Life Lately

First of all, I have no business writing a blog post right now. But I'm just going to keep on typing and uploading pictures as if I didn't have a meeting with my advisor yesterday to try and drop my elective class because I have "too much on my plate" this semester. That's right. School has taken over my mind, my body, my heart, my soul, my appetite, and my sleep schedule. (And when I say appetite, I mean I'm living off of Sonic diet vanilla Dr.Peppers, halloween candy, and the new pumpkin frozen custard at Shakes and Andy's... both are great by the way.)

I met with my advisor yesterday because after doing my degree check a week or so ago, I found out that I have more elective classes than I needed (Which was a huge surprise. I thought I'd have to take 2 summer classes in 2011 because I was so behind.) But I'm not. I'm more than caught up. And while I do enjoy the elective class I'm in, it is just too overwhelming. Because let me tell you what else is on my "to do list" for the rest of the fall semester. Needless to say, it is too late to drop the course. So I'm stuck with being overwhelmed.

1. Obtain 3 different graduate school applications from 3 different schools and began filling them out and asking for letters of recommendation.
2. Study/make good grades in the 3 program courses I'm enrolled in.
3. Study/make good grades in my elective class... and also write a 5-6 page paper :/
4. Study EVERY DAY for the GRE (Graduate Record Exam) and take that on December 2nd. And I'm not complaining here... but it is on a Saturday Morning at 8 am. Pray for me.
5. Oh yeah, and get through final exams somehow.

It's just too much. And I think too much and I over analyze. I haven't been sleeping well at night. I'm EXHAUSTED by the end of the day... too exhausted to crack open a book, but I cannot shut my brain off. It took me forever to go to sleep the other night and I had a terrible headache. When I finally got to sleep I woke up at 3:45 and didn't go back to bed until 5:15-5:30. And I still had a headache. I've just got to pray about this. That's the only thing that's going to help.

Dylan and I have still been figuring each other out. We have our ups and downs but... more ups lately :) Yesterday we went on a bike ride. It was a really cool (really long) trail that practically goes through all of fayetteville. We're still figuring out how many miles we rode because we didn't go the whole way... all I know is, today my backside is SO sore. I can barely sit down. Ouch.
(I have pictures, just haven't uploaded them yet.)


A couple of weekends ago... ok, on October 15th. My cousin Austin and a few of his friends invited us to go bowling. The last time I went bowling I was on a field trip in the 5th grade. I didn't feel well during the trip and ending up puking all over my best friend on the bus ride back to school. Bowling hasn't been on my list of things to do since then. Ha.


Ugly bowling shoes!


My score = 55


Dylan's score = way over 55.


Do you watch Teen Mom on MTV? It started out as 16 And Pregnant and then they've followed these girls and their babies and some of the baby's daddies. Anyway. Maci and her ex boyfriend Ryan are on the show. They had a baby boy, Bently. Ryan isn't the nicest guy in the world, and Dylan does the BEST impression of him. And I have red hair like Maci, so it only fit to be a "teen mom" for Halloween, as awful as that sounds. So here we are at my best friend's Halloween party last Friday night. Ryan and Maci. Haha.


The next day, our friend from high school, "B," got married to a very pretty girl, Samantha. B is a country boy 100% so it only fit that the wedding was half pretty pink and half camouflage. We wanted to dress the part. So we decided to wear button up plaid shirts and jeans to their wedding. Dylan showed up to pick me up wearing his plaid shirt and a COW TIE. Yes, it had cows on it in all different patterns. Where in the WORLD did he get that?! I have no clue. But he did take it off before we left, I can promise you that. This picture shows exactly how I felt about his ensemble.


Sweet B and Samantha. I got teary eyed during the ceremony because B was GLOWING. Seriously glowing. He was so happy and it made me so happy for him. I don't really know Samantha, but she made a very beautiful bride. They're relaxing beach side as we speak. So happy for them!!


