Excitement

Ok, so it's late, but as usual I'm not sleeping. Therefore, I decided to share a recipe I found for dinner tonight.
Let me just explain: I'm LEARNING to cook. I love to do it, I try to do it often, but I'm definitely still in the growing phase. Tonight though, Brad really loved it. (I have noticed this trend seems to be increasing which REALLY excites me) Anyways, tonight he took a bite, and made a funny face, which I thought meant it was bad. I have a hard time with my food being not so tasty. Then he said "those are seriously awesome" or something along those lines. It TOTALLY made my day. (Even more than my shallow but exciting purchase of a dress for the upcoming weddings.)

So, I thought I would share..so you can have some tasty shrimp

Nothing special, but we wanted to grill out tonight, and Brad's one request today was if I could find a fun recipe for grilled shrimp. I came up with a marinade from allrecipes.com or cooks.com, I love both of these. Here it is.

Marinade:
2 tsp. Paprika
2 Tbs. Garlic
2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/4 c. Olive Oil
1/2 tsp. black pepper
2 tsp Basil
2 Tbs. Brown Sugar
2 Tbs. Lemon Juice (However I used 1 Fresh Lime for juice and that worked, I'm partial to limes, but I would try it if I were you)
2 Lbs. Shrimp - deveined and peeled, not cooked (I mention this because I may have made a mistake)

Pretty much, whisk that all together, throw in your shrimp, let it sit in the fridge for an hour and grill. DELICIOUS.

I can't even lie, seeing him smile after a dinner I made can totally make my year. Sappy moment: I love my husband. He makes every day exciting. He deals with me displaying every single purchase I make when all he wants to do is start the grill. He unloads the dishwasher when I'm being lazy. He even takes his flip-flops off in the house despite every part of him that wants to wear them every minute of the day. I even can get him to watch Gilmore Girls and laugh with me. And he always knows exactly what I need to hear. In short, I'm blessed and thankful. With all these weddings coming up, it's exciting to see others where we were a couple of months ago. I just love it.

End of sap. Promise.

Try the shrimp. If you don't like it, all will be well...but I was PUMPED! Yay.

Early morning tomorrow, I plan to head to the pool early for some sunshine!

The Cardinal

So, to demonstrate the greatness of our cardinal, we have been documenting his little adventures over the last week. These are not all from the same day...which makes it even more priceless. HILARIOUS. Even as I speak he is flying into the window, I can hear him from the front of the house in the office.
Brad declared yesterday that he is becoming obnoxious...but I can't help it, I just love it. Hahahahaha. Grandma, thank you for the tip..I will try that, I've been lazy this week and haven't had the chance.













Hope you enjoyed. As for us, life is great. I have 2 weeks FREE FROM WORK starting today..can't even pretend to not be excited, sorry Heart Hospital. I love my job, but sometimes you just need a couple of days away from it.

Brad is still at work, once he calls I will meet him at the apartment and we shall bid farewell and HASTA to our first "home." However, this house feels like our HOME. We just love it.

We had our first official guests this weekend, Shauna and Aaron came over for lunch on Sunday and to watch some house...all of which took place while lounging on our new couch! Yay! Show more pictures when it's not so brown in there. We need some color.

I didn't mention this a couple weeks ago, but Brad and I were able to go to dinner with the Ahlgrim family down here in Austin. A little touch of home! The Ahlgrim's were the youth leaders back at Kossuth many years ago, and Allison is in Austin for the summer. It ws really fun to catch up with them, and it's always neat to talk to someone from Lafyette!

As for other news, not much to share. We're excited because as a small group we're trying to get more involved at the Stone. We're hopefully going to be working in the nursery once a month as a group, and then some outside service opportunites also. So pumped!! The Lord is amazing, we are just daily shown His blessings and grace.

As for plans... HUUUUGGGEEEE couple of weeks.
May 31st...Much anticipated Griswold/Michner Celebration. Brad's been practicing his dancing moves. Better watch out, he's silent thunder.
June 1st: Rachael to Indiana just in time for Lauri's graduation party! WHOA!
June 2-6th: Family/Preppin' time for the Southern/Standeford Extravaganza. 2years and counting..they're READY! Got some big plans...so excited to be there to celebrate and see all the home loves!
June 6th: Brad arrives for the festivities
June 7th: Rox and Jake and the wedding bells! Yay for our pink dresses! THANK YOU EL SO MUCH FOR TELLING DAWN. I forgot..it's a good thing you rock.
June 10th: Back to TX, where it's always nice to come home to!

