online shopping

I love sitting in my pajamas doing my Christmas shopping. Since moving to Ohio I've stopped enjoying my outings to the mall. It's not fun without Grandma there to look in stores like The Kitchen Sink or to tell me I that yes I can/should/will wear those shoes that my mother will hate. It takes the fun out of it when Mom's not there for me to spite by buying something she says is ugly and watching her roll her eyes, and then we go get a lemonade in the Food Court. No fun anymore. So I'm liking the online shopping. Jamey really introduced me to the wonders of Amazon. Bless him for that. Before I only used it for used textbooks, how naive I was. And free shipping lets me feel justified in buying more, so I'm really not saving money in the end. But I feel like I am and that is all that matters. And I didn't have to get dressed, that matters too.

And yes, that is what I've done instead of studying this evening. And I feel great about it.

tis the season

I do not do not do not want to go back to school/work again tomorrow. The closer the end of the semester draws the longer it seems to take. I love lounging around the house all day in my sweats. It never gets old. I think it used to get old for Jamey because he doesn't love girls in sweats, but unfortunately for him I change into them immediately when I get home. Recently though, I've been trying to stay dressed until he gets home, but not always. And now I've broken him into the bad habit as well. I'm cheap and we still don't really have our heater going. It's set to warm up to a whopping 68 in the evenings and the morning when we wake up. But I figure why pay for heat when I can put on a sweatshirt and sit with a blanket wrapped around me?

We did some Christmas decorating. I now have 3 trees. The one super cute wooden one that was my Grandma's that she lent to my Mom that she just lent to me. The Christmas Tree in a Box that my thoughtful brother sent me 2 years ago. And a cute little replica of the Charlie Brown Christmas tree. And we have 3 nativities up. And Jamey hasn't watched a Christmas movie with me yet but I think I'll try and break him of that tonight.

That's all I got.

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was spent in the hills/forest/woodlands of North Carolina. It was beautiful! It was cold enough at night to sit (and sleep) in front of the fire, and warm enough during the day to not need a coat. It was the smallest Thanksgiving of my life, who has ever heard of making the traditional Thanksgiving meal for 4 people?, but I loved it. Mostly because I still got my yams. It was also the latest I have ever eaten Thanksgiving dinner...I think it was about 8:00 when we finally sat down around the table. It kept getting pushed back because of a broken water pipe, then a faulty fryer, then a trip to a store for a meat thermometer that was sold out, but then we found one, then...no I think that was it. I was so ready to eat I could hardly wait for the prayer to be said before I digged in. I know there are a lot of pics here, but they are mostly for my mom to see, you can just skim through what you like. I'm so grateful they drove out from Vegas to share such a memorable Thanksgiving Day together!

this weekend

We've had such a great weekend. On Friday we went to the opening night of the Columbus Zoo Lights. It was their "stuff-the-truck" event where you get in free for 5 cans of food. We took our sweet neighbor Jean, she's like four-foot-nothin, for her birthday. So great. Then I met up with some girlfriends for Twilight. I love girls' nights. And I can't remember what I did Saturday, lots of errands and a football party. Oh! I tried to make Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory caramel apples. Yumm. But...apparently it is not enough to melt the caramel, you have to mix it with water or else it turns brittle hard when it cools and breaks your teeth off when you try and bite into it. Good flavor though. ha And...today we ate ribs for dinner. Win. So good. We are going to North Carolina to meet up with my mom and Jeff for Thanksgiving. I can't wait!

biding my time

What have we been up to? I'm not sure. But I'm tired of looking at Flagella every time I get on. He is a full fledged frog now. He's pretty cute. But he still likes being in the water to sitting on his rock. It was very exciting the first time he came all the way out of the water. So fun.

I'm deep cleaning the house tonight. It's very satisfying. Next is the bathrooms though so you can see why I'm putting that off for just a bit.