And here is a fun picture of Dylan to end on. I just want to mention, he's been very supportive, understanding, and extra sweet while I've been so stressed out lately. I'm a lucky girl, I know. :)

Sad Heart.

For the past four years, maybe five, I've babysat for a wonderful couple, Chris and Christy Murphy. Over the past year, I've watched their three little kids at LEAST once a week. I know their routine. I know their stories. I know their quirky personalities. I know where everything is in the kitchen. I know Ian hates green beans but likes carrots. Lia likes "white milk" and chocolate milk. Ali likes formula :) I taught Ali how to play Pat-a-Cake. I bought Ian play dough for his birthday at his request. I LOVE to tuck them in at night, tell them I love them, then crack their doors open with Legos and baby dolls so they can see into the hall way. I've become a part of their family. And they've become a part of mine.

Last Wednesday was my last time to make them dinner, tuck them in, and tell them I loved them before they fell asleep. Thursday afternoon I pulled up to babysit their neighbors (and my other little loves,) the Dossetts, only to find a moving truck in my (parking) spot right in the middle of the cul-de-sac.

They've been planning this move all summer. Chris is a doctor and taking a job that he's really going to love in South Carolina.

South.Carolina.

Do you know how far away that is from Arkansas?


While I'm SO happy for their family, because Chris will be happier and he will get to spend a LOT more time with his kids and wife (which he deserves-so do they) I am still SO heart broken. I didn't realize how hard it'd be until Thursday night. So hard to say goodbye. So hard to think, although I know I'll see them again someday, I won't be able to cook them our usual dinner, watch Hannah Montana at 6:30, and tuck them in at night. Things aren't going to ever be the same and it makes me SO sad.

I've been thinking about them all day. Hoping that they made it to Hilton Head. Hoping the kids will adjust in school and that Ali will transition well (she just turned 2) and love their new home. Hoping that Christy doesn't overwork herself with the unpacking, etc. and that Chris really will love his new job and all the time off he'll have to go along with it. I hope they make new life long friends there like the ones they have back here in Arkansas. And I hope they don't forget me, their first babysitter, and maybe big sister? :)

Love to the Murphy Family in their new home, South Carolina.
I'm missing you guys already!

The Birthday

It was a BEAUTIFUL day in Northwest Arkansas and I just felt like telling everyone it was my birthday. But I didn't. I just walked around with a smile on my face all day. :) I went to class, had Chick Fil A and a red velvet cupcake for lunch, back to class, then over to Dylan's house. As I was opening presents from his parents I heard the ice cream truck. So, you guessed it... I skipped my happy self outside and Dylan bought me some ice cream! I felt like a kid!







After that I finished opening gifts from Dylan's parents, and I'm so sad because I didn't get a picture of either thing they bought me! First a pair of earrings that are my birthstone, and then his mom put together a shadow box of pictures from Dylan and I on the day he left for his deployment, and the day he came back :) It was very sweet and it will be hung on a wall shortly! Love it!!

Next, I went and got my eyebrows waxed at Ulta. It was probably one of the best parts of my day ;) They did a great job, and it usually cost's $20 (plus tip) to get your eyebrows waxed there but on your birthday its FREE!! So I'm pretty sure I just started a new tradition on my birthday :) I'm also pretty sure that I'm only getting my brows waxed once a year... because $20 bucks?! Come on people!

Dylan has class on Thursday nights, and he even had a test on my birthday :( So he didn't get to come to my birthday dinner. My family took me to La Hacinda, it was my choice and its a family favorite! My mom and I split a margarita and the waitress put it into two little wine glasses. Ha. So cute. We called them "mini margs"



They have a special at this restaurant, "stuffed avocados." I eat avocados with a SPOON they're so good so this is my favorite thing to get there. They're stuffed with either chicken or beef fajita meat and rolled in ... something.. then deep fried. Two come on a plate and I can only eat one, so I took the other for Dylan to eat after class :) I'm such a nice girlfriend.




