Sorry I Haven't Posted In Awhile, But...-Brady

I guess we're becoming those bloggers who start every post with, "Sorry I haven't posted anything in awhile, but..." followed by a description of all of the other things they've spent their busy lives doing.

But we have been busy! Here are some highlights for me from the past few weeks. Maybe my sisters will follow suit?

- Making it through the first round of final papers and presentations. Still 1.5 more weeks to go, though.

- Seeing New Moon with Kelly and shamelessly eating popcorn (and Reese's Pieces) about two days after that scary study came out on how bad movie theater popcorn is for you.

- Going to a Biofeedback workshop in Evanston. They put your finger in this machine that measures your pulse. It's supposed to teach you how to breathe when you're stressed out. I got so relaxed I almost fell asleep.

- Thanksgiving at Grandma and Grandpa's. Always great food and great people.

- Thanksgiving at Fred and Cindy's. Ditto.

- Vegetarian Thanksgiving by Kevin at our house in Fort Wayne.

- Reading Memoirs of a Geisha at night. I really need to have a book going at all times. Reading a chapter or two before bed is one of my very favorite things to do.

- Finally seeing the new Powers of One yoga studio in Roanoke. It was renovated right as I was starting school, and I just recently was able to get back there.

- Lots of trips to La Porte. I get so much done there and on the train on the way there.

- A particular trip to La Porte last night. Kevin and I were trying to get back to Chicago, but the post-Thanksgiving traffic was really bad so we camped out at my parents' house. Papa John's Pizza was involved. Fun fun.


All right, have to go do something to add to the list! I think Kevin and I are going to see The Road tonight. I'm a little scared, but also excited. I love movies.

The Cooking Aftermath... -Amy

I attempted my first creation last night, and I have to say, it wasn't half bad! I made Gourmet White Cheddar Mac and Cheese, and it could definitely be considered edible!
This feat was especially exciting for me, because it is the first I'm that I have ever "homemade" a sauce (pause for gasps and laughter...). The sauce was delicious, believe it or not! Here are a couple pictures of my creation... one is a close up of the mac n cheese, and one has the garlic bread (not homemade by any means) too! At least I didn't burn the garlic bread! Baby steps...

Here's a link to the recipe ( I chopped green onions to use instead of chives, and I used a few different types of cheese =).

http://www.grouprecipes.com/7430/gourmet-white-cheddar-macaroni-and-cheese.html

Amy's Cooking Adventures... -Amy

So, I know I have been absent for a bit. With the craziness of my first year teaching, I have let the blog world slip away for a short period. However, I am decided to start a new adventure, and that adventure might be fun to document. I am seriously PATHETIC in the cooking department (like, no one wants to eat macaroni I make from the box because the sauce is too watery and the noodles are always over-cooked. I'm pretty sure 11 year olds can handle boxed macaroni...). I have decided that it might be interesting to try and improve my cooking skills, one easy recipe at a time. If you have any recipe's you'd like to see me attempt, let me know! I am starting this adventure tonight, and Gourmet White Cheddar Mac and Cheese is first. Mac and cheese.... my nemisis...

I'll post pictures and critiques from family and friends. Expect Roger's critique's to be the most honest when he gets a chance to eat my creations =), the rest of my family might sugar coat it a bit...

mmm... sugar coating...

Quick Update - Kelly

Just a quick hello to the blog world since we've all been a little absent! It is definitely the holidays... my schedule for the next month and a half is INSANE, but so much fun. I can't wait to spend Thanksgiving in LaPorte, enjoy the lights and festivities in Chicago, celebrate my birthday, then head back to LaPorte for Christmas! It's the best time of year. :)

Here's a quick pic of me and the little monster... I couldn't get her to hold still, but I just wanted to demonstrate how BIG she is getting! I also wanted to model my new hat (picked out by Brady and Kevin). :)

A longer update to come that details all the fun holiday and birthday celebrations I have coming up... get excited! :)

La Porte Days - Brady

One of my favorite things about my new schedule is getting to come to La Porte a lot. After class and some meetings yesterday, Kelly and I drove here. She's been choreographing some dances for the LPHS Show Choir, and I just wanted to come and visit. I've had so much fun! Here's what I've done:

- Rode in Amy's new car, Sandra the Honda
- Went to eat at Enzo
- Watched the CMAs (and Glee during commercials)
- Went to Zumba at 5:30 this morning
- Learned how to make microwave eggs
- Read a bunch for school in the living room with the two sleeping dogs
- Ate a strawberry Poptart (it's been too long!)
- Updated our blog

Anyway, I'm too busy to justify spending anymore time online today. :) Better get back to work.

