Happy Friday!

Happy Friday! This is a particularly special friday because it is the END OF TEST BLOCK!!! The end of test block is simply the best time ever! I get to be with Jeffrey and whatever we do, if it is something or nothing, we just do it together and it is perfectly fabulous! I don't know about you, but for me it has been a loooong week.

Isn't Jeff just the prettiest when he is sleeping!?! I don't know if he minds that I took this picture (on a trip years ago) or if he minds that I posted it. But he is just so beautiful, I had to share. Isn't he the cutest! I foresee a lot of sleep happening over the next few days and better yet, lots and lots of cuddling!

It is only hours away and I simply can't wait!!!

Easter!

Sadly, this was a very weird Easter. Due to the awful demands of test block, Jeffrey was unable to attend Easter festivities with my family or his. He went to church in the morning then after that the poor dear was home alone studying while I was having fun with our families. It was so weird to not have Jeff there. I really missed him. My nephew, Smith, loves Jeff and I mean absolutely loves him! I had to stop saying Jeff's name entirely because anytime I said "Jeff" Smith would start freaking out and go "Jeff? Jeff? JEFF!!!" and look so sad. That is how I felt too, but he is two, so it is ok for him to say that out loud.

But I kept coming home and checking on him and telling him all that he missed. I made him food to have at his disposal. Both of our families were happy to send food home to him as well. (Which is great because he eats us out of house and home while he is studying for test block...but right now my frig is full of leftovers and it is great!)

I even made Jeff an Easter egg hunt in our living room. I figured if he couldn't come celebrate Easter with our families, I would bring the festivities to him. So, I made him search for eggs as a study break. I know he didn't want to do it and thought it was silly, but he graciously humored me (and I think he kinda had fun too!) Each egg had a special message in it. The last one had a clue to an Easter surprise!

Oh I can't wait til test block is over!!! It is absolutely the best we just spend much needed time together...sleeping, eating, talking, and a lot of sleeping! It is great! The whole time leading up to test block when I barely see him, barely talk to him, sleep by myself, eat by my self, and don't have someone to tell all my stories to I am reminded just how much I love him and how much I miss him. The great part is I get this reminder without actually having to loose him. And then one day, all his tests are over and it is like Christmas morning!!!! I get my Jeffrey!

picking colors

I have blogged before about our second living room with the lime green carpet. Well, I am soon-to-be renovating that room and...I am thinking about doing the walls purple. So the room would look kinda like this picture. It would be one of the 3 rooms that I used a non-white color in. I don't know. I am still thinking; but I think it would be fun. Maybe even with a subtle pattern or design in the paint job (i.e. matte/gloss design, or hue/tint design). Who knows, however, I have picked out the color scheme for that room and I am excited about it! It (well, the plan for it) is the only room that will embrace mine and Jeff's funky, fun, bright, cheery styles. This may very well be my favorite room of the house when we are all done!!

ALSO, what do you think of this chair? I haven't decided. For now, I just say "...interesting."

ice cream, oh my!

Well,...today we made magic in the kitchen. (And no, I was not being dirty for you dirty minds out there). We created a new ice cream delicacy, that was healthy, fat-free, sugar-free, and tasted sinful. Believe me, you wish you had something that tastes this good in your mouth. WOW!

Anyway, let me just say, we both had the hardest time not eating the whole batch (I had to keep saying "but don't you want to save some so we can have something that tastes this good tomorrow")...we almost ate it anyway. Oh,...it was cookies and cream by the way...YUMMY-in-my-tummy!!!!!!

What a Merry Christmas!

Ok, well it is time to finally get back into the swing of things.

To catch you up, we had a truly wonderful Christmas! AND for our first married Christmas, we had a perfect, beautiful, white, snowing Christmas. I have never seen this much snow in Oklahoma in my life. And oh, cuddling up by the fireplace with Jeffrey made it the absolute best!

Isn't our little home absolutely precious!?!

year-in-review

Well, it is that time...to reminisce and think of the future.

