I'm a LOT Past Little Rock

So, I just got back from my five days in Little Rock, AR. I went there with some classmates of mine to attend a conference for school. We learned a lot of new osteopathic techniques but all in all the trip was MISERABLE!! I am going to keep this blog short as I have a heaping pile of things to catch up on. Below is one of the instructors showing us a new technique for pregnant women.

If you haven't noticed, I try to keep most things in my blog positive. However, I do not have much positive to say about this trip. There was more drama between the girls than I ever had to deal with even in middle school! I couldn't believe it. You'd think as medical students we would have tact and respect for each other but that is unfortunately not the case. As much as I appreciate the guidance and new techniques I learned, I don't think the trip was worth it. I also had a hard time dealing with the fact that I had to listen to girls scream at each other about frivolous matters while J was sick in the hospital. There are more important things in life to worry about. J, I hope you feel better and I love you!

I did get to see the Clinton Library, however. It is definitely something to see.

Sorry I did not delve further into the weekend but frankly, I don't want to remember it. I'm glad there were some girls along that kept my sanity intact and were a shoulder to cry on. You are the best!

♥ R

Just You and I : PV Part II

On one of our free days, with the suggestion from a local Puerto Vallartan, Ry and I took a water taxi to a beach called Yelapa 40 minutes South of PV. A solitudinous beach was awaiting our arrival as it is not accessible by land. It was utterly breathtaking. Yelapa beach sits deep within a cove and its perimeter is surrounded by jungle. The water was a bright blue and parasailing was in high order. However, among such beauty, was a palpable indigence. This was evident throughout PV as well. I wondered if the millions of tourists that embrace PV every year choose to ignore this sad reality. Ry and got a chance to walk through the neighborhood of the people who lived in Yelapa on our trek to the waterfall one mile off the beach. Most of the homes had no windows or doors (some no roof), the flooring was obviously a mixture of cement and mud, and the clothing was hanging outside the house on a line held up by two trees. I don't deny the fact America has its share of poverty, but it is not like in Mexico. From my perspective, the disparity between the wealthy and the poor was much greater there, an obsolete middle class. You'd think with all the tourism, the economy would be better but the problem is every market is saturated. There are too many taxi drivers, more necklaces than will ever be sold, and empty money cups for the homeless. It broke my heart. However, I know nothing different. What seems an impoverished and unlivable world for me is simply their reality. As I said in my previous blog, they live a life with much fewer means that us, but in the end seem to be happy. As my dad says, happiness is defined within. It is a choice that is not influenced by the external influences in one's life. It would ring true in this case.

Sorry for the digression. We spent the rest of the day on the beach (our only full day on the beach) sipping Corona's, eating chips and salsa, and getting our feet wet in the water. It was more relaxing than downtown because of the lack of people. The Fodor's book was a lifesaver on our trip and I found myself gravitating to it often to see what our next adventure would be. As I was reading about Yelapa in Fodor's, Chiggy and her delicious homemade pies was mentioned as a highlight. Not one minute after I read that, Chiggy was behind us offering her warm coconut and chocolate pie. Now, when most of the vendors approached us on the beach throughout our trip we politely said, "No, gracias", but in this instance we decided to purchase the pie. Fodor's had it right, seemingly just when we needed her, Chiggy greeted us with her warm, delicious homemade pie :)

The majority of the 2nd half of our trip was spent at the time share resort my dad and N gave us to use. It was fun to experience both aspects of things. Neither Ry or I are "beach bum" type of people. The one time we decided to sit around the pool and sunbathe we were bored after thirty minutes and ended up doing something else. It was fun, however, to sit in the pool at the resort after everyone went off for dinner. We enjoyed the pool after dark under the starlit sky. It was as if we had the whole pool to ourselves. Plus it was right off the ocean so that was an added bonus.

