Are You Having a Girl?

This seemed to be the question I've asked the most over the last few years. The reason is due to a knitting book for baby's clothing which was purchased over 2 years ago (when my sister was pregnant with Amyah). At that time I began knitting a baby dress intended for the baby, not realizing how awful it would be. The knitting itself wasn't difficult, just the tediousness of knitting on size 1 needles. Needless to say, the dress was never completed in time, and eventually I quit because I just plain hated the yarn I was using. A year later, the dress was revived but with different, nicer yarn. The dress in question,has been intended for over 5 different baby girls (all of which were born and grown too large before I was able to complete the dress). FINALLY, I finished the dress and it just so happened that my sister's in-laws were having a baby girl and so Lucy is the lucky baby girl who ended up with my dress (whether she or her parents liked it or not!). Brittney, her mother, was kind enough to send my pictures of her drowning in the dress (I guess its better too large than too small!) And of course I have to post it because of all the time it took me to make it! In order to make the flowers, I actually had to learn to crochet as well!

The Trifecta

A week before I left to visit my sister and her family for Thanksgiving (if you want to see pictures, go to her blog) I started coughing, a horrible cough. By the Monday before, I was still hacking away all day and night and I decided I should pay a visit to the doctor (something I haven't done in over 3 years) and see what she could do. It turned out, I had bronchitis, she gave me antibiotics and sent me on my way. Well, in Arizona, I began taking Nyquil every night on top of my daily regiment of Muscinex D and antibiotics and the cough didn't seem to be getting better. A few days after being home, I left for Denver, the cough still going strong. It got worse in Denver and my head began to fill up as well. By the flight home even my advisor advised that I go back to the doctor. Which I did, the day after coming home. Guess what? I still had bronchitis, and to top it off, I also had a sinus infection. I was given a different variety of antibiotics and some cough syrup with Hydrocodone. Needless to say, I encountered all the side effects of the cough syrup (tiredness, dizziness, and insomnia to name a few), so although it cleared me up right away, I was not sleeping well. I stayed home from the lab for a couple of days-through the weekend-and the next Monday morning, as I was lumbering down the stairs, in a hydrocodone induced haze, Sadie (the labradoodle) ran up into me to greet me of course (or because she thought she was playing with me) and I lost my balance and flipped over her down the remaining stairs...The following pictures portray the events.

STAIRS +

SADIE +

HYDROCODONE =

A TRIP TO THE ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON (DON'T WORRY--NO SURGERY)thanks to Linda, who gave me a ride. I promise...I don't have kankles...my ankle was really this swollen.

A FRACTURED ANKLE

AND AND AIRCAST FOR AT LEAST 6 WEEKS

I call this the trifecta because for some reason, everything happens in threes to me. I'm hoping that bronchitis and a sinus infection are counted individually and that the ankle rounds it out as the third event. However, I'm a little worried, that the third event is waiting just around the corner...

I Thought the Rockies were a Little Rockier than This...

This December I went to Denver for a conference. I was battling my third week of bronchitis and it was pretty cold out and so most of the time I would come home and go to bed. However, one day it was actually above 30 degrees, and sunny so I walked around in the afternoon and took some pictures.

Washington or Bust: Going Home in September

I'm a Washington girl through and through. Every year I look forward to going home and this year was especially so! I hadn't had a real vacation in over a year...and boy did everyone pamper me, especially Megan, who I swore was channeling her inner Grandma Trudy. I love to shop and we shopped until we dropped! The first weekend I stayed with Wendy and her husband Daniel and was able to spend time with all my old friends from home (Well, not ALL...but a good majority)...sadly, this is the majority of my pictures! I hardly have any from the week at my Dad and Megan's or the weekend with my auntie Margaret. Friday night: We had a Bonfire at Tyler's house. I miss bonfires. One time we tried to even just find a campground nearby in Columbus to have a fire...there is absolutely nowhere. So I love coming home and sitting around the fire.

Yummmmmm...hotdogs (okay not really, I only really like a good hotdog when its been burned on the fire!)

Wendy and Daniel Saturday: Hike on Rattlesnake Ledge. With the snow level dropping to 5,000 feet, and it raining everywhere else, we decided to just hike Rattlesnake Ledge. It didn't start raining until we were down and it was still beautiful.

Tyler and Dita taking a break at the top and enjoying a sandwich together off in the distance...we thought it was sweet of Tyler to make them both lunch.

Saturday night: The Puyallup Fair

My poor shoes were ruined because it poured rain the entire time...I don't know why I thought it would be different!

Driving to my dad's: Was so much fun...only 13 miles straight of road construction over the pass (at least it was a nice day)

Adventures in Megansitting: Okay not really...I did have to drive her around because right before I came she managed to break her elbow in every way possible, involving all bones, ligaments and everything else. She pretty much amputated herself. So after her surgery she was stuck, immobile, in a cast. We drove all over, Chelan, Wenatchee and Leavenworth and shopped, shopped and shopped some more. Unfortunately I was a zealous photographer on day one, not so much on the following days....

Megan standing outside the church she would take her parents to. Notice the lovely cast on her arm/

In Chelan I introduced her to the Lakeview Drive-In...hamburgers and delicious shakes....she enjoyed it!

I don't know how I did it, but I managed to go this entire trip home without a single picture of my Dad! Sorry Dad! Conference in Vancouver in the rain with my Aunt Margaret: My battery died and so this is the only picture I have, taken from my I-phone.

Really Bad Signs

I pass this sign all the time when I am going to go hiking or things like that. We passed it on the way to Nelsonville, where we got the Hocking Valley Rail. The first time I saw it (years ago), I was super confused. What was your first impression? My eyes definitely did not see the heart. I am going to have to say hands down this is the worst anti-abortion sign I have ever seen...it is almost pro-abortion if you read it the wrong way...something I'm assuming was not the intent of the person who put this sign up! Lesson learned! Always get someone else to look at your sign before you post it!

Hocking Valley Scenic Railway

First of all, let me say, that I have been sick all week. I have hardly eaten anything accept cereal, toast on occasion and ginger ale or other fizzy beverages. Everything, including the thought of eating something has made me feel nauseas. Saturday was no exception, but I was tired of not doing things and I decided to go with the singles ward to the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway. When I say it was just okay, this could be due to the fact that I was sitting in an enclosed car for most of the time, with no airflow. Lets just say, it wasn't what I expected. I think I had it in my mind it would be like going to Hogwarts on the Hogwarts express and we would see majestic views. Why I thought there would be majestic views somewhere in Ohio is beyond me. Ohio is beautiful in its own way, but I don't believe I've ever looked at something here and thought to myself, "that's majestic!" For the last 20 minutes we did go to an open car and that was way better. Mainly for the air flow. I guess its kind of like going on a ferry, really boring on the inside and really fun (as long as its not freezing) from the outside. I bet this would be amazing to go on once all the leaves started to change color though..and there were a million boyscouts and kids , so I would definitely recommend it for kids. It was fun to be with friends though, so not a waste of a day by any means....I was just hoping for Hogwarts I guess!

My friends Carly and Allison

My room mate Katrina and our friend Justin

My room mate to be, Briar and Katrina

A Haircut for Hans

Aren't they cute?