We have had simply the BEST year. I can't tell you how perfect it has been...it sounds like a fairytale. Jeffrey and I have been so blessed!

First, I finished my last semester of college! CRAZY!!! I graduated May 16th, and we were married one week later...it was a whirlwind of a May.

May 23rd was simply the best day! Everything was PERFECT, absolutely perfect (and the things that weren't just made our day more unique and special). I married my BEST friend and I could not contain my joy at doing so...I ruined all my pictures by smiling too much, but that is ok, we were happy. (He was SOOOO cute too!) I couldn't wait to see him/talk to him...I missed him so much, which is silly because I was only away from him for a day. But the moment I saw him....OHHH, I was so excited! Let me tell you about the butterflies...all I can say is we are lucky I didn't skip all the way down the aisle. I haven't seen the video yet, but apparently my "I do's" were funny. Our minister almost forgot to have him kiss the bride, but after my sister, Jeff AND the entire audience tried to "whisper" it to him, he finally realized his error. And oh, what a good kiss! I thought I would plan how we would kiss and I forgot to until right before. But it was perfect. And he was perfect in every way! Then we had a perfect reception and we were off for a perfect night in the Presidential Suite of the Sheridan downtown, and then back to OUR NEW HOME to hide away a pretend we knew no one around. What a glorious week!

After that, we were blessed to go to Italy for over 2 weeks!!! This was our absolute DREAM, I never thought it would happen, but last minute (I mean, two days before we left the country) we got a great deal, grabbed our bags, and were off. We didn't have any time to properly plan a trip, so we winged it and it could not have been more perfect! I will always look back on that time with the very highest of affection. Oh my goodness! I can't even begin to explain the utter joy and amazement... We spent HOURS in museums...we both love ancient culture, and both took two years of Latin. Jeff is so into history, geography, and art. I took lots of "classics" courses, got a minor in art history, and was a fine arts major. All of these reached their zenith in Italy, so...needless to say we were having the best time of our lives. I came back inspired, exhausted, and sore in ways that I didn't even know was possible, but I wasn't going to waste one second of valuable time...and I wouldn't change any of it! It truly was the trip of a lifetime! It would take me days to even describe all the wonderful, amazing things we saw and did...I can't even pick just a few things to highlight. AMAZING!

We wound up having a honeymoon summer. We got our week staying in together, then our time in Italy, then the full month it took us to recover, and the rest of the summer we just spent together being sublimely happy! We will probably never get to do that again, but we sure did make the very most of it. He is my best friend and I love him with all my heart. So, you can only imagine how wonderful everything was.

Sadly, this bliss had to come to an end...well, not an end. We started another chapter. And that chapter is a continuation of all our joy, love, and growth. Jeff started med school at OU. It was certainly an adjustment; and we don't really know where our lives are going, but as long as they go together anything will be simply wonderful. I can see God directing our lives. I know He has a wonderful plan for us and I can't wait to see what it is.

Jeff is doing tremendously in school. He has started shadowing some doctors, doing rotations, and he dissected a human body. I really freaked Caleb, his 11 year old cousin, out when I told him about it at Christmas. That was funny. Jeff has a natural gift for working with patients and good bedside manner. He often does whatever examination he has recently learned on me. We practice doing patient history and background...he says I am a terrible patient! :) Oh well, I try. Jeff played intramural football as quarterback for his team. And now he is gearing up to play intramural basketball, he is the captain. We have made so many lovely friends in med school. We often have small med school parties at our house and I do things for Jeff's mod, like plan birthday parties, make goodies,...that sort of thing. I enjoy doing it, I finally have someone to make desserts for. You know, I love making them, hate eating them, and Jeff eats healthy, so of course he doesn't eat them either.

I have been keeping myself busy while Jeff is at school/studying with renovating our home, cleaning, organizing, and mostly with design. I have been working as a freelance designer, which though that wasn't what I had originally intended on doing, it has been quite nice to have a flexible lifestyle. So, in the precious little time Jeff has to sit, eat, rest, and enjoy things I can be there with him. I am also on the executive board for the Medical Student Spouse Alliance, which has introduced me to many new friends. And, we are still the sunday school teachers for our youth group. I really enjoy that time.

