I'm Thankful For...

My God
My family
My marriage
My baby Bailey dog
The Twilight Saga
New Balance running shoes
Avocados
The end of rotations and interviews
Super Target
My job
My upcoming trip to Mexico
Friends that make me smile
Orange Tree
Glee
College football
Ski trips
My health and the health of my loved ones
My super quick wit and charm (kidding)
80's music
CrossFit
Johnny Depp
94% Fat Free Kettle Corn
Shutterfly
Thunderstorms
Sweatpants
Glade Cinnamon Gingerbread candles
Home Alone - THE movie
Dawn Direct Foam (so wonderful)
The Smashing Pumpkins
Hot showers
Twizzlers and Mambas

Happy Thanksgiving! We are traveling to Fort Worth tomorrow for the big wedding. I can't wait to see Kasey and Ashley finally get hitched.

Dear John

I saw New Moon last night...FINALLY. It was fantastic, except for the two bratty thirteen year old boys in the very back of the theater who only purchased tickets to distract the rest of us. Oh yeah, and the two elderly ladies sitting behind us who sounded giddier than a pre-teen when shirtless Jacob graced the screen. I hope I'm like that when I am old. Trust me, I will be.

Anyway, I love previews. They get me all excited about upcoming movies. I saw a preview for Sherlock Holmes which I have anxiously been awaiting. I will be in the theater on Christmas day either with my family or alone...it will happen. Anyway, the reason for this post is that I saw a preview for a new movie based on the Nicholas Sparks book, "Dear John". I have not read this book yet, but I definitely will be after I finish my current undertaking. The preview made my cry...enough said.

Has anyone read this book? I'm pretty sure it is going to break my heart.

Movies Make Me Read

I'm a total bandwagon book reader. "The Notebook" - Bandwagon, "Twilight" - Bandwagon, "My Sister's Keeper" - Bandwagon, "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" - Bandwagon. Do you notice a trend here? Yes, I read mostly books that have been or are being turned into movies because they were obviously good enough to be turned into a movie. Simple. I did read Nicholas Sparks' "Nights in Rodanthe" before I knew that was being turned into a movie so I can give myself a little credit there. I Growing up I read all the time. I loved Sweet Valley High and R.L. Stine's Fear Street books. Oh my goodness I would know the exact day the next one was coming out. I was such a nerd! Then I hit about sixteen and I quit reading. OK, I didn't quit reading, but I didn't have as much time to read. I was a busy, social high school girl.

Ten years later I have become a bandwagon book reader. I guess that is better than not reading at all. Actually, I know that is better than not reading at all. I love to read, but I just have a hard time finding books that keep my interest. There is only author I have ever discovered on my own that I really love. Her name is Jane Green. She is a fabulous British author who makes me laugh hysterically. Every woman should read "Jemima J". It is probably one of my favorite books. Seriously, go pick it up right now. If you have ever struggled with weight or been in like or love then you should read it. I'm pretty sure that covers ever woman on the planet so you have no excuse.

Yesterday I became a bandwagon reader again. I have seen previews for the new movie Lovely Bones. My friend Shawna read the book when we were in college and she always had it with her so she could sneak in reading during her free time. I thought the title was hilarious and always envisioned a skeleton dancing around. Don't worry, that is not what the book is about. Yesterday I purchased "Lovely Bones" and I have to say so far it is a very intriguing read. So thank you Hollywood for another movie based off a book so I have something to read.

P.S. Congratulations to my friend Tyler who had her baby boy Drew this morning! He is adorable and healthy and I am so excited for my friend! YAY!

Scenes from the Party

The party was a hit. We had Twilight showing, the soundtrack running and a New Moon trivia quiz complete with prizes. Here are a few scenes from the party of the century....

Vegetarian blood (aka Twizzlers). I made these, I saw them on a Twilight party site (nerd) and just had to recreate them!


Werewolf Kibble. Yes, we even let Team Jacob fans participate. One of my fabulous co-workers made these. So cute and yummy.


The full spread complete with martini glasses for the mountain lion blood bunch, apples with dip, dark chocolate chex mix, vampire bitten cupcakes and lots of red candy.


We had some floating balloons appear. Quite fitting to have floating objects while celebrating vampires and werewolves, don't you think?


My Team Edward shirt...which I wore all day.


And a grand view of the serving table. We covered the office with New Moon posters. It was fabulous.

What Team Are You On?

