I wasn't gonna leave the house today...

but I just ran out of chocolate.

And it's finals week.

You do the math.

-----

Since Thanksgiving, there hasn't been too much excitement.

We had an OT bake sale.

I made chocolate chip cookies.

They involved these ingredients:

Half had the pb M&M's and half had an oreo hidden inside.

I didn't combine the two.

It would have been too much for one man.

Doesn't that look good enough to make ya cry?

Please don't.

I sent all the cookies to the bake sale.

Except the half eaten oreo one above.

But I regret this.

Because as I mentioned above, I just ran out of chocolate.

And these cookies would be nice right about now.

-----

The only other recent cause for excitement is that we had an OT Christmas party last weekend.

But I don't have any photos of the fun!

I forget to document a lot.

But don't give up hope.

I do have pictures of my hair from that night.

You see. I don't have a small hand mirror. Well, I did, but I lost it. Or it might just be in the in-between-the-car-seats-console-thing in my car. It's hard to say. But a small hand mirror is quite needed, especially when one needs to check that the back of their hair it isn't too spastic. But when one isn't available, you gotta do what you gotta do to make sure none of your bobby pins are looking like weirdos.

Here is about a third of my attempts to determine my bobby pin situation:

This last one finally convinced me that all bobby pins were appropriately and adequately placed.

-----

And now, after all that excitement, class is over!

And finals week is here, which means all I get to do this weekend is study.

But on the plus side, I get to stay in my pjs and eat chocolate like a fool.

And my parents are super sweet. And have been sending me care packages.

One included this monkey.

He sings and dances, and I'm in love.

They also included Christmasy kitchen towels, santa socks, mentos, chocolate, and gum.

The mentos and chocolate are gone as of 2:00 this afternoon.

The gum is not far behind.

And this is why I am now weighing my options.

Changing out of pjs to go to the store?

Or attempting to study in a chocolateless home?




I'll keep you updated.

Just call me the Baby Whisperer

I think the photo speaks for itself.

Cesar Millan better watch out.
This new Whisperer is putting all other Whisperers to shame.

But I have much more to tell you than this.

I travelled to Tennessee last week.
Past palm trees, rain, mountains, and an exit sign called Bat Cave.

Thanksgiving Day was awesome. And oh so very relaxing. It was just my parents and I. Which meant we kept cooking simple, yet still satisfying and delish. It was nice not to have to spend the whole day cooking up an epic feast and then cleaning up the aftermath.

Not that I ever do a lot of the cooking. Or cleaning. But it was nice not to watch others being hurried in the kitchen. Mom got to watch the Macy's Parade for the first time in years. And we watched the dog show. And the poodle didn't win. So it was a successful day all around.

We did miss Stephen though. He is still out in CO living the dream, working as security at a ski resort. So to compensate for our loss, we Facetimed him every night. And pelted him with important questions.

"Is it cold there?"

"Have you made any friends?"

"Do you miss me?"

"Can I come visit?"

"If I visit, do I have to go skiing?"

"If I go skiing, will I die?"

"Is it possible to ski off the mountain?"

"Have you found a lady?"

"Is it getting serious?"

"Are you in love?"

"If I come skiing, can I meet her?"

"If she comes skiing, can she bring her brother?"

I don't know why girls get a bad rap for asking too many penetrating questions. I only ask what I absolutely and crucially need to know. Being 23 changes nothing when it comes to being a pesky little sister.

The next day, while everyone else was out being hoodlums on Black Friday, Ann and her momma came up, and we went to hang out with Isaac Henry. And as you can tell from the photo above, I am, without a doubt, Isaac Henry's favoritest aunt.

Here he is with the woman who freed him from her womb.

Here we are altogether. It is always so fun to reunited. And laugh til we cry. We are hoping to get together again for a couple of days over Christmas.
Because
1) until we are all neighbors, various togethers will have to do.
2) Isaac Henry will be a whole 2 months and will have lots of fun reflexes I can play with.
3) Lindsey Jo and I want to watch the Twilight movies and make fun of them.

Then Saturday, after traumatizing loving on Isaac Henry, Ann and I went shopping with our mommas. Shopping on the Saturday after Black Friday is pretty magical. The deals are still there, but the scary people are not. I didn't get punched, maced, or elbowed. Shall we call it Sweet Saturday? All the fools are gone Saturday? Late bird gets the worm this time because we are not sleep deprived and still got ballin discounts so take that suckers Saturday?

Our shopping center knows how to deck the halls.

See? I wasn't kidding.

Here some finds from our shopping venture. Flannel and jeans. Doesn't get better than that.

It was an awesome break. I also got to see Ami working it at Kay's Jewelers. And I got to have a Thanksgiving leftover lunch with Beck and her family. It was wonderful, but way too short. And I think I'm going to have to make broccoli casserole this week because their's was awesome and I'm craving more.

So I have to grind it out for exactly two more weeks.
And then I get freedom for three whole weeks!
And I cannot wait!

Ready to have those 2 practicals and 3 finals in the rearview mirror as I drive back to Tennessee!

Turkey Lurkey

So since the move to Charleston, I have gotten pretty intense about sleep.
I like to get at least 8 to 9 hours per night or I'm a miserable zomb the next day.

