We're Still Alive!

Just wanted to check in and let everyone know we're still alive and kickin'! Life has been beyond busy lately, and posting is lower on the to do list than work, laundry, and dishes =). Honestly, we haven't done much, but hopefully we'll have pictures later from our short trip home at Christmas. I'll leave you with a pic my wonderful neighbor took of Brian and I.

Love ya!

Happy Fall Y'all!

(Before)

(After)

For those of you who can't see the 'art', it's a pumpkin! Our local take and bake pizza place called Papa Murphy's has pizzas shaped like pumpkins for Halloween. For only $6 dollars you can have a pumpkin pizza of your very own, and I'm such a kid I get a kick out of it =).

Where we're at...

Life's been busy for us lately! Between work, going to football games, and everyday stuff, I feel like we haven't stopped. Brian has been working on his CV (curriculum vitae, kinda like a resume) and trying to decide if he still wants to teach or go into industry. He is in his 4th year, of hopefully 5 years, and then it's on to somewhere else! If he decides to teach, we will move somewhere else for 1-2 years so he can complete a post-doctoral fellowship and then on to a teaching position at a college. If he goes into industry, he will probably not do a post-doc. Industry would probably mean a bigger paycheck, but will also keep us far from family. Teaching will likely give us more options of where to live, but can be more stressful until he gets tenure.

As for me, I've accepted an apprenticeship program at work. This was a big decision for us because it will mean more time and responsibility, but it's a great opportunity. I received one promotion before entering the program and after 6 months - year if all goes well, I will be promoted into the next department. On one hand, I am extremely excited and honored to be selected for the program. On the other hand, I tend to be timid at work and I'm going to have to step up and work on communicating with different departments and delegating. If you know me well, you know that change and uncertainty is not my thing, and there is a lot of it going on right now!

Lately, I've been ready for our 'grown up' life to begin. We've been married over 3 years, and to be honest, I'm ready to be closer to home and have some kiddos =). It's so easy to compare your life with friends and say, 'Why can't we be there yet?'. Grad school is just a different kind of life, and it's hard to explain what it's like to be in it (or married to someone who is). I know God has a plan and a purpose for us, and I just have to trust. This week I've been trying to keep 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 in mind: ' 16Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.'

Hope you all have a great week!!

I love a good deal...

Have you heard about Red Box? I don't know if they have it everywhere, but we have a machine in McDonalds where you can rent DVDs for a dollar! I had seen the commercials on TV, but wasn't sure if it was worth it. But, since it costs almost 5 dollars to rent a movie from Blockbuster we thought we'd try it. I am now a fan! They have a decent selection of newer movies, and what a cheap date. Here's a link below in case you want to check it out.



http://www.redbox.com/

Taaaadaaaa!!

We finally have a master shower! On Friday the marble was installed and Brian repaired and installed the hardware this weekend. It'll need a little decorating, but it puts us one step closer to being able to resell in a couple of years. And better yet, we don't have to go upstairs to take a shower anymore so guests will have a bathroom of their own when they come visit. Hint, Hint =).

One of my favorite TV shows...

So I have to confess, I love the TV show 'The Biggest Loser'! I'm normally not a fan of reality shows, but it's wild to see how much people can change over the course of the show. The Guy above, Erik, is the winner from last season and he lost 214 pounds! Ironically, Brian and I are usually eating dinner when it comes on (7pm CT) so we laugh at how it makes us think about the food we're stuffing in our faces =). Luckily, they've opened up a small gym at work so maybe it'll inspire me to take advantage. Tell me, am I the only one out there watching this?

Hook 'em!

We went to our first football game of the season this weekend...UT versus Arkansas State. Last year we found a great tailgate spot and we decided to continue the tradition this year. I didn't take many pictures at the tailgate (we were too busy eating =)) but we took lots of pictures at the game. The seats this year are on the 4th row, yup 4TH, so I felt like we were even more a part of the game. Here's an assortment of the day. The first game was a win, 21-13, so let's hope the rest of the season goes well.

What a difference a year makes...