I'm the lamest wife ever for Halloween. Jamey came home and we had about 10 minutes to put something together (because I didn't plan ahead) and get to the party. So we buttoned 2 of his shirts together and went as Siamese Twins. It lasted for awhile, but luckily a friend of ours went as a surgeon (her husband was the Operation guy, so funny) and we separated. We wore matching undershirts so we still felt a little dressed up.

I got a new calling at Church. I was super sad to be released from teaching the Relief Society. I loved that! But now I am the Nursery Leader. Jamey's a Nursery worker already so I'm his boss now. I think it should be fun to play with the kids every week. And before I said yes I made sure I didn't have to do the Singing Time part, because I know all of 3 Primary songs: I am a Child of God, Families Can Be Together, and Give Said the Little Stream. And two more: Popcorn Popping and Sunbeam. And Book of Mormon Stories. Ok, so I know a few...but still, not as many as I need to know to entertain every week. Wish me luck.

And I watched all of Grey's Anatomy this summer. ALL OF THEM. I got addicted and now that I'm caught up I don't know what to do with myself waiting from week to week to know what happens. Pathetic.

And it's November!!! I got some new boots that I love and even though fall is my favorite season they made it that much better.

I'm downloading an audiobook right now to listen to while I clean and it's taking a really long time so I just keep trying to think what I can write about til it's done. I should've known. It's Anna Karenina. I'm excited. The reader has an accent so it'll be that much more interesting. I hope she does good voices too. I've never listened to a female narrator before.

Flagella part 2

ARMS! Went to bed last night and Flagella had no arms, woke up this morning and he had one. One?? I was so confused. Mostly because it was a fully developed arm. His legs started as sprigs, then got toes/knees and longer and longer. But his arm showed up fully developed, elbows fingers and all. So I looked at the other side and it was weird. I could see his fingers poking against the skin of his chest. I think it must've hurt when they popped out. A couple hours later when I walked by, he had both arms! I wish I'd have seen it come out. Too cool.

I called my mom this morning and she answered right when I saw the arm. I said, "Your grandbaby has arms!!" And she took that literally responding, "YOU'RE PREGNANT?!?!" ahahahahahahaha Nope. She was starting to get teary-eyed while I'm screaming "TADPOLE MOM THE TADPOLE!!!" Soooo funny. It would've been a really mean trick if I'd meant to do it, but since I didn't it's just funny.

Happy Anniversary!

We didn't really get to spend any time together on our anniversary back in June, which was ok because we were with family (except the majority of the day that I spent at a Conference) and had fun eating the top layer of our delicious wedding cake with Chris and anyone who stopped by. We had planned to make our trip to Hawaii our gifts and so I didn't get anything for Jamey. But that didn't happen. Luckily, he let something slip 2 days before we left that we had to pack our presents. Presents?? Oh crap. So I ran to Kohl's and got him some OSU gym shorts on sale, he loved them, and I thought I was an awesome wife. Then I opened his. Brad Paisley tickets!!! I would've hated him for showing me up if I wasn't so excited! And last night we went. I wore my cowgirl boots and he wore his belt buckle and we had SO MUCH FUN. He spoiled me with awesome seats on the floor and I was giddy with excitement. I love my husband. 

yay Buckeyes!

I've wanted a Buckeye necklace for 2 years. Apparently you can collect the nuts by the 100s in late summer for free! We had a girls night and all made some necklaces and it was so much fun. I had more pictures, but dropped my phone in the toilet and...long story. They're gone now. Now I just need a game day so I can wear it out!

