Happy Birthday C!

Chris turns 26 today. Yay for him!

We're working opposite schedules right now, so I won't get to see him. That's pretty lame. We'll have to celebrate this coming weekend.

I gave him his birthday gift a couple of days early...

I figured he needed a grill for his new backyard, so that's what he got.

Happy Birthday C! I love you!

26 & A Week

Last Friday I celebrated my 26th birthday. Yes, I'm feeling old, thanks for asking. I actually started the day off by taking C to the eye Dr. Then we drove 5 hours north to pick up my brother, T. 

Some pictures from the day (what would I do without Instagram?!)-

My birthday present to myself, a hair chop the day before!

No one should have to wake up to an alarm on their birthday!

My birthday lunch, 300 miles away from home, C's first time.

The burgers were good, the fries? Not so much.

Looking at photos of when I was a baby while at my dad's house. I was two months old. I guess I just never lost the double chin. 

Then we I had to drive ride 5 hours back home in a cramped back seat...

At least my birthday sunset was awesome!

One Step Closer

C has interviewed three times for the same job in the last two years. Three times. The same job. I would have given up after that first time. Not him.

I guess the third time is a charm.

He got an offer e-mail on Tuesday. He knew he wouldn't be at work when the offer, or non offer, came in so he had his work e-mails forwarded to his personal e-mail. So? The offer came in around 3 Tuesday afternoon.

Yay for getting the job! I'm so glad for him. He's worked his tail off the last three years and he deserves it.

And no snarky comments about his shirt. It's actually a shirt that he was given at work. Nearly everyone at Apple has one. 

According to C, this is a big step in the right direction for him. And me. If he gets what he wants/works his ass off for, some big changes could will come.

I told him the only problem I had with that was that I didn't want to watch pre-recorded TV! Because even though the Grammy's were hosted in LA, LA didn't get to see them till way later. LAME.

Priorities, yo.

So that's where we are now. One step closer.

I Did It

I haven't had so much as a sip of caffeine in the last month. I can't believe I did it. Early mornings used to have me counting down the minutes until my lunch time Coke. Not anymore. 

I really don't even crave them. When I do? I know it's just because I'm on the verge of dehydration because I have a hard time drinking enough water. 

My co-worker E asked me if I felt any different since I cut out the caffeine. I do. I sleep better at night, that's for sure. And? I wake up more rested. As in, I'm always up at least 10 minutes before the alarm goes off at 5:45. 

I've been asked if, since I reached my goal, I would go back. 

Heck no.

I'm on a roll.

Happy Day

My bff Arena, had baby Andrew one month ago today. He was born about 6 weeks early but he's home now. I bet it's a happy day around their house!

What a doll, right?

Happy one month Andrew!

High Tech Grandma

My grandma celebrated her birthday a couple of weeks back. This lady, I'll tell you, she's becoming more high tech than me.

Really? My grandma has an iPhone now?

So, we celebrated her birthday with a big bang. There were even babies on tables.

She enjoyed it.

Yay! blurry phone pics.

And then she took all of her birthday cash and went and bought herself this-

Now, every time we go visit her, she has a million questions on how to operate both things. It's pretty funny.

THANKSgiving

We are so thankful this year for happy cancer check up news.

Seriously.

So when we went around the table and said what we were most thankful for this year? You know what Chris said? and i almost slapped him. not really, but almost.

"I'm thankful for our second car because it allows us both to have jobs."

REALLY?!

Yep. That's what he said. I guess it's just a given that there's no cancer. It's a given that he's thankful for ME. 

Moving on.

Post-turkey relaxation.

We had our traditional meal at my aunt's house. Then we came home and put up our Christmas tree. It still needs ribbon.

Did I mention how thankful I am that we're all healthy right now? That's what I said I was thankful for. That, and Chris. I can't believe Christmas is just a month away, we have a ton of prep work to do for it...

She Would Have Been 44

My mom has been on my mind a lot these last couple of weeks. I mean honestly, there are days that go by that I don't think about her. But those days haven't been happening recently. I think it's because it's her birthday month.

She would have been 44 on Halloween.

Her and my grandpa (who are both cremated) are buried at the same cemetery about an hour away from here.

