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.

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!!!

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.

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!

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!

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!

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!