24 on the 24th!

Today is my golden birthday!!! Pictures to follow :)

SOLD :)

When Greg and I moved to Tyler we rented our house while we were still living in California (before we actually moved to Texas) so we never actually saw the house (only in pictures) until we got here. When we showed up at the house we were very surprised to find that our house did not come with a refrigerator! What's up with that?! I've never rented a house without a refrigerator, that's just standard...right? Anyway, I went straight to Sears and purchased a very nice and fairly inexpensive plain white Kenmore refrigerator.

Well now it is time to move AGAIN, we already rented another house in Chicago and this one does come with a refrigerator (a very nice one). So I've been trying to sell the one I bought for the last few weeks on Craigslist. I love Craigslist! A very nice family came to look at it last week and told me they wanted to buy it! I was so excited! I told the family that we wanted to hold onto the refrigerator until December 22nd because we needed it in the house until we were ready to move. This was not a problem for the family. Then, they called two days later and said it wasn't going to fit in their laundry room and they didn't want to buy it anymore. AHHH!!! I was so annoyed...and stuck with this stupid refrigerator!

This morning I got a call from a cute little old lady named Barbara. She just moved here and her son was going to buy her a refrigerator for her new house. They just came over to check out the fridge and I could tell this little old lady was so excited! I wish I could have taken a picture of her. Her son gave me a deposit to hold the fridge and they're going to be back to pick it up on the 22nd! Hooray!!!! I'm so relieved and Greg is really glad he doesn't have to haul the fridge all the way to Chicago! That would have been a nightmare.

SOLD!!!!!!!!!

Traditions

This will be my second Christmas with the Polheber family and I have to say it is difficult finding a balance between our families during the holidays. With my dad and brother in Mesa and Greg's family in Tucson sometimes it feels like the holiday is spent on the I-10 somewhere in between! Not to mention my mom is all the way in Santa Barbara...that visit isn't going to happen this year.

We feel very lucky to have such loving families that want to spend time with us but seeing everyone isn't always easy. I'm going home to Mesa a couple days before Greg so I can hang out with my dad and brother for my birthday (Christmas Eve), then it's off to Tucson.

The Polhebers have this fun tradition where all the adults draw names and then have to make a gift for the person they drew. We draw names on Christmas and then have all year to make the gift.

I started working on my gift about a month ago and just finished last week. The holidays are always so busy and I definitely didn't have time to make an extravagant gift but I think it turned out pretty good.

I decoupaged the face of this clock with a bunch of family photos and then use some metallic brads to make the hours on the clock. I wish I had more time to do projects like this!!!

Holiday Fun

Greg and I spent Thanksgiving day in Mesa with my family this year. The Polhebers came up from Tucson the day after for a nice dinner and we were so lucky to be able to spend time with both families. Kamran and his girlfriend Ashley

My cousin and her adorable little girl Ava

Me and my Aunt Mina, my aunt has been battling cancer for the last year and a half. She is such a strong woman and I am so thankful to have her in my life.

Greg's sister Renee and Kamran's new little buddy Harry
This picture was just taken last night at Greg's company Christmas party. Greg and I have both been really sick but we toughed it out for some delicious food and a night out on the town. Everything was really beautiful and I don't think you can tell that we're both drugged up on antibiotics and cough medicine!

P.S. Are you feelin my new hair? These are the shortest bangs I've ever had!

Camping Awesomeness

Last weekend Greg and I took the dogs camping in the Angelina National Forest here in East Texas. The last time we went camping outside of Houston, it turned out to be a miserable experience (rain, bugs, RVs, muddy dogs...etc.). Thankfully, this time was had an awesome weekend!

The weather was a little cold, but I prefer cold weather because there were no bugs! We got a beautiful camp site right off the lake and there was hardly anyone else there!

Once it got dark we put the dogs to bed in the tent. Greg and I roasted marshmallows, had some hot chocolate, and then...as I was gazing up at the beautiful stars...

Amelia: Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, ohmygosh, ohmygosh, ohmygosh...(screaming)

Greg: WHAT?! Amelia what's wrong?!?!

Amelia: I'll show you what's wrong (grabs lantern)

GIANT SPIDER THE SIZE OF MY FIST DANGLING OVER MY HEAD!

Greg: (Not very impressed) Next time you have to tell me what's going on...I thought you saw an axe murder or a bear in the woods!

As if this nasty spider was no big deal! Thankfully, Greg squashed this disgusting hairy beast a few moments later. Still, all night I had the creepy crawlies!