Yay. Hope you all have a fantastic week! If we're MIA you know why. Say hello to a cardnial near you. Indiana we'll see you soon!

Nothing new...

Not a whole lot to update on recently. We get our couch this weekend. Yay, a week early. The house, unfortunately is a wreck though, so we have our work cut out for us these next couple of days.

GOOD NEWS: Our cardinal friend is alive and kicking. He was back in full force the other day. I think he came by at least 5 times that morning. Crazy little bird but I was glad he was ok.

BETTER NEWS: We're coming home in one week!

Louie, congrats on your graduation tomorrow! Wish so badly we could be there!

Lastly: Pray for Steven Curtis Chapman and his family. Hard to even begin to imagine what they're going through right now.

Alright all...have a great week!

And we're back!

We are up in running with internet in the house now!
Sidenote: Up and running does not necessarily mean correctly. Our PC won't connect, and today the phone says it is disconnected. Haha we'll get it all sorted out eventually.

Back to the news...we're here and we're loving it! Week #1 as homeowners has been great! We enjoy the quiet around here so much! We also enjoy that the Mullins only live 7 blocks away.
Example #1: One word: Carpool. With gas being ridiculous it's pretty sweet to be able to share rides.
Example #2: Pool time. Shauna and I experienced the pool for the first time on Saturday (rather, my first time, her first time this season) I would love to say that the fellows are going to let us return to the pool but due to poor judgment on our parts, and severely red skin for both of us on the sun's part...I think we may be banned. I have a feeling the other husbands may not let their wives join us either! We arrived at the pool and immediately put on sunscreen, possibly not as liberally as we should have, and the results were some SERIOUS tan lines...and by tan lines I may mean burn lines.
Sidenote: Rox! I panicked when I realized I have a bridesmaid dress to wear in approximately 3 weeks..only to THANKFULLY remember it's not a strapless dress. Good choice dear friend!
Example #3: We have the Mullin's things in our garage, and they have our table on their porch. Sad.
Example #4: We were EARLY to small group.
Sidenote: Carrie may have teased us a bit about driving to small group...I think she had a good point, next time I'm (we're) going to walk.
So overall, we're loving this neighbor thing!

Not to mention, many of our friends don't live too far...and with two couples in the neighborhood we may more easily convince them to come visit! :) Yea!
Sidenote: Friends and family from other than Austin...this most definitely applies to each of you...it's just a tad bit longer of a trip for you.

Back to the house...here are some updated pictures.
Our first washer/dryer set...which better last 20 years. New tv! Brad patiently waited...and now he's pumped..he loves our new tv!Guest bathroom. Guest bedroom #1. Guest bedroom #2 remains to be painted because we first have to paint the ceiling...we have the supplies though so we're on our way.
Love our desk! Our dishes cabinet! Love our kitchen...I truly think I've cooked more in the last two weeks than the last two months at the apartment. Living room, which isn't always so dark...blindA big thank you to Carl and Rosemary for our ottoman.
Mom...check out the organization. It's even color-coded. WOO! These are both what remains to be unpacked. However, I think we made BIG strides last night getting all the clothes finished..and I have big plans for tonight.

One final story...best part of our house!
We have a cardinal friend..who EVERY morning flies into our back window if the blinds are open, and if the blinds are closed..he flies into the glass door. I'm talking every morning. Not just one time either..repeatedly. He drives Brad crazy, but I think it's flat out hilarious. Today though, I noticed he didn't come. When I mentioned it to Brad...his response was he probably broke his neck. I told Katie about the birdie and that he wasn't there this morning...and she said the same thing! Oh no our poor friend! I hope instead he just realized he couldn't fly through glass.

Have a great day all!

Congrats Laura and Daniel on your marriage this weekend!

Michner's/Standeford's....SOOOOO close!

Indiana friends...booked my flight..be home from June 1-10. Yay!

MIA

So, we've been MIA to the blogging world for the last week, and for that I apologize.

I have a reason though...
WE MOVED!! Yay! We are officially into our new home! So, we are without internet for a week or so, except when we happen to swing by the apartment which still has some odds and ends that need to be taken care of.

