Friday, September 16, 2011

One Interesting Afternoon

Yesterday started out as any other flex day. I didn't have much planned except for a doctors appointment which has become a pretty normal occurance on my days off. After the appointmen I went for a long workout since the night before I had only been able to get half of mine in and then was suppose to meet up with Andrea to watch a movie and hang out while Austin and Avery took their afternoon naps. Notice that I suppose to there.

I think I should have known something was up when Andrea got off work late. Although in all fairness this wasn't anything new. The poor girl hardly ever gets off on time, so I really didn't think much about it at the time. But I'm pretty sure this should have been the first sign that something was a miss.

The second sign came while I was at OT trying to rent a movie from the Blockbuster machine there. It took me three times, yes that right THREE times, to the darn movie! First it told me I had the wrong zip code, ummmm... pretty sure I know where I live, the second time it told me the movie couldn't be dispensed, and finally the third time it came out. Recently Andrea, Adam and I had watched Adjustment Bureau. (For those of you who haven't seen the movie it's basically about a group of people who have decided te path you are "suppose" to be on and if you start to get off that path they will throw an obstacles in your way to get back on that path. Nothing major just stuff like someone spilling coffee on you or a bus being late) Looking back it realy seems like the Adjustment Bureau may be something more than just a movie made up by Hollywood.

Finally with the movie, drinks, two very yummy cookies, and Nikita in hand I made it to Andreas. For a bit it was just a normal afternoon, we talked while she did some laundry and then just hung out for a bit before going to pick up the kids from the sitter. One of the best parts of my day came when we picked Austin and Avery up. Austin was so excited to see me and it just melted my heart! That child really knows how to work me and get pretty much anything he wants.

Nothing was to exciting on the drive home, Austin sang to us a bit and Andrea and I just talked. We got back to Andrea's and I took Austin outside to play while I tried to get Nikita to go potty. At some point I looked over to the fence and noticed that on the other side there were two dogs that weren't nomally there. I asked Andrea about it and she was a little confussed because she thought the people had moved out. But really neither one of us had a second thought about it. We went inside got Austin a snack and sat down to watch the movie.

We probably weren't more han 20 minutes into the movie when Ausitn came in and said "The neighbors dogs are in the house". Andrea and I just looked at each other and thought Austin was just playing with us. But he said it again a little more forcefully and if someone has been watching us you would have been able to see us process what he was saying and then jump off the couch. Andrea grabbed Avey, I grabbed Austin, we put our shoes on and walked to the kitchen. And sure enough there were two dogs eating Al's food and a third one in the bathroon head frst in the toilet trying to drink as much water as he could.

For a few minutes there was some serious chaos. We didn't know if the dogs were nice, which it turned out they were really sweet, we wanted to make sure the kids were safe, as well as blocking Al and Nikita away from the new dogs. Andrea was on the phone with the landord for the house next door, who said they weren't his and didn't care what we did with them. I tried to get the three new dogs into the back yard so we could get them away from the kids.

It turne out that the dogs belongs to the people the landlord just evicted. So these terrible people just moved out and left these three very sweet dogs there with out any food or water. By this time Andrea and I are both fuming about this. I looked down and noticed that two of the dogs had tags from their vet. We called the vet who told just the would contact the owners they had in the system and then get back to us.

While waiting for the vet to call us back we gave the three dogs some food and water. It broke our hearts to watch how fast they scarfed the food down. It had to have been days since they were last feed. The whole time I was just getting more and more frutrated with these people for leaving these dogs. I kept asking myself how some one could be so selfish that they would just leave three small dogs who really couldn't take care of themselves there to starve. I would then look at Nikita, who is basically my child, and just get more upset.

Andrea has started dinner while we waited to for the vet to call us back. I was holding Avery, and this is then the time that Austin decided he wanted my undivided attention. If I sat down Avery would start to cry, but I'm also convinced that she hates me, so there was lot of walking going on. The phone was ringing off the hook as we tried to fill Adam in, as well as Andrea's sister in law, Amy and nephew Brian that were on they're way over for dinner. So of course at the point the girls across the street over to sell Andrea some stuff for their school.

When the vet finally called us back we learned that the owner the vet had on file had given the dogs away and the phone number they gave the vet for those people was disconnected. However, we could bring the dogs in to them and they would take them to the human society if they weren't claimed in 24 hours. We also learned that we could have called animal control and that animal control could charge the people with a felony for abandoning the dogs. As soon as Amy and Brian got there we put the three dogs in Al's kennel and they took them to the vet.

To say the least it wa a crazy night. Once the dogs were at the vet we sat down and had a very yummy dinner, talked a bit and then it was time to put the kids to bed Austin yet again found a way to melt my heart by asking me to pick out his movie, and letting me read his bed time books to him. We then said our prayers and he was off to bed. Let me tell you there is nothing sweeter in the world than having a three year old tell you he wanted to pray for you. It really was a moment that filled my heart.

It was about 8:30, only about six hours later, that we finally were able to sit down and watch our movie. Needless to say by the times I got home last night I was exhausted and realized that through out all of this I didn't take any pictures. And this would have been one of those situations that really should have been documented!

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Jury Duty... It really isn't all that bad!




So like most people when I got the letter in the mail saying that I was picked to be in a jury pool I had that moment of oh great, I really don't want to do this. To be honest it wasn't coming at the best time. I would have to report one week after I returned back to work from having surgery. I was pretty sure that this would go over like a lead balloon with my boss also, but what are you going to do?

So Tuesday morning I show up to the jury assembly room a tad late, found a seat, pulled out my book and prepared to be there for a while. With in a few minutes they started calling out numbers and I was in the first group to be called. We were herded like cattle out of the room and upstairs to a large court room. After getting our assigned seats we waited for the lawyers to come in. At this point I wasn't sure what to expect.