Ry had planned a whale watching tour for the two of us well before we got to PV because they book early. It was our earliest morning of the week, 8 AM. We were there at 8 AM sharp and guess what... we were the only ones on time... again. However, I got my fill of entertainment due to the whale vertebrae on display. I was obsessed with this massive thing. I attribute this to my love of osteopathic medicine. For those of you who don't know, osteopathic medicine is an alternative forms of medicine much having to do with the structural integrity of the musculoskeletal system. This part of my curriculum is on top of learning all the pertinent "medical science" stuff. I plan to give you more of a lowdown on this in the future. If you have more questions just ask me but for now I will keep on the topic of our trip! After they pried me away from the vertebrae, we were off to find some whales. This was an awesome experience. We saw two male whales fighting and a mommy and her baby swimming together. As fun as it was to watch them my only complaint (most of you are probably saying, "your only complaint?", and you're probably right, it wasn't my ONLY complaint!) was that the whales didn't come up to breathe very often. Every time we'd see them come up to the surface to breathe and flip around a bit, they would dive back down for 10-15 minutes. The most fantastic part of the whole experience, though, was listening to the whales sing. Apparently they develop "phrases" they repeat over and over to deliver messages to other whales in their area. Pirates of the old days thought this singing was coming from the mermaids below, hence the myth. It was spectacular. It was as if they were trying to tell us a story, though we had no idea what it was. Whatever it was, I'm sure it was interesting.

One of the last adventures we did were the Los Veraños Canopy Tours. I would have to say this was my favorite part of the trip. The premise is to soar high over the natural landscape on a cable line and harness supporting you. When we first got there I got nervous, however, that maybe is what made it more fun in the end. The harness they put on wrapped around the thighs and waist. When looking at it I thought, wow this thin piece of fabric held together by thread will be holding me 180 meters in the air while flying across a river... Best not to think about it. All I can say was this did NOT disappoint. Not only were the views gorgeous but the guides were a lot of fun. I think they especially liked me because I have a memorable Spanish name, none of them forgot it. As I reached the highest, longest, and fastest cable of the tour one of the guides asked me if I wanted to ride across backwards with him. My instinct told me no but my adventurous side said yes! They hooked me to the line backwards while the guide hooked himself facing forward. He took a leap and we were off. As we launched, he told me to let go of my safety bars. What, are you nuts?

I was brought back in time to when I was a nine year old little girl that was terrified of ALL amusement rides. At that time, my dad tricked me onto a roller coaster at the Great America Six Flags near Chicago. I kicked and screamed until they strapped me in the coaster. Once we started riding, though, I gradually opened my eyes and felt free, as if there was nothing in this world I couldn't do.

Snap back. The guide asked me again to let go and this time I did it. However, not only did I let go of my safety handles but I flipped myself backwards until my hands and head were pointed to the ground. I was flying (upside down)! It was the most exhilarating thing I have ever done. I was free. As I reached the end of the 400 meter cable, another guide caught me and said, "Miss Raquel, you must have come from heaven, because you fly like an angel." I'm sure it was just a one-liner he tells everyone, but even if for just a moment, I truly felt like one. It was so much fun, I did it one more time.

I apologize for this blog getting long. I guess that is why I split it into two parts. I also wanted to say that though the Canopy Tour was my favorite adventure of the trip, by far the best part was spending it with my husband. I never knew two people could be so similar yet so different at the same time. He is one of the most understanding people in my life. Who else would put up with my whining and complaining all the time? I sometimes ask God what I did to deserve such a wonderful man. When it comes down to it, I don't think I did anything, I just got lucky. Ry, I can't wait for our next adventure together. I love you!

As a final note, Ry and I have a request. We LOVED PV so much and would love to go back someday. However, next time we would like to go with a group of people! If interested, let us know :) Sorry to disappoint Jeff, but there were no arrests... on this trip at least!

