A heart full of thanks

What better way to spend Thanksgiving than with family? So, with family it was. John and I decided that since we're now pros of cross country driving, (not as cool as cross country running I know, but both take skill) and my sister is only a twelve hour car ride away (as if that's so close), why not head to Tennessee for turkey day? I'm not really a huge fan of long drives anymore, since I feel like I've had an overdose of them this year. But since it meant getting to hang out with my sisters, and cute little nephew, I was all for it! Thankfully the drive to and from flew by, all except the last two hours...both ways. Isn't that how it always goes? So anxious to get there, yet it feels like the last little bit JUST.WON'T.END. Regardless, I couldn't have asked for a better or more needed vacation, than our little trek to Tennessee. It makes me laugh when I think about how crazy it is that not only do I live in Oklahoma, a place I NEVER imagined I would live, but that I also have a sister who lives in Tennessee, and I can assure you, she probably never imagined she'd live there, either. I love that about life, that changes and opportunities you never expect come your way, and generally speaking leave lasting impressions on you. It's what makes life exciting.

I have to admit, I'm slightly jealous my sister lives in Tennessee, it was absolutely beautiful there. Who knew? Thanks, sister, for letting John and I come crash at your house for a few days. I was in need of my family. That was made apparent as we drove away and I started bawling in the car. John was trying to figure out what the heck was wrong with me, and besides being a girl, whose hormones sometimes are out of whack, I was so sad to be coming back "home" and leaving my sisters and nephew behind, that all I could do was let the tears go at it. I've been spoiled in my life, and no not just because I'm the youngest. But because in the last few years, I've always had family around. I miss dearly being roommates with my sister, and getting to hang out with her everyday. She became one of my best friends. I miss when my brother and sister in-law lived close by, and my brother and I would hang out on Friday nights together and go eat delicious food. And I equally miss having my sister an hour and a half drive away, and being able to go visit her on any given weekend. There's something special about having family, especially your siblings close by, and sadly, I don't think that will ever happen again. I'm convinced that that's why I was supposed to go to Washington, DC in the first place. Aside from all of the opportunities that awaited me there, I know it was so I could be close to my siblings. So, that's exactly what I am thankful for this Thanksgiving season, for family. For amazing sisters. For a humorous brother. For my adorable nephews. My loving and incredible, like seriously incredible parents. My great in-laws. And of course, my darling husband who is far too good to me, and who I often times feel entirely undeserving of. There's nothing better in life than having an amazing family who loves me, is supportive of me, and always there for me, no matter what.

I couldn't help but think back to this occasion,

and reflect on all of the people who were there to support John and I those five short months ago. Blood relation or not, this lovely bunch is all family in my eyes!

Things I learned this weekend:

• Date night in Oklahoma's Asian District was an awesome idea. Not only did we land ourselves a great dinner, we discovered an entire Asian market, full of anything and everything imaginable. Pig snouts, chicken feet, beef tongue, live crab and lobsters were just a few of our discoveries. 

• My husband really is learning something in school, or at least how to make personalized molds:

 

Was I little nervous when he had to use some serious force to pull the molding out of my mouth?  Well, you would be too if you had a fake front tooth, that if pulled out, would have been completely noticeable. Good thing the tooth remained intact, I wasn't about to go through that again.

• Seeing an adult get baptized and join the church is a really cool experience. I can't imagine how much faith that would take to give up a lifestyle you've become so accustomed to, but I commend him for his decision, and know it's one that will change his life for the better. We felt really blessed that we've been able to be with him throughout his conversion. 

• John and I are really cultured. At least after this weekend that's how we feel. The guy who got baptized  took us and the missionaries out for some seriously awesome authentic taco's. Beef tongue and other innards may have been the meat of the taco's, sounds nasty, but boy were they delicious. 

• I really love cooking and making desserts. This weekends desert consisted of this delicious peanut butter goodness. For some reason these remind me of my childhood. Although, I'm pretty sure my mom never made these for me as a kid.