After a few minutes the lawters for the prosecution came in, it was a little uncomfortable, they sat in their chairs a stared at us,looked at the seating charts and the stared some more. What do you then? Stare at them back? Look away? I honeslty wasn't sure! After a few minutes of this the lawyer for the defense came in and so did the defendant. This really took me by surprise, I really wasn't prepared for him to be there.

There was a lot of show boating from the lawyers and the same questions asked over and over and over again in 40 different ways. Picking on this person or that person for one reason or another. Finally they let us break for lunch while they picked the jury. I wasn't expecting to be picked but was fascinated by the process so far. There were thirteen of us picked to sit on the jury. Twelve would actually end up serving and one would be an alternate but we wouldn't know who that person was until we were ready to deliberate.

The trial it's self was rather short, and luckily we came to a verdict pretty easily. But the really amazing part was seeing the system at work. We are so very lucky to live in a society that we have the right to a trail by a jury of our peers. So many people do not have that luxury.

I want to encourage people to embrace jury duty if they get called for it. Yes it can be a pain, and yes it can come at the wrong time, but it is part of being a citizen of our great nation. Most people would want the right if they were in the position of needing it so why not take a few days and embrase it.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

The Hunger Games Series


As I sit here in my moms house still recovering, the windows are open, and I can hear the rain, it seems like it is the perfect day to curl up on the couch with a good book. I use to read a lot more as a child than I do now. I'm pretty sure college is to blame for that. There is so much reading that has to be done that there is very little time to read something for pleasure. Now I have the time so I have started to read again.

I have forgotten how much I love it. There is nothing better than picking up a great book that has your attention from page one and then finally tearing your self away from it and realizing that you have been reading for hours and it's now way late and you know that you will be exhausted the next day at work but at the same time you know it was worth it.


As late as I am to this party I just got done reading The Hunger Games Trilogy. There are three books, The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay, and I loved ever single page of them! I won't tell you a lot about the books because I don't want to give away the endings but I do think that ever single person needs to go and pick up these books and read them. However, I will warn you that the books are a tad messed up. There were several times, while reading the books, that I was like they are doing what? Can that really happen? The great thing about the book is that they aren't very long and are very easy to read. There is a little bit for everyone in these books, there's some action and adventure and even a little under tone of romance.


After I got done reading the third book I felt a little sad the series was over. To be honest I would have loved a few more books. I definitly felt that there could have been at least one more book to wrap up the series, but that would be my only negative regarding the series. The good news is that if you read these books and love them they are in the process of making them into movies. The first one, The Hunger Games is filiming right now and will be out March 23rd, 2012. There are so many things in the book that I can't wait to see come to life and I can't wait to see how they do it.

So now that I'm done reading these books I think that I am going to head out to the book store and pick up The Help. The movie is actually coming out today and it looks really good but I do think that I want to read the book before I go and see the movie. I'll keep you posted on how it is.

Monday, August 8, 2011

New Found Respect

All my life I have been around people who have had a surgery for this or for that. My brother Jarrett had surgery a two days of age, and continued to have them through out his life, Mac had several on his face to remove a birthmark, and I've been with friends who have had various ones over the years. I've always tried to be there for them but never could really understand what it was like.

I started getting sick a few weeks ago and figured it was just a stomach bug, it wasn't until one Thursday, at the urging of Andrea, that I finally went to the doctor. It turned out that I was severely dehydrated and they were thinking that I may be having an issue with my gallbladder. So after a sono, I got a call from my nurse saying that they were going to have to take it out as soon as possible.

By the next Wednesday my mom and brother, Jarrett, were sitting in the waiting room with me as I waited for my name to be called. Like every time I have ever gone to the doctor they were running late. Finally my name was called and it was my turn to go back. I'm not sure what I thought it would be like but as soon as we got through the doors there were people every where. Running in this direction or that direction each one with a different responsibility.

It was a matter of minutes and I was on a bed, prepped, and waiting for the lady with the happy medicine to come in. Apprently she did come in because the next thing I know I'm waking up in recovery, a little confused as to how I got there. After talking to my mom I had a converstaion with my mom and I guess I kept trying to tell the nurse our family history. All I remember is really wanting to get dressed and getting upset that the kids got lollipops and they didn't give me one!

Recovery hasn't been as bad as I was afraid that it would be. For the first few days I spent a lot of time sleeping and in a slight daze from the pain medication. But with in 24 hours my mom had me up and taking walks up and down the street, got to love having a nurse for a mom. lthough I'm lucky that I've been able to have her around, nurses do come in handy every once in a while.

I go back to work on Wednesday of this week and I'm not sure how up to it I'm going to be. Staying a wake all day is still a bit difficult and so is standing for long periods of time. I guess eventually I will have to find out. I just want to say thank you to all my friends and family who have come by to visit or sent flowers. It means a ton of to me!!!

Sunday, July 24, 2011

An Amazing Woman



I think everyone has people in the their life that helps to shape you but you don't relaize it until they are no longer in your life. These people have a way of helping us to grow in ways that you really don't know they are doing it. A year ago yesterday I lost one of those people, my dad's mom.



As the first grandchild on my Dads side I quickly became Grandma's Princess, she never missed a chance to tell me this. She spoiled me in ways only a grandma could. One of the best times in my childhood was when we lived next to my grandparents. I never got tired of spending time with them. There were even a few times when I would get mad at a babysitters and go hide in their garage. Usually I would fall asleep at the top of their stairs going into their house and just wait for Grandma to come home and rescue me from the mean babysitter. I'm sure they were making me do something that I didn't want to do, but probably should have been doing it.



She had this ability to make even what seemed like the worst situations better. As my parents went through their divorce I found my self spending more time with my grandparents leaning on them for support and guidance in one of the darkest times in my life so far. I always knew that I could call her up and by the end of the conversation she would have made my laugh, things wouldn't seem so dark anymore and she would remind that no matter what happens I will always be her little princess.