♥ R

On the Coast of Somewhere Beautiful : PV Part I

Flying into Puerto Vallarta's Gustavo Diaz Ordaz airport, we could feel the energy. We unloaded the plane directly onto the asphalt with the mountains on the horizon and the smell of the lush salt air greeting us. Neither of us had ever been to Mexico so naturally we were excited to get out and explore. Little did we know that getting from point A to point B was going to be a bigger ordeal than originally planned. I'm certain all the taxi drivers get irritated with "us American's" as we explain to them where we want to go (in English, of course). Luckily we had printed off a map of where we needed to go with the directions written in Spanish and the route clearly marked with a blue line. Though, the taxi driver was looking at it like he still had NO idea where we needed to go. So, Ry being his helpful self and finally putting his high school Spanish to good use points to the map and says, "Agua, Agua". The man looked at him like he was crazy. Ry was trying to point out to this poor man the "blue" line on the map that led to our destination but in actuality he was saying "water." Blue in Spanish is "azul", not "agua"... The taxi driver thought Ry was telling him we were staying on the water. Luckily, we eventually made it to where we needed to be and it was worth the wait. The oddity of getting around in PV is the paved roads directly intersect the hand lain cobblestone streets and the pedestrians are often old men wearing sombreros riding a burro laden down with five gallon plastic pails filled with rocks. It was quite the scene. I told Ry that day to not speak Spanish to the taxi drivers anymore unless he was absolutely certain about what he was telling them, oh Ry.


We discovered the "secret" place of PV, The Cheeky Monkey. It is right on the Malecon with spectacular views and... $1 ice cold Corona's served with a lime. In our 7 days in PV, there were no other places we found where the beer was such a good deal so we made it a point to go back. The Cheeky Monkey to me was PV personified. No one there is in a hurry. In fact, I'm not sure ANYTHING was on time. If a boat was scheduled to leave at 8AM, it probably didn't leave the dock until 9, 10 o'clock. Starbuck's even opened over an hour late! I think we (American's) often get caught up into our schedules and deadlines too much. Life is so much simpler in PV. They don't have the most luxurious living situations, but all of them seem happy. They must know something we don't. And though the bill didn't come until three hours after we sat down, it made it all the more relaxing.


Ry and I also got a chance to attend Mass at the Cathedral in the Zona Romantica of PV. What made the experience so exemplary was the Mass was given in English and Spanish. To worship with people who don't even speak the same language as you was memorable. Plus, the church was beautiful. Some of the decor they had displayed you would never see here in America. The portrayal of Jesus was much more graphic, yet it felt more realistic. What an amazing experience!


I think Ry might argue one of his favorite memories of the trip was watching the Mariachi band on the Malecon Sunday night. We discovered that the people of PV use Sunday night as they're "going out" night. The Malecon was hopping with people. Ry and I were rushing to make the start of the concert by 6. Needless to say we were on time but the concert didn't start until 7:30, it all goes back to what I said before, nobody is in a hurry in PV! The band was superb; I felt like I was listening to classic Mexicana music with an old-world charm. And, if you can't tell, we not only were serenaded by the band, but had the soft sounds of the ocean waves crashing on the rocks in the background. Heaven :)

One cannot mention PV without mentioning THE FOOD. I can honestly say I have never experienced quite the cuisine. I may be biased due to my love of cilantro and guacamole, however. Not only was the food delectable and reasonably priced, but the presentation was exquisite. My favorite restuarant I must say was Pipi's (below). They served the most big and tasty margaritas I have ever had and a waiter made the guacamole right in front of us. However, this place was crazy. A three-man band went around singing at different tables (My fav "La Bamba"), a table of Spring Break ridden college students had tequila shots poured into their mouths from the bottle, and each table was served by six different waiters throughout the meal. It was exhausting, but delicious.

Part I complete. Part II coming soon...

♥ R

Hola de Puerto Vallarta

I told you I would update! Currently we are sitting in an internet cyber cafe and uploading some pictures. We have been having a blast here in PV. It is a beautiful place. Eating out, sitting on the beach, exploring PV, and meeting the locals has kept us busy. We have felt safe the whole time. Life is a bit slower here so it seems the days go by slower as well... and that is how we like it. We hope everyone is well way up there in the States. We will give you a full update on our Mexican adventures when we get back. Until then, bueños diaz!

♥ R & R

When I Think About Leaving...

83 degrees and mostly sunny.
When I think about leaving...

There are 7 days, three final exams, multitudes of packing, trading currency for Pesos, and other odds and ends in between me and our trip to Mexico. I plan to give a mid-trip blog update from the coffee shop in Mexico once we are there. For now, I am trying to suppress my excitement which is not going very well. The catecholamines are running rampant... think hormones, think hormones... I may as well forget it, my mind is not with Endocrinology right now.

