Lots of Winter Fun!!

Again, I have been a bit slow with the blog....but I have put some pictures from the past 3 weeks or so. Lots of fun stuff!!! The most recent was the BRRR BRRRRR BEARS GAME!!!!!!!! It happened to be the actual day of Ryan and I's first date 3 years AGO!!!!!! Yep, so I decided to surprise him with tickets since its out rivals!!! Bears vs Packers. You all know the outcome...sorry Ry guy, but you owed us a win!!!

Smiling as we put on our layers!!!

Next was the ISU girls Christmas party. I so look forward to this every year!!! Ryan offered his house to us so we hung out there. Every year we do white elephant. I will let Becky put her white elephant on her blog.....thanks Kristy, that was the laugh of a lifetime!!! And we miss you Heather and Sarah!!!!!

Before that I had my highschool xmas get together in which we have started the tradition of going to Biaggi's. Of course, it will never be the same without our Lisa. We miss you!!!!

And before that was Roo's birthday!!! That is my nickname for Marina. I created that when we lived together when we both first moved to the city. Carol and Ted offered their house for a birthday acknowledgement of Marina turning 30!!!!! It was really fun and below is before she blew out the candles.

And lastly was Ryan and I's annual ice skating at Millenium. It has become a tradition now and also Santa has joined us 2 years in a row!!!! No falls for me, but times 2 for Ryan. We tried some acrobatics as can see in the pics.

Merry Christmas

Just wanted to wish you all a safe, happy and merry christmas. Lately, I feel like there has been so much holiday shuffle, long lines in the stores, packed parking lots, lots of honking traffic in preparation for today and tomorrow.....but, when I stop and have some time alone, I am reminded of all the great people in my life who make every day a gift in itself. Thank you for your gifts of kindness, friendship and most importantly, your thoughts and prayers. Lots of love to everyone and wishing you all great things in 2009. Guess I will have to change my blog name soon, since my 30th year will soon be turning to 31!!!!

Well, my last day of my current job was Friday!!! Some of my coworkers took me out after work and it was very nice. I will miss everyone. And now the first day of the rest of my life in my new job starts tomorrow......Monday!!!!! I did not get a break, but that's probably better. I will let you all know how it goes. I am excited. I will have to get used to going to work in regular clothes and changing when I get there. Darn it, I am usually so cold and to get undressed again and then get dressed again seems like an extra step....oh well. I will never have to buy scrubs again, well maybe one day!!

Thanksgiving weekend!

I hope everyone had a happy turkey day with your friends and family. I headed up once again to Ryan's home town for some relaxation and a lot of eating!!!!!!!!!!!! The day before turkey day, Ryan's mom and dad took us to the Leinenkugels brewery where I learned my new favorite beer is the fireside nut!!!! Yumm!!! On Thanksgiving day, we decided last minute to do a turkey trot for a local food pantry. It was a bit burrish and very hilley!!!!! But, it was a fun thing to do and feel good about helping a pantry. The next day we drove home for Melissa's 30th bday party. Her brothers planned a wonderful party at Barleycorn. It was so nice to dance and catch up and see everyone and welcome Melissa yet again to join most of us in our thirtieth year!!!!

Melissa opening her card.....

Great faces here!!

Kel, Aly, Nicole and Bec

TURKEY DAY

May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey plump,
May your potatoes and gravy Have never a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner Stay off your thighs!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

I have good news!! I got a new job. Some of you know I was interviewing for quite some time it feels like. I found 2 jobs that were really appealing to me. One was in the education department in the hospital and the other one was in the CV HART unit. I interviewed for both and was offered the cv hart job right away. The education department was going to make a decision this week. I knew in my gut that I really was excited about the cv hart job. So, after much discussion and a couple nights of tossing and turning...I decided to take myself out of the education job and accept CV hart. I am really excited and I feel like a big weight has been lifted. I will miss my friends at my current job as I have been there for almost 8 years now, but I feel it is time for me to move on. I need a change and I want to be happy to go to work. And do you know the best part?????????? NO WEEKENDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Woo hoo....its like a dream :) Well, I may have to work a weekend every once in a blue moon so I really don't care. I will start the first week of December. It will be 3, 12 hour days like I have now. I will work in an outpatient setting and I will get patients right after surgery when they get pacemakers, stents, cardioversions, or other kinds of procedures. Quite a variety and we work very closely with the cardiologists and the cath lab. Lots of patient teaching which I love. The other job I would have no patient contact and I think I would miss that. I am not ready to give that up. So, I look forward to starting off 2009 with a new job. I will keep you posted!!!

20 days....

Yes, its been just about 20 days since I updated this blog and I am so sorry. It has been busy but I know that is no excuse. Ryan moved into his house so every day has been spent cleaning, painting, mowing, organizing, you name it. Now, all he needs is window treatments and the rest will come later...couches, stove, basement and a little decor. Ryan is very happy to finally be in a house again!! Soon, I will add pictures of the inside and then hopefully you can all come and visit!! This weekend Ryan said, "lets take a break from the house and enjoy the outside for a bit." I was very excited for that so we decided to go to Starved Rock. We were there last year about the same weekend. It was fall colors weekend so we tried to capture some good shots. We still saw a lot of green though. Which I don't mind cause I am not ready for winter. Here are a couple pics of this year and last.

This year, me in the cave

Last year, Ryan in the cave

This year, Ryan deep in thought, he did not know I took this

Fall colors!!!!!!!!!