But one of the things I loved the most about her was how honest she was. She was never one to sugar coat anything. If she didn't like something you were going to know about it. Even when she was in the hospital the last time and they were doing an MRI on her arm she didn't not like how hard they were pushing on her arms and boy did she let them know! The best part was when a nurse came in to check on her she told the nurse that there was no way that person was coiming back in there because she didn't like her. All I could do is laugh a bit and apologize to the nurse.



My grandparents were married for 60 years, and still very much in love after all that time. Yes they did have their fair share of arguments and I can still hear her saying "GORDON!" and my Grandpa answering back "Well Jean!" Which just makes me smile to my self and giggle a bit. But no matter what I always knew that they loved eached other more that they could ever tell anyone. I can only hope and pray that I am fortunate enough to find that someone for myself and be able to spend that much time with them.



I miss her more that I can express. Several times I have picked up the phone to call her just to have her tell me everything will be ok and that no matter what I will always be her princess. I'm hoping that I am able to live my life in a way she would be proud of. I only wish that my children would have be able to get to know her.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Missing Mac

It's hard to put in to words how much I love my family. It is even harder for me to say how much I miss Mac when he is deployed. He left this morning for a short deployment for some where, not 100% sure where. This weekend was full of parties to say good bye to him. Saturday night we had his close friends over and then on Sunday we had some family over.

I know how much I am missing Mac and how the last few days have just made me want to cry even though he is only going to be gone for a few month, I can't imagine having my husband leave for a year or more. Those women who have to go through that are so much stronger than I think I could ever be. Deep down in my heart I know that he will be fine since what he does hardly ever goes in country, unless they are helping to move soliders who are hurt. But part of me is terrified for him, terrified that something will go wrong. As his emergency contact everytime I get a call from an unknown number or a phone number I don't know my heart stops until I hear his voice.

After coming home from a swim camp when I was about ten I asked my mom very seriously if she would send the boys back. She of course told me that she couldn't to say the least I was a very disapointed ten year old. But now seventeen years later I could never imagine my life with out my brothers! Now if you ask me this in person I will never admit it but I guess now that it is out here on the internet I will have to.

So if you think about it say a little prayer for my brother Mac, his unit and all the men and women who are serving our country! If it weren't for them and the men and women in our countries past we wouldn't be able to be living the lifes we are.

Good Night for now!

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Who would have known???

***Warning this blog may get a little corny***

About eight years ago I was in my second semester of college and had just gotten hurt while on the crew team at Wichita State. I was told by my doctors that if I continued to row there was a chance that I would lose feeling in my right hand. Seeing as how I am right handed that could end up being a big deal! As much as I loved to row I had to end up quitting the team and with a ton of time on my hands. So I was looking for a way to stay envolved on campus. I had been hanging out with a few of my guy friends who were in a faturnity and they suggested I join a house too.



My mom and both her sisters were in a house when they were in college and I had always heard their stories and it sounded like fun. But I was really unsure about it. I had no idea what I was getting into or how it really could end up "changing" my life.



Which house to join was an easy decision for me. I only lookd at one, the Tri Delt house. Both my mom and Aunt were in the house so it felt right to be there, to continue on the tradition. I had a big pledge class but there was a group of us that just fell into hanging out together. And after eight years five of us are stll extremely close. I never knew when I joined the house that I would be getting friends that I would have the rest of my life!



These girls have really become a second family to me. We have gone through everything together, from break ups, to death of family memebers, to marriages to kids being born, to illnesses, my parent divorce and more. I remember the day that I found out my parents were getting divrced I call Kammie and headed to her apartment and the next thing I knew they all had dropped evertyhing to be there for me! So far that was the toughest thing I have ever gone through and there is no way I could have done it with your their love and support.



Over the last few year we have worked really hard to make sure we stay close. And that means the world to me! I honestly can't imagine my life in the future with out them. It's one of those things that I hope all our kids, well the ones I want to eventually have, are friends as they get older. Or as I consider to start dating I know that the guy I bring into the group will have to get along with the other husbands becuase we do spend a lot of time together.



When I joined the house I never expected to meet these girls, or for them to become such a big part of who I have become. It's funny in college I joined because I thought it would be fun, go to some parties, a few dances and meet some boys. While I did do all those things I walked away with some of the most amazing women as my friends, and I don't think that I could ask for more!



I have no idea what the future holds for me, where I will go, what I will end up doing, but I do know that these girls will be around for it all. It's a great and comforting feeling to know that they have my back no matter what!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

He's Here! He's Finally Here!!!

So it's been a while since I have been on here and a ton has happened so expect a few blogs the in the next few days.

But first I am so excited to announce that Master Henry James is finally here and one very healthy little boy, weighing in at 9 lbs 10 oz and was 22 inches long. Needless to say he is a VERY big boy! But a very sweet one at the same time. His feet are pretty big but his hands are even larger! I'm positive that he will be a basketball player just like his daddy when he is big, even though I still maintain that he would be a great swimmer too.



He definitly made it a long day for his mommy who was in labor for over 12 hours, and had all of us blowing up each others phones for updates. I had to say it was a long day and night waiting to get the phone call that he was here. It finally came from my mom at about 12:30 in the moring. I was half asleep that when I answered my phone and heard my mom talking but I couldn't understand why my alarm was talking to me. But I definitly woke up and realized what was going on when my mom told me how big he was. To be honest I really couldn't believe that he was that big. I mean Andy is really tall so I knew he would be long but never expected him to weigh as much as he did! However, he is still one cute little boy that I can't wait to spoil!!!



The next day I went up to the hospital to see him, I was the only one there at the time so I got to spend some serious cuddle time with him. After about a 30-45 minutes of cuddling and taking a tn of pictures my mom, brother, uncle, and Gigi came up to see him. I was lucky to be up there when Gigi came to see him. There were so many special moments as she held her second great grandson for the first time. I may or may not have had a few tears in my eyes as I quickly snapped a ton of pictures. And I got some good ones too if I do say so myself! My favorite came as we were getting ready to leave and Andy was holding his new little guy and Gigi gave him a kiss!