It took a little while to adjust to our new med-school lifestyle, but we have finally gotten into the swing of things...let me tell you though, I was certainly looking forward to Christmas break, and of course, the night of his last exam, I got really sick...perfect! Yeah, I was so mad at myself, but we still had the best time--full of sleep, cuddling, watching movies, going on dates, and doing a ton of other things that time wouldn't amply allow during school. At first, our "over Christmas break, we'll do..." list was full of things we needed to get done (i.e. fixing the house, painting, finishing the bathroom....) but as time progressed, those things were shoved aside for fun things, like just being together.

Now we are having to go back to the non-routine med-school routine, but now we, or at least I am more prepared for what is in store. I can't wait for the next break. I am selfish, but I just want to spend every moment with him. I am hopeful for all that our future holds and enjoying the ride in the meantime.

I will never have any right to complain for I have been far too blessed. (don't worry, I am very thankful) I have constantly been saying, "Oh, look our first..." fill in the blank, engaged Easter, married OU/TX game, married OU home game, married fall stroll in Norman, married Christmas, time to grill on our new wedding grill...I hope we never run out of "firsts"! It has been 7+ years so far, and I think we never will. I celebrate the little things, and let me tell you, it makes life so much more fun! I look forward to all our firsts and the continuation of all our long-standing traditions.

Best to you and yours in this new year!!!!

holiday baking!

This weekend I went to the baking extravaganza with the med school wives. We had a lot of fun! And we made so much food - mint brownies, peanut butter balls, gingerbread cookies, sugar cookies, hot chocolate, wassle, toffee, peanut brittle, chocolate candies...oh my goodness, I can't even remember what else! (above: Logan, Stacy, Rebecca, Aubrae, Callie, me, Darcie, Misty, & Beka)

(the "sig. others" from Jeff's mod: Callie, me, Misty, & Darcie)

ornament exchange

Thursday, I went to the ornament exchange with the med-school and resident wives. It was a lot of fun and after a game of dirty santa, and having my ornament stolen a few times, I came home with the cutest ornaments. (above is a picture of the med-school wives that came: Jenny, Rebecca, Logan, Stacy, & me)

pumpkin time

We didn't get to decorate pumpkins this year due to our busy schedules. However, we along with some other MS1's are going to decorate "thankful" pumpkins. So, I am working on my pumpkin idea!

Have you decorated pumpkins this year? Please share!

wonderful weekend

Oh, wonderful weekend, why are you gone?

Weekends are becoming my favorite time because it is when I get to cuddle with Jeffrey the most!! Sadly, the next test block is next week which means life is crazy at our house again. I really wasn't ready for another one to come along so soon...I think Jeff has hardly recovered from the last one. Oh well. Pray for Jeff if you think of it!!

We had a nice weekend before he crawls back into his study hole. We had a date on Friday, which included mexican food and curling into our fluffy bed with fuzzy blankets to watch a movie. Fantastic! Then we had people over to the house to watch OU play on Saturday. (Aaron, the guy in the stripes, really likes to pose for the camera!!) And Jeff had his last intramural football game of the year Sunday. He was the only player from his team to show up. So he, the refs, and the other team scrimmaged and it was still fun.

VS: game 4

Well, another weekend...resting, tailgating, OU football, intramural football, and Sunday afternoon naps! So nice, but COLD, way too cold this early in the season.

As good as this weekend was, I can't help but be excited for next weekend and OU/TX, even if it is just because Jeff gets a long weekend and we are going on a road trip together!! Sooners are coming to Dallas!!!

rain, rain...

