Traditions

I was so excited to FINALLY after 3 years of having a tree in storage, actually getting to put it up this year. This was the first year we've had a place to ourselves and to me, it meant alot to finally put up "our" tree. I know that it sounds dumb, getting so excited over putting up a tree. But, it really has got me thinking lately how the littlest things in life really are what matter most. I was at work yesterday and thinking back how when I was a kid the month of December always seemed to drag on forever and ever til it was Christmas and now as an adult, this month is just flying by. Same goes for the excitement of Christmas all together. When I was little it was all about presents and having a huge list and wanting this, this and this and now it isnt that way anymore. It me now I just want to spend time with family for Christmas and the things on my list this year are practical every day things, not toys and wants. Now, I get more excited seeing the look on my sister or niece and nephews faces when they open their presents. I get excited everytime Ryan and I get to start a new tradition and look forward to us having kids and the Christmas traditions of my childhood will be transformed to new ones for my own little family. I'm a very big tradition person and I've learned since being married that it isnt always about doing things exactly like it was when I was little, sometimes the best traditions are the ones I always wanted to have but never did til now.

New Mexico

So Ryan and I had a great trip to New Mexico for Thanksgiving. I've never lived or ever been in a city with REAL mountains. I know, I've been deprived! LOL But it was so pretty in New Mexico. To me the mountains looked so fake, but thats only because I've never seen real ones in person. So much different from Arkansas or Kansas. We even got a chance to learn a little bit of history while we where there. The mountains are called the Sandia Mountains and there was a plane crash in 1955 in those mountains and the plane wreckage is still there to this day, over 55 years ago. I dont know why I found this certain crash so interesting, but I really have. Maybe because they actually plane pieces are still there and havent been moved, maybe its because the real reason the plane went down has been changed in the investagation logs 3 times now, maybe its because its the closest to an actual plane crash I've ever been. IDK, its just really interesting to me, and the crazy part is, I didnt even see the crash site in person. Its apparently a hard hike up to this canyon where the site is and I probably will never get to actually hike it because of the elevation changes and I'm not a good hiking, but its still so cool to learn about. After doing some more  research after we went to the mountains we found a book that actually was just written this year about the crash and I cant wait to read the whole book. Its a really neat story if anyone is curious about checking it out. Its the crash of TWA Flight 260 if anyone wants to look it up online and you can see pictures of the crashsite to this today. It was fun to sitesee in New Mexico and while Ryan went hiking the Sandia Mountains, my dad and I went to a casino and I won $45 so that was cool. It was a fun trip and we took some great pictures, but unfornately my computer broke and I cant figure out Ryans on how to upload the pictures, so hopefully my computer gets fixed ASAP so I can posts some pics from our trip.N

So Many Firsts

The holidays are my favorite! Ryan and I are going to New Mexico on Thursday, bright and early to visit my dad for Thanksgiving. I'm excited since it will be the first plane ride that Ryan and I have taken together since we've been together! Also, both of us have never been to New Mexico so it will be a first going to a new place also. Some many firsts for us and its so exciting. We will be gone for 6 days and Ryan gets to go hiking on a really cool trail that he's really exciting to go on the day after Thanksgiving. My dad's gf is a big hiker also so they get to go hiking and me and my dad get to spend some time just us, which happens very few and far in between over the years. Its also the first year that Ryan and I have had a place of our own and we FINALLY get to put up our Christmas tree when we return from New Mexico! We bought a tree our first Christmas together in 2007 and since then havent had a place to put it up, so I'm soooo excited for this year! I'm a huge holiday person. I mean every holiday I have to do something for. Ryan thinks I'm weird for it but oh well, to me its fun. I'm always the one to bake a cake for someone's bday or any other event. I just love celebrating and decorating for parties and holidays. For Christmas my family has always made a big deal out if it and even though Ryan has made the comment that "we are setting up our tree this year and arent even going to be here on Christmas morning to see it", I'm doing it and cant wait! I will post pics as soon as we put it up after New Mexico. I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!