In just a few short weeks Henry and Greta will start the long move out east. Andy is doing his residency out there and has already moved. Selfishly I feel like I haven't been able to get enough time with him and I really will miss getting to see him as often as I get to see Liam. But I know that Andy is going to be a great doctor and this is his next step to make that happen. I really am proud of him! I just think that I will have to bug Greta at least once a week to send me pictures of him!

So to Master Henry, welcome to our family! We are very close, we love spending time together and love each other more. No matter what we will be here for you and do everything we can to help you grow. I can't wait to watch as you get older, change and start showing us who you are. We love you a ton!!!

Good Night for now!

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Number One Off My Bucket List!!!

It was about three years ago that I dicovered Josh Groban, yes I was a little late to the party on this one I know. He was singing at the very end of a David Fosters special on PBS. I immediatly fell in love with him, not only was he incredibly cute but he has an AMAZING voice that just has a way to pull you into his performance.

The next day I started doing some resrearch on him and quickly became a bigger fan. He had just gotten off his Awake tour and was said to be going back in the studio the following year. I was really excited at the idea of hopefully seeing him in the next year to year and half. But unlike his last few CDs with about a year between each he kept us waiting for his current CD for three years.




In those years I had made a deal with Kammie, my concert buddy, that if she would go to Josh Groban that I would go to Disturbed. Crazy deal isn't it? Nothing like picking two acts that couldn't be further apart but I think that is part of the fun! But seeing Josh Groban in concert made it's way up to being the number one thing my bucket list in no time.



Last night I got the chance to cross it off my list. I had high hopes as to what the concert would be like and the were exceded. I know that people have this missconception of who he is due to the music he sings but between talking for a good two to three minutes in his Stewie voice, to playing tricks on the audience, and continually running into the audience when his security wasn't ready for it, I found my self laughing a lot. But for me one of the best moments of the night was when he sang War At Home which he wrote after spending time in Walter Reed. As the sister of someone serving in our military it is a really special thing when someone like him takes a moment and finds a way to share to the world what our soliders, who are coming home, are going through. Even though I know he will probably never read this I want to thank him for doing so. I hope that he knows how special it is what he has done!



I have to say that it is really refreshing to go to a concert and not be one of the closest seat in the area and still feel like I am. He has a way of really pulling his audience in and making every single person feel like they are the most important person in the place. Also, he really seems to enjoy his fan, loves to interact with them and make them a part of his show. With the success that he has had it would be really easy for him to be a "divo" and just go out sing and collect a pay check. But I think that his approachability has helped his fame. I know that I don't like to go and support an artist that seems to have forgotten why and how they are there and that is because of every single person that is in the audience who paid to see that show. This is something you know he has not and never will forget.

There are very few artist that I would go see over and over again and Josh Groban is one of them. I am looking forward to getting to see another show of his in the future. I know that he has already been to Wichita and Kanasas City but if anyone out there has a chance to see him in any of his other shows I would suggest going even if you may not be a huge fan of the music he sings. The show he puts on will be worth every penny you spend to be there I can promise you that!

Until next time good night!

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Tornados part of life in Kansas

With all the tornados that have been happening the last few days it has really forced me to think about one of the scariest days of my life so far. My heart is breaking for those that have been affected by them, it's not an easy thing to come back from and they have a long road ahead of them as they start to rebuild.

My own run in with a tornado came on April 25th, 1991. I was just 7 years old sitting in the living room with my brothers who were 4 at the time. We were watching tv wile my mom and dad were making dinner and suddenly the weathermen cut into to the program that was on saying we were under a tornado warning and that we should start to take cover. Like many Kansasans my parent didn't think anything would happen but to be on the safe side my grandfather, who lived next door, came over and picked all of us, by this time it has started to hail. While we were waiting for him to come the tornado sirens started to go off. As soon as we got next door my grandmother quickly took my brothers and I downstairs letting us pick out one toy and took us under the stairs. My mom, dad and grandpa stayed out front to watch the storm.

As they stood there they were sure that it wouldn't come any where near us but it started to turn and head our direction. The next thing I knew I heard my mom come running down the stairs and told my grandma it was headed our way. My grandpa stoped to not only shut the back sliding door but to also answer the phone and talk to my aunt who was calling to tell them a tornado was heading our way. My grandpa and dad came stomping down the stairs and as soon as they got under the stair with us the lights went out and with in seconds the loudest noise I have ever heard went over the top of us. With in 30 seconds it was over and we started to make our way out.
We looked up to where the ceiling use to be and just saw blue sky. It's hard to explain the thoughts that can go through your mind as you look at the devestation. We all have seen pictures of what houses look like after a tornado rips through a town distroying everything in it's path. Quickly I started to help my grandparents find our horses so our vet could come get them, while my mom helped some of the older people who were unable to make it to safety.


My Grandparents house

The next few days were kind of a blur, my aunts came running across a feild to get to us right after it happened. The boys and I didn't really stay there long that night my aunt brought us over to her house where we "help" with the clean up. Not sure how much help we were! The happest part of it all for me was when my beloved doll, Melody was found. In the end we spent the next two month living with The Biggs befoe we found a house in town.


My house

That day will forever be with me and as we have had so many terrible storms the last few days it has brought up a lot of fears that I still have. Yesterday as I was in Winfield and the tornados were on the ground in Oklahoma and moving towards the boarder I called my mom freaking out a bit. I usually am not the one that freaks out about storms thats for my brothers to do. We were very luckly yesterday as we were not in a ton of danager. But I do feel for those that were.
My heart and prayers go out to everyone!

Until next time
Tegan

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Brothers At War

Thanks to Netflix I watched an amazing documentary today that has really started me thinking, trust me I know how scary that is. I know that the reason most people make a documentary is because the person making it wants to shine a light on a topic that is near and dear to them. I'm not usually one to watch a documenary but this one hit very near to my heart.