I'm team Edward.



Kody is team Jacob.



Although, let me clarify, Kody has not read the books or seen Twilight. He just wants to look like Taylor Lautner, but whatever gets him into Twilight is fine by me.

12:01 AM. November 20th, 2009. New Moon.

In celebration of the second installment of the Twilight Saga a few of us at work are throwing a New Moon release party. I'm well versed in throwing release parties. Some of you were lucky enough to attend the 'N SYNC Celebrity CD release party thrown by myself and Angela in July 2001. It was awesome. Complete with red carpet, posters and a midnight run to Wal-Mart with video camera in hand to purchase the CD. Yes, I have many of you on film. You cannot deny your participation. Brooke...Crislyn...Michelle...Amanda...

Our party today will not play second fiddle to any other New Moon party. It is complete with Werewolf Kibble, Vegetarian blood, mountain lion blood punch, cupcakes that have be "bitten", red and black food and decorations galore and posters...lots and lots of posters. Oh yeah, I'm even sporting my Team Edward shirt today. I look pretty awesome. Red and Black is the dress code, no exceptions. Pictures to come tomorrow.

Yes, I do have a real job and yes I work very hard. However, today is a day of celebration and team spirit. So I ask you, what team are you on and why? Please post in comments. Ready...go!

The Girl I am Not

I have lots of crafty friends. I have friends that can make a piece of trash look like a piece of art. I have friends with pretty handwriting and loads artistic talent. I have friends who love to scrapbook. I have friends who can decorate a room in their mind in fifteen seconds. I have friends who have more style in their thumb nail than I do in my entire body.

I want to be that girl, but I am not.

I went to Hobby Lobby today during my lunch break to pick up a few items for an upcoming wedding next weekend. Hooray for Ashley and Kasey! Hobby Lobby was having a huge 50% off sale. It was fantastic. I wouldn't have a clue where to hang or put half the things that were on sale, but I still like to look and dream. As I roamed about Hobby Lobby becoming more and more saddened by my lack of artistic ability, I began to think about how grateful my husband must be that I am that I lack those abilities.

I hate shopping. Hate. I only like to go shopping for clothes if I am looking for something specific. I do not wander around the mall jumping from store to store trying on clothes that I know I will never wear. Pointless and too exhausting! The lady in front of me at Hobby Lobby today had a basket full of fall decor. She tells the check out lady, "All I came in for was this picture lamp. My husband has been waiting in the car for me this whole time!" Yup, not me. I'm just a plain old "get what you came for" kind of gal. I don't know what it is, but I do not possess the internal traits to be a crafty or shopping kind of lady.

I love my friends who are like this. They make me smile and I admire their talent and style everyday. I just don't have the ability to do what they do. It is not in me.

I can however do thirty five (as of last Wednesday) consecutive pull ups so I guess I have that going for me.

Surprise!

During Kody's time in Michigan he really wanted to go on vacation. We had talked about planning a vacation in March during his last off month before graduation. Yes, I just said graduation. My husband is almost an official doctor. HAHAHAHA Crazy. Anyway, I got a call in August saying, "Book a vacation for December now. Everyone has pictures of vacation and they look happy." So I followed my dear husband's request and booked us a fabulous Mexican all inclusive getaway for December. We thought interviews would be over (ortho interviews are typically over by the beginning of November) and didn't think a thing about it. Kody has since had multiple interviews in October, all of which we were very excited about. We thought we were done and had our programs mapped out. Now we could go on vacation and just wait to find out about match in February! Right? Wrong.

I regularly check Kody's email because he well, he thinks he is eighty years old and doesn't really know what the internet is. No offense to any eighty year old that is on the internet reading this blog. Sorry. Don't ever email him....ever. It will get lost in oblivion. Anyway, I do my daily check of his email and I see this:

"Congratulations candidate. BLAH BLAH BLAH Orthopedic Residency would like to invite you to interview on Sunday, December 6th".

First reaction, "Awesome! Another interview at a really great program we really like! YAY!"
Second reaction, "December 6th...that's Kody's birthday...in MEXICO!"

Call to Kody in Enid:
Kody: "Hello"
Me: "You have an interview at BLAH BLAH BLAH's Program"
Kody: "What? You're Kidding!" (totally unexpected by both of us so he was shocked
Me: "Yeah, congratulations, whatever, it is while we are in Mexico" (I really was exited, but all I could think about was how I was supposed to be eating at La Carreta that evening for his birthday!)
Kody: "Change it. You have to change it. ::panic in his voice:: Change it now."

