From scratch pumpkin pie!

Today at work was a bit crazy. We had a tornado warning, "Code Gray" for those of you working at Children's (better get ready for Joint Commission!). We had to stay in our offices (because we have no windows and are in the middle of the building) with our patients. I got to hang out with my 11 o'clock and her mom from 12-12:45. It made the rest of my day feel rushed. Luckily nothing happened and I have power.

When I got off work I had to go get Charlie from doggy day care. They said he was scared during the storm and he is afraid of the agility tunnel, such a big baby. He is going back again tomorrow.
I was feeling a bit of sadness coming on during my drive home (we have 79 days left!) so I decided instead of sitting on the couch and getting sad I would make a pumpkin pie! Not from a can but from a real pumpkin. There is a cute little pumpkin patch by our house that I went to and got my sugar pumpkin. They don't take credit at the pumpkin patch (crazy!) so I had to write a check for $1.99. Making this pie was not as easy as I thought it would be.

First I had to cut the pumpkin in half. We have this huge Pampered Chef knife that I am scared of so I ended up sawing the pumpkin into pieces with a steak knife. In order to get into the Halloween spirit I thought Sammy should wear his pumpkin shirt. 

He was not happy! But as you can see, he loves Dave's Air Force snuggie. The entire time I was trying to make this pie (which took over 3 hours by time I went to the pumpkin patch and got it in the oven) Charlie wanted to play. I thought doggy day care was supposed to make him tired! 

I realized after trying to make this pie that our blender (the one Dave bought at Dave and Busters with his points) is a piece of garbage! Shocker, I know. I am going to have to go buy one this weekend. I might go buy a Kitchen Aid mixer because I have started cooking and baking since Dave left and I think it will get used more than I originally thought. I have no idea what a pumpkin pie is supposed to look like before you put it in the oven (there were chunks of pumpkin in it) so I don't know what it is going to taste like. I am taking them into work tomorrow (the recipe ended up making two pies) so my co-workers get the joy of being my taste testers. Here is the aftermath: 

So now the pumpkin pies are almost done and I am exhausted! The plan to keep myself busy worked because now I have to clean up the mess, take the dogs out and then Dave will call!!!! 

New adventures are good. Life is good. 

Great Fall weekend with my amazing family

This weekend was really great. I got to see my brother and father-in-law on Friday and the rest of my family Saturday and Sunday.
First let's talk about Dave. He is doing good-really everything is the same. He is still slacking and has not sent me pictures to add to the blog. I will get on him about that. With his new work schedule we are actually getting to talk more than I thought we would. Mondays are my favorite because he is off and he calls and wakes me up-it makes my day! I need to send him his OSU jersey in his next package because they are having a moral dinner and he is allowed to wear it.

Wedding reception update-invitations are ordered!!!! I LOVE THEM, they are so cute. I can't wait until they get here, I hope they are as cute as they look online. My mom and I are planning to do reception stuff all day Friday (that has been the plan for like the past 3 Fridays and we haven't done anything, we always end up shopping so we will see what happens). February is going to be here before I know it. The more we get accomplished, the more I can not wait to celebrate with everybody.

Charlie is doing okay. He scared me last week and I ended up driving to my parent's house at midnight crying my eyes out because I thought he was going to have to get put to sleep (I don't exaggerate anything...). Turns out he just pulled a muscle and the vet gave him a shot and he is doing much better. If he ends up limping again we are going to have to get an x-ray and see if he may have hip dysplasia.

So onto this weekend-Friday I went with my brother and we both picked out glasses and got to catch up with what is going on in his life. He is getting so big (I know he is 20 but still he is my little brother!). I love him so much, the cutest thing ever he is. Gage spent the night with me Friday night and we had a nice little morning of making chocolate chip pancakes. I swear 4-year olds are my favorite. The stuff he says is just too funny. Here are some photos of our time together.

My amazing parents helped me do some things around the house Saturday. They have been so great with Dave gone (they are always great but I would not have made it the last 3 months without them). Then we went to my aunt's house for a cookout, bonfire, trick or treat with the little ones and vegas night. It was such a good time, we are going to do it again next year! My aunt counted today and we had 42 people and 10 kids, I love my big family! Here are some pictures: 

And I will end the post with pictures of the dogs in their Halloween costumes. Clearly, they love them! 

Thanks for checking out our blog. Have a great week. 

Big families are good-Life is good!!! 