Brothers At War was filimed by Jack Radmacher as he followed his brother Isaac, who is a captain with the Airborn Corps Long Range Surveillence Comany and Joe, who is a sargent and a sniper. The amazing thing about this film is that Jake was given unprecedented acces to not only U.S. but also Iraqi combat units. There is a point in the film where he is caught in a fire fight and if the film is slowed down you can see the bullets flying by the camera.





Jake not only focused on the combat aspect of the military life but also the human side. He showed how hard it was for his brothers to come home from an extended deployment and get back to a "normal" life. I can imagine that this isn't limited to just his brothers but that there are men and women who come home everyday who are dealing with the same issue. It showed me how important a supportive family can be.

But what I think I found most interesting was when he would ask the soliders why they were doing it and if they died would their sacrifice be worth it. There was one soliders who said he would do anything for America. And that got me to thinking about all those people who are currently serving or have served in our military, why do they do it? Is it because they have a love for our country? Is it to provided a better place for their sons/daughters/nieces/nephews to grow up? Is it to support their families in a time where we are fighting a recession? Or is it for the educational benifits?

Everyday men and women are putting their lives on the front lines to protect and the freedoms we take for grantie. I can not be more proud to say that I am the sister of an Air Force Reservest, the cousin of not one but two Navy doctors, and the grandaughter of an Army vetran of World War II and of an Air Force Master Sargent. But what about those who do not have the support of their famililes? Can we do something for them?




Mac and Andy, at Andy's wedding, just missing one of our other Navy doctor.

When Mac came home from his last deployment one of the most heart breaking things to see were those soliders who were walking off the plane and didn't have anyone there. In the additional scence of Brothers At War there is a home coming of a unit, and the only time I teared up while watching the movie was seeing those soliders who were walking around and standing to the side because they didn't have any one there. I really feel like every solider should know that there is someone who is there for them and appreciates what they have done for our country.

I'm not sure how many people know this, seeing as how I just found out about it while doing some research for this post, but May is Militay Appreciation Month. I really want to encourage everyone out there to reach out to one of the 1.5 million active service men/women or one of the 850,000 reservest memebers and thank them for protecting our country and the freedoms that we take for granite everyday. There are a ton of ways to get involved to show your support for our miitary. The best website I found to go to if you want more information is the DOD website, http://www.ourmilitary.mil/ and it can then link you to a ton of different programs. I really encourage everyone reading this to get envolved and thank a solider for their service! Also, if you want more information on Brothers At War the website is http://www.brotheratwarmovie.com/ it really is a must see.



Thank you to every person who is or has served our country, and thank you to their famillies who have to put up with them being gone for extended periods of time. If it weren't for you we would not be living in a country with so many freedoms.

Good Night for now!

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

He's Almost Here!!!

There is something very cool about going to a baby shower but I think there is somethin even better when you get the honor to throw the shower. The shower to me always seems like the begining of the end. By the time the shower rolls around the baby is getting close to being here and who isn't excited about getting to meet the baby for the first time?

On Sunday I got the pleasure of helping to host my cousins Greta's babyshower along side my cousin Rachel. It is always fun to host a shower. I have done it a few times for my friends and I always have a lot of fun thinking of themes, the colors, making the food but I think the best part is seeing all the different people come together to celebrate the mom to be and the baby that will soon be here.

The birth of a child represents what is still pure in our world and with all the bad things that continue to happen around us it is special to be able to come together for something that is so positive. We are able to take a few hours out of our extremely busy lives to come together and show love and support to someone who is about to take a huge step in their lives and probably start the most important job of their lives.

I know that our family is so excited for Henry to get here. It will be so much fun to have two little boys around here for a while. If Herny is anything like Liam, and since they will be cousins I know he will, he is going to be one really cute and pretty darn smart little boy. The sad thing is going to be saying good by to him when he and his mommy and daddy have to move out East. So I guess we will just have to spoil him for the few months that he will be here in Kansas.

So congrats to Andy and Greta, I can't wait to meet Henry!!!

Good Night for now!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Oh Kansas City it is never boring!

So I'm sitting here on my couch watching How I Met Your Mother as my photos from Kansas City upload on to Focaebook. It is always really iteresting to go through all the pictures from the night before when there are a few drinks involved. Ok... You caught me... Maybe there were more than a few involved. Anyway, it was a great night and a ton of fun!

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Aladdin, now before you ask, NO there were not magic carpet rides! I know, I mean how can you name a hotel Aladdin and not have magic carpet rides ;) It did however have a room genie and a pillow menue which was interesting. What was great about the hotel is that it is within walking distance to the Power and Lights Distric, which is where we were going to go to dinner and the concert. And from our 13th floor hotel room we had a great view of some cool old buildings in downtown KC!



We started out night at the Flying Saucer for dinner which is a really cool place with an old english pub feel that has a ton of beer on tap and some what good food. Usually I have no clue what kind of beer to get so to keep myself from going to my fall backs I just hand the menu over to Kammie and she tells me what I want. Well last night ever beer that we wanted they were out of, which got a tad frustrating and caused me to go end up with my fall back one. I guess Stone IPA, no real clue who that is but they are suppose to be really good, released some new beers that day and apprently by 6 on a Wednesday night they were out of them. Yeah that seems weird to me too!

After dinner we headed over to the concert. We knew that we were going to see Adeltias Way, which we have seen twice, Framing Hanley, which we have seen once and LOVE, and then Sick Puppie, which we haven't seen. But to our surprise there was a fourth band, Madam Adam, and they were so very good. It was hard to actually hear them since the sound mixing was a little off, but we did buy their CD and we love them now! We also got the chance to meet them afterwards and they are some of the nicest guys!



