them when I get them out. Go figure... Here is what I got so far. I think I'll try again when dad is home to control her.

(Take One: Antlers on for 1.2 seconds)

(Take Two: Mom took the picture before I could get out of the frame)

(Take Three: Antlers on for 2.5 seconds...just long enough to take this picture of her falling down and looking scared)

Until.................

Christmas tag

OK, so I "borrowed" this from another blog. The funny thing about this is that this woman admitted that she would not have done this "tag" if the woman she borrowed it from had actually tagged her because she is rebellious like that. I started to laugh, because that is so me! If someone had tagged me with this I probably wouldn't have done it or would have taken forever to do it, because "I'm just rebellious like that". :) Anyway...on to the post....

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping Paper! As we have gotten older my extended family has begun using more bags and it is just NO fun! So I try my hardest to wrap, wrap, wrap!
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial! If you had been in my family and seen all the real trees we had that have fallen on my dad, been laying on the floor when we got home, or just looked awful and crooked you would get an artificial one too.
3. When do you put up the tree? Most likely the weekend after Thanksgiving. I always put our little one up Thanksgiving night, although last year everyone was bah humbug except for me, and I had to put the big one up too AND all the ornaments. I mean come one people! Where was your Christmas spirit??
4. When do you take the tree down? Sometime around New Years. My mom loves our tree once it's up, so she likes to keep it up as long as possible without it being tacky.
5. Do you like eggnog? NO! Blech!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Hmm... probably anything having to do with a baby doll. I was really big into the baby dolls when I was younger. That's probably why I will be working with all the babies. They're like my own little dolls. :) Just kidding...
8. Easiest person to buy for? Dad.. you can't go wrong with by an electronic or power tool.
9. Do You have a nativity scene? Yes... We have the Willow Tree Angels nativity and then I have a Veggie Tales Nativity. It's so cute! The star sings O Little Town of Bethlehem when you push it.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Well... if we do them at all it would be by mail. My mom was never big into sending one out every year, so we just do one sporadically. Us girls never really change anyway, so all people need is a picture every couple of years. :p
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Scary Jesus!!! Mean Lisa wrapped up one of those scary jesus things that you put in your window and it looks like his eyes follow you. *shudder* Talk about scarred for life!
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I LOVE White Christmas of course, but Elf has been on my top favorites list the past few years. So funny! I really, truth be told, love many Christmas movies. I'm always glued to my tv around the Christmas holiday.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Well, I used to be early like my mom, you know everything done by Thanksgiving, but the last few years I've not started until Thanksgiving and then still been shopping the week of Christmas. I've been so busy!
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I'm not sure. Possibly...
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Oh there is so much! Broccoli Cheese Casserole, mashed potatoes, rolls, desserts, desserts, desserts... I love holidays!
16. Lights on the tree? WHAT?! Who does not put lights on their tree? That should be illegal!
17. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night
18. Travel for Christmas or stay home? Travel mostly (unless its at our house)... it's a long 4 blocks when my aunt has Christmas.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Yup...you bet.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Um... I think we have a bear angel upstairs on the big tree and a star on the little one downstairs.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Well, presents from extended family we open Christmas Eve when we go to my aunts house for our annual Christmas Eve Bash. All other presents are for Christmas morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? It's a struggle to find things. Instead of people gradually buying things leading up to Christmas they all go and wipe out the entire store the two weeks before Christmas.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? The only theme that is appropriate is Red, green, silver, and gold. Any other color just doesn't seem like Christmas to me. I'm anti- red and green together all the other months of the year. This is the month where those colors can be mixed and I don't get annoyed. :)
24. Favorite Christmas dinner? Turkey of course, and all of the other foods I mentioned before, plus a whole lot more!
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Please, if I had any ideas my mom wouldn't be bugging me so much.

Alright... take it as you wish. Whether you do it on your blog or not is up to you. Just have fun!

Until.................................

I think I might vomit...

That's how I feel right now....

I signed up for the NCLEX exam today. Guess what day I got? The 7th of January!! 1/7/09!!! That's 3 weeks away!!!!

Like I said...I might vomit.

Start praying now people.... I have a lot to do and read and study before that day...

Until....................

Graduation in pictures...

Alright, here are pictures and a short video of my graduation. Not much else to say except the lighting was horrible in the ballroom, the ceremony was 3 hours long, and I GRADUATED!!! :)

(I think this was when I turned around from getting my hands "blessed" and saw the paparazzi (aka Hol and Lisa) taking my picture like mad.)

(my pinning and getting my diploma)

(I graduated... my real diploma is in that envelope)

(The three muskateers!)

(The three sisters)

(Fam)

(Me and my cake)

(Me, Ellen, Aunt Betty and Zoe... two out of three isn't bad in the smiling department)

(Adorable Nora)

(Kim and Me)

(Jen and Me.. best complex partners ever!)

(Aunt Jody, Me and Mal)

(The Buchens and half of the Rumpfs)

(Brian and Robin...aren't they cute?)

(Dad and his "twin" Cam)
(Andi (& baby girls), Dave, and Me)
(Me with Mr and Mrs Smith)
(The Steffens)
(Me and sweet Taya)
(Me and Ash...check out the shirt Robin got Ashley (& me) for Graduation...too cute!)

Well, I think that's pretty much it. You get the jist anyway. :)

Until......................................

Headbands and Onesies and Hats... Oh My!

So this post is a little plug for a dear friendof mine and her two co-creators. :)

These three girls have decided to venture into business together making headbands, onesies, hats, and a few other things for all the little kiddos in your life. :) They are just starting out, so right now I'm helping spread the word. Here are a couple of pictures of their work....




To find out more you can visit their blog http://sweet-peadesigns.blogspot.com/

They have fabric patterns up to choose from as well as more ordering info and holiday prices only last until December 31st. Hurry while the offer lasts! Enjoy! :)

Until........................................

Quick snippet...

Hello all! Things have been crazy here! I graduated yesterday morning and have been running non-stop. I officially have my Bachelor's degree (I have the diploma to prove it!) and now the only thing standing in my way of being a "real" RN is the NCLEX (my Boards).

I will update everyone with pictures and such later when I have more time, but for now, here's a couple pictures to satisfy you until then....

Until..............................