Pics from trip

     Dec. 10th thru the 17th was crazy for us. Raelee and I were going on vacation with my parents to Helen, GA for the week. Well after the deposit was paid and time was scheduled off work, my little brother Matthew received his mission call to the Provo, Utah mission, to report to the MTC in Provo the 14th. We didn't think he would be leaving until January or February. So we went to Helen the 10th thru 13th, flew to Utah the 13th, dropped Matt at the MTC the 14th, and few back to Atlanta the 15th, drove back to Helen that night and then the 17th came back to Tallahassee. I guess its no wonder that we're all sick right now. Anyway, it was a very fun, stressful and memory filled trip. I wanted to post some of my favorite pics from the week.

Before/After

     We moved into our home Sep 2008. Our bedroom has been driving me crazy ever since! Most of the other rooms, the ones people see, we've been able to paint and update. Our bedroom had not made the list. Painting sounds easy, but in a home with wooden walls and ceilings, no drywall, it's not a very easy feat. So I've figured that eventually whenever we had some extra money, we would have to hire someone to paint for us. Well, this week while Raelee and I were out of town, Brad had planned a HUGE surprise for me. He painted the entire bedroom, and the front porch, and the front door, and the fence, plus in the process a scary side porch was removed. Oh and Brad was able to figure out how to double our hanging space in the closet. Brad's parents were amazing for assisting him in this project. Brad hand primed the bedroom, it took him 8 straight hours of painting. They then decided to get a sprayer, the second coat took less than an hour. Oops, good to know! I was soooooo surprised when I got home. I felt like I was on a HGTV show. My dreams for the room came true. It's so chill and relaxing in there now, not stressful feeling. Thank you Bradley, Bruce and Jan! Ya'll are amazing!!!!!!

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Our Thanksgiving

     My soap box: Life as a nurse is hard. And not just for nurses, but docs, fireman, police, etc. We have to work Holidays and Sundays. Add to that in my case lots of family in town that are in other wards or churches, Brad and I miss alot of Sundays. But that doesn't mean we are not at church, whether physically in another location or in our hearts. Please don't think we're just skipping because we're not there. And I feel this is probably true in more cases than just us. That's all.
     What a fun Thanksgiving! I had to work on the actual day, so Wednesday night we had Thanksgiving in Quincy with Brad's parents and grandparents. It was so much fun! and yummy:) After dinner Raelee entertained us all by singing and dancing to the Lower Lights. Nothing like a good hymn revival as a family:)
     Like I said I worked Thanksgiving day, but it was a good day to work. I'm not going to complain about working anymore, because its been slow and hours are being cut. Eeek! Not good right before Christmas! After work I went to my parents where the rest of my fam had been feasting themselves for a good while. This was our first Thanksgiving not going to Alabama, so I think we were all sad to miss seeing the rest of the family and the food. But my mom did us proud! She cooked a feast! Brad said she's in trouble now that he knows she can really cook, he doesn't want spaghetti anymore for family dinner night lol. Not that dad doesn't make good spaghetti, but man this was  feast. Turkey, ham, lima beans, field peas, creamed corn, two types of stuffing, chicken and dumpling(my fave), rolls, macaroni(by Lindley), cranberries, sweet potato casserole, pumpkin pie, apple pie, german chocolate pie(my other fave). And I'm pretty sure there was more than that. It. was. awesome!
     After we waddled home, we tried to hit up ToysRus on the way to the casa, but the line.was.insane! So I went back the next morning, still was crazy. I saw so many people from my place of employment. I'm glad I at least put on some makeup. Then I picked up Brad who was helping my sis and BIL move, and we went to the mall. Scored a $150 coat for $30. Mission accomplished! We let Raelee play in the play area downstairs in the mall. She loved it! Some of the other kiddos, a little crazy! I finally had to go run interference for Raelee so that she could slide. She would climb up two steps and then the other kids would push her back down. She was still being nice about it, but I could see she was about to be super frustrated. I took her over to see the fountain on our way out and she was so fast trying to get in. She thought it was a pool. She talked about the pool the rest of the day.
     That night I helped by sis unpack Whoa! Lots of boxes! Then the besties came over and we played some awesome scattegories. Won by yours truly! 10 matches strong:) Saturday was spent stocking the pantries. And Raelee and I took a super impromptu trip to Hobby Lobby with my dad. I found the plates and decor for Rae's Bday Saturday so that was a plus. Then work yesterday. Needless to say today and tomorrow are bummy days for me and Raelee. We be tired!
   