As for what else we've been up to, I have to think long and hard to come up with anything remotely interesting. I almost forgot it was Valentine's Day last weekend. My husband reminded me... see picture below. This week exhausted me but my insistence stays. By next week at this time, I will almost be in Mexico. Sitting on the beach with a fresh raspberry margarita, basking in the lush sun, and not having a care in the world, ineffable contentment... ah.


♥ R

Wedding Video & Quick Update

Sorry I have not posted much recently. It has been hectic, as I am certain most of you understand. I am attempting to upload our wedding video because I have had requests to see it again (or for the 1st time if you didn't make it to the wedding). It is not great quality. If you want a good copy I will have to burn it onto a CD for you. If you want me to do that just let me know! If you start playing it and it gets "stuck", just let it load for a while until the gray bar reaches the end, then it should play the whole way through. Here is the link of it on Google video:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4952957697376059310

I have been especially busy as of late because I am currently preparing for my National Board Exams in May. Every 2nd year medical student in the nation has to take and pass this exam to prove their competency and start rounds in the hospitals for 3rd year. It will definitely be one of the most important exams I will ever take, hence the heavy preparation. I am surprised how composed I am thus far with the impending work; however, I am eager & ready for the challenge.

Ryan and I have also been trying to find time to finalize the plans for our 'honeymoon' to Mexico in ... 16 days! I am very excited for this trip. The forecast is 83 and sunny everyday, I think I can handle that :) Thank you Dad and N for giving us a week of your time share!

On another note, just wanted to say congratulations to my little sister P who qualified for the state Knowledge Bowl in Anatomy. She said my tutor session was helpful but we all know who the smart one is! I am excited for her to say the least. She is a "nerd" just like her big sisters, poor girl. Love you P!

♥ R

25 Things

If you are not on Facebook, then you probably do not know what I am posting. There is a thing going around about writing 25 random things about yourself. If someone "tags" you, you are supposed to write about yourself. I was tagged and wrote it out and thought I'd share it on here for you Non-Facebookian's :) Everything else is going well, just super busy. We went to a friends house for the Superbowl last night which was fun. Other than that, not much else to report. Hope you all have a great week!

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you!

1. I have a fraternal twin sister who is my best friend. I think we get closer every year. However, in total I have 8 brothers and sisters, all younger than me. It is a yours, mine, and ours kind of thing. I will confuse you if I go into more detail. But, I love all of them more than anything!

2. I study to the Delilah show most every night and read myself to sleep. What do I read? ANYTHING! Romance, Mystery, Self-Help, Adventure, Spiritual. My rule is no text books after 10! I also have a slight obsession with Harry Potter and Twilight.

3. I have kissed one man in my life, my husband.

4. I love being a medical student and learning every day. I’m not a fan of studying for exams, but it is necessary, I guess. I don’t believe in learning things to memorize (and eventually forget) them, but to understand their relevance.

5. I am so excited I am getting my MBA degree. In some respects I think it will be more useful than my medical degree. Plus, I have made some wonderful friends in that class!

6. One of the only things I regret in my life so far is pulling out my 5 iron on the 8th hole at Fergus Falls Golf Club for section finals my senior year of high school. I overshot the green by 15 yards and was behind a bunch of trees and consequently ended up triple bogeying the easy par 3. My Uncle P (and golf coach) told me the day before to use my 7 iron, and I didn’t listen. I missed qualifying for the state golf tournament by 2 strokes.

7. I’ve never been that person who has a posse of friends. When I think back, I always have that one companion I do everything with. Each was with me during a different stage in my life and most I am still very good friends with. Thank you guys!

8. I avoid drama like the plague… I would much rather have intellectual conversations.

9. I am not a phone person. It’s not that I don’t want to talk to you, but it feels too impersonal to me.

10. All I want for my children someday is to be happy, appreciate the people in their lives, and know how to love unconditionally

11. I believe the benefits of small town living are underemphasized

12. I am very close to and have a deep respect for ALL my parents.

13. My favorite movie is Steel Magnolias, my Favorite song is "Please Forgive Me" by Bryan Adams, Favorite drink is Diet Pomegranate 7-UP, Favorite Color is Purple, Favorite music is probably country but the best artist of all time in my opinion is Eva Cassidy...

