Last Post of 2007

Happy New Year! Well not just quite yet but wow is 2007 really over? As the new year of 2008 begins I guess its a good time to reflect on some 2007 Highlights!

1. Got Married - May 31,2007

Probably the biggest thing in 2007. Phil and I had a dream wedding in the Bahamas - small, beautiful, meaningful (not that weddings aren't) but for all the plan changing we did I wouldn't of changed a thing!

2. Got a puppy - August 2007

This has been a huge change for Phil and I both but we are enjoying him so much! I never thought Phil would let me get a dog but he finally caved and we stumbled upon Levi. He's learned a lot down here in Florida being with three other Aussies and being apart of a "pack".

3. Traveled

Phil and I traveled to the Bahamas for our wedding (both Nassau and Abaco), we came down to West Palm a few times, and also ventured to North Carolina for a few visits with friends. We didn't go to the US Open this year or make down to Florida-Georgia ... I guess we took a sports watching year off :) I hope we do some more traveling next year - maybe a big trip to Europe or else a trip out west and some visiting with my Uncle Kim at his fab house in Oregon.

4. Loss

The other three "highlights" were happy ones, but one of the saddest days happened in 2007 was the loss of an amazing horse named Dusty. Dusty lived 23 great years and many which were spent laying in the grass and being on neighborhood watch in our backyard. He was an incredible horse and I miss him everyday. My mom was able to find a very nice and much smaller horse named Breezy after Dusty's passing. I know he will never take the place of Dusty in my heart, but I see how happy he makes my mom and how nice it is for her to ride again, so that does make me happy. And he's a horse of my own heart ... he prefers cookies over carrots :) nice!

5. Started a blog

I started this blog in June after I started reading photographer blogs and enjoyed them so much. It's been a great way to share pictures and memories. It's also very theraputic!!!

I guess I'll stop at the top 5, but I can say that these past two weeks in Florida have been awesome. I love the weather, the beach, and being so close to my parents, even though it can get a little cramped under the same roof :) I'm not sure what 2008 will bring, but I'm optomistic it will bring good things. I hope one day I can live closer to my parents, I hope my mom's battle gives her a break and she miraculously is cured, and I hope for health and happiness in 2008 for my family and friends. I'm so fortunate to have such a great family and husband, I feel as if my marriage continues to grow stronger each day and I'm thankful for the relationship and friendship that Phil and I have.

Happy New Year!!!

* I'm also so EXCITED about my brand spankin new 12 mega-pixel camera that is sooooo incredibly awesome and I love it and my new tripod and super cool camera case!!!

Florida Re-Mix ...

Just pictures ...

Levi's Day at the Beach ...

Today was Levi's first adventure to the beach! We loaded Levi and Pele in the car and headed out with the frisbee in tow. He was def. pretty nervous at first, especially with the waves coming near him. But once we dragged him in he realized it was a lot of fun. Both of them got SOAKED and sandy but we had a great time. I am LOVING the Florida weather ... 80's, blue skies and sunny! I always forget how seriously warm it is down here. I also cannot wait until Christmas tomorrow, like a little kid I've already inspected my presents but I really have no idea whats waiting under the tree tomorrow. Although I think I am more excited to watch everyone else open the gifts I carefully thought out and have been purchasing since before Halloween!
We're having some delicious dinner tonight (pork tenderloin - my favorite) so before I pig out I'm off to run with my most favorite running partner (sorry levi) Blair at our meeting spot - PGA park. We now live in two different states and I think we really only get a chance to run/see each other during the holidays. I can't even remember how many years we've been doing our annual holiday run & life catch ups (or just PGA park runs in general) but I'm so glad we do! Okay off to burn some calories ...

Heading to Florida today!

whooo hooo :)

Fun Little Survey ... (because I'm bored!)

I give you money and send you into the grocery store to pick up 5 items. You can only pick one thing from the following departments.. what is it?
1. Produce: Grapes
2. Bakery: mmm... vanilla frosted doughnuts :)
3. Meat: fillet mignon :)
4. Frozen: Butter Pecan Ice Cream
5. Dry goods: I guess some rice?

Let's say we're heading out for a weekend getaway. You're only allowed to bring 3 articles of clothing with you. So, what's in your bag?
1. comfortable sweat pants or shorts
2. flip flops (gotta go somewhere warm)
3. jeans and a top (yeah its two but its an outfit!)

