Spring Game

This past Saturday we took J's cousin for a tour at our most favorite place on Earth.

It was a day trip. A LONG trip but a fun one. We took the official tour of campus where J and I were giant cheeseballs and couldn't help but chime in on answers to questions that visitors asked.

You would think after my many, many years at Virginia Tech I would have been to the spring game. I had just never gotten around to it... until now...

There sure was a great turnout for a scrimmage!

And J's cousin seemed to enjoy the trip. Maybe one day he will be a Hokie too. :)

Bee-utiful!

Yesterday a coworker of mine challenged me to decorate bee cupcakes. We were throwing kind of a baby shower (since it was for a guy) for another coworker of ours and the theme of his baby-to-be room is bees.

Challenge accepted! Here are my cute little "bee" cupcakes. Jared wanted to know why they weren't landing on flowers. I mean, seriously... like I had time to make icing flowers.

Unexpected Visit

Jared's roommate from college, John, was in town recruiting for Nebraska and we got to spend not one night but two catching up with him! It was even more special because John and his wife are expecting their 3rd child. Billie called us and asked if we could give John a message from her, a single pink rose since she had found out they were having a little girl!

Wish we lived closer to such a great friend and his family. We are so glad he chose to recruit in Ohio so we could see more of him.

Easter Gifts

I love to give gifts. Don't get me wrong, I like to get them too but there is just something about putting together the perfect gift. I get it from my Mom. She has a way of coordinating every detail, down to the card and wrapping. I'm not quite that good, but I'm on my way if I do say so myself.

When I was younger I didn't fully appreciate how many gifts we got. Some things were "just because" our parents wanted us to have them. Little trinkets or toys, special travel bags with new comics, books, and games...big or small we were showered with love and presents. Heck, we still are!

So as much as I can, I have been doing the same, trying to shower my little nieces and nephews with love and presents. This Easter, we are blessed to be the Godparents to two of our nieces. I found these adorable crosses at a cute monogram shop in my favorite little town of Chagrin Falls.

In addition to that, I crochet. Yes, like old lady crocheting. I have made a blanket for each one of my nieces and nephews. Abby's was finished just in time for Easter. It's not the best photo but it is a cute blanket for my little Goddaughter. Lavender and white, perfect for her! 

Now I begin Madison's blanket. Can you say pink?

Champagne Sundays

I guess I spoke too soon about "popping the champagne"! You see, every once in a while, we have Champagne Sundays. When we decide we have no plans, no errands to run, no reason to leave the house really... why not have mimosas and hang out in our pjs all day? Yesterday we had a "Champagne Sunday" to top off our weekend of fun.

And it really was a fun weekend, a celebration weekend. I have so much to be happy about right now. And our vacation was planned! Less than 7 weeks until relaxation and adventure in a tropical land, that task crossed off the list of things to do. So Friday night we headed out to our most favorite restaurant for drinks. What started out as a little happy hour, ended up being an unexpected night of great times with dinner and then ice cream with some of J's work friends, his Aunt, Uncle, and cousin.

On Saturday, I was able to get us last minute tickets to see Les Miserables in downtown Cleveland. And not just seats... 7th row, center section seats!

This will be the 3rd play we have been to here in Ohio. It isn't something Jared loves, but he is good about trying to like it for me... and I love just love the theatre! Who knew Cleveland had the second largest performing arts center next to NY?

And then there was Sunday. Champagne Sunday that is. What a great weekend!

Good News

We got some good news yesterday. Great news as a matter of fact. First, the House of Representatives passed the budget for 2011 and it is expected to pass in the Senate and be signed by the President today. What does this mean you ask? NASA continues to get funding and I keep my job! Woohoo! Good news.

The day was going great. I had a good meeting with my boss about a presentation I have coming up in a week, the sun was shining, I went for a run and then came home to these... 

Not only the flowers, but a lovely salmon dinner with asparagus, sweet potato fries and a shrimp cocktail appetizer. What was going on? It wasn't a particularly special day. Just a random Thursday, and I knew J hadn't heard about the budget passing since he was in the OR all day.

But today not only did I have good news but Jared had GREAT news. His fellowship, his plastic surgery fellowship GOT FUNDING!! Finally, we could relax. No more freaking out or grumpy days for us! Finally we could enjoy the next few months of his chief year.

I haven't really explained what we have been dealing with, it was just all too much at the time to talk about. Being in limbo, not knowing what would happen made it too hard to explain to the ether of the Internet.

Basically, a few months ago we found out the hospital was cancelling funding for fellowships. After all his work trying to get a plastic surgery spot there would be no money and no money would mean no training. J would still be a surgeon, which is wonderful, but he wouldn't get to be a plastic surgeon. As the days passed things got a little better. He would be trained, but we didn't have a start date and there was no money to pay him. Worst case scenario was starting next calendar year which would make it a 3 year fellowship again, with no funding. So we started preparing, we counted our blessings. And then the layoffs started at my work...

But now, now we have great news. Now his fellowship will start on time, be a 2 year fellowship, and paid! I get to keep my job... for now at least. (Pray for no space disasters or further budget cuts.) In the meantime... we wait for the official contract to be signed before we pop the champagne.

San Antonio Surprises

A few weeks ago J went to a conference in San Antonio. He said he couldn't stop thinking about me while he was there because there were so many Hispanics! Ha! When he came back, he gave me a couple surprise gifts from his trip.

One was a beautiful cross for our home. Back in 2009 I had gone on a girls trip to San Antonio. My sister and I shopped around at the local markets. We really felt our inner Latinas that weekend! And through all the shops we searched, I couldn't find a cross that I thought my husband could deal with. They were all a little too much, kind of like in the movie "Fools Rush In" if you have ever seen it. Knowing this story, when J was in Texas instead of picking out something he liked, which probably would be nothing at all, he picked out a cross he thought I would like instead. And I do, I LOVE it!

The photo makes it look more green than it actually is, probably having to do with the fact that I took the photo after hanging it. The colors are really close to our wedding colors. And it makes me smile every time I see it.

Travel

Today I planned our vacation/anniversary trip/J-is-done-with-his-residency. And this is what I will be looking at every day we are there...

I am sooo excited!

Spontaneous

I know we are lucky. Lucky because we both love our jobs. Lucky because we are both healthy and happy. Lucky to have time together. Lately, I have been hearing that I am lucky to have such flexibility in my life. I started thinking about that, and I TOTALLY agree! I love it!

Yesterday was one of those flexible, spontaneous days. The kind of day where you start with no real plans (other than work) and end up having the most fun. After randomly receiving a gift card in the mail, we headed out to dinner at Bonefish. Just after ordering we got a call from J's boss inviting us to join him downtown at the Cavs game... in 30 minutes. So we ate fast... and headed downtown to the game.

The Cavs won! Which is amazing since they are the worst team in the league this year. We socialized with J's boss and son and afterward instead of sitting in traffic, we stopped by Lola for some late night drinks and dessert.

It wasn't a crazy night. Just random, fun, and flexible... like us.