A Valentine's full of lots of friends....

Since I am Valentine-less at the moment, I went to Kansas City to spend time with some friends that I haven't seen in awhile, which turned out to be a great decision. My friend Maha and her boyfriend had some friends over to watch KU/KSU play basketball. In case you missed the game, it started off GREAT!! Things took a bad turn late in the first half and KSU lost a 16-point lead to end up losing. Rats! However, we had a good time and Maha made lots of good food- he she is making some chili and some pics of her other tasty creations....Maybe I should start calling her Martha??

Later in the day I met up with my former KC roomies and other friends and went out in Westport at a new lounge to celebrate Danielle's birthday, which is actually today. It was a great time!!! Happy Birthday Danielle! Who needs love for Valentine's when you've got friends like these?!

Me with my ex-roomies Leah and Danielle (the birthday girl)...

Leah with Jaclyn who is a friend of ours from grad school. She has been in Hawaii with her husband Matt since we have graduated and they were passing through on the way to see her family on the way to move to Texas. Good to see them!!

Danielle with two other friends, Megan and Sarah....

Welcome baby boys!!

Two of my favorite people had babies this week; Lacey, one of my best friends from high school, had Hunter Richard on Tuesday and Kylie, one of my best friends from college, had Graham Patrick on Wednesday. Welcome to the world little guys- I look forward to meeting you both! Congrats mamas! :)


Hunter with his daddy Chad...


Baby Graham making his debut...

Internet is finally working on my computer!

Here are some random pictures I wanted to post but since the internet on my computer wasn't working, I couldn't. Wait no more! Here are a few pictures from the last week....

This is the K-State quilt I made for my friends Kylie and Brady's baby is that arriving tomorrow when she is induced. I wanted to give it to them before I moved since I won't be there when the baby comes and I decided to do all purple since they don't know the gender yet.

This is an outfit that I gave to Lilah, who is becoming a big sister to the above baby this week. I actually bought the little skirt/tutu in DC and my former boss in Wichita does embroidery and she embroidered this little shirt for Lilah to match....she looks pretty cute in it; see pic below.

Enjoying a rice krispie treat in her new threads....

This is a blanket that my boss in Wichita gave me for a going away gift. She embroidered my initials on it. Very thoughtful and warm!!

Two of my favorite guys! My dad came down to Wichita to help me move, so we took my friend Dan to lunch. It was nice and I think they both enjoyed meeting each other.

These last two pictures might get me evicted, but here are my roommates for the time being. :)

Bizarre...

So, I am officially living in Topeka. It is pretty weird. I am in a constant state of feeling like I am on vacation. For any of you that live in a different town than your parents, you might understand how I feel to be home and feel like I am on a break from the real world. However, since I am technically living at my parents' house for a few months, this is my reality. Actually, instead of saying that I am "living" here, I prefer to use the term "staying." It sounds less permanent and pathetic to me. Kind of like I am staying at an extended stay hotel....without the mint on my pillow. While I continue to adjust to a new job/city/roommates, here are a few pros/cons with my current living situation:

Pros:
*The toilets and sinks are made for taller people, kinda nice.
*My dad always has stamps on hand so no more worries about being out.
*No more eating leftovers for 3-4 meals if I cook since I can have my "roommates" eat it too.
*There is always someone around.

Cons:
*It is cold in the basement because how their house is heated (my bedroom is down there).
*I feel like I am on vacation and not too motivated to do daily activities that need to be done.
*My closet is pretty little compared to the walk-in one I am used to.
*There is always someone around.

But, all in all, no complaints...my parents are very kind to let me crash here while I figure out where I want to live. I am going to make a concerted effort to not be bossy or difficult (I have a way of doing this with my family) and I am going to try to cook for them when I can. Will keep you posted on this adjustment! :)

Farewell Wichita!

As I am once again procrastinating finishing packing, thought I would share some pictures from my last week in Wichita. It has been really great, busy, but great. I got to see a lot of friends and am really going to miss everyone! As of tomorrow, I will go from Wichita resident to visitor...

Tuesday night my co-worker (former co-worker I guess) had all of the speech therapists and audiologists from the hospital over for dinner. It was really nice, very laid back and nice to see everyone outside of the hospital walls. They gave me a really nice cookbook from The Junior League of Wichita that I am looking forward to using. Here are a few pictures of my speech friends hard at work:

Wednesday night, the rehab department went to Old Chicago after work for a going away get together.....very fun! I have really enjoyed all the people I work with here...Here are a few pictures:

Thursday night I went to my friend Kara's house for one last cooking club in Wichita. We made hummus, curried chicken with rice and a chocolate truffle pie. So good! They got me a going away gift of kitchen towels, a Taste of Home Cookbook and a neat pan with a floral design on it. I have really enjoyed cooking with these girls and trying new recipes. Here are a couple pictures from that night:

Friday (last) night some friends threw a going away party for me at "Margarita's" which was really fun! It's a restaurant/bar that has a cover band every Friday/Saturday. About 25 friends came and we had dinner and some drinks. Here are some pics of all my buds I am really going to miss when I move:
In my spare time this week while I was trying to clear off my DVR watching old recorded shows before I returned it today, I made some sugar cookies for my co-workers and took them yesterday for my last day. I thought they turned out pretty well and I decorated them for Valentine's Day! Here are a couple pictures:

So, today I am finishing the packing process and going to be moving the stuff that I really need to Topeka tomorrow. My dad is coming to help! :) I start work Monday...ahh, I think I will need a vacation sometime soon! No, it will be good and I am excited to get started with this new job as it has been awhile in the making considering I first applied in November. I am also enjoying the GORGEOUS weather here while packing as much as I can....I have the windows open and with shorts and a t-shirt I am hot! Even though the gerbil or gopher or whatever saw his shadow, it sure seems like we are having a hiatus from winter for now! Hopefully it stays that way as we are moving stuff tomorrow....will keep you posted on my new (old) city and new job.

I saw this on one of the blogs I like to follow....thought I would see for myself what I have checked off this list....what I have done is in purple....(can you tell I am procrastinating packing and cleaning?)....

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars.

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyworld

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo- only in an audition for the 8th grade musical; I am horrible.

11. Gotten a speeding ticket. (two times)

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning.

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables- we had a garden at my parents' house when I was little.

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept in an overnight train.

21. Had a pillow fight- with my sister!! I always win....

22. Hitchhiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill.

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run- Only one time in 8th grade summer ball...

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted. When I was little my daycare lady painted my picture and I think sold it for some $$!

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain.

53. Played in the mud- during softball/soccer practices when I was little...

54. Been a bridesmaid- times 4!

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business.

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen- The Rescue Mission in high school

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason- from an ex-boyfriend...

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check- I think I did one time in college. :(

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London.

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book- not a book, but a research paper....I am counting it....

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car- 2 times...hopefully not another one anytime soon...

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper- In a basketball game and for being the editor of the high school paper...

85. Read the entire Bible

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chicken pox

89. Saved someone’s life- everyday. ;)

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous- My mom, sister and I met President Clinton when I was in middle school.

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a lawsuit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

100. Read an entire book in one day

Lots going on....

After my last post, I have had a hard time figuring out what to write about or what seems appropriate when it's been a tough week...I went home for Katie's funeral service on Wednesday. My parents went too and a friend from high school that lives in San Francisco, Jenny, flew in a stayed with us. There were lots of people at the service and it was very nice, sad, but nice. Friends and teachers from grade school through high school, as well as some of Katie's friends from KU that I got to know through her. It is definitely going to be an ongoing process to remember and honor Katie. She has been a lifelong friend and someone that I will always miss. Last week I did some packing for my upcoming move and ran across a bunch of pictures of us from high school and I remember all the great times we have had...

So, in the spirit of staying positive and enjoying all that life has to offer....I have had a lot of good things in my life lately too. Last weekend I went to Washington D.C. to visit my friend Vicki and her husband Daniel. They are moving to Jamacia in March for two years and it was good to see them before they move! Hopefully I will be able to make an appearance at their more tropical location soon! :) We had a really good weekend, enjoying good restaurants as well as the movie "Slumdog Millionaire", which is AWESOME! I can see why it is nominated for so many Oscars. Here are a few pictures from my weekend in DC:

At dinner with some other KSU alumni that Vicki and Daniel are friends with in DC...

Me and Vicki on the metro...it was chilly!

After a weekend out of town, this past weekend, my friend Jenna and her husband Jeremy hosted a going away dinner for me at their house. Our friend Libby and her husband Josh came too....it was really nice; good food, laughs, such good friends! Libby and Jenna are the speech pathologists at the facility that I worked at when I first moved to Wichita last fall. They are the first friends I made here. I will never forget how welcome they made me feel as I settled into Wichita. There were actually 7 of us at dinner since both Libby and Jenna are expecting. Libby is due in early May and Jenna in July. Both with girls- can't wait to meet 'em! :)

I also got some "going away" gifts from them. Jenna and Jeremy got me a GIGANTIC bag of "Marie Callendar's Cornbread" mix from Sam's...they tease me cause I tell them it's so much better than Jiffy (it really is) and since they know my love of it, they thought a 60-serving mix would be an appropriate departure gift. Libby gave me some scrapbook pages as a joke....when I worked with them at the nursing home, they would give me a hard time that I would sometimes cut out obituaries for patients that had passed away (not everyone, geeze, just the ones I worked with for a long time); so the scrapbook pages are for me to put the obituaries on. This will not be happening, just for the record. I will probably use them for future Halloweens. :) Here are some pics from the party:

The cornbread, in all it's glory- 5 lbs!! You would be so lucky to come over for dinner and get some of this gold- so good!!
The hosts- Jenna and Jeremy...

Josh and Libby....

The cute little pregnant ladies! :)

Friends!!!! I will miss these girls!