The rest of the night was a ton of fun. Complete with making friends with two 18 year old boys that were standing behind of us, getting to know that bartender that by the end of the night was calling us by name and high fived us at we left, getting kicked in the head as people crowd surfed, meeting a girl who looked just like a girl I went to high school with and one of us having a huge fall and the other standing on the corner laughing and not offering a bit of help. All the band were amazing and put on one heck of a show. I was very impressed with Sick Puppies, who lead singer looks like Chad Michael Murray but with an accent! We ended out night at the Frans, a yummy 24 hour diner but with a modern twist and a bar attache to it, eating the best biscuts and gravy I've had in a long time! We then took a short walk back to the hotel and crashed for the night.

The alarm went off what seemed to be pretty early this morning and found both of us hurting a bit, one more than the other. Slowly we got ready, packed up and headed out to lunch. No trip to KC would be complete wihout a trip to the Cheesecake Factory. We ate a very yummy lunch and headed for home. I'm pretty tired tonight and can't wait to go bed. All in all it was a great night!

Good Night For Now!

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

You've Got To Be Kidding Me!

So I think that I am the last person in the world to figure this out and I just can't seem to get over it! In the process of trying to find my couch I stalked Craigslist like it was going out of style. I was actually enjoying it, trying to come up with other things that I was sure I needed and find them on there. (Which just so you know I can't think of anything at this moment that I need)

Well one night I was hanging out with Andrea and after we both got done hunting for a couch we were a tad bit bored and started looking at some of the personal ads. Why you ask? Well I think it might have partly been that we were bored and the other part of us were a little bit curious as to what was really on there. But seriously this stuff is nuts! Haven't people figured out after the whole Craigslist Killer a few years ago that maybe the personal ads on Craiglist weren't the best thing. I mean come on they even made a Lifetime movie about it? Not to mention there is an investigation going on right now into what might be another one on the East Coast. Any way I'm getting off topic.

So I start reading some of the post on there and a few weren't all that bad. Some were looking for a date for this or that, some people were just looking for someone to hang out with or single people looking to hook up. Which I guess is a to each their own kind of thing. Just not something that I would do. However, there were some seriously wrong ones. Several of the people on their were looking to hook up with pregnant women. SERIOUSLY?!?! Which was some what funny at the time seeing as how Andrea was pregnant and Adam was out of town.

But I think what really got me were all the people on there that were looking to cheat on their spouses. My question is do people really answer these? And if so why? I guess as someone who has been cheated on I don't get it. If you are that unhappy in your relationship why stay in it? And yes their are people who stay in a marriage for the kids, or for this thing or that thing but I guess I feel like that is wrong too. And on top of that is it wrong for people or a company to support this? Your probably asking yourself or me how would your regulate it? And there really isn't a way and I get that. But I still think that it is wrong and that it shouldn't be aloud.

Well this blog went in a direction that I wasn't expecting it to. At first I was just going to get on here and poke a little fun at some of the crazy personal ads. Guess that is fun of these things you start writing and you never know where you will end up!

Good Night For Now!

Friday, April 8, 2011

She's Finally Here! Welcome Ms. Avery Michele!

Today had been a very very exciting today, and I'm not talking about the weather, all the hail or even the tornados. But because Andrea and Adam had their second child today! Ms. Avery Michele was born at 7:13 am she is 19 inches long and 6 lbs 14 oz. Both Mom and baby are doing fine.



Andrea hasn't had the easiest pregnancy and I know she wasn't feeling very well this last week leading up to today, so I'm glad that Avery is here and Andrea is going to get a chance to start feeling better. But as I have been told, since I don't have any kids, now all the work really begins and so do the sleeplest nights. Since my mom basically works at the hospital she was able to go over and check on Avery today before I got off work. Of course she got to hold her before I did, like almost all of my friends babies! So she was very sweet and sent me a picture to rub it in.

I was lucky that Austin was there when I came up to visit because I was curious as to how he was going to react to his new little sister. He is such a caring, helpful and giving little boy so I had a feeling he would be a good big brother. But I really wasn't prepaired to how quickly he seems to have taken to her. While I was holding her she started to cry and he stoped looking at the book he was playing with and came over to her and touched her head and told me that she needed her binky. It was a very sweet moment. And then later he really wanted to help me rock her so he climbed up on my lap and then put his arms around her while I supported them both and we rocked her back to sleep. I am so very excited to see how their relationship will grow as they get older. He will be a huge help to his Mommy and Daddy right now and I have a feeling that he will be very protective of his little sister!



There is always something so special about getting to hold a baby that is just a few hours old. There is so much hope and innocents in them. They really help you to remember what is truely right in the world and how special life is. Now the fun part really begins. I am looking forward to really getting to know her as she grows and see the type of person she becomes.

So to Ms. Avery, you had been brought in to not only a family that loves you more than you will ever be able to imagine but to an extended group of friends that will be there for you no matter what. We have some great stories about Mommy and Daddy so come find us in 18 years and we will tell you a few, there are other that will have to wait until your 21. I hope that in the future I will get the chance to be a small part of your life and to be to get the chance to watch you grow.

Good Night for now!

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Rock Chalk... Matt Wertz...?



It's been a while since I have been to Lawrence. I had two cousins who went to college there and went up once or twice while they were in school to visit them but it has been years since I was there. But it really is a cool place and we had a great time there. Kammie and I got lucky that we had Jennifer with us. She was a great tour guide and found us some very yummy places to eat.

We started our extremly short visit to Lawrence at the Salty Iguana, which was suppose to have some of the best margaritas in town. While the margaritas were yummy the coolest place about the resturant was the murals they had painted all over the walls. My favorite one was the one you see when you first walk in. It was all the Wizard Of Oz characters but they were iguanas and they called it Lizards of Oz. There was so much to look at that half the time I had a hard time concentrating on what was going on in the converstaions we were having becuase I was drawn into looking at all the murals on the walls.

After we had dinner we went down to Mass street to get some yogurt at a place called 3 Spoons, for those of you that are familar with Orange Leaf it is the same thing. You go in and pick the yogurt you want, then add your toppings and you pay based on how much it weighs. I actually think that it was a little bit less expensive than Organe Leaf but it was still very yummy and we had a nice time sitting out front of the store watching all the people go by. (Which I just might add is something that I really love to do!)