Week one of Charlie's second class

Today we went to Charlie's first class of his second class (if that makes sense). He was an absolute terror! I have no idea what is into him today but he is being wild. Ever since I got home from work he was going crazy, running around, jumping nonstop. He was so excited in the car the whole way to class he wouldn't even sit down. The second thing we did at class was to walk figure eights around 4 orange cones. The object of the activity is to keep your dog away from the cones (they are supposed to be distractions like cars, other dogs, etc.). Charlie was afraid of them! I was laughing so hard. He wouldn't even walk up to the line of cones to begin the activity. I had to drag him up there and then I had to drag him through the course. He kept running away from them and bouncing all around. The trainers gave me a cone to sit next to him while we watched the next activity we were going to do to condition him to the cone. He wouldn't even sit by it, he was hiding behind me. It was ridiculous. Of course I did push it toward him a few times to get a laugh in.
I don't know if that did him in or what but the rest of the class was a waste. He was jumping, not sitting, rolling over when he was supposed to be staying, etc. He also started limping on his foot that has a sore on it which made me nervous. I will keep an eye on that and maybe call the vet if he keeps doing it.
Some exciting news is that he goes to doggy day care tomorrow for a trial day! I hope he passes!!!! I found a place that is literally 2 minutes from my work. If he makes it in I am going to take him Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Now for an update on other things.... Dave is the same. His roommate got to go home this week so Dave moved to the "good side" of the room by the TV. He is no longer sleeping under a noisy AC unit. He is supposed to be sending me some pictures of his helicopter ride but is slacking. We are over half way done!!! I can't believe it. I am so so so ready to see him (in person not just via facetime).
We have started to look into stuff for the vacation after the reception. We are going to do 2 weeks in Hawaii and I already can not wait. Has anybody taken a Hawaiian cruise before? We are thinking of doing that then doing a week on Maui. If you have any suggestions let us know.

Last weekend I went to Columbus for the weekend to see my friend Jess and to hang out with my brother some. Here are some pictures from the weekend:

So the last picture here is of my friend Geoff's fireplace. I was sitting at his house watching the OSU game (which was horrible by the way) and looked up and saw this. I started cracking up. It is my pharmacy technician plaque from Kroger. I have no idea how it ended up at his house but apparently it has been up there for about 3 years now. I may be visiting OSU a lot more because my brother is thinking of transferring up there. I am fine with that because it will make him happy and OSU is only about an hour and 15 minutes from our house.

I will end this post with a funny story I thought of as I was driving home from our class tonight. When Dave and I first got Charlie we were driving to my sister's house and had Charlie in the Jeep. Dave had the window down and was letting Charlie hang out, we were going about 35 miles an hour. I said "Dave, he is going to jump out the window." Of course he thought I was wrong. Then about 1 minute later he jumped out the window! Dave caught him by his back legs and pulled him back into the Jeep. I think he said something along the lines of "Is this what Zane was talking about Danielle always being right?" hahaha

Baby Charlie, too cute. 

Well now the 2 hour season finale of Teen Mom is on so I must go. Also there will be no more updates about Thai Chi because I quit! I would rather spend my Monday evenings watching football.

Hope you have a great hump day! Life is good : )

Thai Chi-Week 1

Today I went to my first Thai Chi class, it was interesting to say the least. To start off I was the youngest person in the class by about 20 years so that is always good. I don't really know what I thought Thai Chi was but I thought it would be different than what we did this evening. Below is a recap of what occurred in the class and in my head as it was taking place.

First part of the class we got mats out of the closet and laid down. First thought of the evening, "I need to get my own mat, this is disgusting." Then we worked on our breathing and belly breathing instead of chest breathing. It was actually kind of relaxing so I didn't mind the laying down and breathing for about 10 minutes while soothing music played in the background.

Next we rubbed some gall bladder and kidney pressure points in our feet. He was talking about energy and channeling your energy. "What in the heck is this guy talking about? energy and opening my kidney by rubbing my foot? I don't think I am coming back next week.

Then we stood up and practiced our bow we also worked on some moves we were going to be building on as the class went on-I learned about the grasshopper in the box and the sparrow. He had us do some exercise then feel the "heat" in our feet where we had been "channeling" our energy and "opening our joints". ("Wow-my feet really are warm, this is kind of cool-maybe I will give it until week 2 until I quit.")

As the class went on we did a variety of exercises and used some exercise balls to "feel where our hands" were and to become part of the ball. We talked about the earth and heaven and where we are in the middle, etc. The entire time we were doing all of this I was thinking: "I am not coming back, this is insane. What in the heck am I doing here? That cute little 90 year-old man up there is about to have a stroke." Then after like 5 more minutes he said something that struck me so I thought "maybe this could be kind of fun." The entire hour long class was spent going back and forth in my head about how crazy it was to be there to how it might be a good experience.

So the verdict is I am going to stick it out and see what 11 weeks of Thai Chi can do for me. According to my teacher (who is an MD and "will not answer any questions you may have about your health because then this becomes a consult session.") it will help with my breathing and physical balance which can crossover to help with "balance" in my life as well as "living in the moment".

