Dixie doesn't help with snow removal. I just think she looks really cute sitting in the snow.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Cutest Snow Removers Around
As you all know, I'm not one for manual labor. Lucky for me, I live with the two cutest snow removers around.
Dixie doesn't help with snow removal. I just think she looks really cute sitting in the snow.
Dixie doesn't help with snow removal. I just think she looks really cute sitting in the snow.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Halloween Candy Distribution Rules
Halloween night has come and gone and so have the trick or treaters and most of the candy. This time last year I was recovering from saying goodbye to an old friend and accepting that I now owned a minivan. We got home too late and didn't have any trick or treaters. But this year I picked up some candy on the way home from work and we were ready for the kids.
Spooky dinner was a huge success! The boys loved it and I think it will be a new Halloween tradition. It was funny to hear them to "pass the blood" when they wanted more ketchup. Daulton wanted to know if we were going to have a spooky breakfast this morning. I told him it was a great idea but I do not get up early enough to make a spooky breakfast. Me trying to cook in the morning would be really scary.
So Happy Halloween from our family to yours!! (I look like a zombie nerd in this picture.)
Do you have rules for distributing candy to the trick or treaters? When did it become acceptable to just stand at someone's door with a pillow case and not say "trick or treat"? Do you have any Halloween traditions you follow?
I wanted to make sure I had enough candy to last and if I'm being honest, I wanted to make sure I had candy leftover for us too. So I came up with some rules for how I was going to pass out candy.
1 piece - Under the age of 3
2 pieces - You look like you could have access to eggs or could smash my pumpkins or mailbox
1 piece - If I can see your parent's tail lights at the end of my driveway regardless of how old you look. And if I was sneaky enough I would take candy from you as a reverse parent candy tax, but I'm not sneaky enough so my only recourse is to be stingy with my candy. (I think I'm going to buy raisins for next year and if I see tail lights, your kids are getting raisins!)
2 pieces - If I know you or you live on my street
2 pieces - When you're about 3 and I let you pick a piece and you take two anyway, but you are so cute in your police uniform that I don't say no.
-1 piece - If you complain about the candy I give you. Not really, I will still give you a piece but I'm not happy about it.
1 piece - For taking your little sister who is dressed up as a princess trick or treating and you aren't doing it for the candy.
And I'm happy to report there was the perfect amount of candy left over, not too much but enough to try one of everything.
Dixie even dressed up for Halloween. Yes, she was as irritated with the costume as she looks in the picture.
Last night we had a spooky dinner with Daulton since he is with his mom tonight. We had mummy dogs, fingers dipped in blood, brains, and dirt pudding. Also known as hot dogs wrapped in breadsticks, french fries and ketchup, mac and cheese, and dirt pudding. I lit some candles, slapped a sign on the ketchup bottle that said blood, turned off the lights, and it was spooky dinner time!
Spooky dinner was a huge success! The boys loved it and I think it will be a new Halloween tradition. It was funny to hear them to "pass the blood" when they wanted more ketchup. Daulton wanted to know if we were going to have a spooky breakfast this morning. I told him it was a great idea but I do not get up early enough to make a spooky breakfast. Me trying to cook in the morning would be really scary.
So Happy Halloween from our family to yours!! (I look like a zombie nerd in this picture.)
Do you have rules for distributing candy to the trick or treaters? When did it become acceptable to just stand at someone's door with a pillow case and not say "trick or treat"? Do you have any Halloween traditions you follow?
Monday, October 15, 2012
Dixie Enjoys 3rd Grade
I haven't written much about Daulton and 3rd grade yet, but he is doing really well. He has a great teacher, is getting good grades, and he is now reading for fun...which makes me very happy! I want him to love to read as being a good reader really helps with other subjects in school.
To prepare for 3rd grade, I bought a sandwich press from Pampered Chef. Daulton typically takes his lunch to school and apparently having your sandwich with the crusts cut off and the sides sealed is a big trend in the elementary school cafeteria. And, I'm a sucker. He said he wanted one, a friend was having a Pampered Chef party, and one online purchase later I was the proud owner of a Pampered Chef Cut-N-Seal.