My grandma called and suggested we all go take some flowers to them this past Sunday.

So we did.

Mums for the fall.

Maybe I'm weird, but I don't really feel the need to go to the cemetery and "visit" lost loved ones.

It's hard to explain.

I guess I just feel like my mom (and grandpa) is (are) around me all the time. I don't feel like I need to go to the cemetery and visit her.

It was nice to take fresh flowers. She loved any and all flowers.

Anyway, so I told her "Hi, and happy early birthday."

Then as is our new tradition, we all went out to lunch at a BBQ place that's near the cemetery.

She would have liked this tradition.

:)

And I may have had wine out of a plastic cup.

That's so something my mom would have done.

The Reception

Yesterday, I posted a few pictures from my aunt's wedding back in September.

Here are a few shots from the reception.

Remember, this is just me...practicing. And the lighting was bad. And...be nice.

I've never done this before!

Once all of the dancing was happening, the bride needed to cool off-quickly. How about in the fridge behind the bar? I'm sure there's another word for that but I can't think of it right now.

How much did grandma have to drink? Yes, she's wearing the veil...

And then pretty much right after I shot the above picture, the camera died (1200 pictures later)...So this is the only getaway shot I got...

Yes, that's bird seed on his face.

So yeah, I shot a wedding. It was overwhelming. Not something I want to do for a living, that's for sure. I still very much appreciate the practice that I got and I still really want my big camera.

But with that big camera I also want some editing software, and some classes so I can use the big camera.

Yep.

A Few Wedding Pictures

So originally, I didn't want to post any of these pictures on the old blog. Mostly because I didn't like the way 89% of them turned out. But, I've gotten a little feedback on a few of the pictures so I figure, why not throw them out to the blog world, eh?

I also haven't put any of these on my FB account.

And can you just remember that this is the first time I'd ever really played with a big fancy camera (Thanks V&B!) and I don't really have any editing software?

Be gentle.

Thanks.

Ok, I've talked enough...onto the pictures.

My aunt was married back on September 2, 2011.

I didn't get many pictures during the actual ceremony because the lighting was no good, but I do love this one of the groom, right when he saw the bride coming down the aisle...

The grub- It truly was a country wedding...

And maybe I'll post some of the reception tomorrow.

The Same Age

Chris turned 25 today. Now I can't throw the  "Shut up and listen to me because I'm right older than you" card out anymore. That's right. I can use that line for three solid months.

Not that I ever do.

I made him this totally obnoxious cake yesterday. He he helped-by washing the dishes as we went. Ya know, because our kitchen is the size of a closet, therefore we don't have a fully equipped kitchen. Alas, only one bowl big enough to do any type of baking/mixing in/with.

Back to the cake. Mine looked nothing like that.

At all.

Yes, there's only one candle on it. I didn't want to burn anyone's house down yesterday. We are in a severe drought down here for what it's worth.

In my opinion, the frosting was the only good thing about the cake.

Guess who has half of a cake in her fridge at this very moment?

We both took the day off from work today. To do what fun/amazing/memorable thing you ask?

Well if you have to know, we cleaned the house, both of the cars inside and out, and did laundry.

Best. Birthday. Ever.

Now he's laying on the bed playing on his phone like he does every other day of the year.

My aunt and her hubby are taking us out to dinner today. So that's fun.

Oh, and before you ask...Do you see that blue car up there? Yeah, that one. That was his birthday gift. For the next 43 years.

I'm glad we've had such a productive day. He should have birthdays more often.

Happy Birthday Chris!

If You Take The Boy To A Wedding...

He'll have to get dressed up.

And since he's in charge of passing out the beer tickets. He'll have to have a beer. Or four.

Then after said beers he might bust a move or two on the dance floor.

After showing off all of his moves, he'll need to take a rest.

After a quick rest, he'll finally pose for a pic with his date (that's me!).

And then it's back to the dance floor.

haha, busted.

Then he'll be ready to throw the bird seed and go home.

But of course when he gets home he'll want to take a bazillion pictures in the bathroom mirror because he's silly, exhausted, and maybe still a little ya know...

And so what if the pictures are a blurryoutoffocusawfullightingmess?

We had fun.