Good Tuesday

I had a good day yesterday. I spent the day taking care of a bunch of stuff I had been putting off - registration, GPSGA stuff, etc. I met my cousin Annie at lunch in Blackwell...we ate at a yummy Mexican food restaurant and caught up with each other. It was a relaxing lunch. Last night, I went with most of the lifegroup to the Pita Pit for dinner. It was a good break for all the girls who are right in the middle of their finals. I enjoyed the laughter and stories. I can't wait to see all these girls after the break!

Mission Accomplished: Proposal

So I got done with my proposal yesterday and passed my PhD candidacy exam. I never want to have to go through that whole process again; I think it was the most difficult thing I've ever done. The oral exam part was scary and difficult; I'm glad it's over. Now I just need to finish my research and write my dissertation...hmmm....ha!
These are some pictures of Josh and me after the ordeal. Like my suit? Courtesy of April Stephens' fashion advice and shopping expert...and my spring break last year!
Last night, Josh and I went to our small group's Christmas party. We had a good time playing Dirty Santa using a card game called George. It was a nice relaxing night.

Family Fun

Josh's mom and stepdad and our niece came to visit us this past weekend. We had a good time with them. We had Christmas together (even Santa left us kids presents on the porch!) and played Conga (a Cranium game) Friday night. Saturday, we took care of a few things. Jack, Josh's stepdad, was great - he figured out what was wrong with our dryer, fixed our back door, and got our wireless internet working. He's so handy and helpful. Josh and him smoked a turkey on Saturday so we still have some great smoked turkey. I ate a turkey leg Saturday night. I felt like I was a the State Fair. Ha!
After going to church on Sunday and watching Ice Age The Meltdown, and playing lots of games with my niece; they went home. It was a nice weekend.

The Big Snow 2006

Well, our first snow of the year was exciting! I loved it! Wednesday night, the temperature dropped and the newscasters said it was going to be a big snow. School got canceled Thursday and Friday from all the ice and snow we got. I hadn't seen snow like this in Oklahoma since January of 2000, my first winter in Oklahoma at OC (where two days of school was canceled then too). Thursday the snow began to fall. Newman liked it of course...it was like icecubes from Heaven. Padme went outside just to be outside with all of us. I don't think she was thrilled about it all like the rest of us.

Josh's Winter Barbeque

Thursday afternoon, Josh decided he wanted to grill outside. It was starting to snow, but it wasn't too bad...when he started. By the end of it, the wind was blowing and there was A LOT of ice and snow. Ice built up along our sliding door frame where we couldn't shut the door. Josh used his handy steamer (courtesy of my dad giving into an info-commercial on TV last year)to melt the ice and get our door shut. We haven't reopened since then. Notice Newman braved the cold to be by the food. The food was great! We had pork chops and chicken and vegetables..all on the grill. yummy!

Friday Morning

The morning of December 1 was a winter wonderland outside. There was so much snow! And it was beautiful outstide. We couldn't get the truck out, but Josh got the car out finally. Josh took me to breakfast that morning at IHOP, and then after I found out my proposal got canceled, we played outside.

Snowdog

Josh and I built a snowdog...Newman thinking it was another dog eating his snow came over and took it down.

Dogs + Snow = FUN

Here's some fun ones of us playing with the dogs in the snow.