Dixie might love the Cut-N-Seal more than Daulton does. She anxiously waits by the kitchen counter while I make his sandwich and I can't count how many times I've tripped over her.
So, Dixie is enjoying 3rd grade as well. Or at least the lunch aspect of 3rd grade.
Sometimes I can even get the crust ring around her snout before she eats it, but that's impossible to do and take a picture. Dixie loves peanut butter and jelly like a fat kid loves cake.
Pampered Chef doesn't know me and didn't compensate me for this post. These opinions are my own. But if Pampered Chef wants to send me something to try out, Dixie and I would be happy to oblige.
To prepare for 3rd grade, I bought a sandwich press from Pampered Chef. Daulton typically takes his lunch to school and apparently having your sandwich with the crusts cut off and the sides sealed is a big trend in the elementary school cafeteria. And, I'm a sucker. He said he wanted one, a friend was having a Pampered Chef party, and one online purchase later I was the proud owner of a Pampered Chef Cut-N-Seal.
Dixie might love the Cut-N-Seal more than Daulton does. She anxiously waits by the kitchen counter while I make his sandwich and I can't count how many times I've tripped over her.
So, Dixie is enjoying 3rd grade as well. Or at least the lunch aspect of 3rd grade.
Sometimes I can even get the crust ring around her snout before she eats it, but that's impossible to do and take a picture. Dixie loves peanut butter and jelly like a fat kid loves cake.
Pampered Chef doesn't know me and didn't compensate me for this post. These opinions are my own. But if Pampered Chef wants to send me something to try out, Dixie and I would be happy to oblige.
Monday, October 8, 2012
If You Can't Be Good, Be Good At It
I've probably written this post in my head about 20 times now but I haven't actually put pen to paper, or in this case, fingers to keyboard. My grandpa, Doyle Rardin, was laid to rest a week ago today. He was 80 years old and he loved his wife, kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. During his funeral service, it was mentioned how much he loved his grandkids and great-grandkids and as I went through pictures with my cousins later, in almost every picture with him and a grandchild he was never looking at the camera. He always looked at whoever he was holding with a smile on his face.
Its hard to lose a fixture of your childhood. I was obsessed with horses as a kid and dreamt of the day I would have my own. During this horse obsession, my grandpa would have ponies, donkeys, and mules at the farm. The first pony, Pumpkin, was as close as I was going to get to a real horse and if I used my imagination, she was the real deal. Grandpa would always saddle up Pumpkin whenever I asked and despite my kicks, would never go faster than a walk. (The only time I've seen Pumpkin run is when my sister was riding her and she took off for the fields. I can still see my sister bouncing in the saddle and hear my uncles running after them, yelling but never spilling a drop of beer they were holding.) In college, I will never forget when he punched a donkey in the face after he told it to stop nibbling on his collar. It was as crazy as it sounds. I know my Grandpa had a tough life and was a tough SOB, but he was always gentle and kind with me.
As sad as I've been to lose my Grandpa, I've really enjoyed reconnecting with my cousins and hearing their stories and memories. We went back to the farm after the service and lunch to look around their house, farm, and shop. I found the outfits my Grandma made for the ceramic goose that sits on the front step and touched the kitchen table that we ate Grandma's homemade noodles. I haven't spent much time in the barn because there was always animals and poop out there (and let's be honest, I'm a city girl), but I remember going out there to visit Pumpkin as a kid and I swear I could hear her behind the barn door that day. In his shop we saw his new tractor and the stuff he's accumulated over the years. He loved to go to auctions and one of the first few times I brought Matt over to visit, he took Matt out to his shop to have him look at a saw he bought. I even went into the basement, a place I'd never been allowed to go before (I asked as a kid and was told no, I didn't care as a teenager, and now I wanted to see it for myself). The basement was stinky and anti-climatic. There was a fridge full of mason jars and all I could think was, how in the hell did they get that fridge down here. I assume there was lots of heavy lifting and profanity involved.
The only thing missing was the rest of the cousins and a wiffle ball game. We never did find the wiffle ball and bat, but the satellite dish that was first base wasn't their either so it wouldn't have been the same.