So, what 3 things do you find yourself doing every single day, and if you didn't get to do, you probably wouldn't be in the best mood?
1. eating
2. going for a run with Levi
3. on cold days (like today) taking a nice warm bath :)

You're driving down the road, and suddenly you're hit with this sense of road rage. What 3 factors probably contributed to it?
1. someone going 20 miles under the speed limit in the left hand lane
2. 2 cars going to exact same speed in the fast and slow lane
3. at red lights, people stopping with one or 2 car lengths between them and the person in front of them.

Sweet, you just scored a whole afternoon to yourself. We're talking a 3 hour block with nobody around. What 5 activities might we find you doing?
1. Cleaning the house
2. Playing with Levi
3. watching a movie
4. Shopping :)
5. being lazy!

We're going to the zoo. But, it looks like it could start storming, so it'll have to be a quick visit. What 3 exhibits do we have to get to?
1. elephants
2. lions
3. polar bears

You just scored tickets to the taping of any show that comes on t.v. of your choice. You can pick between 3, so what are you deciding between?
1. Ellen!
2. Rules of Engagement
3. How I Met Your Mother

You're hungry for ice cream. I'll give you a triple dipper ice cream cone. What 3 flavors can I pile on for ya?
1. Butter Pecan
2. Banana's Foster
3. Cheesecake

Somebody stole your purse/wallet…in order to get it back, you have to name 5 things you know are inside to claim it. So, what's in there?
1. driver's license
2. cell phone
3. gift cards
4. credit cards
5. $0 cash ... hahaha...

You are at a job fair, and asked what areas you are interested in pursuing a career in. Let's pretend you have every talent and ability to be whatever you wanted, so what 4 careers would be fun for you?
1. Magazine Journalist/Publisher/Designer
2. Director of Marketing for Nike
3. Photographer
4. Keith Urban's manager ...hahaha... I couldn't think of four :)

If you could go back and talk to the old you, when you were in high school, and inform yourself of 4 things, what would you say?
1. You'll never see any of these people again, so who cares!
2. The "popular" girls who were snots to you will get really fat in college.
3. Guys in highschool are losers ... one day you'll marry an awesome guy who loves you so much!
4. Do better in college your freshman year & drop your math class a.s.a.p! :)

1 1/2 days ...

Until we hit the road! First Phil and I need to get over our colds! Yuck!!! We've both been sick since Monday and are both on day #3 of the pack. I'm hoping mine kicks in a.s.a.p. as I have no time to feel crappy!! Tonight I hope to load the presents in the car and see how much space we have left and then start to do a little packing. Levi has been mad at me since we haven't been on a run all week! I think I may try to do a little one but mostly a walk after work. He's got so much energy and I do feel bad for him. Plus I want to give him a nice warm bath tonight :) He needs his flea stuff and I want him to smell decent during the car ride. I'm so excited to head home and welcome some warmer weather with open arms. Phil and I both getting off noon-ish on Friday then I'm sure packing the car a little more and then we'll be on the road. Most of the time I am a complete NUT about getting on the road on time, but since are stopping in Gainesville I am going to TRY to "play it cool" this time and get on the road when we get on the road. I'm sure traffic will be nasty as most people will have the same idea as us, but oh well its the holidays and I only hope we don't get stuck in too much bumper to bumper action.
Tomorrow my mom gets her first dose of chemo. And tomorrow (the 20th) is always a hard day for my mom and me as its the day we lost my grandma in her battle with cancer 13 years ago. 13 years ... where has the time gone! It really doesn't feel like its been that long, and I still can't believe my grandpa is still kickin like he is! Who would of thought? Even though I can't be there with my mom during her first treatment I know my grandma will be looking after her. Here's hoping the next few days are good ones and smooth ones!!

Numbers

26 - How cold it was this morning when I woke up (thankfully Phil walks Levi in the mornings)
30 - Is what it feels like outside now in Duluth, GA
57 - Degrees is the high for the week (and I hope it gets there)
74 - is the high for Gainseville, Florida on Friday
77 - is the high for West Palm on Saturday
4 - Days until we leave for Florida!
5 - Days until we arrive in West Palm!
8 - Days until Christmas
15 - Days until New Years!
60 - Presents I have at my house to bring to Florida
23 - the number of things on my To Do List to do this week ... yikes!

Bad News is I think I have a cold so I made an appointment to go to the Dr. today @ 1:45 and just get it over with. I knew this would happen eventually with the weather going from cold to extreme cold. Hopefully I'll get some good medicine and kick it out of my system. Okay time for lunch ...

Hanging By A Moment ...

