Wednesday, December 29, 2010

The Bag Game

I assure you, after you get a load of our family activities you are all going to be DYING to be a part of our holiday gatherings...

So here's the game...

1. Take a paper grocery sack
2. Place it on the floor
3. Everyone has to bend over and pick up the bag with their mouth and WITHOUT touching the floor with their hands or knees.
4. Cut off 1+ inches and then go another round

How low can YOU go?!

Irwin Christmas 2010 (28 of 56)
Warming up before the game...


Irwin Christmas 2010 (29 of 56)


Irwin Christmas 2010 (36 of 56)


Irwin Christmas 2010 (38 of 56)


Irwin Christmas 2010 (51 of 56)


Irwin Christmas 2010 (53 of 56)
Yes, this was the winning piece of bag. That my sister picked up.
With her mouth.
Without touching the ground.
And without putting forth much effort.


Irwin Christmas 2010 (55 of 56)
The winner and the runner up.
With the size of the original and winning bag pieces for comparison.


Irwin Christmas 2010 (56 of 56)
You might think that we just came up with a random game, but you'd be wrong. My cousin introduced us to this little gem, and we have played this game just about every year since. And now we have a commemorative trophy to keep track of the winners. Seriously.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Here's wishing all of you a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and at least a few moments of relaxation during this busy holiday season!

Christmas Eve 2010 (18 of 41)

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Congrats!

I've said it before, but I will say it again. For so many reasons, I have the world's most amazing coworkers. They are, without a doubt, the most kind, caring, supportive, intelligent, loving and fabulous people around.

One of the big bummers about working in health care is that there is never a time when everyone is off. We are open every single minute of every single day, and that means that there are always people who can't come to events. That's a bummer, but we all know that's how it goes...

A few weeks ago one of my coworkers got married. She had a Sunday evening wedding, which was a first for me. She also had a reception without alcohol, which was another first. And she had Elvis, which was perhaps the biggest first of all.

No. Really.

Her dad dressed up like Elvis and sang. For an hour.

Congrats Vanessa and Jeff!  12.12.10 (61 of 77)

I can't make this stuff up.

But the wedding was gorgeous -- and we all wish them nothing but the best as they start their married life!

Congrats Vanessa and Jeff!  12.12.10 (37 of 77)


Congrats Vanessa and Jeff!  12.12.10 (41 of 77)


Congrats Vanessa and Jeff!  12.12.10 (71 of 77)


Congrats Vanessa and Jeff!  12.12.10 (67 of 77)

Monday, November 8, 2010

Calling All Photographers

So I seem to have fallen into yet another 'career' of sorts. Photography. Which, don't get me wrong, I LOVE.

It appears that if you take nice pictures for someone, everyone they know will then ask you to do the same. Go figure, right?

So my question is this: for those of you who take pictures for people, what do you use as your photo host? Flickr? Smug Mug? Nothing at all?

I'm all ears for recommendations...

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Best Shot Monday: Happy Halloween!

From the best looking Stitch and Captain Hook around...Happy Halloween!

Bennett's Halloween Party - 10.19.10 (3 of 31)


Bennett's Halloween Party - 10.19.10 (4 of 31)


Bennett's Halloween Party - 10.19.10 (2 of 31)

May you enjoy your sugar-induced coma just as much as we do!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Best Shot Monday: The Face of Six

You can no longer tell people how old you are with just one hand. You are learning to read. You can write your name. You can play soccer. You have turned from a baby to a toddler to a preschooler to a grade schooler.

Happy Birthday Garrett - 10.23.10 (34 of 38)

There are soccer games, slumber parties, and homework. But still snuggles, naps and a love of chocolate milk.

Happy Birthday Garrett - 10.23.10 (29 of 38)


Six.

Happy Birthday Garrett - 10.23.10 (26 of  38)

I think it's going to be a fabulous year.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Oh The Guilt...

When you start down the path for medical school, there are lots of things that people tell you.


"You should totally do it! Go to medical school!"

"You have got to be out of your *(&$% mind!"

"Seriously?! Are you nuts?!"

"You can do it!"

People tell you all about the stress and the time and the studying and the feeling of drinking from a fire hose going full blast.

But no one mentioned the guilt. The guilt that you aren't studying enough. The guilt that you aren't doing enough work or that you aren't smart enough and didn't really deserve to be there.

And all the other guilt -- that you are neglecting your friends (you are, although they will understand, at least for a while) and your family (you are, and they might understand, or at least they will pretend to) and your coworkers if you are dumb enough to think that you can still work and the things that need to be done around the house (you are, and your neighbors probably are wondering when your yard turned into a jungle and when you might do something about that).

And I was prepared for the stress. And the studying. And the feeling like my brain would explode if I tried to cram one more little factoid into it.

But I was completely and totally unprepared for the overwhelming guilt.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Why Did No One Tell Me?




Why did no one tell me how great this show is?! Thank goodness for Netflix -- otherwise I never would have gotten to see all the episodes from Season 1 that I missed!

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

The Things You Find

I moved almost four months ago, after living in the same apartment for SEVEN YEARS.

I know.

I had lots of reasons for staying, which is a different post entirely. But we'll save that for another time. But really, I stayed because it was home -- because I made it my home.

It was my first home that was mine. It was the first place I lived after graduating from college. The first place I lived when I had a grown up job. And got to do grown up things in - have dinner parties, host out of town guests, decorate for holidays. It wasn't always good, but the good certainly outweighed the bad. Because, really, when you think about it, life is pretty awesomely good.

I unpacked most of my boxes a long time ago, but there was still a random assortment of stuff in the garage that I just hadn't gotten to yet. To be honest, I really wasn't even sure what all was in there - things that had gotten moved in a last minute rush just to get everything out of my apartment.