This year

Last year at the same spot

I will hopefully be adding more things soon. And to those of you who are frequent blog adders....you rock and I wish I could more like you!!!!!

Go Bears Go!!! 24-20 Bears over Eagles

Thanks Bec...for the pics :) Ryan finally closed on his house and we are so excited!!! Lots of work to do, and lots of weeds to pull in the front as you can see....but its going to be a lot of fun !! I will post more pics when it looks like some one lives there. The appliances come in today!

Housewarming party to come down the road :) We registered at........ha ha just kidding !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY 30TH CAROLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Today is a special day because Carol Kagann Johnson turns 30! I have known Carol since the first grade at St. Scholastica.....a time when we would play boys chase girls, dodgeball, panther football, sleep overs, the movie girls just want to have fun, when carol pierced my ears with a needle and ice and when we used to dress up her rabbit in underwear....oh dont let me forget...we used to shake up 2 liters of pop in her kitchen and then open them up and run out of the room....what were we thinking...I have so many fond memories of Carol poo poo.....Carol, I even found a note you gave me about GERT. And I wont forget that I found the matza cracker!!!

Anyway....Carol's wonderful husband planned a surprise party for Carol this past Saturday...she had noooooooo clue. There is a mexican restaurant across the street from their place that has a really nice patio. So, we were all up there looking over when Ted and Carol were leaving for what Carol thought was a steak dinner....Ted had ran 20 miles that day for the marathon and deserved a steak!!!! So, off they went and to Carol's surprise...she walked out...Corey yelled..."Hey Carol".....the look on her face was priceless. And then the party began....it was soooooo fun...I laughed so hard.....and Carol ended the night in a bang....literally....she fell in the tub and the shower curtain and rod fell on her tooo.....I think its my fault....sorry Carol.....I had such a blast!!!!!!!!!!!! HAPPY 30 TH GIRL.....YOU ROCK!!!!!

When she walked out and looked up...had to look away....

Walking over....

And when she saw all the guests

Even Hendrix was in attendance!!!!!!

Marina (my roo), Liz, Thu and myself

we are all looking at different camaras, can you tell?

Me and Ry guy.....

DA BEARS KICK SOME COLTS BOOTIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOO HOO...WAY TO START THE SEASON......

I made it!!

If you have seen Becky's blog....then you know I did not drown! I finished my first triathlon. Kelly and my triathlon training group really helped to motivate me. Thanks Kel for coming down for the Lake Michigan practice swims. Never in a million years would I have thought I would be swimming in the Lake. And of course, now today...I am thinking...what next?

A special thanks to my fan club....Kristy, Becky and Melissa, Ryan, his parents and my mom for getting up before the sun even opened its eyes. Having you there was a gift. As far as the whole experience...I had fun. I really did. The swim was the scariest as I could not catch my breathe for about 10 minutes. I think it was just the atmosphere and swimmers all over the place and maybe nearly ramming into a boat. But overall, I think triathlons are cool. And you hurt less than a marathon and the training is a lot shorter. The bike shorts on the other hand....and the extra padding in the middle, its like a diaper and then....just get used to being wet!!! and hungry all the time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2 Days till I will be swimming with the fishes!!!

Countdown!!!!

5 days and 7 hours till the Triathlon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

219 Honeysuckle Street

Hi everyone.........I have been a very bad blogger....but I do have some good news...Ryan just bought a house we absolutely love :) !!!!!!!!!! We have had our eyes on it for awhile, but having found it early on in our house search...we waited and continued looking but we kept going back to this one..... I think most of you know that we were looking for houses for Ryan. As much as we love, love the city, we knew that what we wanted we could not afford. So, each week, we picked a new city and picked about 5 houses to look at each day. So, after a couple days in Bolingbrook, we just found that you can get some really great homes at more affordable prices. So low and behold, we found this one. Of course we got into a bidding war with 3 other people, it must have been meant to be since we won!!! It is located near Weber rd behind Clow airport. About 2.5 miles from Becky and Venessa. And there is a awesome pond and walking/running paths that you can see from the driveway. It is only 3 years old and practically new inside. We will have to replace a few appliances and do some landscaping cause it looks like no one ever lived there. The master bedroom closet is the size of my studio!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So, anyway.... there will be more to come, the house is getting inspected Monday and closing sept 5th as it stands right now...so Ryan will be a resident of Bolingbrook in no time......get ready.....parties and BBQ's to come!!!! Woo hoo......

PS:

Happy 30th Birthday to Lisa today!!!!!!

Busy Couple of weeks!!

This summer seems like it is flying by! So, Ryan officially sold his house, we moved him out last week....now its crunch time to find a house. Lots of great things have been going on. Becky had her baby as all of you know, Rebecca came to visit last week and Ryan moved back to Chicago all in the same week!!! Woo hoo..... below are pictures from all the events. The very last couple of pictures are from my very first Nascar race. I know....most of you are like, what? But, Ryan had to work the event and then we got free tickets. It was quite exciting and it had my favorite...a flyover!!!!!

Most of us were able to welcome Rebecca back to Chicago for a couple weeks and we all went for dinner and drinks. Before that, I got to meet new little Cole...so adorable.....such a great baby and sooooooooo cute. I love being a pretend aunt!!

So, now what? lots of house hunting, almost 4 weeks till the triathlon and enjoy the rest of the summer....

Little teddy bear

Ryan's neighbors had a going away gathering....he is really going to miss them!!

SOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go Dewalt!!! Ha ha

Did I mention....you can't hear a darn thing except engines

Flyover.......my fav, they flew by twice...very cool......