another post about cornhole

It's hard to convey the Midwest's fetish and love for Cornhole, but maybe you're beginning to understand since this is not my first post about the game. We love it. And the fact that I can say that I love it too is sayin something. For Jamey's birthday, I was pretty sure I rocked as a wife. Back in April I had the brilliant idea to get Jamey his own set of cornhole boards. April!  That's 3 months in advance! And so I made all the preparations, found some great instructions online, Jeff cut the circle out of the middle for me with a special saw, and my mom drove them out from Vegas when she and the girls roadtripped to DC. It was brilliant. And then as the weather warmed up and we were outside more and playing weekly with our friends, Jamey decided he wanted a set. And he kept asking and hinting and begging and going on and on about how that's what he wanted for his birthday. My gut reaction was to bag the whole idea because I was ticked that I'd thought of it first and now he thought it was his grand idea. But I didn't do that. I just kept it away from the rest of his presents and it was the last thing he opened that night a little before midnight. And he loved it. And now I'm finally sharing. I made the beanbags, he made the boards, and his sister Shelby made us the sweet decals when we visited for Shark Week. 

Flagella

We have a tadpole. Dang Mangums. The Mangums are our neighbor friends that we like to play jokes on. For Ross's birthday we got him a tadpole. It was appropriate because he and Jamey were both on their OBGYN rotations and you know what a tadpole looks like (that is also how he got his name, at least we think it's a him). 

We wrapped him up in a Victoria Secret bag because 1) it's what we had at the house 2) it was pink and 3) he'd think that was joke before he got to the real surprise. It worked! I like this picture because you can just see how much he's hoping that's not what we really gifted him. They put him in an old pretzel container and he performed tricks for us that night.

Jamey's birthday was 2 weeks after Ross's and we knew we'd be in for it. I was praying they didn't get us a rodent. After an exciting game or two of cornhole (1st time ever the Prices had a cornhole victory over the Mangums!) Jamey opened his present. And those jerks regifted Flagella!   

After a month of living in the same pretzel jar on our kitchen table/counter/wherever he'd be out of the way, we broke down and bought him a real home this weekend. And he has a permanent place in our front room. We figured since he's starting to morph he gets his big boy digs.

Can you see his legs? I tried to get a close up but he's not very accommodating. They were just little twigs last week but now he has knees! He's getting little armbuds too. So ya, that's Flagella.

no hands

At least I did it before I turn 30, I get some credit for that right? I have never in my life learned how to ride a bike with no hands. The reason being that I am the biggest wuss you will ever meet and am terrified of getting hurt. I'm not athletic, I hate having the ball, I don't do well with team sports...all because I'm a big sissy! Same goes for no hands. When I was little my dad and I used to go on bike rides all the time. He'd do no hands but no matter what he said I'd never try it. Jamey and I went for a ride on the Alum Creek Trail and it was gorgeous and quiet and there was grass on both sides and I was wearing my helmet, seemed like I wasn't going to get a better opportunity. Jamey was a good coach and by the end I was able to balance, ride, pedal, and steer all with no hands!! I was seriously giddy and sounded like a 4 year old screaming to Jamey, "Look at me!" One demon down. Next summer maybe I'll learn how to dive.

Shark Week 2012

We celebrated with the best. It was the last weekend before school started for me and we drove to St. Louis for a quick trip to see Shelby in all her glory. I should've taken more pictures but I was having too much fun. It was incredible. For the full work-up and a true appreciation you need to see her Shark Week Blog. We arrived in time to enjoy the Dive-In movie, a group watching Jaws outside by/in the pool. There was a 21 ft great white shark taped to her floor that spanned two rooms. Carnival games- Angry Fish (a real life Angry Birds), Feed the Sharks (ping pong balls through shark mouths), Fishing, Shark Walk (like a cake walk), a hands-on contest that lasted more like 2 hours I think, slip-n-slides, shark races in the pool, oh and a 40 ft blow up Shark slide. AMAZING.

 this is one side of the Angry Sharks, I forgot to get all the precariously stacked boxes

 Jamey going for the attack. I think Sienna won.

summer hodge podge

I have a few summer events to catch up on before it's over! (which August 22 = official summer is over for me)

Right when we got back from our Cali trip, Jamey's oldest friend and his wife came for a visit. I love Dan and Maegan! You know, it's a little unnerving to marry someone and have no idea the real history you're marrying into. Jamey and I got hitched with me having only met his mom and one sis, he hadn't met anyone on my side. So I was delighted to find out that I really like hanging with his friends and didn't ever have to fake it. They're  trying to decide where to go for his residency and by golly we did everything in our power to persuade them it was Columbus!

