RJ's 2 year old photos

photography by Jacquel 

(RJ was a little pill, and she did a great job)

white linen shirt from The Children's Place

newsboy suit made by me

This is one of my favorites...my dad's hands

We had planned to try more in casual clothes, but he burned out and was done!

2 Years Ago

This chubby baby was born

2 weeks old:

1 year old:

UNDER CONTRACT

The sellers accepted our offer on this house and it is under contract.

WHAT A RELIEF!

We have never purchased a house before.

I've always been envious of those that own homes as opposed to renting shacks, which is what we've done our whole marriage other than the last two years, where we've lived with my parents.

What's worse, renting a shack or living with parents--for me the shacks/ ghetto was worse.

So I'd always looked forward to the day when I could purchase a home, paint the walls whatever I wanted, and on and on.

But what a stressful process.  Rhett and I found we have very different priorities in what we prefer in a home.  Most issues we're on the same page, but little ones, like the fact I love wood floors and Rhett hates them became a pain to negotiate.  I pointed out that most luxury home decor magazines are photographed on hardwood floors.

He pointed out that living in Italy for 2 years where there isn't carpet anywhere, you realize how cozy carpet is.

So this house has both hardwood floors and cozy carpet.

Anyway, we're excited we finally found a house we both agree on and moving on.

There are more little fix-it-up projects (mainly paint) for this house other than getting rid of the bright green trim on the outside.  What were they thinking? So I'm sure we'll have some before and afters in the months to come.

Some projects I may not be able to justify, like the fact I want to make canvas sails to shade the back patio.  Have you seen these?

I would have mine removable so you could take them down for the winter.

There are posts already around the back patio, so it could be possible.

RJ is turning 2 this Thursday!

photos taken by my cousin's wife, Jacquel.
Her blog is here.

Vegas

I almost made the title of this post Viva Las Vegas, but all I can think about is the "Viva Viagra!" comercial, so now you are thinking about it anyway, sorry.  No more "VIVA!"

Each spring my friends from Kirksville/ med-school wives get together.  Last year we all met up in Chicago, this year it was Vegas, which was great so I could drive.  Katherine had a baby 4 days prior, so she wasn't coming from the get go, and Ashley couldn't come either, so it was just us three, Natalie, myself, & Jayne.

We had a lot of fun, tons of girl talk and laughing.  Too much shopping and THE GAP for me.  But I hate shopping, so I have fun hanging out and I prepare myself for shopping prior to going.  One day we went to 3 different malls.  The past 2 years I've stepped foot in a mall twice.  (other than the last girl trip in Chicago).  So my one mall trip per year then jumping into mall mayhem all in one day is shopping overload.  Anyway, blah blah blah. It was fun to hang out and go fetch the different sizes/ colors/ styles they needed from the dressing room.  I will admit I am the worst shopping buddy on earth, and Natalie & Jayne will testify to that.  I probably ruined their shopping experience and reminded them of their kids they were vacationing away from.

But now the things I LOVED.

The Bellagio water fountains.

Water fountains choreographed to music. 

I love this and it's every 15 minutes and I could stand their all night just waiting for the next one.  Jayne said she thinks I over-love it because it's like ballet with water instead of dancers.  Maybe she's right.

The other things we did.

Now for the food.

My first:

Serendipity's Frozen Hot Chocolate.

(we shared, thus the 3 straws and I'm not a total pig. I can pack food away, I am a pig, not a total hog maybe)

My first ever:

In-N-Out Burger.

Pretty good.  I'm glad I didn't sit in a 1-2 hour line in Provo to wait for one this past year, but definitely a good cheeseburger.

And our big splurge, the show.

We had a hard time deciding what to see from the acrobatic Circue du Solei shows, Garth Brooks, etc.

We decided on The Phantom of the Opera.

It was awesome.  I really enjoyed it and the set and cast were great.  I loved it.

With all girl trips, we do a lot of fun things and have a lot of fun memories, but I find I always leave thinking how lucky it is to have great friends, that you can be yourself completely.

Sometimes I forget how important it is to have other women who know your experiences and understand your struggles and frustrations, which is why I think I'm so close with these other med-student wives and the ballet girls.  You go through difficult crap and it really bonds you--for life.  Sometimes I go over a year without talking to them and we get together and you just pick up where you left off.  For being a crappy friend myself, I sure luck out with so many great people in my life.

I also am grateful Rhett supports these little trips, watching the kid and being happy for me to go.  Maybe it's not like this for everyone, but I know getting away is good for me and I come back a better mom and hopefully a better wife.  Although we talked way too late and all left sleep deprived, emotionally and mentally it's a refresher to go back to life and be appreciative for my roles since I had a chance to step out and realize mom & wife are really fulfilling...when I have a good attitude.

So yay for all our close gal pals who won't hate us when we complain about another Gap to go in, or don't snear when we bawl, or gross out at the suggestion to share desserts, or mock the blue showercap.

FINISHED!

Rhett had his last day of medical school today.  We went out to eat to celebrate.  We were getting up to leave and he said: "Now that I'm finally done and have a few weeks off, I really need to get a new signature."
I asked why.  He said he's realized all the crap he'll have to sign and it's takes him too long. 

Also he said it's not as exciting to be done as he'd always expected.  Anti-climactic.  Just finishing something to move on to hell = residency. 

OK Debbie Downer. 
I'm excited it's OVER!  No more tuition!  No more student loans (I haven't forgotten interest accrual)!  The real world!

this was his first day I guess back in 2006- white coat ceremony.

Next month he graduates to the mid-thigh length coat, then in 3 years the full knee length when he's a "real" doctor.

wierd.  It would be fun if all medical staff designated status by top length. 

CNAs have crop-top scrubs, LPNs get mid-drift, RNs get the full waist length, Nurse Practitioners get tunic length tops.

I'm sure the real world will be as anticlimactic as his last day, but for today I'm excited.  Upward and onward!

Blackberry Lemon Streusel Muffin

I made just the plain lemon and the blackberry lemon

I found the recipe on Katherine's blog here.

She found it on The Sister's Cafe here.

Lemon.

Streusel.

Glaze.

BooYah!

Remember how I love blackberry and lemon?

These are the changes I made, basically just adding blackberries into the muffins before you bake them:

Rinse and drain a large handful of blackberries.  Cut them in half.  Sprinkle with sugar.

When you are making the muffins, put a big spoonful in each muffin.  Spoon 4-5 blackberry chunks on top of the batter.  Got back through and finish off the batter with another spoonful on top of the berries.  That way they are in the muffin, but the whole batter isn't pink if you just dumped them in and stirred it up, which you could do too.

I used the bowl that had the blackberries in it to make the lemon glaze, so that was pink.

This is a really good muffin recipe.  LOTS of flavor and great dense, moist texture.