Later that evening I spent hours on line in"live chat" with the hotel trying to get our hotel arrangements and flights pushed back a week. I was a pathetic case claiming a family emergency had come up (sure, it is kind of a family emergency, right?). I just prayed they would not take my swim up jacuzzi room away from me. I have been dreaming about that lazy river outside my balcony for months. $300 later we are still set to go on vacation a week later than originally planned and Kody will have another great interview and great program to consider. WOOHOO!

That was fun...

The People's Choice

So, you probably all already know that the People's Choice Award nominees came out. I know, you have already voted because it is a HUGE deal. I don't think I have ever voted for the People's Choice awards, but today I did. I'm not sure I will ever do it again because they made me make some really tough decisions and I was simply not prepared.

Here are a few of the heartbreaking decisions they forced me to make:

Favorite Movie Actor: Johnny Depp or Ryan Reynolds
Action Star: Christian Bale or Hugh Jackman
Comedic Star: Ryan Reynolds or Vince Vaughn

There were five nominees in each category. My struggle settled at two. To most of you these might be simple or silly choices. To me, this is serious. I have a deep, deep love for Johnny, Ryan, Christian, Hugh and Vince. How does a girl choose? They can all do no wrong in my eyes. And seriously, have you seen Ryan Reynolds without a shirt lately? Oh. My. Even Kody gets a bit giddy....in a "Wow, I want to look like him" sort of way...I think. Christian and I go way back to 1992 when Newsies came out. Best. Movie. Ever. Johnny is well....Johnny. Not much more to say about him other than he is utterly fantastic in that dark way that I just adore. Hugh can sing, dance and melt my heart with his smile. Vince, well, there is just something about him that makes me incredibly happy. He's like a big, funny teddy bear.

Christian Bale and the rest of the newsboys ::sigh::

I will not divulge how I ended up voting to help preserve the anticipation that comes with The People's Choice Awards. I don't think I will ever know if I made the right choice, but sometimes we have to make tough choices in life. Today was one of those days.

P.S. Happy birthday Ashley!!!

Certified Awesome

That's right folks, I am now an official Level 1 CrossFit trainer. WOOHOO!

This means I can technically kick your butt and I am officially allowed to do so by the CrossFit community. I spent the weekend in Dallas at CrossFit Strong learning about proper technique, how to teach and how to program CrossFit workouts. So fun! I met a lot of amazing people and great athletes. It was a fantastic experience. I'm so glad I finally did it. I'm looking forward to putting my trainer skills into practice. If you would like to be my trainee guinea pig (Angela) let me know! I would love to make your legs burn with CrossFit goodness.

A big birthday shout out to my sister and father-in-law. They share the same day of birth. Happy Birthday!

As Promised...

Bailey...Kung Fu Dogress!



I know, awesome right? She helped my mom pass out Halloween candy while we were at the game. She was a huge hit with the kiddos. Luckily, she didn't have to bust out any of her sweet kung fu moves.

I'm pretty sure this might be my Christmas card picture this year. Kody says he has to "approve" it because I typically don't let him have an opinion about the card. Oh well.



On a quick serious note, please keep us in your prayers. Lots of things are still up in the air about residency.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

OSU/Texas

Saturday, Kody and I ventured to Stillwater for the OSU/Texas game. I know, I'm actually a Florida girl, but I can still cheer for my husband's post graduate institution....especially when they are playing the dreaded Texas Longhorns. (sorry Katie) Anyway, it was on our way to this game when I hit the squirrel. Luckily my night got a lot better after that.

I got to hang out with my future sister in law Ashley, which was great fun! Isn't she cute?


We got to see all the DuBose boys (plus Beth!). That is Kasey's best friend Ben throwing up the horns in the background. Silly boy. He's apparently related to some Texas player named Jordan Shipley. Whatever. He probably isn't any good. (Yes, that was total sarcasm about him not being good. Jordan Shipley is awesome. I saw his muscles up close!)


I saw Jordan's muscles up close because we sat with all the Texas parents and had this AWESOME view of the game!


Being a true Florida fan I had to sport my Gator socks to the game. Obviously I confused people. I had on an OSU sweatshirt, Florida socks and sat in the Texas section. I like to keep everyone guessing!