October in KC

Last weekend we went to Kansas City for the weekend for my cousin David's wedding. We had just gone to Dallas the weekend before and both been crazy busy all that next week that I literally threw some stuff in our suitcase Thursday night, grabbed our dress clothes and didn't even think twice about what I had packed for both of us for the weekend. Going back to KC never seems to be a restful or slow paced weekend. We are always trying to cram as many things and see as many people as possible during the weekend. We have gotten to the point where we dont tell many people that we are coming into town, because they get upset because we dont get a chance to come and see them. If you are one of these people I'm sorry and promise that we will try and see you on at least one visit back to Kansas City. Please understand that half of our family lives there so yes they do get first priority :)  Like always it was nice to see family and spent sometime with them. We did get alot of good pictures taken at the wedding, so here are just a few.

Here is me and my mom. I hate how I look in most pictures, so I was very surprised how the pics from the wedding turned out so well!

I enjoyed traveling the past two weekends and glad we got to do the things we did, but I'm so happy to be home with nothing going on this weekend, but relaxing!

The Ring Crisis

Two weekends ago Ryan and I went to Dallas for the weekend. I had a chiropractic seminar I had to attend for work and that Friday was Ryan's b-day so he came along for the weekend. We were driving down there so we had to get up and leave pretty early on Thursday morning in order to get there in time for my seminar to start, 5am early to be exact. We had gone to bed pretty late for us, at midnight and I was totally out of it when getting the rest of the stuff gather and put into the car that morning. I had taken all of my jewelry off before I went to bed just like I normally do and in the mist of being half asleep at 5am I totally walked away, got in the car and didn't grab any of my jewelry. Now this wouldn't have been a big deal but it wasn't until about 2 hours into the trip that I realized this and not just some of my jewelry but all of my jewelry, including my engagement and wedding ring. YES, they got taken off and I left the house without them, something I NEVER do! I started to panic a little bit when I told Ryan what had happen. Ryan being a guy of course couldn't understand why it bothered me so much, that and the fact that he rarely wears his own wedding ring because of his job. (His a tree climber and its dangerous for him to wear it at work.) It drove me crazy the whole rest of the drive just feeling that finger with no ring. I have had something on that finger for 3 years now! As soon as we got to Dallas I wanted to go straight to a mall that had a Claire's and buy just a fake one so that I had something on my finger. It wasn't just that it felt weird, but we were going to be in Dallas for 4 days and that was a long time to be in a different city with no ring, when I'm married and want people to know that. I know, I know, it probably sounds weird, but that's how I felt. So we checked into our hotel, took a shower and got dressed and all that was on my mind was finding a new ring. We headed to a couple of stores and nothing! I see fake diamond looking rings all of the time and the ONE time I needed one ASAP I couldn't find one. I was about in tears when after 3 stores still couldn't find one and we had to be headed back towards our hotel for my seminar to start.  The whole way back you could tell my husband had no clue what to do, his wife was just sitting there in the car silent about to burst into tears at any moment. So I went to my seminar and tried the best I could to forget about the whole thing. After  2 hours of seminar classes they are done for the night and Ryan picks me back up so we can get back to our hotel to watch the season premiere of Grey's Anatomy. When I get in the car he hands me a sack. I opened it open and in it a exactly what I was looking for in a fake engagement ring. That sounds really sad, I know! He had found a mall in Dallas and went and bought me one! What a great hubby! It so made my day and definately helped get rid of the stress I had all day long. Now, maybe I can finally go get my rings soddered together because I now have something to wear while it gets sent off for a week to have it done!

 Ryan's ring that he hardly ever wears and my wedding band. It really is amazing how small my finger is compared to his. My ring can find inside his.LOL