My mom loves this picture above of Levi and Arnold yesterday, she said it should be a Hallmark card. They are such nuts! This is how they play ... mouths wide open and teeth showing but they never hurt each other ... ahh the life of a dog. So today is Friday ... whoo hoo! Only one more week and its Christmas vacation time :) On my way back from lunch I heard an awesome set of songs on the XM radio (which almost never happens mid-day). One of them being the heading of this post, Lifehouse's Hanging By a Moment. This was the first song phil sent to me in an e-card, I guess for a while I would of considered it our "song". It's not a sappy love song by all means but everytime I hear it I realize how perfect it was for the time. And also how perfect it can be for life, as we're all really hanging by moments. Moments when we'll see our loved ones again, moments when we get to escape from work ... moments that lead up to the fun that weekends hold. I try not to fill my blog up with sad stuff, as its much more fun to post fun pictures and good stories, but this is my journal so its my therapy I guess. Yesterday was a tough day ... the morning was frusterating trying to work a new program we have at work. I wasn't totally lost, I just wasn't as fast as I used to be in finding buttons and moving around the contracts. I ended up finding my "tools" that happened to be right in front of my face ... whoops. The afternoon some bad news came up about my mom and again I feel the struggles of not being home. I know I can't single handidly fight my moms cancer but it would be nice to just be there ... for a hug, for a talk, for help. These are the times when I miss my family the most. We're such a tight knit family and I hate to be on the "outside" looking in. Yesterday was one of those days where I thought about packing a bag and just driving home, because when its my mom or my dad I just feel like they're #1 no matter what. I have to ask myself why on earth do I live so far away. But I'm thankful to have such an understanding husband to come home too and let me cry on his shoulder and get lost in a hug, and I'm thankful for Levi who not matter what can always make me smile and forces me to go for a walk when I want to crawl up on the couch and eat cookies! I can at least have some piece that I'll be home in a week, and I'm counting down the days. I'm so glad Phil was able and willing to take so much time off from work, he has no idea how much it means to me to spend all that time with my family. It's something I probably took for granted all those christmas breaks in college that felt like forever and a day away from my friends. Today I'm doing alright, and hoping that the next week goes by fast, and before I know it we'll be hitting the open road with a trunk full of presents :) I know this is just another bump in the road, but I just wish that my mom didn't have to tackle so many bumps ... I keep thinking she's had enough of this and I wish it would just go away forever. One day at a time and hopefully one day close to a cure.

Christmas back then ...

I found these old pictures on my computer :) I love Christmas-time - such good memories :)



GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY ... I GET TO GO HOME NEXT WEEK FOR 2 WEEKS!!!!! WITH MY HUSBAND AND LEVI!!!!

My New Favorite Levi Picture ...

This makes me laugh everytime!!!

2 WEEKS!

2 WEEKS UNTIL CHRISTMAS = 14 DAYS!

oh my gosh ... I am BEYOND excited!!!

Christmas Card Test - For Mom

Weekend Pictures

Ahhh... I had such an awesome time at home ... great weather, lots of laughs and tons of fun stuff in just a few days! Mom and I ventured to the National Horse Show on Friday and saw some fabulous horses and some great riding ... even dressage which was really cool. We watched my dad play tennis Thursday and Friday. On friday his nasty topspin took out some poor old guy with a knee brace, so they had to retire at 5-2. Then we all went to dinner at Carrabba's ... YUM! It was awesome, and we all had a great time. Grandpa insisted we stop at the ice cream shop (even though we were stuffed to capacity). I caught a shot of him sitting in his "swanky" shot with ice cream all over his face ... pretty much a classic grandpa shot. And it makes me laugh :) Saturday mom and I ventured to Sunrise with our KU shirts on, we fought the crowds at Sawgrass and managed to get a few things, we dined at Bahama Breeze, and then go to the concert early and sat in our great seats! Too bad the speakers were right next too us and we lost our hearing temporarliy for the night. haha... I still had a great time and I just LOVE keith ... so even though the sounds were not as awesome as they normally were it was still really fun. Guess we'll have to go to another one to make up for it. And our poster was awesome but since we there were not many posters I guess he didn't take the time to read any ... oh well. We'll save it for next time!! haha... It's always sad to leave, but we'll all be back in less than 2 weeks and I'm really looking forward to spending Christmas at home. Safin got to stay in Florida and I'm sure he is being spoiled rotten!! I'm sure Levi will be getting the same treatment when Phil and I make the drive down, but he'll just be happy to have three dog friends with him 24-7.

Grandpa trying to take our picture ... haha

Easy Breezy ...

I took a ton of pictures of Breezy this weekend and here are a few of my favorites. It's crazy how much he reminds me of a mini-dusty. He's a really sweet horse and he already fits right in. My mom has def. mastered riding him (me not so much)! haha...

This one is my favorite ...