I was looking back at pictures of our house when we bought it and it's amazing how far our little house has come! We bought it as a foreclosure so there has been (and still is) lots to fix, but it's been nice to fix things up together. Here's a few before and after pics:


Here's some pics of our front yard then and now





On to the backyard...




And here's our next project: Replacing the master shower! Brian and I finished ripping out the tile and Daddy and Brian hung up the green board. We will be so excited to be able to shower downstairs again!

Gearing up for Football Season

Those who know me would probably be pretty surprised to hear that I love football season now! It's probably more about the excitement of hanging out with friends, a good burger before the game, and being a part of the crowd in the stands rather than the actual game itself. Don't get me wrong, I do actually watch the game, and I'm getting the hang of what's going on, but the atmosphere is more my thing. So far, the Ohio State game last year was my favorite, and while I forgot my camera, I did get to see Lance Armstrong, Matthew McConaughey, and Jake Gillenhaal in their sky box above. Here's a few shots from last season.

Happy 4th y'all!

I know these are cheesy, but here are some pics of our family this Sunday before the 4th. Brian and I actually did not plan to coordinate, but I thought it was too perfect to not try to snap a few pictures.


I also wanted to mention something that came up at church this morning. Do you know the last verse of the National Anthem? I'll let it speak for itself...

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

excerpt from: http://www.thenationalanthemproject.org/lyrics.html

Dieting (again)!

So I'm hoping that by putting it in writing it will keep me accountable, so I'm going to admit that I'm dieting again. I'm trying to be hopeful, but something tells me this will be an ongoing battle my whole life. I love celebrating, comforting, and escaping boredom with food, so I'm working on changing my attitude. After seeing many recent pictures of myself I couldn't deny it any more, I've gotten quite chubby lately =). I joined Weight Watchers a few weeks ago at work (they are reimbursing us for the cost if we complete the program, so I figured I had nothing to loose). Here are a few of the things I have fallen in love with since joining Weight Watchers:

Spray Butter! and Mini Bag Popcorn (94% Fat Free version)

And Hostess 100 calorie cupcakes!

Don't worry, I'm eating other things too, these just make it a little more manageable! Hopefully I'll have progress to show off over the coming months =).

The NewlyWeds!

So I'm finally taking the time to blog about Kara and Matt's wedding on June 2nd. It was absolutely beautiful and I feel blessed to have been included. While at the wedding, we also go to see Amanda (my little sister in AGD) and Jason & Kara, all friends from NGCSU.

Kara and Matt had a great photographer who took lots of fun pictures, my favorites were candids on a golf cart! When we entered the reception, they played the theme song to Monday Night Football which got a great reaction from the well wishers. We enjoyed watching every one boogie down, but Brian and I only braved the slow songs =). Here's a pic of Kara and Brian at the end of the wedding. Best Wishes for a long and happy marriage!!!!

Georgia Trip

We were lucky enough to make it back to Georgia for a full week and celebrate the wedding of Kara Killian and Matt Bornhorst. Work has kept me really busy in Texas, so it was nice to be able to hang out with family and friends and relax a bit. We went up to Dahlonega, ate at good ol' El Maguey's, and saw our friend Daniel Hamby's band, 9 North, play at Caruso's.



We also celebrated my brother Robert's and my cousins, Blake and Tyler, birthdays. My niece Reagan culminated the evening by sitting in the box. Don't you wish you could do that?



We also bought her a small ball pit while we were there that Brian decided to try out. While we were there she learned how to say my name which just melted my heart. It was really nice to see our family and friends and just have some quality time. Even though we just got back to Texas, we can't wait to see everyone again!!

Our first Texas camping trip!

Two weeks ago our friends Kye and Kelli called and wanted to go camping. We jumped at the chance to see some old Georgia friends, packed up the car and the puppies and headed out to Lake Brownwood. It was absolutely beautiful, a nice cool weekend to catch up with friends. I even got a picture of bluebonnets on the way out. Here are a few pics of the weekend. Since Kye and Kelli live in Abilene (Texas) now, we look forward to spending more time together.



Brian, Kye and Kelli around the campfire, the tents set up, and the beautiful bluebonnets.



Here's one last pic of the worn out puppies on the way home

Please bear with me as I learn how to insert pictures, I'm still new to this blogging thing =)