Even though Grandpa is gone and we are losing Grandma to Alzheimer's, I'm happy to have found my cousins again to keep the Rardin memories and personalities alive. I love hearing and telling the same stories about how Jason, the oldest cousin, at the age of 16 was put in time out for going outside and "did his time" in time out before driving himself away. And I will never forget how proud Grandpa was when I was 21 and he asked me if I wanted a beer. He was so proud to drink a beer with me and I with him. And my sister and I still laugh about the time Grandpa asked if we wanted a beer and he said, "I've got the good stuff, The Select" (Budweiser Select).
I asked him once what his favorite kind of beer was and he said, "I prefer cold and I'll drink it warm, but free is the best".
The last Christmas we were all together my cousin's wife asked where their dog was and Grandma told her the dog had died. Later my cousin Brooks asked my Grandpa when Susie, the St. Bernard, had died and Grandpa replied "when I shot her". I know that sounds harsh to us city folk, but he was a country guy and that's what country guys do when they need to. And it sounds awful that we laugh at that story, but that's him to a T.
After our visits with Grandpa when we were hugging and kissing goodbye, he would always say "If you can't be good, be good at it". Reflecting back on his life reminds me to be a good wife and mother. To love wholeheartedly and as hard as I can on my family and friends. And as cliche as it sounds, life is short. Don't waste my time on people who aren't worth it and focus on the good I have instead of what I don't have. I can hear his voice in my head calling me a blockhead, a common term he used, when I catch myself in a moment of sadness with tears welling up behind my eyes. So now, instead of getting to see him, I have his voice in my head and heart to help me through the tough times and drink a, proverbial, beer with me in the good times.
 |
| Grandpa & me, age 2 |
As sad as I've been to lose my Grandpa, I've really enjoyed reconnecting with my cousins and hearing their stories and memories. We went back to the farm after the service and lunch to look around their house, farm, and shop. I found the outfits my Grandma made for the ceramic goose that sits on the front step and touched the kitchen table that we ate Grandma's homemade noodles. I haven't spent much time in the barn because there was always animals and poop out there (and let's be honest, I'm a city girl), but I remember going out there to visit Pumpkin as a kid and I swear I could hear her behind the barn door that day. In his shop we saw his new tractor and the stuff he's accumulated over the years. He loved to go to auctions and one of the first few times I brought Matt over to visit, he took Matt out to his shop to have him look at a saw he bought. I even went into the basement, a place I'd never been allowed to go before (I asked as a kid and was told no, I didn't care as a teenager, and now I wanted to see it for myself). The basement was stinky and anti-climatic. There was a fridge full of mason jars and all I could think was, how in the hell did they get that fridge down here. I assume there was lots of heavy lifting and profanity involved.
The only thing missing was the rest of the cousins and a wiffle ball game. We never did find the wiffle ball and bat, but the satellite dish that was first base wasn't their either so it wouldn't have been the same.
 |
| Rardin cousins in front of the barn |
Even though Grandpa is gone and we are losing Grandma to Alzheimer's, I'm happy to have found my cousins again to keep the Rardin memories and personalities alive. I love hearing and telling the same stories about how Jason, the oldest cousin, at the age of 16 was put in time out for going outside and "did his time" in time out before driving himself away. And I will never forget how proud Grandpa was when I was 21 and he asked me if I wanted a beer. He was so proud to drink a beer with me and I with him. And my sister and I still laugh about the time Grandpa asked if we wanted a beer and he said, "I've got the good stuff, The Select" (Budweiser Select).
I asked him once what his favorite kind of beer was and he said, "I prefer cold and I'll drink it warm, but free is the best".
