Best Day at the Office...EVER!

Instead of going into work here today

our Doctors took us here

for some Christmas shopping and lunch.
We hit up here,

here,

here,

and here.

And then we had lunch here.


SOOOOO much better than doing this all morning!

1 Month Down, 23 To Go

One month ago today, we sent this boy off to the MTC. One more month from now he will be serving the people of Puebla, Mexico. I could not be more proud.

Don't judge. These pics were taken at 7:00 am. And btw, check out the missionary haircut on that boy! I already miss the curls. :(

1 MONTH DOWN, 23 TO GO... NOT THAT WE'RE COUNTING

Turkey Day (and a few others)

We had an absolute blast this Thanksgiving hanging with family and friends. Four action-packed days ended up feeling like ten!

Here's a few of the highlights:

• Completing the 10K Mesa Turkey Trot 12 seconds under my goal time. Ran it with my mom and my cousin Lauren, who was visiting from NYC.
• A midnight mall shopping spree with my sis, arriving home just before dawn at 4:45 am!
• Several trips down a 100 ft. cliff via ropes and harnesses.
• A wonderful ending to a not-so-wonderful game. Go COUGARS!!!!!!
• A delicious Thanksgiving meal enjoyed outside on a beautiful Thanksgiving afternoon.
• Wearing clothing inside out, ending every spoken word with -izzle, composing haiku poems about stringy snot, and completing many other absolutely crazy and hilarious tasks all due to a few zany games of Quelf. Don't have it yet? GO GET IT!!
• Planning a strategy of getting from one side of the room to the other without stepping on any one of the SIX dogs (all under 10 lbs.) running around!

It was so fun to spend some much overdue time with the fam. Thanks to everyone who made it a great time!

My Kind of Thanksgiving

"Ok, here's the Thanksgiving menu so far: apple pie, pumpkin pie, blueberry tart, and ice-cream roll. What am I missing?... Cake. We need cake."

-Will and Grace (1999)

Trends Come and Go

I was looking through some VERY old pics, when I stumbled across this...

Spring '87

I had to laugh because I have almost identical Ray-Bans that I wear now. I guess history does repeat itself.

'Tis The Season

With an absent husband and an empty house, what was a girl to do but...DECORATE?! That's right, I have my Christmas decorations up. Actually, they've been up for a week and a half already. With the thoughts of last years lack still in my mind (see here and here), I decided I would not let that happen again. We already have plans to be out of town for a few weeks in December again this year, so I decided to make sure we have plenty of time to enjoy the season this time. Sorry to all my Thanksgiving decorations that are gathering dust this year. Maybe they'll get TWO months of display next year, but I highly doubt it! :)

I DO NOT Get It

How can people say that they LOVE to run?! That just DOES NOT make sense to me. Yes, after a long run I do feel like I've accomplished something. Yes, I am proud that my body could actually endure that. But, as my lungs are burning, my thighs are throbbing, and my ankle is pulsing, am I having fun??? NO! As I calculate how many miles miles I have left, am I excited for them??? NO! And when I'm finished with my run for the day, do I look forward to the next run??? DEFINITELY NOT! But as the next day comes, I gather up my courage and go run again anyways, because apparently it's good for me.


My most current motivations: prepping for the Turkey Trot... and these new babies I have recently acquired with much persuasion from Brett. They're not cute, but they are the most amazing thing I've ever put my foot in. If you have not been analyzed for a shoe fit, DO IT! I'm amazed at the difference a shoe can make.

One more week!!!! YAY!!!

Bliss

Yesterday I spent the afternoon in my backyard lying on a blanket, laid out over my green grass in the shade, with a big glass of lemonade, a good book, and a sunny 75 degree breeze blowing over me. Heaven on earth!

Seriously??!!

I am at the batting cages for a little pre-game practice.
I am taking my turns in the 80 mph cage because 1.) it has the shortest line, and 2.) we'll be facing a quick pitcher tonight.
The only other people rotating with me at that cage are a group of high school boys.
I listen to them ramble about people at their school and their weekend plans.
Suddenly one of the boys turns to me and asks, "So, which school do you go to?"
I stare dumbfounded at the group of kids.
Seriously?!! He can not possibly be talking to me??!!
The answer that comes to my head: "Well, I graduated from college 3 1/2 yrs ago, and I've been married long enough that if I had had a kid right away, it would now be attending kindergarten at Coyote Hills Elementary."
I think that this answer might be a little harsh, and I don't want to fully embarrass the kid in front of his friends.
Instead, I simply answer, "Uhhh, I don't go to school."
He turns away a little confused but doesn't bother me again.
My dignity is shred to pieces.
Apparently I could enroll in a local high school and no one would know the difference!

Just to top things off...
A few hours later I walk into the park where I play ball.
The guy checking for contraband tells me to just walk on thru.
Apparently he doesn't need to check my bag.
As I walk past him he yells, "I doubt you're even old enough to buy beer, right?!"

Two times in one night. You have got to be kidding me??!! Do I really look that young??!!

Giving Thanks

After a VERY long day of baking (pumpkin cookies, bran muffins, and wheat bread), I just have to say THANK GOODNESS I live in a day where dishwashers exist.

28 Candles

Friday was Brett's birthday and we were fortunate to both have the day off. We were able to spend the whole day together and had ALOT of fun. We slept in and then had a delicious pancake breakfast. Then we opened presents, went to the store so Brett could pick out some new video games, went out to lunch, and then headed here...
...SpeedStreet Indoor Kart Racing!
These karts go 50 mph one inch above the ground!!! This is NOT your old-fashioned bumper cars!
We had such a blast, but the strenuous racing took it's toll. Afterwards we both felt a little queasy, so we went home and took it easy before we headed out for a night with friends. It was so fun to spend the day with one another. Happy Birthday Brett! I love you!!

I Heart Pink

Why was I so much more interested in watching the Cardinal's game with Brett just because all the guys were wearing pink? Not sure, but it definitely made me smile. Hooray for Breast Cancer Awareness month!!

Proud

On Saturday Brett completed his last 8 hr. national boards test (#4 of 4!) of his medical school career. What a relief!! One more step complete on the seemingly never-ending quest to a medical degree. Only a few more months till graduation! I could not be more proud of him!!

California Fun

We were lucky enough to be able to make another quick weekend trip to Carlsbad this last weekend.

We spent a day hanging with the Blaser clan at the beach and the condo before they headed home on Saturday.
Here's some of the cute kids we got to spend the day with...



Then we spent the next two days with our BFF's John and Kim Bingham. We decided to venture from Carlsbad and went down to Old Town San Diego.

Not much to see, but a few friends to be made...


While we were there, we decided to drive over to Coronado Island.

We always have to take 2-3 pics because Brett will always make some dumb face or pose on the first few. I decided if he's going to keep making faces, I might as well start posting them. :)

We put some rose petals from a recently completed wedding ceremony to good use.

We took a stroll thru the tide pools. Check out the size of that starfish!!

We decided to rent a surrey (a 4 person bike) and bike around the island. We had an absolute blast driving cross country over rocks, grass, and speed bumps; ringing our bell at angry golfers and bikers; and almost running over Amare Staudemire and Grant Hill from the Phoenix Suns!



Some of our views along the ride...


That night we chartered a gondola for a ride around the Coronado Cays. Wool blankets, an awesomely-clad gondolier, and some chocolate covered strawberries almost convinced us we were in Venice!


We had such a fun time, as always! Thanks to the Blasers and Binghams for a wonderfully long short weekend!