Motherhood Practice

My 10 year old sister came to visit for 2 weeks starting July 10 through July 24. My mom came with her for the first weekend, which was awesome because I got to see my Momma! The weekend went by so quick, we got up for a nice relaxing breakfast, then headed to Cotter Creek and hung out there for a few hours. We all floated and grilled hamburgers for lunch, then headed to the lake just so my mom could experiance both, then we headed home to shower and I made dinner for everyone. My mom went and took a nap before dinner and realized I was cooking dinner and said "You dont have to do all of that!" "Mom, all of what, its homemade chicken alfredo, no biggie, this is what I'd cook any other night." "Yeah, but we've been out all day, you dont have to do that." Its funny how things have come to change since I've moved to Arkansas and become married, but I've enjoyed all the new changes. I was just happy and excited to be able to cook for my mom and my sister because I've never gotten the opportunity to do so before and she just saw it as I was doing way too much. But in the end I got the greatest reward out of it because they both loved dinner! I'm proud that I've been able to learn how to cook, because before Ryan I never knew how to make much more than hamburger helper! LOL
The next morning my mom left and so began my 2 weeks of being a mom. It really was something to get use to. I had some one else besides Ryan that needed me to make sure they had breakfast and then when I went home for lunch someone else to cook for and then someone else that was ready for my attention when I got off of work. I really learned how much work doesnt care what happened the night before with a kid and a kid doesnt care how hard of a day you've had at work, they just want all of your attention. It definately opened my eyes a little more to what I will have in store for me when Ryan and I have kids, but I know even more now, it's something I can't wait to enjoy! Maybe a little bit because I know it will be awhile before our own kids will be old enough for water balloons, which became a staple in our house the last 2 weeks!
 

Memphis Trip

So last weekend I got to go back to Memphis and it was ten times better than I expected, and I had high hopes for the weekend, LOL. Ryan and I woke up early on Saturday morning and drove to Memphis. Our first stop was Beale Street. Ive never been since Ive been of age to drink and having a beer on Beale Street has been something I've wanted to do forever. We walked around and ended up at BB Kings for a drink. It was very hott and humid that day, but it was the end of June so what did I expect? After Beale Street Ryan wanted to go and find a Field Day site  for ham radio that was set up for the day, so he told me to look at the address he had on his piece of paper and put it in the GPS. When I saw the paper I realized it said Olive Branch. Mississippi, which just happened to be the city of one of my great church friends that used to be like a father figure to me growing up. I had heard he was out of town but had to call and make sure cuz if I was in town and so was he I would have been very upset to miss him! So I called and to my surprise he was home! Yeah! Man did that make my weekend! We headed over there and ended up staying like 2 hours just talking and catching up with him and his family, it was awesome! I was so glad Ryan got to meet them and they got to meet Ryan! After that we headed to Ryan's Field Day site and unforuntely it had been raining for the past 2 hours so not much was going on:( It was getting pretty late and the day was flying by and it was already time to head to the hotel and get ready for the wedding. The wedding was great, very short and sentimential because her dad married them.

  Stephanie and her Dad were doing everything possibly,but still ended up crying! It was so cute!

                            First time ever to be introduced as Mr. and Mrs. Nick McGavic!

Next was the reception and Stephanie did an awesome job picking everything out for the reception. It was the first time we got to see each other in 7 years! We let way soo much time go by without seeing each other. It was hectic at the beginning of the recception because I just wanted to rush over and talk to her and of course at your wedding everyone wants to run over and talk to you. I did mangage to get a big hug to let her know that I was there and a quick picture of us and her new hubby:)

It was so cool cuz I got to go around and see people I grew up with in Memphis 15 yrs ago! people that used to babysit me and yet it felt like only yesterday I lived back there with these people from church. I was extremely thrilled when I went up to people and they remember exactly how I was was. Most os them couldnt believe that I was married and I was very good about introducing Ryan to each and every one.

These are some of the ladies I used to go to church with and use to take very good care of me and my family. After getting to mingle and talk to everyone we eat and then had a little bit of a chance to hang with the Bride and Groom. It was an amazing reception. And we allhad alot of fun.

The next day Ryan and I woke up and went to my old church for church serrvice. I again got to see some more people I hadn't seen in forever. Sitting there during church just made me think of how lucky I am so have so many people still care about me and I havvent seen them in years. It meant alot to me to be at church that day and to be with Ryan and people that now care alot about my husband and they just met him! After church we went to lunch and then got a chance to head over to Stephanie's parents house and visit and meet her little one that I didnt get to meet the day before. She is adorable and tons of fun to have around. It was nice to be able to have some more time to sit down with Stephanie and Nick and actually catch up and talk more than we got to the day before. It turned out to be an awesome weekend and I think Ryan actually had alot of fun despite having to dress up in what Ryan called "a monkey suit". LOL He hates dressing up but he did it for me and it meant alot. The whole weekend made me really miss living in Memphis, but Ryan said he enjoyed Memphis so hopefully that means we will be back for more visits!