But every now and then, I can't get to sleep.
Typically because I'll caught up thinking about things of great importance.
...Like what location I should hold my wedding.
Because that's something I need to be losing sleep over.

Right.

Anyways, several nights ago, I couldn't get to sleep.
So I turned to faithful p Dub to distract me for a bit.
That woman never fails to deliver.
And through her website, I found these guys:

Doesn't get much cuter than that, eh?

So I messaged Dannae saying we needed to make these guys for our class the week of Thanksgiving.

Dannae is a cooking, crafting queen herself and was all over it.

So yesterday, with the help of Becca & Savannah, we put these little guys together!

And here we are with the little fruits of our labor:

It was a fun cooking craft. Pretty basic. Even you could do it.

Though that should be obvious. If I accomplish any craftin or cookin feat, that pretty much means any functioning human [or monkey] should be able to achieve the task. 

And now, I'm off to get my oil changed, tires rotated, and whateve else No Name needs to take me home.

Then, pharmacology lecture and six hours of driving is all that stands between me and Tennessee!

That will get me to Knoxville, at least. Spending the night with the adorbs McDonalds, and heading to the Murf on Wednesday. 

Excited to be back in Big Orange Country/ Music City USA/ The Geographical Center of Tennessee!

And don't worry, I got some more books on CD to get me home.

All children's books of course.

Because I'm actually 12.

And PS - I just had ice cream cake for breakfast.

Told you I'm 12.

Side Hug? Jump Hug?

I feel like I'm trying to greet a friend I used to be really close to...
but now haven't seen in a long time.

What do you say?

Where do you begin?

Do you hug? Shake hands? Jump hug? High five? Side hug? Thumbs up?

Pet their shoulder?

Probably not.

Unless you're me.

And have a problem.

I really just like to show some love with a good shoulder pet.

It's a gift.

That's a lie.

I'm sorry.

But not really.


Okay, I don't even know what's happening anymore. 
I came back here to blog, let me try again..


OH hey there,

It's been a while. You've probably missed me. Okay, that's doubtful. But I've missed typing out little life blurbs. So I'm back.

And yes, this is real life.

And no, you don't need to pinch yourself.

So here's a recap of what's been happening round here:


1.  My parents came to visit for a whole week! And it was awesome! We frolicked around downtown and at the beach. We ate at amazing restaurants. Seriously, they were so good, I may start crying just thinking about them.. But it was a great week, and I felt like I was on vacay all week even though I had class and two tests that week. Its all whateves when you get to spend time with fam and have delicious food in your belly.

Please note the man above in the background. And no, that's not even a speedo. Just old man undies.

They brought Casey, our lab! This was her first time to the beach!


2.  Lindsey Jo popped out a baby.
Notice I said popped and not pooped. That would be gross!
His name is Isaac Henry. He's the most handsome little man I've ever seen!

Here she is in the labor socks we made!

I got to meet him over Skype while he was still less than 24 hours old!

And here he is, only a month later, wishing me a happy birthday! What a little gentleman.

I'm obsessed!

And I get to meet him in two days!

And I'm P to the U to the M to the P to the E to the D.

3.  And as Isaac Henry so thoughtfully told you, it was my birthday this past week! I turned 23! I have decided that this is my last year in the "early twenties" and that I had better live it up.

So I made a list of things to get done in the next 364 days. I'll share it with you soon I'm sure.

And if you have suggestions of things to add, let me know!

On my birthday, I felt so overwhelmed with love. Jesus has so blessed me with my family and friends. At school, some friends threw me a surprise birthday lunch. With hot dogs, chocolate chip cookies, crowns, a ballon and peanut butter M&M's!

Here's Aliece! This girl knows how to do birthdays right :)

Here's my amazing classmates! We definitely wore these crowns to our next two classes!

I came home to cheesecake from my roommate! So good, it brings Cheesecake Factory to shame, and I'm not kidding. I got to have several phone dates with friends. Kelsey and Jay wrote and performed me a birthday song over Skype. To the tune of Rocky Top. A sweet card and photos from Mom and Dad. A poem from Ann. 

And I also got these amazing flowers from Anna Blair:

Then some good ole friends, Emily and Jared, drove forever to come visit for the weekend. They walked in the door holding this:

And these!

It was a great weekend, frolicking around with them. Plus, Emily's birthday was on Saturday. And Jared's birthday is this coming week. So it was a triple threat of birthdays. SNAP! BOOM! WHAT!

Okay, I'll stop.

Happy Birthday Ann!

Dear Ann,
I'm a big fan.
You always make me laugh,
And you burp like a man.

You are quite loud,
But stand out in a crowd.
You're absolutely gorgeous,
Though not bosomly endowed.

We shared a bunk,
Til you married a hunk.
When we got back from Africa,
Your feet really stunk.

You moved to Troy,
Where you spread the Joy.
Now, you're a momma to Walter,
A hyped up little boy.

You rap in sign.
And it blows my mind.
You got mad skills,
And I wish they were mine.

You sure got class,
But ain't without sass,
If you don't visit me soon,
I'll kick your... bottom :)

Let's be neighbors one day.
We'd frolick and play.
Our kids would starve,
But we'd laugh the days away.

You're my best friend,
And apparently my twin.
With love from Emily,
I'll love ya to the end!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANN! LOVE YOU!