The last Christmas we were all together my cousin's wife asked where their dog was and Grandma told her the dog had died. Later my cousin Brooks asked my Grandpa when Susie, the St. Bernard, had died and Grandpa replied "when I shot her". I know that sounds harsh to us city folk, but he was a country guy and that's what country guys do when they need to. And it sounds awful that we laugh at that story, but that's him to a T.
 |
| Me on Grandpa's new tractor |
After our visits with Grandpa when we were hugging and kissing goodbye, he would always say "If you can't be good, be good at it". Reflecting back on his life reminds me to be a good wife and mother. To love wholeheartedly and as hard as I can on my family and friends. And as cliche as it sounds, life is short. Don't waste my time on people who aren't worth it and focus on the good I have instead of what I don't have. I can hear his voice in my head calling me a blockhead, a common term he used, when I catch myself in a moment of sadness with tears welling up behind my eyes. So now, instead of getting to see him, I have his voice in my head and heart to help me through the tough times and drink a, proverbial, beer with me in the good times.
 |
| Grandpa, 2009, wearing the tiara to make his grandkids smile |
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Girls Trip To Chicago
I spent this past weekend with my friends Alison, Brandi, and Melissa in Chicago and I had a great time! We stayed with my friend Hanna, we met at Hanover College and were Chi Omega sorority sisters. Hanna and her husband, Nathan, have a beautiful home and guest beds they willingly offered up. We drove up on Friday night and after a visit, it was time for bed.
Saturday we started out the day by going to a neighborhood yard sale in another neighborhood. I think Hanna really just wanted help carrying her purchases home. The picture below is of Brandi and I carrying back the miniature farmhouse Hanna found. She also found a side table and the group also brought back a croquet set and chandelier. I found some Chicago Bears stuff for Daulton.
After a snack break, we headed back out to Andersonville for lunch. That's Brandi on the left, Hanna in the middle, and me on the right. We ate at Lady Gregory's and it was so good. I'm glad I ate a big lunch because next we had to go to Navy Pier. Brandi and Melissa were running in the Chicago Half Marathon on Sunday and we had to pick up their race packets.
I am the tallest and have the longest legs, you would think I would be able to keep pace with the group. Turns out my body and mind were on vacation time and I was the slowest walker in the group. It also didn't help that I was in a new-to-me part of Chicago and was gawking at everything and taking pictures.
Navy Pier was awesome and the weather was perfect. The Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan were beautiful. After an Italian dinner, the girls had to load up on carbs, we headed back to the house for a bonfire and girl talk. It was a relaxing, wonderful day with good friends.
Race morning came and everyone got up, but me. I was given special dispensation by the group to sleep in. They said it very sweetly but we all know how unpleasant I am in the morning. The runners ran their hearts out and I had a leisurely morning with Hanna and Alison.
After the race, Hanna took us to Chinatown for lunch and bubble tea. Bubble tea is like a smoothie, but with green tea instead of milk. I got Tapioca balls in mine and I'm going to be honest, its weird. They are black balls, they look like marbles, at the bottom of your drink but they tasted like gummy bears to me. I'm glad I tried it but I'm not sure I will get them again. Add sesame chicken and a taste of what everyone else had and we were stuffed.
After showers for the runners and packing the car, it was time to head back home to Indiana. I really enjoyed getting away for the weekend with friends. Something about a new city, that's completely different than what you are used to, is relaxing and stimulating at the same time. I was excited to try new things but I slowed down to truly experience what was going on around me.
And being away from home for a few days made me miss these guys like crazy. I mean you can't stay away from these two for long.
All pictures are mine except for the first two which are Alison's. You can follow me on Instagram, my username is abby_butts.
Saturday we started out the day by going to a neighborhood yard sale in another neighborhood. I think Hanna really just wanted help carrying her purchases home. The picture below is of Brandi and I carrying back the miniature farmhouse Hanna found. She also found a side table and the group also brought back a croquet set and chandelier. I found some Chicago Bears stuff for Daulton.
After a snack break, we headed back out to Andersonville for lunch. That's Brandi on the left, Hanna in the middle, and me on the right. We ate at Lady Gregory's and it was so good. I'm glad I ate a big lunch because next we had to go to Navy Pier. Brandi and Melissa were running in the Chicago Half Marathon on Sunday and we had to pick up their race packets.
I am the tallest and have the longest legs, you would think I would be able to keep pace with the group. Turns out my body and mind were on vacation time and I was the slowest walker in the group. It also didn't help that I was in a new-to-me part of Chicago and was gawking at everything and taking pictures.
