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!!!!!