14. I love seeing new places and traveling. Places I want to see overseas: Ireland, Italy, and Germany. Ireland and Italy because they look beautiful and Germany because the foreign exchange student we had my sophomore year of high school lives there and I miss her dearly.

15. I struggle with religion and politics. I am a woman of great faith and belief in my Creator, but feel the confines of religion keep people from celebrating as one and create biases. I do not side with Republicans or Democrats, but with a leader who fights for humanity with true passion.

16. I have been streaking AND skinny dipping before, both in high school. Girls, if I did this with you, you know who you are! Nothing like a game of spoons and truth-or-dare to get a party going.

17. One of my most memorable moments as a kid is taking a road trip with my dad and sister. We saw Graceland and met Mickey Gilley in Branson, MO at a golf course and got to sit in the VIP section at his concert that evening.

18. There is nothing better than Kansas City BBQ

19. I do not know what kind of doctor I want to be yet. I like OB/GYN and Internal Medicine. I start my rotations in the hospitals August 1st. Hopefully by next year I will have a better idea about this so stay tuned.

20. I could not imagine loving any other man more than I love my husband. He is my everything, the reason I am.

21. Ry and I talk a lot about what kind of a house we would build someday. All we have decided is to keep it simple, open, and have a wine cellar.

22. I do not have typical in-laws. They have truly become my family.

23. High school has many bittersweet memories. I thought I knew what I wanted then but in the end “Some of Gods greatest gifts are unanswered prayers” - Garth Brooks

24. I wish I could be as witty as my sister

25. I am amazed if you’ve read all this up till now. If I tagged you on Facebook, you’re it!

♥ R

PS. If any of you feel compelled to do this as well, I'd love to read it.

Just Breathe

100 miles per hour. The speed my mind is racing most days. Today, it has slowed down. I have completed another segment of my medical school career. Relief is an understatement. My life gets consumed by the obligations of being a medical student too often. What happened to enjoying life? I am an eternal optimist, always thinking it will get easier next month, next year. I have realized this will never be the case, in fact it may be just the opposite. However, not one iota of me would want to do anything else. My calling is medicine. I do not do it for the ultimate status or money (not with the loans I will incur by the end!), but to give back and make a difference. I will not emotionally detach myself from people.

I remember when I was working in the burn center, there was a very sick young man who was not going to make it. His wife was following behind as we were wheeling him down to the operating room for a futile procedure (that's another topic itself). She was crying and pleading with him to fight because they were supposed to grow old together. I had a hard time composing myself. I told one of the nurses afterwards that I felt weak because I couldn't keep the tears from coming. She took me into her arms and said something I will never forget, "Raq, the minute you don't care, is the minute you should no longer be a part of the field!" I must keep that conviction with me always no matter what exams I must pass, how many patients I must see in a day, or what others tell me otherwise. Sorry for the solemn topic again, I may be an optimist, but I also think too much!

As I said before, I have slowed down today. Even if it is only for the weekend, I am thankful! Ry and I were lucky enough to have a visitor yesterday, Ry's dad T (he already left this morning for the ten hour drive back to WI). I was telling him it is strange seeing him without C along, to me they come as a packaged deal. It was like Christmas all over again because he brought so much stuff for us. The nativity might be my favorite, however. It is so beautiful I am going to keep it up until Easter.


Last night, I had the yearly banquet for my MBA Healthcare degree I am getting. It was quite the event. As one of my friends said, it is fun to get to meet the people behind the name. We are such a cohesive group we forget that we all have lives outside of school. I am posting a picture of some of my girlfriends that have become a great support for me! All these women have a contagious charisma about them. It is hard to not love all of them.


I also have to admit my new guilty pleasure, the Twilight series. If you are up for an epic love story, these books are a must read. One night this week I was up reading a chapter and my heart was fluttering it was so intense. It gets my mind off school, never a bad thing. Ry, you are and always will be my Edward.

Well, that's it for now. Thanks for reading.

