Goodbyes.... SUCK!

This week has been extra fun and busy! One thing I love about Christmas time is that I always seem to have lots of fun things to do mixed in with lots of the normal, busy stuff!

Macy and Girl's Night
Monday was officially crazy. After work, I jetted to the other side of Portland for Macy's two-week appointment with the surgeon. Dr. Kramer says that she is doing great and healing nicely! Such great news for us. She will have another check-up at 6 weeks with an x-ray to make sure the plate, screws and bones are where they need to be! After the appointment, I hurried back home for a quick Mac & Cheese dinner with Darin before heading out again for Girl's Night with all my friends. We always go to Applebee's, squeeze into our corner booth, share some appetizers and desserts and stay till they kick us out! There are few things better than recharging and hanging out with my girls! <3

Don't mind our crazy faces!

White Elephant
I am part of the committee at church that is in charge of planning activities. This month's activity happened to fall on Tuesday this week so I rushed home from work to get things ready. We had planned a dinner for the ladies to bring a favorite soup or dessert to share. We also had a White Elephant gift exchange and who doesn't love having a good laugh? Of course, I came down with a cold Tuesday morning so I didn't enjoy it very much... Mercifully, my cold only lasted about a day and a half. I swear, I am constantly sick since moving to Portland!

Date Night!
Wednesday was the night of my hot date with Kira! She decided to be pure evil and move away, so we planned a dinner out for just the two of us! We were planning to go to Red Robin (yum!) but I saw a sign for Olive Garden on the way home from work, and it was like divine intervention. I love me some Olive Garden! Kira is my best friend and I love her to PIECES!! We have only been friends for a short while, but we really are kindred spirits. I am so happy for her and Tim, they get to move on to bigger and better things. They really do deserve it! I just want to be selfish and keep her to myself. No one in Salmon, ID will love her like I do!

Soul Mates <3

Graduations and Starbucks
Kira's husband, Tim just graduated from Chiropractic school (yes the same one that Darin is attending). He has been treating me for the last few months at the school clinic and he is an excellent doctor! Thursday night, Kira planned a little graduation party for him with cake, balloons and all their moving boxes. It was so cool to see him all finished with school and moving on to practicing as a real doctor! After cake and congratulations, I headed out for a mini-girls night with my Chiro Trio! A few months back, Kira, Krystal and I started doing occasional Starbucks runs late at night. And of course, we had to go one last time before Kira moved! Kira got the three of us matching bracelets. I love these girls so much! I really have made some of the best friends since moving to Portland. <3

Best Friends for Eternity!

Never Live on the Third Floor on Friday the 13th
I have never been one to give much credit to Friday the 13th, but man this was a good one. My car broke down on the way to work. But luckily, I was almost there and was able to make it all the way. I had to call Darin and have him drive out and figure out what was wrong with it. A really LONG story short, we had to get it towed to a shop to get the water pump replaced (hopefully that is all they have to do). After work, we went to help Kira pack up the moving truck and all that goes with that. But did I mention, she lives on the third floor? Ugh! I'll keep my first floor apartment, thank you!

Third Floor Again??
Saturday was a little bit more restful... just a little. I got some laundry done and started my crockpot dinner before heading over to Kira's one last time! We went over to say our final goodbyes and I certainly did cry. (Kira cried first!!) I hated having to say goodbye to her little girls, they are so sweet and so crazy and so much fun! I love them to pieces too! Then I had to so my goodbyes to Kira. She really is my best friend I will miss her like crazy! Her family is so special to me. After pulling myself together, we walked over to another third floor apartment. My friend Ashley just moved into our complex so we helped them unpack their moving truck up to the third floor. We had a late pizza lunch with Ashley and Krystal's families and Macy got to play with Krystal's kids. Darin and I ran some errands: the bank, Kohl's, gym, WalMart and back home. Queue a late dinner with Ashley and Josh. I had made some Turkey and Dumplings from the Thanksgiving leftovers and I figured that they would be too busy unpacking to both with a nice dinner. Then Darin and I ended our busy week by watching the first Hobbit movie all snuggled up on the couch. <3

Free Bread Machine
Kira gave me her old bread machine before she left, so I cleaned it up today after church and tried it out. We now have a nice loaf of wheat bread after I scoured the internet for an instruction manual. I am excited to put my new-old bread machine to good use. Dr. Darin did some practicing by taking my vitals and checking me for problems. This coming week is finals so he has been studying A LOT! I finished out my day making some Chocolate/Hazelnut Thumbprint cookies and watching the Biggest Loser with Darin! (Did you catch the irony?? Yes.)

Sorry for the super long post, it has been a VERY busy week! Till next time!!

Happy December!!

For a while now, I have been thinking of doing a weekly blog. Just a quick little thing to keep people (mostly just my mom) in the loop of what is going on out here in Oregon. But let's give it a try and see how I do. I'd bet anyone that this doesn't last but who knows, maybe it will. 

This week has been pretty simple. Macy had surgery two weeks ago. She tore her ACL a while back and we finally decided to get it fixed. It has been a long two weeks and we still have four more to go. She has an appointment for a recheck on Monday so we will see how she is doing and find out if I have been doing a good job in her rehab!

After work on Friday we decided to get our Christmas tree. It as been freezing cold lately and we all about died at this U-Cut Christmas tree place. We went with some friends and their two kids were frozen solid! But on the bring side, we got a $5 Christmas tree, hot chocolate and cotton candy. Friday night was spent decorating the tree and the apartment, so it officially feels like Christmas!

Darin hit the mountain on Saturday, of course. My life as a ski widow has officially begun and I won't have my husband back until March or April. On the bright side, I got some good cleaning done on Saturday and made a cheesecake. :) I haven't eaten it yet but I am definitely looking forward to it! Saturday night was the Christmas party at church. It was great food, with fun skits and presentations. It was a Whoville themed so everyone was in their jammies and all the kids had a blast!

Today we had a group dinner with a bunch of friends. We love getting together for dinner's like this since most of us don't have family nearby. Everyone brings a piece of the dinner and it all comes together. Right now, Darin is sleeping on the couch. He hasn't been feeling well today so it is good that he is having a little cat nap. It is getting close to finals for him so there will be lots of studying to do soon.

Well that about sums up this past week. I have lots of things on my calendar this coming week. It is going to be a pretty terrible week though since Kira is moving.... Kira is the best and I don't want her to leave me!!! :( I am hoping to make some Christmas treats this weekend. I love making treats this time of year!! Merry Christmas!! <3

After The Breaking Point

All I have to say is, thank you. Thank you to those of you who have shared your love, stories and encouragement. I am overwhelmed by the number of people who have reached out to me since my last post. I have never felt this much love and support. It saddens me to know that so many of you have trials like mine, but your faith and wisdom has lifted me up. I am truly blessed to have so many amazing people in my life. I have no doubt that the Lord saved certain special people for this point in my life. He sent them into my life to guide me, love me and lift me up. For that, I will be eternally grateful.

So again, all I have to say to you is Thank You.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.