Saturday was our first night in the house, and the first thing I noticed was how QUIET it is. We live in the back of the neighborhood, with a "greenbelt" behind us. (Fancy way to say there are no houses behind us) No more LOUD cars and their super loud engines, no more people in the pool at 1am, no more city noise...it's just quiet. I love it! Also cool, I've never lived in a neighborhood before, so this pretty much fascinates me. Haha. Saturday, Brad and I ate lunch out on our driveway and just watched our neighbors...almost all of them were out in their own front yards. Down the street on of the guys had his and another neighbor's dog playing fetch with his 2 yr. old son. We had another guy 2 doors down doing yardwork. Another across the street washing cars. The people next to us were out playing basketball. I mean it seemed like everyone was out!

It feels like flashback to the neighborhoods you see in the movies from like the 50-60's. They're all friendly too. One man that had met Brad came down to introduce himself to me on Saturday, and then Sunday came over to invite us to cook out with them. We had other plans with Brad and Amy, but still so cool to be invited! We are just pumped! We have been praying for this house and for the opportunity to use it to serve the Lord, and he is just placing those opportunities on our doorsteps. Please pray that we do our part!

Sidenote: I'm not sure in prior posts that I ever mentioned the COOLEST neighbors of all. The Mullin's live 6-7 blocks away in the same neighboorhood! It's pretty awesome! They're such great friends..and now we can just take a walk if we want to visit.

So, overall the weekend was great but tiring. We got almost everything in the house..promise pictures again once my laptop has internet access. Sunday night we had dinner with the Bean's. We were pretty excited because we never really get to spend time with them..and they are an amazing couple! We had a delicious meal and a great chance to talk and see where Brad and I are headed with getting involved with the Stone.

Alright everyone have a great week!!

P.S. I started saying y'all..on a regular basis. It's like at work..it just flows out of my mouth. I'm not sure if I'm attempting some sort of southern charm or what...but it just happens with the patients. Everytime I feel SO goofy. This midwestern girl is getting some south in her. Whoa. Brad hasn't yet..but I'd be willing to bet...just wait and see.

Packing

Have I mentioned that I hate packing with a true, deep, burning passion? I get so distracted, and if I'm not distracted, I find a way to distract myself. Take today, I intended to pack, because Brad was exhausted so we had decided to just get things done around the apartment while he slept. Instead, I decided to sleep later than necessary, eat a bowl of cereal, go through the mail and organize it, find one bin to organize, lay back down to take a nap with Brad, go to Chili's for dinner with my small group, and back here to blog. This means, I have a TON to do before I go to bed tonight and work tomorrow night.

So here we are...blogging away about hating to pack..and still not packing. Procrastination...I am the queen. Oh well though, it will get done..because we're moving this weekend!!! :) That's right, we, the Allison's..should be in our actual HOME by Sunday night at latest. Even if everything doesn't happen to be in the house...we will be sleeping there and I don't care what it takes to get that accomplished.

In other news...we've had a week of accomplishments at the house. The yard is mowed and trimmed. We have a desk...thank you Lance and Lauren! (Special thanks to both of you and Aaron and Shauna for helping us relocate that desk on Sunday). The desk is so huge! We love it though...we're pumped to decorate the office, our desk is the second piece of furniture that has made it's way into the house. Tomorrow our TV is supposed to arrive. Poor Brad has waited while all our friends and his coworkers ordered TVs over the past year, and he's been patient in waiting until we had our house first. So the time finally came, and he got to order the TV. We're pretty excited.

We got pumped because we thought the couch was in, but I called Haverty's and unfortunately it won't be in until May 29th...to be delivered on the 30th. That will be a busy couple of days. Couch, Katie/Evan wedding, home, Lauri's graduation party, Rox/Jake wedding then back to Austin to enjoy the couch.

The living room is completely painted, and guest room #1 (nursery eventually) is halfway painted. Obviously not nursery colors yet..but sometime while we live in this house hopefully.
It's a lot lighter looking now that it is dry, I'll have to take a picture when we head to the house today. Our washer and dryer arrived, and Brad tried them out the other day. He told me we have the quietest washer EVER. Finally, the best news!!! The carpet is CLEAN! We had the carpets cleaned on Friday and they really did a great job. We're so excited, the house is finally move in ready. We have some more work to do...the walls need to be wiped down more, and some could still stand to be painted. Yay! That's all there is to it! Yay! We're so excited!