Navy Pier was awesome and the weather was perfect. The Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan were beautiful. After an Italian dinner, the girls had to load up on carbs, we headed back to the house for a bonfire and girl talk. It was a relaxing, wonderful day with good friends.
Race morning came and everyone got up, but me. I was given special dispensation by the group to sleep in. They said it very sweetly but we all know how unpleasant I am in the morning. The runners ran their hearts out and I had a leisurely morning with Hanna and Alison.
After the race, Hanna took us to Chinatown for lunch and bubble tea. Bubble tea is like a smoothie, but with green tea instead of milk. I got Tapioca balls in mine and I'm going to be honest, its weird. They are black balls, they look like marbles, at the bottom of your drink but they tasted like gummy bears to me. I'm glad I tried it but I'm not sure I will get them again. Add sesame chicken and a taste of what everyone else had and we were stuffed.
After showers for the runners and packing the car, it was time to head back home to Indiana. I really enjoyed getting away for the weekend with friends. Something about a new city, that's completely different than what you are used to, is relaxing and stimulating at the same time. I was excited to try new things but I slowed down to truly experience what was going on around me.
And being away from home for a few days made me miss these guys like crazy. I mean you can't stay away from these two for long.
All pictures are mine except for the first two which are Alison's. You can follow me on Instagram, my username is abby_butts.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
The VMAs Make Me Feel Old
I grew up watching the VMAs and so did Matt. So naturally when the VMAs were on tonight, we wanted to watch. I was not prepared for how old I would feel watching the VMAs.
For my mom and everyone else who doesn't know what the VMAs are, the VMAs are the video music awards on MTV. MTV is the music television network that doesn't play music. Instead the broadcast the fascinating train wrecks that are Teen Mom, 16 & Pregnant, and the Jersey Shore.
The Comments Heard During the VMAs
Throughout the night, there was a lot of "who is that girl?" and "who is that guy?".
Matt: Who is that?
Me: Rhianna.
Matt: I can't tell who these people are with the crazy costumes and sunglasses on.
Did Miley Cyrus and Pink call each other to make sure they had the same hairdo for the VMAs? Do people still say hairdos?
Matt: How do those One Direction kids fit into those skinny jeans?
Me: I don't know, oil and a shoe horn, I guess?
Me: Daulton, are you ever going to wear skinny jeans?
Daulton: (quickly and emphatically) NO!
Daulton then informed us that one of the kids from One Direction smokes. A little girl in his class told him, so obviously this is true... she has a poster of One Direction so she is an expert.
Who is Frank Ocean?
Lil Wayne forgot to pull his pants up before he went on stage.
Someone is going to trip on that skateboard.
Who is 2 Chains? (Matt knew who he was, I still have no clue.)
Me: Daulton, why do they call him 2 Chains?
Daulton: I have no idea!
(He wears 2 chains around his neck, in case you were wondering. I fear for the future of creativity.)
Green Day looks old! I thought Green Day was a 3 man band, who is that 4th guy?
MTV now has to clarify which shows are scripted and which are reality?
Why are Wiz Khalifa's pants so short? Where is the flood Wiz? (For the record, I had to google how to spell Khalifa.)
I'm disappointed with the Twilight movie preview. The fight scene at the end is not true to life, and by true to life I mean true to the book. (That is a direct quote. At this point Matt had a pained look on his face. He doesn't like it when I talk Twilight.)
Taylor's shorts are short, but she doesn't look trashy.
What's with the crowd surfing? I wouldn't want all those people touching me.
Bottom line is, you know you are old when the 8 year old knows more about the people on MTV than you do.
For my mom and everyone else who doesn't know what the VMAs are, the VMAs are the video music awards on MTV. MTV is the music television network that doesn't play music. Instead the broadcast the fascinating train wrecks that are Teen Mom, 16 & Pregnant, and the Jersey Shore.
The Comments Heard During the VMAs
Throughout the night, there was a lot of "who is that girl?" and "who is that guy?".
Matt: Who is that?
Me: Rhianna.