It got REALLY cold that night and even the poor puppies were shivering...

Sydney ended up sleeping IN Greg's sleeping bag and poor Sadie had to keep warm under some extra blankets.

Still, the overall experience was so much fun and I think Greg and I will go camping again...just not while we're living in Chicago!

Late Halloween Pics

Sorry I'm posting these so late. Greg and I didn't take many pics on Halloween but here are a couple so you can see our costumes!

Greg met another Indian at the costume party

I know this is not the best picture, but it is the only one! I was an eskimo :)

Bath Time

Last night we decided the dogs were really starting to stink and it was time for a bath. We've had to bathe them more and more frequently here in Texas because they get so dirty out in the yard. Sadie loves to lye in the grass on squirrel patrol all day and we can't keep Sydney from digging these giant manholes all over the yard...it's a little like a war zone.

As you can see, Sydney isn't really thrilled about taking a bath.

She needs a little help from Greg.

See...it's not so bad!

Sadie, in her old age, is a seasoned bather. She understands that baths are inevitable and usually jumps right in the tub as soon as she sees me whip out the doggy shampoo! She is such a good girl:)

TAG...you're it!

Thanks Megan for tagging me! :) Now I guess I have to come up with 7 random facts about myself. Here it goes...

1.) Since today is Halloween I have to say that is probably my favorite holiday with Thanksgiving being a very close second! Halloween is great because it starts the holiday season. I love decorating the house, carving pumpkins, and I can't wait to see all the kids in their costumes tonight. Every year Greg and I search and search for the perfect "couple" costumes. It gets a little challenging year after year but we enjoy putting all the time and energy into finding just the right costumes!

2.) I love to cook and bake. As much as I love being in health care, sometimes I dream about being a chef or a cake decorator. I love to watch all the cooking shows on Food Network, Iron Chef, and Ace of Cakes. There just isn't a lot of room for creativity in nursing and I think I need more of that in my life.

3.) I love love love to travel. I want to see the world. The next big trip I'd like to take would be to Australia and New Zealand. I know it is a 26+ hour flight to get to these destinations but I just have this burning desire to go! I just feel like there are so many countries to explore and so many cultures that I have never been exposed to. If I could have it my way I'd visit a different country every year. Who knows if I'll have the time or money to do that but I can always dream!

4.) Megan, I have the same weird OCD tendency where my hands (and feet) must be clean at all times. I love the smell of soap on my hands. I hate to touch a basketball and as I kid I use to lick my hands too! Whenever I wear flip flops I have to immediately rinse off my feet as soon as I get home because I can feel the dirt on the bottoms! I don't like to walk on the floor barefoot, I usually wear slippers. But...I do love to walk in the grass barefoot (weird). Especially the grass in my dad's backyard because it is so soft and feels great on your feet.

5.) I am weird about my hair. Lisa Eager (formerly Prince) has been cutting my hair since I was 15 maybe 16. Every time I go home for a holiday I have to call ahead and make sure I can see Lisa! She just makes my hair look so nice every time!!! When I was in California my hair was really long and nasty and I had no time to go back to Arizona . I had started asking friends and family for referrals because my hair had to be cut. I finally found a man who was formerly Keira Knightly's hair dresser. He was more than qualified to cut my hair but I nearly had a panic attack when he did! It turned out alright, but I love you Lisa and can't wait to see you at Thanksgiving :)

6.) I like to be outdoors. A lot of people don't picture me as the outdoorsy type but I love to camp, hike, and go fishing. I wish I had more time to enjoy nature and take lots of camping trips but it just seems like life gets in the way. We went camping in Texas once and it was so humid that I could barely breathe in our tent! The mosquitoes were attacking me, Greg, and our dogs...it was terrible! I didn't realize how good the camping was up in Flagstaff, Prescott, Pine top, and Sedona, but I wish I could go back!

7.) Once I finish up my FNP in May my next goal is to speak another language. My Spanish is alright but I've decided I want to speak Farsi. I think most of you know that my father is Persian and his entire side of the family speaks Farsi. I have always wanted to be able to share in the conversation during family get togethers so I'm determined to learn Farsi after I finish school. Apparently, Rosetta Stone has really helped people learn other languages in record time so I think that is the way to go! I'm hoping my spanish will just continue to come along as I continue to work in health care (I use it everyday).

Happy Halloween! I am going to tag RACHEL, LISA S., and KATIE B.

Fall is here!

It's starting to get a little chilly here in Tyler (not nearly as chilly as it will be in Chicago in a couple months) and it's really starting to feel like fall!




Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday and this weekend we decided to carve our pumpkins. I think they turned out pretty good! I did the scary face and Greg did the one that looks scared :) Pretty hilarious!

I wanted to get a shot of the beautiful trees in our back yard. The leaves are just starting to change colors and I can't wait for them to turn all red, yellow, and orange. As much as I dislike living in Texas, this is the most beautiful back yard we've ever had!

Here is our porch all ready for our trick or treaters. Greg and I have costumes too but I'm not giving those away until after Halloween so I can post some pictures!




And for those of you who didn't already know, our next and final move in Greg's rotational program is to Chicago (I tried to sneak it in the beginning of this post)! We're moving January 1st and I'm very excited that this will be our final move before we settle down. I've never been to Chicago and I can't wait to explore this amazing city!!! I'm a little worried about how our dogs will manage in the snow but I guess they'll get use to it. I hope Greg and I can survive, this will be the coldest weather either of us have ever lived in!

The Right Place at the Right Time!

Yesterday Greg and I went to his company's fall picnic. This is a huge event and all the offices from all over Texas were there. Greg and I were wandering around not sure what to do with ourselves because all the activities and entertainment were meant for children and as you all know...we don't have any!

Greg saw a familiar face, the VP of his office here in Tyler, and we decided to sit with him and his family. I had met his wife and two daughter's once before and they are a very sweet family. A minute later and very large man came over and said hello to Greg's superior and then turned and introduced himself to Greg and I. He said his name was "Luke" and he asked Greg how things were going.

For those of you who don't know, Greg is about to finish up his last rotation of his two year training program (the reason we move so frequently). It is almost time for him to be placed in a permanent location! So Luke asks Greg where he'd like to end up??? He told this Luke guy that he had really enjoyed his time in the California offices. I'm not going to quote the entire conversation but basically Luke tells Greg that they need people to go out to California. I'm a little dazed and confused at this point. We didn't think there was much of a chance to go back to California and this man has given me new hope! All I know is "Luke" is my new best friend and my hero!!!

It turns out that Luke is the Vice President of USA Operations for Greg's company. He's "the man" if you will, and he gave Greg his card and said to email him on Monday to talk about his future with the company. I'm not sure if this will actually lead to a permanent position for Greg out in California but everyone please cross your fingers!

4 Years and Cruise to Celebrate!

Four years ago on October 2, 2004 Greg and I had our first date in Tucson, Arizona. Since then we have lived in 4 different houses in 2 different states. We have had a crazy ride and this anniversary we decided to treat ourselves to a little getaway!

Here we are just a few minutes after getting on the Carnival Ecstacy. Everyone had to participate in the Emergency drill and actually "put on" their life vests!

Greg out on the boat deck enjoying the sun!

Here I am with our little towel animal. We had a different little friend every night! The housekeeping and staff on the boat were awesome. Every time we left our room we came back and it was perfect! They were like super heroes!

We got a chance to visit the Mayan ruins in Cozumel. They were very cool but it had just rained and the mosquitoes were out to get us!!!

Snorkeling in the crystal blue water.

Don't mind the lovely hair in this picture!

The fishies were so friendly they swam right up to us. I even got to touch a few!

The End :)

Lake Tyler

Our house is smack in the middle of three huge lakes here in Texas! So today we decided to take the dogs to Lake Tyler for a little swim. It was a beautiful day and I think the dogs really enjoyed getting out of the house!

Back to school

So school is back in session and I just got back from a week of classes in Tucson. My program requires me to be in Tucson for the first week of every semester. I thought I'd post a pic of what we learned this past week!

Yes...this is a pig's foot and those are my beautiful sutures :)

I was also lucky enough to be in town during my little brother's 21st birthday! We had such a great time!!!

Time to Move

Last weekend we left sunny San Diego and headed east for Tyler, TX. Greg has been transfered to this small town in east Texas for the next 6 months. While none of our moves have been 'easy' this one was particularly difficult. Day one, our U-haul broke down in Eloy, AZ (45 miles from Tucson). We were stranded in the heat (120 degrees) for 3 hours and had to spend the night in Tucson. Day two, since we didn't make it to our first destination (originally New Mexico) we ended up driving close to 12 hours before arriving in Odessa, TX. Day Three, we hit the road at 4:30 in the morning to make it to Tyler in time to meet our realtor. Fifteen miles on the road, the trailor pulling my car blew a tire! I had to leave Greg behind at a gas station to wait for a mechanic to replace our tire while I went on to Tyler. The good news is we made it and we love our new house!