OSU lost. We all know that, but it was still fun. I love college football with every inch of my being. Halloween pictures of sweet baby Bailey are coming tomorrow. She looked AWESOME!

The Squirrel

Saturday I did something I have never done before in my entire life.

I hit a squirrel.

With my car.

It died.

I typically get really sad when I see dead animals. It doesn't matter if it is a opossum, skunk, squirrel, bird, dog, cat or deer. If it was once alive and now is dead then I am sad.

I had never hit an animal before. I probably should have about one hundred time, but I always tried to avoid it. This usually ends up with Kody giving me a stern lecture about how trying to not hit an animal can put me in more danger of being in a wreck, blah blah blah. Whatever.

We were on our way to the OSU/Texas game (more to come on that later). We were leaving my parents neighborhood and I looked at Kody for one second to say something and all I hear is Kody yell, "NOOOOOOOOOO!" I turned my head and tried to miss....my front wheels did....the back ones did not. Kody's face looked horrified, not because I actually hit a squirrel, but because he knew what was about to happen.

Tears. Wailing. Lot and lots of tears. Plus slight moments of hyperventilating. I picked up the phone to call my mom and confess my sins. Kody tried to get me to pull over and let him drive, but I refused.

"Poor ::sniff:; squirrel. He was probably ::sniff sniff:: trying ::sob:: to get some good nuts! I KILLED him! I'm a murderer!"

I can never take that one second back. I can never undo what I did to that squirrel. I took his life. I took him from his family. He was probably the provider out collecting nuts for winter for his lady squirrel and their babies. I don't know if I will ever forgive myself. I'm kind of not exaggerating at all.

The next morning I drove to church and was elated to not see the squirrel in the road. I had a moment of hope. Did I not kill this squirrel? Did he survive? Was the lump I saw in my rear view mirror just a terrified little squirrel waiting for me to be gone before he ran to safety? No. My mom crushed that dream pretty fast. As I told her about my hopeful thoughts she said, "Oh no! I saw him last night. He was definitely dead."

Thanks Mom.

Later I found out that my dear, sweet husband moved the squirrel on his way to the hospital at 6AM on Sunday morning just so I wouldn't have to see him on my way to church. What a sweet boy. He put him under a tree where he probably liked to climb. Now whenever I drive by that tree I will remember that moment and how I took the life of another living creature.

Rest in peace Mr. Squirrel. I'm sorry.

A Big Thank You!

I have the best friends. Yes, I consider my parents and Kody my friends also. They are great. The past six or seven months have just been insane. Kody has been roaming the country, I have been traveling like a mad woman to visit him on weekends or to visit friends and family from home while he was out of state. It has just been exhausting and now FINALLY it is about to slow down. Less traveling, Kody will be home more and we are going on vacation in four weeks. Hallelujah!

Kody lived with my family during the month of June and October while on rotations in OKC. While I know my family and his would do anything for us in a heartbeat, I also know it takes a lot to open your home to anyone for that long of a time. I honestly don't know if I could do it. I pray that I could, but I am such a "need my space and privacy" kind of person sometimes. Yikes. We all have our routines and we all do things different ways. I cannot begin to tell you how thankful Kody and I are for our wonderful, generous families who love us and care for us even though we are "adults". Kody's mom always calls to take me to dinner whenever she is in town so I we can catch up. It is always fun. My mom always calls to get Kody's list of "must haves" food and drink wise before he arrives for the month. Neither of them have to do these things, but they do because they love us. It is fun to see Kody's mom taking care of me and my mom taking care of Kody.

To top off the family kindness, Kody's brother Kasey is playing host to Kody in Enid for the month of November....the same month he is getting married! Poor Ashley. I can just picture her trying to have conversations with Kasey on the phone about wedding details and Kody yelling in the background, "Kasey! Come play with ME! I just invented this really awesome new game...call her back later!" and then Kasey having to hang up the phone because Kody has decided his bones won't work and has fallen underneath the coffee table and needs help getting up. If you know my husband or anything about our very interesting relationship prior to marriage and beyond then you will be laughing your socks off in agreement. Ashley, I'm so sorry. Truly sorry.

And now to all my wonderful friends who are like family to me, but not related by paper or name. I love you all. What would I do without all of you? No matter where I live now or in the future, I have a great core group of friends that will always support and love me.

Here are some special girls from Natalie's baby shower last week.

Cassie, Natalie, Kinsey, Me, Cari and her darling Cali.