We then headed down to the venue to watch the show. Kammie and I got the chance to Matt Wertz last March when he was opening for Five For Fighting. (There is a post about that show in my older posts if you want to take a look at it.) Ben Rector, who is also the keyboardist and a guitarist for Matt, opened for him and he blew us away! I had a few of his songs downloaded so I had a small idea as to who he was but he was ten times better than I expected. I actually ended up buying his CD while we were there and Kammie has since downloaded two of his other albums. The crowd was really into him, which is always good to see for an opening act. There were actually a few guys who were having way more fun then most people there.

Let me just take this moment and say that I love Matt Wertz! He is an amazing song writter and very talented. I love listening to his CDs but it is so much better to see him live. You can tell that he really enjoys what he does and he really appreciates his fans. The show was as amazing as I expected. He was just as funny as I remembered him to be telling a story about a grandma that though WTF meant With the Fmaily and he even told us about his love for Taylor Swift, how he thinks they should be best friends and then get married one day. I wonder if he is aware of the age difference? But one of the weirdest but coolest moments came when I turned around to say something to Kammie and realized the guy standing next to her looked a lot like Dave Barnes, another amazing artist and one of Matt's best friends. I actually said something along those lines to her some what loud, I can't say anything softly, and I was pretty sure the guy heard us and I was a tad embarrassed about it. That was until the end of the next song and Matt Wertz called up on to stage his best friend, you just happened to be in town that night, Dave Barnes. It was then that Kammie and I realized the guy who had been standing next to us that I thought was Dave Barnes was in fact Dave Barnes! I always thought that seeing Matt Wertz and Dave Barnes on stage together would be amazing and I was right. I was sad that he only sang one song and then left the venue but it was really cool to see them perform together!



It was a great night and we had a lot of fun. The drive back to Wichita was long but it was worth it. I just hope that Jennifer feels that way since she was the only one of us that had to work this morning. I highly recomend to everyone to go and check out Matt Wertz, Ben Rector and/or Dave Barnes. If you like Singer Songwritter music you will love these guys!

Good Night for now.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Through A Childs Eye

I may not have kids of my own and probably won't have one any time soon but I am so lucky to be able to be part of the lives of so many great kids. My friends have some amazing kids and I get to be there for some pretty cool moments.

Aboud a week or so ago I got to go to the Zoo with some of those great kids and it was amazing to me what they were excited about and what we thought they should be excited about. There were a few times when we would try and point out an animal that we thought was cool and all they could look at is the duck or goose walking around. But one of the coolest moments was when I have Ledger and Austin right up next to the glass by one of the gorillas and they had such big eyes. It was so cute when the gorillas would look at them they would lean back away from it and then it would turn away and they would move forward a bit but then the gorilla would look at them again and they would lean back. They would giggle each time the gorilla would look at them. It was like they were playing a game with the gorilla. It reallu was such sweet and innocent fun.

And most recently I got to go with Adam and Andrea when they took Austin to the Drive-In. I really had forgotten how much fun you could have there. It was so much fun to watch Austin there. He certainly gave us a few funny one liners while we were there. We did have to "encourage" him a few times with candy so he would smile for a picture or two. I was so afraid to give him to much and then he would be up all night but about 20 minutes into the second move he was out! We went and saw Hop, which for any of you out there is a great movie, and it was fun to watch him and see what he found funny. I think a few times he laughed because we were laughing but I know for sure there were a few times we were laughing more because of his reaction than to how funny it really was.

There is something very sweet, innocent and special about seeing things through the eyes of a child. It can help to remind you is really important in life. When life seems to be getting me down and I feel like things are getting to stressful just spending a few hours with these kids can make all that stress go away. I am lucky beyond words to be a part of the lives of these children and I can only hope and pray that I will get to continue to be. Right now there is not much more that is important to me than being Auntie Tegan. I just hope one day they know how much they mean to me.

Good Night for now!

Saturday, April 2, 2011

The Elusive Couch Has Been Found!!!


After about a month of stocking Craigslist, furniture stores and lots of online shoping I am so excited to say that I am writting this blog sitting on my new, to me, couch! There were several times that I thought I would never find one and would be sitting on the single chair I have for a long time. This is such a huge deal for me because this is the first really big purchase that I have made since moving in. I did buy some shelves and a TV stand but a couch is so much bigger deal to me.

Through out the process of trying to find this couch I knew what I wanted and I wasn't going to settle for just anything. Maybe that is just me being stubborn but I just wasn't going to settle. And I have to say that I am so glad that I didn't! I got very lucky when I found it, they even delivered it to me! Whcih saved me from having to rent a truck and going to pick it up myself.

Can I just say that there are some seriously ugly couches out there that some people think are worth huge amounts of moeny. Several times I had to fight the urge to email hese people that they were asking way to much for it. Yes I know that is mean but if you saw some of these you would too!

Anyway, get ready for some blog about having people over because now that I have my couch I feel like I can finally so it!

Good Bye for now!

Thursday, March 31, 2011

This Is Harder Than I Thought!

So I have been in my apartment for about three almost four weeks now and I feel like I can't seem to get it put together and completly unpacked. There are two boxes that are sitting in the corner of my living room just looking at me, taunting me, daring me to not unpack them. And as of now they are winning! I have a picture in my head of how I want things to look and I can't seem to get it there. I know that in time it will happen and look the way I want it. But as most of you know I am not a very paitent person and I usually want what I want when I say I want it.

I was very lucky that my friend Kammie came over and decorated two of my shelves, they look great! But I still need to get a couch, which I have found but it still hasn't been delivered, my pictures up, maybe a rug, and I think a desk. I honeslty thought that I had done really well and I had most of the things that I was going to need but as I start to think about it I realize that the list of things I need keep getting longer and longer! It's so frustrating!