♥ R

Auld Lang Syne

On the brink of a new year, I can not even believe it. 2009? It does not seem right to me, but I will embrace it as I always do.

I was lucky enough to spend the week of New Years with Sav here in KC. I can't even begin to tell you how much I have missed my sister. It was wonderful to spend the week just hanging around with her. We enjoyed doing nothing together. We watched movies, shopped, cooked, read books, and talked. These occasions are few and far between for the two of us so it was nice to refresh ourselves and catch up!

One of the highlights was bringing Sav to see the KU campus in Lawrence, KS. I knew she would be one to appreciate it and boy did she! It has the culture and feel of UW in Madison which is why I feel she appreciated it all the more. Plus it is a beautiful and lively campus which is always fun to see. Rock Chalk Jayhawk.


I would have to say; however, that the best part of the week was New Years Eve. We decided to check out the Power and Light District downtown KC. It was neat because they have an outdoor atrium surrounded by many bars and restaurants. In the atrium they had several cover bands (as Sav alluded to) playing and they sounded like the real thing which made the evening all the better. We ended up going to the country bar which was a lot of fun. Sav and I danced and Ry watched our coats. Poor Ry... he didn't want to dance so I guess that is what he gets :) The band even played Keith Urban for Sav!


The best part of the evening I would have to say, though, is when we were counting down. 4... 3... 2... 1... 2009! At that point an "aged" man asked Sav for a kiss... her expression was priceless and I caught a picture of it, including the man in the background! I didn't even mean to do that. Classic... Of course, she politely declined, but it was hilarious. Sorry Sav.


Our lazy week came to an end and of course, I was sad she was leaving. I have been spoiled the last two weeks with time off and visiting with family. The night before Sav left her and I stayed up late just talking. Since then I have reflected upon a quote from the movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, “We are defined by opportunities, even the ones we miss”. Savannah and I had talked about how life turns out the way it is, how one simple decision can change the entire course of your life. Sav and I wondered how both of us ended up at different colleges as close as we were and still are. What would have been different? I don't know. But I do know I wouldn't change anything. I especially think about the night I met my husband and how random it was. If Kacie and I had not decided to check out our first fraternity party, if we would have went to the left side of the room instead of the right, if Kacie had not given my future husband a hug, where would life be now? I'm guessing much different. We are defined by opportunities, even the ones we miss. What a profound thought. Thanks for the talk Sav, I love you.

♥ R

Off to get ready for the rest of my no good, very bad, WEEK!

Home is Where the Heart Is

On our way into Minneapolis... horrible weather!!

Every year the meaning of Christmas changes through my eyes. I am not sure if it is just a result of getting older or if it is something more. I seem to appreciate the smaller things. What used to be excitement over opening new gifts and waiting for Santa is now reveling in every moment with my family. It is not about winning the board games but taking the opportunity to learn more about the ones I love. It is not about singing the carols at the evening church service but feeling the electricity of the Spirit in the air. I see the world around me through a different window, the window with an open heart.

We had a fun packed Christmas this year. We made the nine hour drive from KC to MN with stops to visit my dad & clan in Kenyon and Matthew in Minneapolis. Ry and I considered turning around (not really ;) ) as we saw the temperature drop fifteen degrees in a matter of hours. I think we underestimated what the bitter cold of MN felt like! We did our best to adjust. At least the -20 degrees F windchills didn't last very long.

I made the final trek to O-town solo and left Ry in Minneapolis to attend the Vikings game with the boys. It was icy but I made it. I have not been back home since July so it was nice to be back. It is comforting to know that whatever happens in life, no matter how many years pass, home will always be there.

We celebrated Christmas Eve on my mom's side and Christmas Day on my dad's side. This has been a struggle for me since I was young. I have never liked splitting time because I want to be with everyone. I thought it would get easier as I got older but in some aspects it is harder probably because I appreciate the time I do get with the people I love more. There is just that much more love to go around I guess. The time still is all too fleeting.