Today it POURED down rain...so, of course I got drenched taking pictures.

so much fun!!! Look how good they came out and these are only a few of them. Then, Jeff scared me when he came up behind me yelling my name. Of course, I was under some plants in our backyard, engrossed in my picture-taking. And to be far, I think I scared him too because the whole house was open, my car was in the driveway and I was nowhere to be found...but clearly, this means I am on an adventure taking pictures in an obscure place. He should know that. And since I was in a picture taking mood and he came outside, I took pictures of him too!

Look how cute my baby is!!

weekend off

Oh, such a good weekend!! Jeff took the weekend off from med school. We slept and got to spend wonderful time together!

He played intermurals again. This time they played the male nursing team. The game was such fun. As opposed to previous games, this one was clean and everyone was playing nice; which mean I was having fun on the sidelines because I wasn't having to get mad that people couldn't play right. Also, no one got hurt this time. Again, I could stop worrying about them and just enjoy!

test block 1: OVER!!

Since test block THIS has been Jeff. He is restoring his body with lots of cat naps and loving it!

Test block 1 is over! We celebrated by having some of the MS1's from his mod over to the house, taking naps together, and watching a movie...I didn't realize how much I missed simple things like snuggling under a fuzzy blanket watching a movie with Jeffrey.

In the top picture: Brian, Chad, Jeff, David, Kevin, Cale. Then in the bottom picture, same boys plus me and Callie (Chad's wife). Of course, I had to take a picture and they willing obliged.

test block...almost done

Enough said.

test block 1

So, this is about as much as anyone sees of Jeff these days. Study, study, study, a few hours of sleep, and study, study, study...this is Jeff's life right now, and by extension mine too. When Jeff studies, he likes to snack. He has almost eaten everything we have in our home and I have already made multiple trips to the store this week.

Cookies for the mod. Of course, Jeff won't eat them, but I get to bake and decorate and eat a little cookie dough. So, it all works out.

baby cupcakes

Stephanie Owen, a girl in Jeff's mod, just had a baby boy. (right before first test block too!) So I made these cupcakes for her and the mod to celebrate. And oh, did I have fun decorating!!

While I was baking, I also made homemade pear-carmel ice cream to take to the Spouse Alliance ice cream social and chocolate chip cookies and sent a special one to Lindsey. My kitchen smelt delicious!! But I was good, I did no pre-tasting. I did lick the spoon when I was done however... benefits of working in the kitchen :)

Victorious Secret: game 2

Jeff's intramural football game was not as good this week as last. First off, he was hurt when one of his teammates and he collided. Will, his teammate, got a concussion and a black eye and Jeff probably broke his clavicle. I did not like that at all! But, I think he is having fun, so what are you to do? Also, notice on his catch, he is just in bounds. He did look awfully cute out there!

The team: (starting top left) Mark, Jeff, Ben, Will, Lance, Tyler, Zack, and Aaron.

football time

We had a very wet weekend. The good news is that Jeff is feeling better, but the bad news is that he tore a muscle in his leg, which slowed him down a bit. This was our first true home game and the first time we kissed as man and wife after a touchdown in OU's stadium! It was cold, wet, and windy, not what you normally expect for the first few games of the season. We beat Idaho State 64-0.

On Sunday, Jeff had his first flag football game. His team's name is Victorious Secret, his suggestion. He is the quarterback; he did so well. With as much as it was raining, they had a hard time throwing the ball. It was a lot of fun! I came prepared with my chair, umbrella, rain-boots, and hot chocolate. He came prepared with his waterproof play sheet (and by that I mean he drew up plays on a sheet of paper and put it in a zip-lock bag; inventive, and it worked). They won and are currently the only MS1 team that is undefeated.

Jeff loves it when I take pictures!!! Can't you tell by his face? Below are some of his teammates. They humored me and posed for the camera...so cute! Left to right: Zack, Phillip, Aaron, Tyler, and of course, Jeffrey. Look at his muscles!!

T1...only a few dozen more to go!

Jeff is taking his first med-school exam today! Wish him luck...he is really sick too, so hopefully he makes it through. Then, maybe he can come home for a nap, some hot soup, and a break.