Pity party

     I received a text Tuesday night from a co-worker to give me a heads up that I would probably be called off on Wednesday, which was okay with me. We had a softball game Tuesday night at 9pm(too late for softball) and didn't get home till 11pm. And I've had this weird throat thing going on since last week and just been feeling puny. So all night Tuesday night I kept waiting for the phone to ring, which it didn't, so I dragged myself out of bed at 515 am and woke up and got Raelee ready for the day, and headed to work. I walked in to find that I was off, they had just forgot to call me. Man what a double edged sword. Off=awesome/ waking up and waking Raelee up=not cool. Plus I car pool with Brad on weekdays, luckily he was able to turn around super quick and come pick me up. Raelee was so confused lol.
     My eye had been bothering me this whole time, but I didn't really pay much attention to it. Well after a morning nap, it was really red, and gunky and hurting.My eye doc is awesome and was able to get me in super quick. I have a staph infection in that eye and she put some sort of gel drop in it and told me not to wear my contacts until it feels better. She also gave me a RX for drops, to use only if it gets worse over the weekend. How awesome that the drops are $50 to fill? So they hopefully are not being filled! Well I just woke up from a nap with the OTHER eye red! AND the weird throat thing has turned into a super sore throat and I've been running a fever today. I'm praying I start feeling better tonight, I really do not want to go to the doc tomorrow. Now I know why Raelee was so puny and whiny last week and on a food strike if she felt like this!
     I am so super bummed to be sick right now. Tomorrow night is our last softball game of the season. We have a chance at finishing second in the league. And whiny me really, really, really wants to play. AND Saturday we are taking family pics, so I definitely have to be better by then!
     Okay done whining, heres the good parts to being sick. Thankfully other then Wednesday, this has occurred during my group of days off, so at least I'm not missing out on pay. And Raelee's been super cute and funny today. She's been singing and dancing to the Beatles station on Pandora all day. She also is really into her fisher price house right now, and put her "peeples" to sleep in their tiny little beds and tried to tuck then in with her huge blanket! She also has this little pink purse she's been carrying around all week, with office supplies that Brad gave her. And she's really into giving kisses and hugs this week. She'll stop in the middle of playing to run over and hug me, and then she'll blow me a kiss on her way back to her toys. Oh and for her nap today, she folder her little mouse Mimi's arms and had Mimi say a prayer. I only caught the beginning and the Amen, but still I was impressed.

 New time of life has started once again. Brad's student loans have entered the repayment period. Enough said!

Fall Fun

     Today was one of the first cold days of the year. Raelee and I took full advantage of it. Ya'll that know me, know that I am NOT a morning person. Today though, I am so proud, because Raelee and I were up, fed, showered, dressed, and out the door by 10am. Whooohooo! Great victory for me! We picked up my little brother Matthew(or Mat-Mat as Raelee calls him) for a day of fun. Our days with Matt are limited as he received his mission call this week. He will be serving the Lord in Provo, Utah for two years starting Dec 14th. I know this is a great opportunity for him and that he's doing the Lord's will, but I am sad for him to go. He's been my buddy for the past forever years. And Raelee loves her Mat-Mat. I get super sad to think that when he comes home, she'll be almost 4!!!
     Anyway, back to today. We started the day with a trip to the main library. My branch closed this week because a new library is being opened, RIGHT BY MY HOUSE! (not until next month)Can you tell I'm super excited? I had a book to pick up, and thought my books were due today, it was actually yesterday they were due, but the librarian forgave my fee :) We then headed to Toys-R-Us in search of a cheap car seat for Raelee for Brad's car. The one I wanted wasn't in stock, but I did finally find Raelee some frilly socks for church. This is her first pair. Seriously every time I've tried to buy her a pair, they're out of stock. At all the stores. How has this been possible? I bought a bunch of pairs today. Then a quick trip to Target. Sweater were on sell, whoop whoop! Matt and I then took Raelee to the park. The weather was GORGEOUS! It was quite entertaining the see Matt chasing Rae around the park. Then home for a nap, and the Rae was off to my parents while Brad and I went jogging. We're still not up to the entire 5K, but today was definitely easier. This is week 3 of jogging. Man I am upset with how out of shape I let my body get. No negativity though, I've been telling Brad, we can only be positive and encouraging from here on out. No guilt for the past. Just a healthier future. I'm excited to see how far we can run in a month and then 2 months...