When Ry and I were heading out on our way back to KC I couldn't help but think if only we had two more days to visit I would be satisfied. It was the most traditional Christmas I've had in two years. With going to Vegas two years ago and the wedding last year it just didn't feel like the typical Christmas season. For that I am thankful. It was hard that this was the first Christmas Ryan was not home with his family. I knew he missed them, as I did too. It is nice to know that we can be together, though, and not compromise on the quality time we do get, wherever we are.

Over the week I had my fix of board games and a healthy dose of laughter. I also got my wish and went snow tubing with the kids (minus P and J). I could have done that hours on end. In order to reach the top of the hill you strap your tube onto a cable and it pulls you up. Once at the top, you pick a good hill, and ride down. On one of my trips uphill; however, I heard "Rocky!!" as I saw Livie tumbling down the hill and I caught her!! Her tube had come unclipped from the cable and she was sliding back down right into me. It was funny. So I set her off to the side of my tube and all of a sudden my tube unclipped and I started sliding down the hill! I caught myself half way down and ended up walking the rest of the way. If you knew Livie and I, you are probably laughing. We are both big clutzes so of course it happened to us... the funny part was somehow I caught her, that would not happen twice. Thanks Livie for knocking me off, it made for a cute story :)

Another highlight was learning to play the Wii and Guitar Hero after our sledding escapades. We went over to Uncle P's house and he made us dinner... yes it's true. It was delicious :) P & J brought the Wii over and showed us the ropes. I am hopeless... The only thing I am good at is boxing. I may not be fast but I have endurance. Ry never stood a chance! We also had a lot of fun playing ImagineIff... I tell you, you learn a lot about people playing that game! Uncle J, next time you should play to "win" and not play honestly, maybe you won't lose every game :) JK.

Top 10 (or more) of the Christmas week. I would try to make this funny but lets face it, I'm bad at it! I'll have Sav do it next time, then it would be funny.

1) Baking at Grandma and Grandpa K's (and making a big mess)

2) Staying up till two in the morning talking to my cousins and family I have not seen in a long time!

3) Loring Pasta brunch with Matthew

4) Having a glass of wine with Uncle P

5) Playing board games (several of them ;) )

6) Oreo's (inside joke) and never having a lack of conversation at Grandma and Grandpa W's

7) Watching Uncle J's China videos... definitely a must see! The traffic alone is comical :) Picture of Jeff being himself.

8) Putting Dad to sleep with my OMT skills. Dad, we will talk soon, promise :)

9) My walk with Grandma J and P, it was a beautiful white morning!

10) Coming to the realization that my mom and I are a lot alike, something most people wouldn't guess. In my case, I am very lucky to have inherited some of her characteristics!

11) Meeting little miss Morgan for the first time! She is beautiful T & A, you did a good job.

12) Watching "my girls" play some basketball

13) All the quality time I had with the ones I love

Some videos to share... I think they are funny

Dad, Gan, and Ry playing Basketball



Uncle P and Pey boxing on the Wii

Until Next Time

♥ R

Book List

Books Read 2011:
1. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (re-read)
2. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (re-read)
3. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (re-read)
4. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese: 10
5. A Scattered Life by Karen McQuestion: 5
6. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls: 8
7. The Other Boelyn Girl by Philippa Gregory: 9
8. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
9. The Things We Do for Love by Kristin Hannah: 8
10. The Passage by Justin Cronin

Books Read 2010:
1. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen: 9
2. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon: 10
3. The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry: 7
4. Graceling by Kristin Cashore: 9
5. Fire by Kristin Cashore: 7
6. Peace Like a River by Leif Enger: 8
7. The Opposite of Love by Julie Buxbaum: 8
8. Shiver by Maggie Shiefvater: 7.5
9. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins: 2 or 10
10. The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks: 7
11. A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
12. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott: 7

Books Read in 2009
1. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer: 8
2. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer: 8
3. Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer: 10
4. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer: 10
5. The Host by Stephenie Meyer: 7
6. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins: 10
7. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins: 10
8. The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger: 7
9. Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner: 7
10. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë: 5
11. The Road by Cormac McCarthy: 8
12. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch: 7
13. P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern: 7
14. The Shack by William P. Young: 8
15. An Exact Replica of a Figment of my Imagination by Elizabeth McCracken: 9
16. The Reader by Bernhard Schlink: 8
17. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold: 7
18. The Giver by Lois Sachar: 8