Other than house news...life has been great but busy. I have heard stirrings that there could possibly be positions open on days in the CCU, and I believe I may see if that's a position I could take over when I switch to CCU this summer. Brad also may be able to go to days in the next 6 months or so. It would be SO good to have a normal schedule, one where we got to go to sleep at the same time, and eat dinner together, and enjoy some normal social schedule. If not though, all will be well. It's been alright so far, and we both really enjoy the people we work with.

Alright..now I need to get something done..I'm sorry for the boring post. More excitement next time I promise. Maybe some jokes. More pictures..hopefully I can take some tomorrow. Hope you all have a fantastic week!

Update for Sarah

Alright, so I have been tagged two times in about a month, and I decided it was time to respond. Sarah asked for updates...but I’m out of pictures...so here is my update! Here you go sister.

What was I doing 10 years ago?
Oh goodness…I was 13 so I would have been in 7^th grade getting ready for the summer and some sweet Twister softball!

5 things on my to do list:
1. Get packed so we can move into our house for real
2. Order our wedding photos
3. Book tickets home for Rox and Jake’s wedding
4. Email friends from college that I have been so terrible at keeping in touch with
5. Get the carpets at the house cleaned

5 snacks I enjoy: Goodness gracious how do I pick just 5?
1. MANGO
2. Colby-jack cracker cuts and wheat thins
3. Sonic Cherry-Limeades
4. Cinna-sticks from Papa John’s
5. Frozen grapes

5 things I would do if I were a Billionare:
1. I think it would be neat to open a clinic, to help those who don’t have insurance. I know these already exist…but I’d like to have one that would meet more than just the physical needs.
2. Adopt a special needs child
3. Take family trips with ALL our family
4. Save money for college education for the children (good idea sister Sarah)
5. Give the rest away

5 bad habits:
1. Not sharing my feelings…and then letting them all pour out at once to Brad…he just LOVES that trait
2. Picking my thumbs to bleeding when I’m nervous or very focused
3. Keeping in touch
4. Doubting the gifts Lord has given me
5. Hitting curbs, leaving laundry in the washer, setting 5 alarms so I don’t hit snooze

5 places I have lived:
1. Lafayette, IN – Nothing like it
2. Olivet Nazarene Univeristy
3. The Enclave – our apartment
4. The new house!! We haven’t lived there yet…but soon, so soon.
5. And I’m out…

5 jobs I've had:
1. Arni’s Pizza at Shadeland…DELICIOUS
2. Summer softball umpire and coach
3. Roly Poly Sandwiches
4. St. Elizabeth Medical Center – This was my absolute favorite job
5. Heart Hospital of Austin

I want to know more about (a nice way to say "you're tagged")
1. Laura D.
2. Rox
3. Rachel G.
4. Courtney G.
5. Jess S.
6. LUKE! This is my way of saying get your act in gear and update your blog. Now.

I'm 'It' and I was tagged by my dear friend Courtney G.

Here are my ten!

1. I pretty much think that being a nurse is exactly where I was called to be.

2. I have never been out of the country.

3. I think cream cheese is the solution to every food item possible. Mango, cream cheese and chicken quesadillas, Bagels, cream cheese, tomato, and bacon. Spoonfuls of cream cheese…that’s pretty much all there is to it. Truth be told…I feel the same way about bacon.

4. I have the worst voice ever, and I don’t even care. I will sing just as loud as the pretty voices.

5. I absolutely hate packing to move, and yet I have done so at least 8 times since the summer before my junior year of college.

6. I used to hate the beach…but now I’m addicted and can’t get enough.

7. I am obsessed with reading for pleasure, and read two books on our honeymoon…how cool are we?

8. I have the craziest dreams and I always remember them. I tell Brad and try as he might, he just doesn’t get it. It’s a nightly thing…last night I flew from Austin to Dallas to somewhere else with Blair and Brad...but we ended up flying over Las Vegas and I thought the lights were pretty but I felt bad for being there. I have no clue where it came from.

9. I love a challenge. I have constant competitions with myself in my brain…or with Brad. I usually lose…but I love it. I like the challenge of meeting new people, being in an unfamiliar and uncomfortable place, making myself reach out when I’m scared I like it, throwing the ball faster than Brad, being right about directions, lifting more than I should...all those kind of things.

10. I absolutely HATE working out. I get distracted and all ADD and I talk too much. I would rather play some soccer, softball, or ultimate frisbee than go to a gym. However, loving challenges like I do, I am determined make myself run with Brad now that we are moving to our house.

Sarah, I promise I'll take pictures tomorrow. PROMISE.

P.S. Someone didn't call tonight sister.