These are a few of my favorite things

Meet The Lemon. She is precious to me. Her and I have bonded a lot over this summer because I am really the only one who drives her. Today, I was driving home with all the windows down, because our AC is still out of commission,when the old song "Good Vibrations" came on. You know the one I'm talking about. Classic. So naturally, I turn the music way up and rock out to it in my car. Those are the moments I love the most. Oh, Lemon. How I adore you and the happiness you bring me.


Meet Kasie Fry. She lives in Utah now, but she used to be my roommate for a good portion of my college career and is my very best friend. She is coming to Kansas next month and I couldn't be more excited to see her! This also brings me much joy and happiness.


Meet 10am. This is the time that I like to get up in the morning. Much rejoicing.





Meet Judy and Ray. They are my bosses until tomorrow, when sadly, I have to leave and enter the real world and get a grown up job. Sad. They are two of the sweetest people I have ever known and I got to work there at the best job a student could have.


Meet this guy. He is my happiness.

joining the ranks

Our good friends, Tommy and Chelsea, joined the elite married group this month. We couldn't be happier for them, especially since this directly benefits us. :) New married friends to go on dates with! Yay!
Congratulations you two. We love you.

Lately...

--I went on a road trip with my parents to see some historical church sites
--I have been trying to dress more like a grown-up
--I have been applying for jobs like a mad-man, hence the dressing up
--I've been babysitting and helping where I can
--The apartment has stayed clean
--I have been going to bed alone. :( Poor Dan.

After this rotation is over, Dan has two weeks where he is supposed to do an internship somewhere, and he is trying to get one in Wichita. So, if everything pans out the way it should, we could be living in Wichita with my parents for two weeks. It's a win-win-win situation. I won't be as bored because I will have things to do and people to see, we won't have to rent a place, Dan will get experience, and my dad won't be alone while my Mom is in Europe. Pretty awesome.

Lonely, Mr. Lonely

The last two days have been a whirlwind. Dan didn't get home yesterday until 10:30pm and then got called to go back in as soon as we went to sleep around midnight. Poor guy. So, he got home around 4:30 this morning only to have to turn around and go back at 7am. This poor man didn't return home until almost 1pm after that. I have been such a wreck because of it. I am not trying to be self-pitying, because honestly he's the one we should all feel sorry for, but I hate not knowing where he is and when he'll be home. I worry about him a lot... it's a problem. Needless to say, poor Dan is exhausted and took a monster nap this afternoon. He is currently back at the Vet school doing...something... but hopefully he will come back soon.

On top of that, I am leaving tomorrow to go on a church sites road trip with my parents! Yay! It is going to be so much fun, I just wish Dan could come. He has barely been able to see me all week, is completely exhausted, and now his wife is leaving him for a week. I wish there was something I could do to help him. I am constantly feeling so useless and helpless because he is going through all of this and there's nothing I can do. Any suggestions? Sorry about this post, but I just needed to rant a little because I am crazy concerned for my dear Hubby.

Independence

Can I just say how amazing it is that we get to live in the blessed land? I, for one, feel extremely privileged and am so thankful for our forefathers and their inspiration. That being said, here is how Americans in Kansas celebrate the day we became a free state:

Step 1: Wear Red, White, and Blue all weekend




Step 2: Family, Friends, and Dogs



Step 3: Street wide BBQ



Step 4: Buy an inordinate amount of fireworks


Step 5: Watch the most amazing fireworks show of all time


That's how we roll in America

Craving

Today I am having a MAJOR craving for Coco Bolos' Cajun Tilapia Fillet. It's so delicious. Now, normally I would just go and buy it, but it's expensive and I am trying not to do that as much anymore. So, instead, I found a recipe for spicy tomato cream sauce on the internet and I am just going to make it myself. Yay me! I'll let you know how it goes. This is what it should end up as:
FRENCH QUARTER TILAPIA
Fresh tilapia filet dusted with creole spices and
sautéed, finished with a spicy tomato cream sauce.
Tossed with linguini, and served with sautéed fresh
vegetables.
Hopefully it actually ends up resembling this. Maybe I will make this my new thing; finding things I love at restaurants and figuring out how to make them myself, because believe it or not, I think I am actually pretty good at cooking.

p.s. I have A LOT of pictures and lots to say about the 4th weekend, so look forward to that!

UPDATE:
It was delicious.

twenty-three

Well, my birthday was yesterday. I have to say, this was one of the best birthdays I have ever had. A huge part of it being amazing was that Dan was actually here for it. This is the first time in three years that he's been here on my birthday, so he really went all out.

The day started with my mom driving up to Manhattan and taking me to eat here. Delic. I had the tilapia and it was incredible. Then, I went to see this with my mom, Kim, and Katee. It came out on my birthday and so I figured I should see it on my birthday. Ha! It was so much fun! I love those girls. My mom had to go home after that, but I went over to Katee's for a little while and we had some root beer floats and some girl talk. LOVE that woman. She made me this.
Yum



The absolute best part of the day was Dan's present. He is so adorable. He set up a game show and had me play to see what my presents were.

What the game looked like:



I had to choose which option to uncover and I could either keep that option or sideline it so I could see what the other options were. Obviously, I wanted to see all of the options and I did get to keep everything. :) So creative!

first present:
Chocolate!!


second present:
dinner and a movie of my choice


third present:
I get to plan a trip to anywhere I want in the continental U.S. for a week in September! So many possibilities.


what I won for playing:
So that we can take pictures wherever and whenever we want. I am calling him Albert the Photographer.


After I won all my prizes I attached my camera to Albert and had a really good time figuring out all the different ways to take pictures. :)




I love Dan.