Books Recently Read: Rating 1-10 (That I can remember)
1. Mistaken Identity Van Ryn’s and Cerak’s: 9
2. The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards: 8
3. My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult: 8
4. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck: 6
6. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton: 8
9. Z for Zachariah by Robert O’Brien: 7
10. Bend in the Road by Nicholas Sparks: 8
11. HP: Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling: 6
12. HP: Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling: 6
13. HP: Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling:7
14. HP: Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling: 10
15. HP: Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling: 8
16. HP: Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling: 9
17. HP: Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling: 10
18. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown: 9
20. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee: 9
21. The Kite Runner by Khalid Hosseini: 8

My Reading List
1. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers*
2. Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon
3. Voyager by Diana Gabaldon
4. Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon
5. The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon
6. A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon
7. An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon
8. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
9. The Stand by John Grisham
10. The One that I Want by Allison Winn Scotch
11. Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
12. White Oleander by Janet Fitch
13. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
14. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
15. North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley
16. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
17. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
18. Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
19. The Pact by Jodi Picoult
20. Josephine B Trilogy by Sandra Gulland
21. The Prestige by Christopher Priest
22. Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny
23. The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
24. The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles
25. Chesapeake Bay series by Nora Robers
26. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
27. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy*
28. Follow the Stars Home by Luanne Rice
29. The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand
30. The Summer I Dared by Barbara Delinsky
31. Northern Lights by Nora Roberts
32. Mosaic by Soheir Khashoggi
33. Can you keep a Secret? By Sophie Kinsella
34. I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb
35. The Bodies Left Behind by Jeffrey Deaver
36. Life as we Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
37. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
38. Rape: A Love Store by Joyce Carol Oates
39. The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams
40. Time of My Life by Allison Winn Scotch
41. The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf
42. Did I Expect Angels? By Kathryn Maughan
43. East of Eden by John Steinback
44. The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton
45. The Year of Fog by Michelle Richmond
46. First Daughter by Eric Van Lustbader
47. The Senator’s Wife by Sue Miller
48. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
49. Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
50. Crazy for the Storm by Norman Ollestad
51. The Rapture of Canaan by Sheri Reynolds
52. Holes by Louis Sachar
53. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
54. Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkein
55. Angels and Demons by Dan Brown
56. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
57. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
58. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
59. The Life of Pi by Yann Martel
60. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
61. Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
62. The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff
63. Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier*
64. Frenchman’s Creek by Daphne Du Maurier
65. Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls
66. The Uglies by Scott Westerfield
67. After You by Julie Buxbaum*
68. Lost by Jacqueline Davies
69. Beside a Burning Sea by John Shors
70. The Given Day by Dennis Lehane
71. The Likeness by Tana French
72. Nefertiti by Michelle Moran*
73. Cleopatra’s Daughter by Michelle Moran
74. The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran
75. After by Amy Efaw
76. The House on Tradd Street by Karen White*
77. The Girl on Legare Street by Karen White
78. A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell
79. The Department of Lost and Found by Allison Winn Scotch
80. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger*
81. Love You, Hate You, Miss You by Elizabeth Scott*
82. The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
83. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl*
84. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson*
85. The Girl Who Played with Fire by Steig Larsson*
86. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Steig Larsson*

1st Anniversary

Ry and I have been married one year! Wow, how time flies. Eventhough it feels like just yesterday we were saying our "I do's", we have also done a lot this year. This blog is living proof :)

For our anniversary we went to downtown Minneapolis and had dinner at the Melting Pot. It was a four hour engagement but it was very tasty! We stayed at the Hilton downtown which was also very neat. The lobby opened up to the IDS Center so that made it fun.

I still feel like I'm living in the "honeymoon stage" with Ry. I'm hoping it stays that way forever! Sure, we don't agree on everything and we definitely have our "moments" but I wouldn't want to live this life with anyone else. I am so lucky.

Happy 1st Anniversary Ryan! I love you!

♥ R

I will update on our Christmas break very soon...