So thankful for family that celebrated my birthday with me!!

I have an aunt, Laura, who is CRAZY about taking pictures of EVVVERYTHING. So I gave her the camera knowing we'd get a few good pictures out of the night. She took this one right as we all loaded in the elevator at the restaurant. Then she got in and we all crowded her in a corner so she couldn't take anymore :)



Back at my house I opened a lot of fun gifts, including a bike that I wanted!






I was very proud of Dylan for wrapping my presents all by himself... even though they looked like it ;)




My cute little sister, Katelyn.


This is the picture taker, aka "crazy aunt laura" :) Love her.


Even though she isn't looking, this is my grandmother :) My dad snuck in the picture too!


And we ended the night with these little babies. They are DELISH!

Thanks for sticking around for the insanely long post! It was a great birthday and I couldn't possibly be more thankful for the people that surrounded me that day!

October 14 2010

Today, I am 23 years old.

It is absolutely gorgeous outside, and I'm having a really great day :)

I've been to two classes so far, and about to head out to the last one. I just had Chick Fil A for lunch, and a red velvet cup cake that my Aunt brought me from Bliss Cupcakes :) :) YUM. I think I'm going to gain a few pounds this birthday ;) I'll update on gifts later and pictures too!!

Knock on Wood

Seriously. Knock on it. Because what I'm about to say might change the second I type them out.

Dylan and I have not fought, argued once, or even made an ugly comment to one another since Saturday, October 2nd.

Truth is, even after dating for over a year, we are still VERY much in the "get to know you" stage of our relationship. Ok maybe not the "get to know you" part, but for sure the "try to accept you for you" part. And it's HARD. He's always had a lot of confidence in us even through the arguments. I'm a different story. Through his positive attitude and my many prayers sent up to Jesus, I think I've made a break through.

Notice I said "I'VE" made the break through...

I've had a rough last few weeks. School has been kicking my butt. And I'm feeling a lot of pressure with applying to graduate school and getting ready to graduate in the Spring. I have had a few panic attacks and late nights. But I'm finally starting to feel like myself again.

And I think that's why Dylan and I are starting to get along again too!

It feels great :)

So please excuse my absence with the blog. I'm going to try to keep it up more often! (And Dylan and I are about to be taking a lot more "adventures" so pictures will come soon! :)

MY BFF HAS A BLOG NOW!!

Sasha, my best friend, finally took my advice and started her own blog! She is recently engaged and getting married in June 2011! I kept encouraging her to start a wedding blog/family blog kind of thing so that they could document their lives together. I'm so proud :) Head over and check her out! Click here :)

Well Hey...

School started and swept me away! I'm gearing up for a day in the library as we speak (had to get the blog and facebook stalking out of the way first. You know ;) Dylan had Drill this weekend in Ft. Smith, so it is a perfect opportunity for me to catch up on studying. I have a test on Thursday in Neuroscience. YUCK. And I have a feeling it'll be a bit of a doozy. This teacher has a bad rep. In fact, on the second day of class she announced that her goal this semester was not to have anyone fail her course. That's lovely. Thanks, teach.

I promised to post pictures of Dylan and I on our canoeing trip (My FIRST) from a few weekends ago. This is why I love him. Because he makes me do things I would never think of doing. We had so much fun that day... except we saw two snakes in the water so I'm back to thinking I'm never doing it again ;) There are not a lot of pictures to post, and they are terrible quality because we forgot the digital camera and just bought a water camera at Wal-Mart on our way there.


It RAINED (stormed) on us for about 20-30 minutes. This was a picture of the rain heading our way. It was so weird... we could see it raining up the river and it just made its way right down to us.




This is Dylan with MY fish that I caught :) It was SO funny because I was catching more fish than him and as people were floating by they'd ask if we were catching anything. I'd yell back "I am, but he isn't!" Haha, poor Dyl :)