I was very lucky and my friends and family have given me so many things and a ton of gift cards to help me get prepaired! I truely was spoiled by them on my birthday! I guess on my flex day today there is some shopping to do. As soon as I get things put together I will post pictures.

Good bye for now!

Sunday, March 27, 2011

27 on the 27th

Today I turn 27 and as I always do on my birthday I try to take some time at the end of the day and sit back and reflect on the year I had. As always the year has brought some downs but mainly it has brought a ton of ups! And what I contribute those ups to are the all the amazing people that I am lucky to have in my life. With out them there is no way I would be where I am.

There are so many blessings in my life and I know that I don't appreciate them! I have been blessed with the best family any one could ask for, amazing friends that have been there for me through so many things, I have a job, which is something that many people can not say, and I have been able to be part of the lives of some really cool kids. Of course these are only a small number of the blessings in my life and there are some things that I wish were different but it is on days like these that I realize that I have a pretty great life and that God has a plan for me.

However, there is one thing missing from this years celebration and that is my Grandmother. I was the first grandchild on my dads side and I am one of only two girls. Needless to say I was spoiled by her. She was an amazing woman and I miss her so very much. The only regreat that I have is that I did not spend more time with her. But I do have some of the best memories of her and I feel so lucky to be able to call her my grandmother. I know that one day I will see her again but for now she is looking down on me and helping to protect me.

Last year brought many changes for me but for the most part they were good ones. And this is something that I have not been able to say the last few years. Each year seems to get a bit better and better so I have high hopes for this year. And if you know me for me to have a glass half full perspective about something is a big, no a huge deal! There are all ready so many great things planned for this year that I am really looking forward to and I know that there are things that I can't even imagine coming.

Today I got a chance to spend it in the best way I can imagine, breakfast with my girls and lunch with my family. I really could not have asked for a better birthday!

Well I have done really well at posting on here the last fews days, I am hoping that I am able to keep it up. I guess we will see, I think that I am out of topics for a while.

Good Night for now!

Saturday, March 26, 2011

The Oh So Elusive Couch

So as you all know by now I have moved out and have an apratment of my own. As soon as I figured out when I was moving I started to slow buy the things that I knew I needed. So by the time the day actually rolled around I had most of the stuff I needed. But there are still a few things that I need to get, mainly pots and pans, which I don't cook a ton so I'm not in a hurry for those, and a couch!

Oh this stupid couch! Where do I even start. I thought that I had a few couches lined up and then those fell through. So I went to Furniture on Consignment and I couldn't find a single one. There was a brown leather sectional I thought about for a few minute or two but when it came down to it wasn't what I had in mind. For now I am stocking Craiglist like a cray person. Each day I log on there and say a small prayer that today will be the day that I actually will find one. Even Andrea is constantly looking for me. The other day we thought we found one, I got excited about it and I think she even did, but then I realized that it was in Abilene. As much as I liked the couch there in no way in you know what that I was going to drive and hour and a half to get a couch. So I guess for now the search continues.

Maybe my issue is that I have a clear idea of what I want but it's just not out there for the amount I can spend. I know that at some point in time I will find the "Perfect" one but it is such a frustrating process. I really just want to find one and get it so I can start having people over.

Well I will keep everyone posted on how this search ends, if it ever does. Sorry this wasn't the most exciting post. Hopefully my next one will be more exciting or at least a little more insightful!

Good Night for now!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

It's Been Way To Long

Wow it has seriously been an extremtly long time since I have been on here. I'm going to try and start updating this more often since I kind of feel like I might be in an interesting part of my life. But before we get to that let me see if I can get your caught up on what has happened over the last year.

I just moved out and into my first apartment earlier this month. I know... I know... I know... It's about time right? My mom has always said I do things my own way and at my own pace. I guess I just wanted to make sure that she was ok, the last few years had been really tough on her. But she is doing so well now. So I made the huge leap and Nikita and I are enjoying our own space. I never thought that I would enjoy it as much as I have. The freedom and the space has been amazing and a little liberating. I have really enjoyed decorating it, while there is still a ton of stuff that I need to get, it is really starting to feel like home.

My brothers are doing really well. Mac is in the process of resigning with the Air Force. He truely loves it and I have to say that at times I'm really jealous that he has found something to do everyday that he loves. There are so many people in the world that can not say that. I may be ones of those. He was a little disapointed that he didn't get called up on the last deployment but my mom and I are both happy that he is home and safe. Jarrett is doing so well in school. He spends so much time studying and I'm so proud to say that it is really paying off for him. He actually just got a 92% on a huge test! I know that one day he is going to be an amazing doctor. My mom is doing really well and I'm beyond proud of her. She actually just joined a bible study at church and I'm hoping that her faith is starting to return to her. She has been working on redoing several of the rooms in her house and they are looking so great. The bigget project is redoing all the wood in the rooms and staining them.

On a heavier note I lost my grandmother in July. It has to be the hardest thing that I have gone through in my 26 years. In the last few years I didn't get to spend as much time with her as I would have liked to. She was a very special women and I know that no matter what I will always be her little princess. What has helped the most is that I know I will see her again one day and I know that she is looking down on me and guiding me through some of my tougher days. She will forever have a special place in my heart!

Other than those few things, things are pretty much the same. Work is still work and I still wonder if it is the place for me and if it's where my calling really is. My friends are still the most amazing women I know. I feel so unworthy of them many days. They really are the best "cheerleaders" that I could ask for and give some of the best pep talks a girl could ask for. The best part has been watching their kids grow up so quickly, I really want to make them stop. However hearing them say Tegan or Auntie Tegan is way cooler than I thought that it could ever be. My family is growing again this year. Last July we got to welcome baby Liam into this world and I have to say he is one of the cutest McCall grandkids out there. And we are waiting for baby Henry to get here in June!

Well that is it for now. Keep checking back here as I will be updating this more frequently than I have the last year.

Bye for now!