Too Bad...

...McCain and Palin didn't win. I really could have used a few more years of this:

Things I'm Grateful For...

70 degree weather in November... (These pictures were taken on Tuesday)

Beautiful leaves...

Indiana trails...

Friends who get me out of the house!... (Michelle and cute Miya)

A husband who can see out of both eyes!

This looks ugly...but we're expecting a full recovery and an eye that looks virtually normal in a couple of weeks (minus eyelashes on the bottom lid, but who really needs 'em anyway). Hallelujah. It's been a long haul these past couple of months but I think we've both learned how grateful we are for the little things, like warm weather, Indiana in the fall, and sight =)

Halloween

Chad is in the midst of interviewing for internships for this upcoming summer. He just received an offer from Dow Chemical which is located in Midland, Michigan. He really wanted to check it out before any decisions were made, so we decided to make a trip of it. After I got home from class on Thursday evening we took off for my sister's house in Belleville, MI. Chad was visiting Dow for most of Friday morning and afternoon, so I stayed at my sister's house for the Halloween festivities. The kids carved pumpkins after they got home from a 1/2 day of school. Carving pumpkins is one of my favorite Halloween activities. Alexa carved a spider, Michael carved a witch brewing in her cauldron, Gregory carved a scary lookin' guy, and Zachary carved (well, Jen carved...) Thomas the Tank Engine. Jen had already picked out a simple scary face for her and Zach to carve, but he really wanted to carve Thomas. I think the pumpkins turned out great!






Zach loved his pumpkin so much he gave it a hug. =)

Chad got home for chili dinner (which was delectable) and then the kids got ready to go trick-or-treating.

Pretty Lexa was Cleopatra, the twins were mimes, and Zach was of course...Thomas. He was so funny. There was another little kid in the neighborhood that had the same costume and when Zach saw he went running over shouting, "Thomas! Come on!" Absolutely hilarious. The twins had a whole routine down for when poeple answered their doors. Everyone thought it was so great they gave them extra candy. Check out the loot:

We had a great Halloween weekend with family! It's fun to be so close.

Nashville

I should be doing homework. Instead, I blog...

Nashville was incredible. I seriously fell in love with this place. If Chad ever got a job somewhere close to Nashville, I think we'd take it in a heartbeat.

We were there because Chad was part of the Purdue team that was invited to participate at a case competition. The competition took place at Vanderbilt on Friday and went until Saturday afternoon. Purdue came in third and won 500 bones for each team member. It basically paid for our vacation and who doesn't love paid vacation.

So, here's the breakdown. On Friday I hung out at the hotel and worked on some homework while the team went to present their case. When they came back I went with Chad to the little get together that they were throwing at a place on Music Row called Rippy's. (Music Row is a bunch of bars where country singers who want to make their break come and perform...very cool.) We had an incredible dinner of ribs, flapjacks, and baked beans.

When the case competition was finished on Saturday afternoon Chad and I checked into Hotel Indigo. This hotel was awesome...

We took a walk up to Vanderbilt campus, which was gorgeous:

We had dinner and then headed to the Grand Ole Opry. If you're ever in Nashville, you must go. There are many entertainers and many different styles of Country. We really enjoyed it:

Sunday morning we ate at the Pancake Pantry. Some Vanderbilt students told us that we had to go while in Nashville and they told us that the line would move really fast, so don't worry. We got there and the line was seriously out the door. But it was totally worth it. I have never eaten anything so glorious in my life. I ordered the chocolate chip pancakes (more chocolate than pancake) and Chad got the originial buttermilk pancakes:

We then went to the Parthenon replica. I'd remembered learning about this in my Humanities classes. A hundred + years ago they decided to build this temporary replica. When it came time to destroy the replica, the citizens of Nashville pitched a fit. It is now a permanent Nashville landmark:

After the Parthenon we went to Belle Meade, which was an old Plantation:

On our drive we found the house we will purchase when we move to Nashville: =)

After a delicious dinner of smoked chicken and brisket at Jacks, we went to the Stage and Tootsie (two famous Country bars):

The guy in this last picture just got signed by John Rich, from Big & Rich. He was the only "star" we saw.

Overall, we had an awesome time and can't wait to go back again next year!

Nashville

We're heading to Nashville tonight for a much needed vacation. Well, actually we're heading to Nashville so Chad can go to his case competition for two days (while I write 3 papers for school) and then we're staying Saturday and Sunday. We're going to the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday night, and I am way excited. =) Pictures to come next week...

Tag, I'm It!

I hate these things, but I like Andrea...so I'll do it:

8 things I am passionate about:
1. Chocolate
2. Playing the piano
3. My Monday night TV (Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill)--I'm addicted to these show, I know they're total smut and I still watch them.
4. My husband-- when I actually get to see him =)
5. School--even though I'm lacking in the motivation department these days
6. The population over 65-- some of my best friends in life are 70+
7. My new kitty--Mokie, cutest thing I've ever seen
8. Being an aunt--best job ever

8 words or phrases I say often:
1. That is nasty
2. That is gross with a capital "G" (I use a variety of adjectives)
3. Niiiiiice
4. Seriously?
5. Holy Mokie or Holy Mokes-- due to the new feline, I know it's quite corny
6. Should I wait up for you tonight?
7. Delectable
8. Ba da ba ba ba---I'm lovin' it

8 things I want to accomplish in the coming year:
1. Survive the first year of grad school
2. Rock at my practicum
3. Finish the BOM
4. Learn 2 new really tough pieces on the piano
5. Begin an exercise regimen. I hate exercising by myself, so this will be tough.
6. Become more open-minded
7. Learn a new craft
8. Take a vacation (Florida for Christmas, hallelujah!!!)

8 places I would love to go or visit:
I've already been to the first 3, but I'd like to go with my husband next time...
1. Palmyra and the pageant
2. Nauvoo
3. Paris
4. England
5. Egypt
6. Machu Picchu
7. Jamaica
8. Bahamas

8 things I need or want:
1. to add to my professional attire for my upcoming practica
2. some new piano music
3. to paint my house, which leads me to
4. a house to paint =) (This will take a few years.)
5. a vacation...far far away
6. a Kitchen-Aid mixer
7. a grand piano
8. guitar lessons from a professional

I tag... YOU. If you read it, do it! =) And if you read this and you think, "I wonder if she's talking about me..." Yes, I'm talking about you. And I'll be checking...

Surgery

Chad was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma (skin cancer) on his left lower eyelid. He had this removed and then had to have the lower lid reconstructed so that his eye could look somewhat normal and tears would not just fall out of his eye. Here are some pictures documenting our journey:

Before surgery 1 (above)

After surgery 1 (above)

After surgery 1 (above) Most of what the doctor took out was on the inside of the lower lid. Sorry this is so blurry...

After surgery 2, before removal of the bandage (above)

After surgery 2, after removal of the bandage