Then as if life couldn't get better, the happiest of happy happened (did that on purpose) and my bro and his little wifey poo came to visit. The real reason was that for Thomas's birthday they were going to see Weezer in Cincinnati and it was cheaper to drive and stay with us than to get a hotel. Just kidding, they love us too. They surprised me when they got in town and showed up at my work and my wonderful man of a boss let me off early. We went down to the Short North for dinner and fancy pants ice cream at Jeni's, played cornhole (it's what you do in C-bus), and celebrated both their birthdays with Costco's amazing chocolate cake. I love food.

things I notice when I'm alone

I like to cook. It's soothing and relaxing and great thinktime for me. I'm not crafty so much but I like to cook.

As grown up and big girl as I am, I'm still afraid of the dark. Sure, I can sleep on my own but I still walk from room to room turning on each successive light.

I like quiet. I don't like the TV being on for hours or listening to music all day long. It makes me grumpy. If I need some background noise I turn on something instrumental only.

I like to be alone, until I don't. Alone time is crucial for my sanity. I need the recharge. 

I don't actually like to paint my nails. I always say I'll do it when Jamey's gone because he hates the smell, but then when I'm alone I still don't do it. 

I hate bad breath. I brush my teeth first thing in the morning always.

I've become a bit codependent. Things I use to do for myself I don't because I have a husband now to do those things so I shouldn't have to. This is the thing I like the least. 

I miss Gertie.

not Hawaii

For our summer vacation Jamey and I had this grand plan to go to Hawaii for super cheap and celebrate our 1 year anniversary and get awesomely tan and enjoy our last summer of freedom for a very long while. Surprise, it didn't happen -- I'm more to blame for that than him, I have an incredibly difficult time spending money for my own enjoyment. However, something even better happened. We went to California, with his family, mom plus 3 of 6 siblings ain't bad, with a house full of nieces and nephews thrown in. I think my in-laws are insanely awesome for picking up on a few days notice and taking a week's vacation with us.

  

I can

In a rare bout of domesticity today, I bottled cherries. Whenever I do something homemakingish I want a gold star and lots of praise, hence the same day blog post. Jamey is on-call tonight and so there is no one to admire my work with me. But they are beautiful. 23 pints. I've never had bottled cherries but Jamey likes them and since his birthday is Monday I thought they'd be a nice gesture. I toyed with the idea of wrapping a few of them up so he'd have something more to open on his birthday, but they're too pretty to put away. Only one of my bottles has yet to pop - I LOVE THE SOUND OF THE LIDS POPPING - so I say not bad for my 2nd time ever canning, 1st time ever without my Grandma Griggs. My mother-in-law gave me a few pointers too which was nice, since she's the only person I know to ever bottle cherries.

oh happy day

Let the blog updates begin! First things first, and this is not chronological, my mama got married. She was the most beautiful bride, and not just because I was the one who did her hair and makeup. I wonder if the beauty of the day, because it was a beautiful day, had more to do with my waiting for forever for it to arrive or with it being absolutely perfect. It was an outdoor wedding at the end of June in Las Vegas and I didn't see anyone with sweaty tacos. Who lucks out with weather like that? Jeff's family all came and they completely transformed the backyard to be wedding worthy. Thomas gave her away, I was the Maid of Honor, and one of Jeff's oldest friends married them. Delicious food, beautiful flowers (Mom's bouquet ended up being a gagillion times larger than we anticipated and though it looks lovely and delicate in the pictures, do not be fooled, it weighed more than a pregnant lady carrying twins), family, toasts, sunset, beautiful dress, chocolate covered pretzels and marshmallows, and every other wonderful thing you could possibly think of. And now for pictures (from my phone- Rachelle's blog has fancier ones)