Road Trip

I have my childhood bestfriend's wedding to attend on June 26th, which I've very excited about. I gained alot of stomach weight since being sick with my gallbladder and definately had nothing to fit me that I could wear to her wedding. I went looking around town and since I live in a small town there are only about 3 places I could look for a dress and I did and nothing. So, I asked Ryan if I could go to Branson and look for a dress since I needed one and they have great prices being alot of outlet stores. I was even impressed that he wanted to go with me, so last Saturday we woke up early and off we went. Branson is only an hour and a half so not too bad of a drive. We got there and the first store I went to found a long dress just like I was looking for! Score! I tried it on and it fit perfectly. We drove almost 2 hours and I found a dress in the first 5 mins. Its pretty funny but thank goodness I have a dress to wear now. Im so excited to go back to Memphis and see people I grew up with, being that I was born and raised in Memphis until the age of 10. Ryan and I are even going back to the old church that I went to growing up for church Sunday AM. Im so excited! I loved living in Memphis and have so many great memories of growing up there, I cant wait to show my husband where I grew up.

Six weeks and multiple ER visits later.....

So, I finally feeling better and it only took six weeks of me being deathly ill and checking in and out of the ER like every couple of days to finally tell me it was my gallbladder that was making me so sick! Funny thing is, (actually not so funny at all especially now all of the medical bills are coming in) but the first diagnois that they gave me back at the end of April at my first ER visit was my gallbladder and it was. Yet, they had to tell me it was 20 million other things first before that was their final answer. I was so sick that I couldnt keep anything down, I keep throwing up, which I really hate doing, and I was in extremely intense pain and nausea 24/7! Talk about miserable yes, I was there! Finally the ER dr, my regular dr., a surgeon, and a GI specialist came to the conclusion that I needed gallbladder surgery in order for all this pain to go away. At that point I said sign me up because anything that would be me feel better was a huge neccessity in my life. I had my surgery at 7am in the morning on the Thursday before Memorial Day and was back home by 10am. I slept the rest of the day and was so relieved when I woke up about 4pm that the pain and nausea were GONE! Finally! I spent the whole Memorial Day weekend on the couch watching Netflix, but it was so worth it and was back to work by Tuesday.  

Amazing Husband

I've been having stomach pains since Thursday and I'm the worst sick person ever! Usually when I'm sick I just want someone to lie next to me and watch movies and just be there. While I realize to anyone else beside me that seems like the last thing any person would ever want to do. But my husband being the great husband he is puts up with it pretty well, so I'm sure he was quite shocked when actually most of the weekend I just wanted to be left alone. By Sunday though I was back to my normal sick person self just wanting him to be next to me watching movies, even though I knew I'd fall asleep during it. LOL I still wanted him there. By Sunday night I was in so much pain I was crying and my gallbladder landed me in the ER for most of the night. We are still yet to find out what is wrong with my gallbladder,seems it might not be functioning correctly, but I got some pain relief and hopefully it gets better so it doesnt have to come out! But my hubby was there taking care of me and laughing at me along the way. Apparently giving me morphine for my pain caused two things. 1) being helped with my pain, but 2) it made it very hard for me to make out anything I was trying to say, which led to Ryan laughing constantly at me and wishing he had a tape recorder to record my talking the rest of the night. I guess what I thought I was saying or trying to say didnt come out the way I thought it did. While by the end of the night it ended up costing us a huge ER bill, I did get some relieve from the pain and Ryan got a huge laugh out of his wife! But I didnt care, I was just happy he was there:)

Mountain Home what?

So almost anyone that knows me thought I was crazy when I said I was picking up and moving from Kansas City to a small town in Arkansas almost 2 years ago. Everyone told me I'd go crazy living in such a small town of roughly 11,000 coming from KC, but I love it here! Life is so laid-back and easy going. I finally feel like Im living my life instead of just running around in it from place to place. I've really been able to step back and enjoy the little things in life that I just seemed to miss in the hectic craziness of the big city. I have loved so much being a wife and learning how to cook dinner on a nightly basis and take care of a household, dishes, laundry, husband all included. Don't get me wrong I do miss my family in KC tons and of course TARGET! LOL But one thing  it has really made me appreciate my family that much more because being 5 hours away I've truly learned they are there for Ryan and I whenever we need them to be. Well, my life never seems to be boring so we will see how interesting it turns out to be to blog about!