And last night I was struck with an overwhelming urge to get everything out of the garage. RIGHT THEN. Probably due in part to the fact that I was studying for the fourth day straight a test, but due in part because I just felt like it had to be done NOW.

So I did it. All the random stuff -- okay, MOST of the random stuff -- got brought inside and sorted out. And then I came to a box that didn't have any type of label on it at all. And had also clearly been closed up for a very long time -- much longer than the few months ago I moved. And I thought that I should probably just toss it -- after all, if it had been so long that I didn't even know what was in it, then I surely didn't need whatever it was, right?

But life doesn't ever work that way. So I opened it.

And I was shocked. The box had been closed up a long time alright...since before I moved into my apartment, to be exact. See, I dated the same person for the vast majority of college. Made life plans, blah blah blah. And then, as they so often do, things changed. Or got hard. Or grew up. Or whatever.

I should take a moment to mention here that I am not a good decision maker. What do I want for dinner? What movie do I want to see? What should I wear? What do I think about any specific topic? These are questions that I could hem and haw on FOREVER.

But the big decisions? I decide and I don't look back. For better or for worse.

So I walked away.

I boxed everything up, put it away, and didn't look back. And we all know what box I found, now don't we? Of course. It held all sorts of things that I had long forgotten about. And, as it turns out, at the bottom of the box there was a card that I'm not sure I had ever even opened. A card not even from him -- but from his sister. You would expect that it wouldn't be too kind, given that after being together quite a while I walked away and didn't look back.

But it wasn't unkind at all. Of all things? It was a thank you card of sorts, reminding me that no matter where I went or what I did with my life, that I should remember the impact I had, and that it was something she would be forever grateful for.

And finding that card? Was one of the best things that has happened to me in a long time.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Dreaming...

...of vacation...






But instead of vacation, I'm spending the weekend studying for my neuroanatomy final. And if you don't think that sounds like a good time...well, you'd be pretty much right about that...

Friday, August 6, 2010

Friday Favorites

I know, I know, everyone talks about their favorite things on fridays.

So I'm going to too.

And right now? I love this: http://milasdaydreams.blogspot.com

Have you seen it? Because if you haven't, you should. It's creative...and more than that, ADORABLE!

*****
In other news, this appears to be my 500th post. Who would have thought that after that many that I could still come up with random and mostly useless things to say?

Yeah, on second thought I'm not that surprised either...

Happy Friday!

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Some Families Just Have Good Genes...

Because really...could this family be any more adorable?!







I know -- it kind of makes you sick, doesn't it? It would make me hate them for being so adorable...except I work with Lacey and she is just about the sweetest thing ever.

Which makes it impossible to hate her...even if she is gorgeous...

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Making Time

After what feels like the blink of an eye, school started again today. And it wasn't any of the 'just review the syllabus on the first day' thing either...it was eight LONG hours. Which, after only a couple of hours of sleep, seemed to last FOREVER.

Of course I should probably mention that the lack of sleep was totally my own doing. And totally worth it. But it still means that it's barely after 8 pm and now I am counting down the minutes until I can hit the sack tonight.

Even though summer was over in the blink of an eye for goodness sake rather abbreviated, when I think back on it I did manage to fill it with quite a bit. There was lots (and LOTS) of working...July ended up being a record breaking month for # of deliveries, and we wrapped up with 361. My coworkers are definitely amazing. I also took a summer elective -- sign language for health care providers -- which turned out to be a great class. I even went on vacation! I just got back and haven't sorted any of my pictures yet, but it was nice to get away for a few days.

And...I have been taking some pictures. I have a few coworkers who had previously asked me to take some pictures of them and their sweet kiddos...and I have to say, I'm pretty pleased with how they have been turning out. These are a few from Joey turning one...I can't believe how much has changed and that its already been a whole year!



Sunday, July 11, 2010

Best Shot Monday

Well looky here...it appears that I haven't, in fact, fallen into a black hole... And not only did I remember that I have a blog, I also remembered that I have a camera! That I love! And that is much more fun to use than just to look at!

Fourth of July 2010 (136 of 139)


Fourth of July 2010 (126 of 139)


Fourth of July 2010 (102 of 139)


Fourth of July 2010 (69 of 139)


Fourth of July 2010 (110 of 139)


bsm

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Adding It Up

What do you get when you add:

  • 32 weeks of lecture
  • 620 lectures
  • 6 midterms
  • 5 anatomy practicals
  • 6 section finals
  • 1 Cumulative final over then entire year, also known as the test that tried to kill me
  • 2100+ hours of studying
  • 1700+ hours at work
  • 1500 (or less) hours of sleeping
  • 1 new puppy
  • 1 big move to a new house
  • Countless friends
  • 259 classmates
  • A few stress induced mental breakdowns

One incredible, busy, crazy, frustrating, enlightening, whirlwind FINALLY OVER first year of medical school!


Monday, May 24, 2010

Best Shot Monday - Sisters

Now that Mother's Day has come and gone, I can put this up...although I don't know why I waited, since my mother doesn't really know what a blog is, let alone that I have one...

St. Louis - 05.02.2010 (4 of 34)

bsm

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Digging Out From Boxes

Contrary to what people might think, I haven't actually fallen off the face of the Earth.

I have been moving.

Which, in case you haven't moved in a while, I can tell you is A LOT of work. But being in my new house has been amazing.

It's like coming home when you didn't even know you had been lost.

Front of House


House from the deck 2


View down the street


Master Bedroom


View from the living room


Kitchen from front door


There is still unpacking to be done and the walls don't have anything hung on them yet, but still. It's home.

And it's wonderful.