• A few weeks ago, a certain someone, unbeknown to him, completely drenched my phone, while doing the dishes. Bless his heart, I couldn't be mad, when he was doing me a favor, but I thought all was lost when my phone slowly, but surely was giving up on me. So, I placed my phone in a baggie with a silica gel packet over night, and it was good as new the next day. Well, this past weekend, while cleaning the toilet, my phone took another plunge to it's death. I tried to revive the thing, like I had done a few weeks prior, but much to my dismay, it was still half dead. The touch screen was just a little too touchy for my liking. Thank goodness I'm not the only one who bathes their phones.  It's always comforting knowing others have made the same mistake. How embarrassing would it be to type into google, 'how to save my wet cell phone?' and nothing pops up? As though you're the only one whose done such a thing. Thankfully, others know how to reverse the problem. Sticking your phone in a bag of rice really does work. My phone is good as new, and clean too! Awesome.

Apparently I need friends

 

It's Friday, which means the usual small talk conversations with co-workers revolves around weekend plans. The past few weeks, when asked this question, my response has been something like, "Oh, not much, John has to study, boards are coming up." You know, the kind of response that indicates you have nothing to do, and are therefore going to sit around and do a whole lot of nothing, while your husband fries his brains out. Surprisingly, I'm A-OK with being a homebody and having nothing to do, most of the time anyway. Don't get me wrong, I equally love getting out, having fun, and playing on the weekends, but sometimes, staying in sounds equally appealing. I usually have to defend myself in my response though, so I quickly add to my "pathetic-ness", "We'll probably go out to eat with some friends," because yes, I do have some friends out here, thank you very much. But today, that response is not applicable to this weekend. So, the typical "Oh, not much, John has to study, boards are coming up," was the best I could do. To which I was told, "You really need to get some girlfriends." If that doesn't make one feel entirely pathetic, please tell me what does? I did follow-up, in my defense of course, that I have Christmas shopping and other errands to run this weekend. So, John studying and me "having no girlfriends" is semi-ok...

In other news, John just text me saying, "I got on A in the class. It's official!" Makes him studying all the time that much more worth it. Even though 20 minutes earlier, while at lunch together, he claimed that A's in his classes or not, he'll still graduate from dental school.  One fine dentist coming your way, and, in some eyes, a lonely weekend ahead. Awesome!

Bad case of the dentist

I've never liked going to the dentist. I can't remember what my temperament was like as a child when I had to go visit the drilling terror, but I'm sure it was never fun. I don't mind having my teeth feel shiny and clean. In fact, I love running my tongue over my teeth when I leave. It's like a slip and slide they're so smooth. If there's one good thing from a visit to the dentist, that's it. And the free tooth brush of course.

Isn't he going to be such a good looking dentist?

I hate being told I have a cavity. Thankfully after enduring a billion cavities when my baby teeth grew in, I haven't had to deal with that torture too often. Only on occasion, one being recently. Here are some things to know about me when I'm at the dentist; I'll do whatever I can to get out of taking fluoride. I usually succeed. Half of the time I think what they're telling me about my teeth is bogus. As if I know so much better than them. They just want my money. And the sound of their instruments, particularly the drill, is enough to send chills down my spine. I cringe. I want out. Am I the only one?

Today's visit to the dentist, instilled in me even further, my strong dislike for a visit to the chair, especially when the only reason I am there, is because they messed up in the first place. I can't recall how many times my visits to the dentist were due to their errors, but I've had my fair share, and I'm hoping my out of pocket expense for these visits is about up. I almost started thinking, poor John, all he's going to have to endure as my future dentist. But really, he should consider himself lucky. He has one tough critic on his hands, and therefore is going to make one fine dentist. Future patients will appreciate it. And hopefully, in a few years, dentist and torture will no longer be in the same sentence.

Weekends...

 

With great anticipation, Friday never seems to come soon enough. And when it's here, often times I feel like I need another Thursday just to gear up for Friday, because Saturday and Sunday will be over before I know it, and the dreaded Monday will be today. What a bleak cycle to be trapped in. And I'm only trapping myself. Pathetic.

So, what's on our weekend agenda?

