Memorial Day 2011

 

Happy Memorial Day.  Brad will be home on Saturday and I am counting down the days. Being apart for one month is hard. However, absence make the heart grow fonder.  I spent Sunday with Brad's family. We had the missionaries over (as you can see in the first picture).  I am posing with my sister in law.  Yep!  Brad's youngest sister is eight years old.  She's probably the best eight-year-old, sister-in-law in the world.

This couple have a lot to be happy about.  They get married in about twelve days.  Congratulations Keri and Matt!

Brad's oldest brother, Jared, and his life, Alisa. We love being able to see them on Sundays and talk about what's going on in our life.

Brad's next younger sister, Stephanie and her husband, Julio.  They are expecting another little one in November.  Happy day!

Of  course we had to get a picture with the Elders!  In the picture are also Brad's mom and Dad and his younger brother, Devon.

An aunt and niece.  The perfect pair of trouble!

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My niece on my side of the family.  The best of family barbecues?  Eating cupcakes frosting first!  I love how her freckles pop in the summer!

Ethan (nephew) would rather play with the doggy door for my parent's dog, Trudy.  Good thing he didn't try to squeeze his body through.

I love being able to spend time with both families in Arizona.  How lucky that Brad was accepted to school in Arizona and we have been able to be close to spend time with them.

Better than Waco?

Brad is just ending his first external rotation for dental school.  Which means he has only four rotations left.  Which means we are on the homestretch! It's so hard to believe that we are in the final and fourth year.  People told us it would go by fast and, honestly, it really has.

Brad is currently in Waco, Texas staying at an extended stay hotel.  He has become quite a connoisseur of microwaved meals.  Don't worry he doesn't eat much anyway.  And he will be home this Saturday!  I hate not being able to see his scruffy face day to day.  I have loved having the entire bed to myself.

His next two rotations will be in Arizona and will not be out of state again until January at which time he will be scheduled to be in Ohio.  Smack dab in the middle of the winter.  I am excited for him to try cold weather.

We braved the Swapmeet

Brad and I are attempting to be adventurous.  Apparently, our type of adventure means hitting up a local swampmeet whose advertising market seems to be winter visitors who happen to like applique shirts.
Last Saturday (03/26) we decided to go the Mesa Swapmeet.  Brad's goal was to be able to get some dental tools.  Who would have thought people sell dental tools at a swapmeet?  I wonder what people use them for other than for building teeth models?

We sampled some salsa...yum!

::::Later that afternoon we attended our niece's (G) first birthday party.  This is the best photo.

Mouth full of frosting!

December

Yes, December came and was a whirlwind of a month.  Time really just flew by with family parties, work commitments and last-minute shopping.  So many things took place, I just didn't have my camera ready as often as I would have liked.

The above picture is from Christmas Eve with my family.  Brad and I were attempting to listen to the yearly, Christmas Eve tradition of Why Christmas Trees Aren't Perfect.  It's a fun, little book that we have been reading for about seven years.  My mom is super creative and has the grandkids participate by placing each animal under the tree.

We then had a Gift Exchange that turned out pretty well.  It was our first "this type" of Gift Exchange and everyone seemed fairly happy with what they received.  I think it will soon become a tradition.

Lucky for us we were able to meet my new nephew, Jack.  What a sweet, little boy.  We ate him right up.

(stolen from my sister's blog - what did I tell you? sweet muffin cheeks!)

Christmas Day we were able to split time between both families.  How grateful Brad and I are that both of our families live so close.  How wonderful that Brad was chosen to attend school in Arizona where we would have access to the support of our families.  We love them.

An post that should have been published in October.

I can't believe I totally forgot about this activity we did in October around Halloween.  I believe since Halloween was on a Sunday that we participated in this activity the night before.

We were invited to witness a cardboard maze.  The Young Women's President of my church invited us to attend.  Apparently, her brother has been doing mazes like this for about ten years.  Needless to say, Brad and I were not sure what to exactly expect.

Luckily, the friendly Buehlers decided to join in on the fun.  Sarah and I decided to go first since we thought it was be easier for the girls to stick together.  We were not allowed to take cameras inside since they are easily lost.  However, we both decided to sneak in our cell phones.  And, boy, did it help!  There were some points where we couldn't see where to go and our dim cell phones really helped put us in the right direction.  However, it still took me and Sarah about 45 minutes to get out of the maze.  It was more daunting than what I originally thought.  And, we also excited the maze very hot and sweaty.  This is the reason we look a little skittish.

You may be able to make out the maze right behind me.  But, it was dark and a flash only goes so far.

The gals with baby Jackson (he decided not to go after looking at the maze but was one happy baby the whole time).

The Young Women's President whom I serve with.  She is awesome.

So, the guys decided to go after we exited almost an hour later.  Sarah and I sat ourselves down in a nice spot to enjoy a leisurely, long chat.  Our chat was interrupted nearly 10 minutes later since the boys were done.  They were quick to tell us that there was a kid just hanging out in the maze and offered to show them the way out.  I believe that's completely unfair.  The girls had to find their way out and think maze-ically and the boys cheated!  

It was so much fun that night.  As long as we live in Arizona, Brad and I plan to make this a Halloween Tradition. 

 Brad and Trent finished with the maze.

And I nearly forgot.

We were able to participate in a cancer walk in October titled, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.  A friend in Brad's dental rallied a group together and we decided to join in the fun.  We enjoy being able to give back to help Cancer Research, we were able to hang out with some awesome people and we enjoyed a little exercise.

 This group was kind of funny since the front of their shirts said, "If only women paid as much attention to their breasts as men do."  Then the back said, "You check them OR I WILL!"

Brad looking pretty smokin' in brown and pink.  We were there representing a group from A.T Still University - hence the acronym on the back ATSU.

Of course, the Buehlers were there.  They are the best people you could meet.  They support everything!

Our parade of dental school students.  

Candid - right before the race.

See what a beautiful day it was?  If you zoom in on the picture you can see where the crowd winds around.  We were able to walk on the bridge overlooking Tempe Town Lake.  It kept us refreshed.

We had a really nice Saturday morning. It was great to be able to get up early and spend the morning with each other.  As we walked we discussed the possibility of signing up for other walks - 5k, 10k.  Maybe we will.

And....my birthday.

Brad and I are pretty lucky that our birthdays are only one month apart (four years apart in age).  Then again, we have to wait a whole 10 months before we get to celebrate anyone's birth.  Ah well, it is what it is.

First, one of my awesome friends at work gave me the BEST. PRESENT. EVER.  I love me some Coke-juice.  I haven't been drinking it too often since it exacerbates my heart murmur.  Bummer.  Brad enjoyed them though.

That night we ended up going to Cheesecake Factory.  I really like the food there.  Everything I have ever tried is the best.  

Brad is enjoying the scrumptious bread served prior to the entrees.

A log house of fried zucchini.  Brad has really been wanting to sample some good fried zucchini.  I am not sure if this made the list.

 Enjoying our dinner of Breaded Shrimp Pasta Primavera.  Deliciouso!

Personal Booth Shot!  Lovely.

It was a very nice birthday celebration for the middle of the week.  I also gave myself my own birthday gift by taking the following Friday off for a little R & R.