Happy Birthday's All Around

Happy Birthday to Jon (Chris' bro, not mine) and Jerl Dean (Chris' mom, not mine)!

Hope ya'll have a great day and don't party too hard till the weekend :)

Had a blast with ya'll on Saturday, can't wait to do it again!

Happy  Birthamaday!  (From Chris)

You asked, now you shall receive.

So here's mine and Chris' story...in a nutshell.

1998.  When I started thinking about going to college the week I was supposed to leave home, I was terrified.  I had  to be at school a week early because I was in the Razorback Marching Band and practice, or Early Week, began then.  My friend Evan and I met up and navigated our way through the chaos.  We had to have measurements for our uniforms, get our music, etc.  Some upper classmen were there helping, and Chris says we met then...but I don't remember him.  

When we met on the practice field, I was relieved that Evan and I were marching close together.  I'd at least have my safety friend around if I didn't get along with anyone else :)  We were marching in two's and I was next to a girl and Evan was marching behind me and Chris was next to Evan.  

In September, we were running through the half time show and Chris asked if I'd like to go out sometime.  I was thrilled!  My first college date!  I got back to my dorm that night and told my roommate.  He said he'd call and we'd go out, so all weekend, I was manning the phone (I know, what a dork).  Well, after a week of waiting around, I got fed up and so I told my roommate that guy that asked me out was a jerk.  She said that if I wanted to go on a date with him, I should be up front and see what was going on.  I took her advice.  So on Thursday of that week, I walked up to him and said "Are you going to take me out or not?"  He was bumfuzzled.  I caught him off guard and he said "Tomorrow night OK?"  "Sure, call me".  

We dated all through college and I knew he was 'The One' for me.  When it came to my final year in college, I wasn't really seeing any progress in our relationship and was starting to doubt his commitment to us.  So I told him that I was going to start seeing other people.  He was NOT happy with that, and things got better.  He proposed in April of 2003 of my senior year.

I got home one evening from work and there was a note on my door.  It told me I had to go see his brother at the band hall, he had something important for me.  I was tired and all I wanted to do was change and relax, but I did it.  I got to the band hall and Jon hands me another card.  It says to go to the practice field.  There was another note attached to the big stand the director and drum major's stood on to direct the band.  That note told me to go to where we had our first kiss.  Outside my old dorm.  He was waiting there for me, and that's where he proposed!

Of course I said yes. :)

We got married January 10, 2004.  We lived in NWA for a while, but I was working in Hot Springs and I was sick of commuting, so we decided to move to Hot Springs.  Chris was terrified to tell his family, but it was the best decision for us, so I told them.  With the help of my parents, we moved into a beautiful new home, Chris found a job, and I was working 2.  With my mom as an SLPA and then at Early Head Start.  I soon learned that I HATED working at Early Head Start.  So I started studying for the GRE to send in applications to graduate school.

We moved to TX in August 2005 and were there until April/May of this year.  Chris came and stayed in April when his dad had his heart attack.  I was still in school, so I shacked up with some friends and moved back in May.  

We've had our ups and downs, but mostly ups.  He's the love of my life.  He puts up with me, he even moved to Texas for me (you can't get love like that anywhere, people).  

That's our story...in a nutshell.

For the record...

I HATE electronic medical records.  HATE HATE HATE.  

We started electronic medical records on Monday.  And it seems like a HUGE waste of time...thus far.  Who knows how it will end up, but so far, it seems to really take too much time in my comfy world of Audiology.

And the reason I probably HATE it so much, is because it doesn't seem like anything was really thought through.  

On a different note, Chris and I have been together for TEN YEARS today.  Yes, you read right, 10 years.  I won't bore you with our sappy love story on how we met, or our first date, or our wedding day, but I want too.  Really bad :)

Happy 10 years together snot face!  I'll paper rock scissors you for the remote :)

Happy Birthday, Jude!

Jude, our youngest nephew, turned 1 today!  His birthday party was yesterday and it turned out to be a nice day, despite some misty rain in the early a.m.  I can't believe he's already 1!!  

Jon bought a new play set for the boys and had the old one taken down a little more than a month ago.  He enlisted the help of Chris to set up the new play set, and after a couple afternoons of laying out and labeling all the pieces, figuring out the best spot for it (that got solved thanks to me),  and getting all the right tools, it finally got put together the day before the party!  It turned out great and the boys LOVE it!  Grant said 'Yeah Daddy!'  

Here are a few (ok, more than a few) photos of his party!