Study, study, study, study, study, and study some more. Actually, that's John's agenda. Poor guy has his head buried in his books these days. The joy of being a dental student and gearing up for boards. I don't miss school. Nope, not one bit! Ok, maybe a little bit actually, but that little bit is so minuscule compared to the torture that is test taking. Pass!

I have plenty of things to keep me busy this weekend. So whether or not hanging out with my hubby is one of them, it will be a good weekend nonetheless. Simply because it's the weekend. Sleeping in, relaxing, being lazy, making delicious food, eating said delicious food. I.Love.Weekends. And in John's defense, he actually spends more time with me than I give him credit for. There just may be no talking involved...and no, it's not because we're making out. Please. 

I know most of us don't have trouble finding things to do to occupy our precious weekend time, BUT just in case you find yourself with nothing to do this weekend, allow me to offer some things to keep you busy, or at least preoccupied. 

Do you love pumpkin pie? Try this in lue of pie. You'll be glad you discovered it before Thanksgiving. Promise!  

This popcorn looks so tempting, and sinfully delicious. 

Do you save weekends for do-it-yourself projects? Warning: Read this article first. It may make you laugh before you can get angry. And by the way, if you think that article is funny, read this one or this one. The author is actually my mom's childhood friend who writes for the Giggle section of Alive Utah. If you decide to become a follower (hint hint, meaning do it!), I know she'd appreciate it! 

For a song I hate when I hear it on the radio, Glee sure knows how to add a little more flare to it. When has an all boys choir never worked in it's favor? Seriously.

Guess whose coming to OKC? He is, and they are. Will we be going to any of them? Pending. 

And last but not least. If anyone ever wants to challenge John and I to a game of scrabble, via facebook, bring it! We're nerds. So what.

Happy Friday! 

"You should write about why OKLAHOMA is so great" -John

 

Missing this place right now, in all it's fall foliage.  

"How am I supposed to protect you if nothing bad can happen?" -John*

Last night in bed I begged John to cuddle with me. I was freezing. He said he's just waiting for me to start complaining that it's too cold before he'll turn on the furnace. I wake up in the mornings to a freezing house. The reason I sleep so well at night, and the exact same reason I don't want to get out of bed in the mornings. It's a love/hate thing. This morning on the way to work/school the car said it was 36 degrees out. I had two sweaters on but no socks. John had short sleeves, no jacket. The highs lately have been in the lower 60's, but this weekend it's supposed to be in the upper 70's. It's November, right? I'm having the hardest time realizing that not only is Thanksgiving in three weeks, but Christmas is next month. I should be used to this nice weather, from living on the east coast, but after 20 some odd years of living in Utah, I guess it's weather is still ingrained in me. Where's the snow? Yuck! Weird.

Due to me having difficulty getting out of bed in the mornings, I also have difficulty eating a normal breakfast. Usually it's fine, since dear husband of mine usually throws a baggie of cereal and yogurt in with the lunch he makes, but today, he didn't. He thought I'd have chocolate carnation instant breakfast, like I have had every other morning this week. But I didn't. He's supposed to know that. So, I was grumpy as I drove us to work/school. Me and no food equals a bad combination. In my defense, I really wasn't THAT grumpy. Our gchat conversation went something like this:

me:  hey, sorry if I wasn't my nice, happy, loving, adorable, good-hearted, energetic, amazing, beautiful self this morning

John:  It's not your fault... I'm the one that forgot to pack your breakfast:)

I'm still laughing at his near perfect response. 

In other news, (ha, pun intended. wow I crack myself up sometimes) I read this article today, and realized how lucky I am to have such great sisters. REALLY lucky. My sisters are awesome.

Just for the enjoyment of pictures, 

here's our first family portrait. 

Like I said, I crack myself up. 

See, the no food thing really didn't make me all that grumpy.

* Said after I discovered our front door was unlocked, before crawling into bed. He's now, and probably forever, going to think he's my "guardian angle," after comparing our results and compatibility based off of this quiz we took last night. Awesome. 

T.G.I.F.

53 years later...

...and a World Series is finally theirs! 

I think it's safe to say there are some pretty happy Candrian's all over the world, quite literally, right about now.