Here is a picture of Charlie that I took the other day but the entire time I was writing this blog this is what he kept doing. He goes to the vet on Thursday to get some updated shots then will go to a "trial day" of doggy daycare next week!!! We are also going to begin the second level of his class next week.

Halloween Oreos are good... Talking to Dave for an hour this morning before work makes LIFE GREAT today : )

Jam packed weekend

Lets start off by talking about Dave-he is good. Every time I talk to him it is "groundhog" day... but the other day he got to go on a helicopter ride over the ocean and some of the towns around where he is for some "training". He is going to send me some pictures and a description of his helicopter ride and I will post it when I get it. We have approximately 93 days until he gets home!!!  His roommate's wife had a baby the other day and he watched the birth via Skype-that is crazy stuff.

This weekend was really busy for me. On Friday my cousin Kayla got married. It was a very pretty wedding (she looked beautiful!) and a fun reception. As she was walking down the aisle my cousin's 2-year old caught a program on fire (there were candles on the tables we were sitting at) and my uncle had to put it on the floor and stomp it out. Here are some pictures from the wedding:

Saturday I had a cookout at my great-aunt's house then went out with some girls from work. We went to dinner then went to watch my co-worker star in "Everybody Loves Opal." It was so fun. For those of you who have not been to the Lebanon Theater before I would recommend going. It is a small but cozy playhouse. Snow did such a great job, so proud of her and all the hard work she put in. Here are some photos of the evening: 

Today I went to my Aunt's house for football and Wyatt's birthday party. 

We had leftover wedding cake which tasted awesome! The Bengals were such a let down (story of my life) but we can't lose next week because we have a bye-WHO-DEY! I still had a good time even if the game was not good. However my fantasy team is 5-0- go team "Harvin a Headache"!!!! 

After the game my mom and I went and got the cake topper for the reception and a garter (we have to have a garter toss!!!) For those of you that are not aware-at my sister and Zane's wedding, I caught the bouquet and then Zane and Dave rigged the garter toss so he would catch it. The DJ said the higher Dave put the garter up my leg the longer Danielle and Zane would be happily married (O geez....) but anyway I guess we can say, the rest is history..... 

My sister and I worked on centerpieces for the reception this evening and I think we have it all figured out. I am getting more excited as stuff starts to come together. My mom and I are spending all day Friday doing reception stuff. 

Well it is already Sunday night and I have a very long (thanks to the looming Joint Commission visit) week ahead of me. I start Thai Chi tomorrow which should be interesting, I will update you on how it goes. 

Hope you all have a great week!!! 

Love is good. Life is good! : ) 

Fall is here!!!

It is freezing cold in my living room as I write this and I am okay with that! It is definitely fall here, when I got off work today the sun was setting, the leaves are changing and the pumpkins are out!!! I even got out my folder of Halloween/fall activities today at work, so exciting!!! Fall is my most favorite time of the year, I love everything about it.

Nothing is really new here, just keeping busy and trying to get stuff done for the reception.  I am also starting a Thai Chi class next week, should be interesting.We have less than 100 days until Dave comes home!!!!! That is every exciting. He is doing good, we are still getting to talk almost every day since he switched to day shift. I haven't got any new pictures from him to post so I will tell him to send me some.

Some reception updates: I have changed the colors from blue and green to navy blue and silver. Since it is in the middle of the winter (ugh-really only timing that would work for us) I thought I should do something winter related. Guess I can't really do pumpkins and leaves in February?! We are going to do snowflakes and such. I also changed the location to a bigger one. We originally had talked about doing a small reception (less than 100 people) but since my IMMEDIATE family alone is over 60 it doesn't really leave a lot of room to invite friends. I found a cake topper and some napkins I liked and am going to go get them later this week. I will post some pictures of more things as they come along.

This weekend I did the Reggae Run with my friend Liz and her husband, sister, brother in-law and sister in-law. We had a lot of fun. (who knew running could be fun?). We got there a little late (8 minutes after the race started, oops) but still started at the starting line and finished. I ended up running the race with Liz and didn't do too bad considering I haven't ran in 3 weeks and it was all hills. After the race it started to rain a little and then it got really cold. We changed and stayed for the after party-the best part of the race! I will most definitely do it again next year.

On Sunday we did our normal football Sunday get together. This week was at my sister's house. We had enough food to feed a small army and my aunt brought my favorite cheesey potatoes! Charlie was a riot like usual. He knocked out the screen of her window...... I swear you can't take him anywhere! : )

This week coming up is crazy. I have Charlie's last class tomorrow, a staff meeting and Hofbrahaus on Wednesday, my cousin's wedding on Friday, family cookout Saturday, dinner/play with work girls Saturday night and football/relax Sunday. Before I know it next week will be here!!! (and I am okay with that because hopefully before I know it, January will be here!)


Fall is good, Life is good! Have a great week.