Jude swinging

Paw, Jude, and M

Grant and his 'cuhtie' (cookie)

The birthday cake

The cake...before

The cake...during

The cake...after

Jude swinging again after eating cake!

Happy Birthday, Jude!  We love you, sweet boy!

Vegas, Baby.

I finally made our hotel reservations at Green Valley Mountain Resort and sent off my registration for the conference, so it looks like we're headed to Vegas in November!  The conference is all on private practice and everything you need to know to run a successful private practice, which I REALLY need to know :)

And you know what they say!  What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!

WhoopsyDaisy

I've come to realize that I forgot about some VERY important events that I did not mention in my last several posts.  These events happened during the last Razorback game (which we attended and stayed till the bitter end to see us WIN).  After the game, we met up with some awesome friends, Ed and Kate, and had a late night dinner at IHOP.  Our waiter sucked.  He had a major attitude, and when I asked if we could get our drinks...20 minutes after we ordered, he told me they were coming and we had to wait our turn.  After all, he did have a whole section of 3 tables!  And when he finally brought them, he started running his mouth and I told him I didn't want his excuses, just our drinks.  He got real pissy then and handed off us to another waitress, who was nothing but pleasant.  We had a great time visiting with our friends, though!

I did end up going to the Emergency Preparedness fair yesterday.  It was actually pretty interesting, and I got some good ideas.  Last night we were SUPER bored and so we went to Pam and Micha's for dinner and games.  We played Scrabble, and when that gave us all a headache, we played Friends Scene It.  We played in husband and wife teams.  I won't tell you who won, but I will tell you Pam was NOT happy about it :)

Off to church!  After Chris makes breakfast, of course!

Are you having withdrawals yet?

I mean, you must be pulling your hair out at my lack of posting this week!  Ok, probably not that drastic, but you gotta be missing me, right?  

I haven't posted since the power was out and we were in a hotel last week, and nothing fun or interesting has really happened since then.  We've really only worked and enjoyed having power :)  Last night, I was invited to a Beauty Control party that was being held at my friends home.  It was fun, I got to do a pedicure and use this stuff on my hands that made them super soft, but I'm not one to buy, because I'll never use it at home.  I know, I'm a party pooper.

I was supposed to go to the Emergency Preparedness fair at Otter Creek today, but with the HUGE hike in gas, I think I'll be sticking around town.  It should be pretty big, I think my mom told me there were going to be about 56 vendors to talk to you about identity theft, food storage, 72 hour kits, etc.  All things we should know about and have done, but I'll just let my mom pick up the info since she HAS to be there!

Have a good weekend!

Power's Out

It's raining

It's pouring

The old man is snoring!

Ok, it was raining and pouring, and Chris isn't snoring anymore (hehe), but our power IS out, and has been since Wednesday at 4 a.m.  This morning I took my 3rd cold shower, and decided I couldn't do it anymore, so we're shacked up at a hotel tonight.  Entergy originally said our power would be on by 8 p.m last night, then it was 12 a.m., and now it's either tomorrow or Saturday.  It wouldn't be bad if all of the apartment complex was out of power, but only 5 of the 10 is out.  Baxter is in H.S. with my parents.  

So, to all you energy hogs, count yourself lucky.  And be glad you don't live next door, 'cause you know I'd be there like the guest who would never leave!  At least not till her power came back on :)

Whoa Baby!

After our trip to SETX a few weeks ago, we met up with friends Joe and Jennifer for a night of fun!  Well, first Chris had to help Joe move some furniture, but then the fun commenced!  We went bowling (which I suck at) and then we had a peanut butter chocolate mess at MarketPlace!  We always have a great time hanging out with them!

Joe and Jennifer
Chris and me

Sunday, Chris and I met some of my extended family for the Travelers game.  It was our first Minor League game, but we had a blast!  My cousins told us a really creepy story about their stay at the Crescent Hotel in E.S.  and we just had a chance to visit!

Dickey Stephens Park

Cousins Shane and Jennifer

Shane and Jennifer's son, Ethan

Aunt Susan and cousin Aaron

Aunt Susan, Uncle Robert, and Kathleen

Today, when Chris got off work, we drove to H.S. to have dinner at my mom and dad's house.  Mom made potatoes and salad and corn, and dad grilled steaks.  They were delicious!

Attack of the big brother!!  Jon, me, and mom

Jon and me

Mom and me

Dad and me

Jude

Grant

Jude with Chris' sunglasses on.  

Grandma

Kricia

We had a busy Labor Day weekend, but we had a great time!  We don't wanna go to work!