We passed! - Kelly

Good news- Lucy and I passed our Intermediate Dog Training course! It was looking a little doubtful, but thanks to my mom's diligent work during Lucy's two week stay in LaPorte, we totally pulled it off. Here is a picture of Lucy with her classmates, Penny and Gracie:

Aside from passing, we're still dealing with some severe separation anxiety. Let's just say I feel like I have an infant- Lucy rarely stays home alone these days. I shuffle her between doggy daycare, my good friend Adam (who is a SAINT to watch her), and staying at home with Brady and Kevin. She just got a nice big new crate, which eventually she'll stay in when I leave, and we have an appointment at the vet tomorrow to hopefully get some doggy downers to make the transition a little easier. Ah, the fun of being a pet owner!

Happy Morning! - Brady

It is GORGEOUS in Chicago today. 60-70 degrees and sunny. Kevin and I had whole wheat waffles and fruit salad for breakfast, admired Kelly's new haircut, went for a run by the lake, checked out the Winter Market (which was not very wintery this morning) where we had samples of 5-cheese garlic spread and apple cider, and saw a bunch of cute dogs. We actually ended our run by sprinting around the block and, I'm sure, weirded out plenty of people.

Now we're going to get cleaned up and go work somewhere. Hoping we can find some outdoor seating somewhere.

How it is November 7th?

AND WHY HASN'T AMY POSTED ON THIS BLOG FOR SUCH A LONG TIME???

Getting Buff - Brady

As I'm sure you can tell from my recent posts, my work/school life as of late has been rockier than I would like. However, I was just encouraged by my friend Kristin (via Facebook) to celebrate getting stronger.

Although right now I'm feeling more inclined to celebrate the weekend, Kristin has a point. I'm sure all of this sadness, worry, and stress has lessons hidden in it somewhere. In fact, I've already seen some good come out of it. My friends, family, and even just acquaintances have really rallied around me when I've asked for help. It's a cliché, but it reminds me that who I am is so, so much more than what job I do or what school I attend. Also, struggling in a program I was 100% sure I would love is making me realize that I just cannot control everything. Oh, and I am definitely appreciating little things more now. When days are particularly stressful, I just look forward to something like a visit to La Porte, an Amtrak ride (clearly), Giordano's Pizza (double clearly), a trip in Amy's new car, Kevin arriving for a few days, or watching Glee with Kelly. Other stuff has changed for me too over the past few months - but what I haven't written is probably too personal for this blog.

On a related note, but separate from my grad school drama, recently at school I've tried to - how should I say this? - be more of a grown-up. This means more handshakes and eye contact, having direct conversations with people who intimidate me a little instead of wimping out and sending email all the time, resisting the urge to wear jeans and a sweater to class like I did as an undergrad, and using free time to get started on future projects rather than wasting time.

(Says the person who is updating her blog when she should be doing some prep work for final projects.) ;)

Happy November! - Kelly

Brady and I just spent a few hours deep cleaning our apartment AND giving it a holiday make over. Now, many of you probably think that Christmas decorations have no business being out before Thanksgiving, but considering this is my favorite time of year, I think that it's okay we cheated and put them out a little early. We have Christmas light on our windows, christmas light on our book shelves, and the mini-Christmas tree that has been a stable in my humble abodes for the past three holiday seasons. I'm pretty pumped about Lucy's first Christmas- I'm definitely going to buy her a some new toys and let her tear into them on Christmas morning... I'm such a mom.

Besides the holiday decorating I don't have a ton to report. After three weekends away (Bloomington, Bloomington, and Charlotte) it will be fantastic to spend some time in the city. I'm going on a date tomorrow night, might be doing dinner with friends Saturday night, and am going to try to squeeze in some yoga and run or two before the weekend is over. It's nice to feel like I'm in a groove here!!

Ooof - Brady

Ooof. It's been another rough week. I'm just having a hard time getting my mind around this 5 year commitment I've made. However, after A LOT of conversations, some not so pleasant, about this topic, some research, some detective work, and some swallowing of pride, I think I'm finally getting on top of this nonsense.

These have, without a doubt, been the hardest three months of my life.

BUT, the happy news is that I have so many fun things going on to keep my mind off the stressful stuff. Kelly and I have a blast in our apartment (recent highlights have been a chili mac and cheese dinner, The Outsiders, a run to doggie day care, a psycho after-bath Lucy, plans for a late-night holiday-themed drive back to La Porte for Thanksgiving, and putting up a Christmas tree probably too early). I get to go to LP to see my parents and Amy all the time, and these stops invariably include drives by Lake Michigan and good dinners, usually out. Kevin's visits are, of course, wonderful too. He brings us tons of groceries (and himself tons of work to do) and finds us cute corner bars around our neighborhood. We've all been trying to live on the cheap end, so we don't go out or eat out that often, but that can be fun. :)

All right, Kelly and I have take-out food and a power clean on the agenda for this evening. My brain is drained from struggling through my (very basic) statistics homework, so thank goodness I'm done with academic stuff for the night!