Matt: I can't tell who these people are with the crazy costumes and sunglasses on.
Did Miley Cyrus and Pink call each other to make sure they had the same hairdo for the VMAs? Do people still say hairdos?
Matt: How do those One Direction kids fit into those skinny jeans?
Me: I don't know, oil and a shoe horn, I guess?
Me: Daulton, are you ever going to wear skinny jeans?
Daulton: (quickly and emphatically) NO!
Daulton then informed us that one of the kids from One Direction smokes. A little girl in his class told him, so obviously this is true... she has a poster of One Direction so she is an expert.
Who is Frank Ocean?
Lil Wayne forgot to pull his pants up before he went on stage.
Someone is going to trip on that skateboard.
Who is 2 Chains? (Matt knew who he was, I still have no clue.)
Me: Daulton, why do they call him 2 Chains?
Daulton: I have no idea!
(He wears 2 chains around his neck, in case you were wondering. I fear for the future of creativity.)
Green Day looks old! I thought Green Day was a 3 man band, who is that 4th guy?
MTV now has to clarify which shows are scripted and which are reality?
Why are Wiz Khalifa's pants so short? Where is the flood Wiz? (For the record, I had to google how to spell Khalifa.)
I'm disappointed with the Twilight movie preview. The fight scene at the end is not true to life, and by true to life I mean true to the book. (That is a direct quote. At this point Matt had a pained look on his face. He doesn't like it when I talk Twilight.)
Taylor's shorts are short, but she doesn't look trashy.
What's with the crowd surfing? I wouldn't want all those people touching me.
Bottom line is, you know you are old when the 8 year old knows more about the people on MTV than you do.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Lazy Labor Day Weekend
I left work and my mom's 10th chemo treatment (only 2 more to go!) on Friday with every intention that this was going to be a productive 3 day weekend. I was even plotting different ways I could sweet talk my husband into tackling some home improvement projects (he won't know I was plotting this until he reads this, hi Matt!). But I came home on Friday, sat down with a stack of magazines, iPad, remote, and the dog and that was it for me.
We did some laundry and grocery shopping. I cleaned the bathrooms. And that was it.
It was wonderful and luxuriously lazy. We took naps, lounged, watched too much TV, and I'm not proud of the amount of food I ate over the last 3 days but I'm not sorry either. The rain and overcast weather from Hurricane Issac really helped encourage our slothful behavior.
I went into the long weekend with good intentions but these past 3 days turned out better than I ever could have planned.
We did some laundry and grocery shopping. I cleaned the bathrooms. And that was it.
It was wonderful and luxuriously lazy. We took naps, lounged, watched too much TV, and I'm not proud of the amount of food I ate over the last 3 days but I'm not sorry either. The rain and overcast weather from Hurricane Issac really helped encourage our slothful behavior.
I went into the long weekend with good intentions but these past 3 days turned out better than I ever could have planned.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Just So I'm Clear
Matt and I were watching the Olympics and relaxing when we both heard a noise outside. Here's the resulting conversation:
Me (looking at Matt): What was that?
Matt: I don't know.
Me: Just so I'm clear, when I look at you and ask what that noise, I need you to answer the question.
Obviously, I'm not the one to ask about strange noises, especially outside noises. I'm still a little jumpy after the raccoon incident (part 1, part 2, part 3, and part 4).
Me (looking at Matt): What was that?
Matt: I don't know.
Me: Just so I'm clear, when I look at you and ask what that noise, I need you to answer the question.
Obviously, I'm not the one to ask about strange noises, especially outside noises. I'm still a little jumpy after the raccoon incident (part 1, part 2, part 3, and part 4).
Sunday, July 29, 2012
An Olympic Sized Obsession
To say that my family is obsessed with sports is a massive understatement. I knew Matt and Daulton were sports nuts but I didn't count myself in that category until the Olympics started on Friday night. Its official, I'm obsessed with the Olympics (and Ryan Lochte). Right now we are watching swimming. Earlier today and yesterday we've watched:
- Soccer - Men's & Women's (I cannot remember that the rest of the world calls it football.)
- Beach Volleyball - Men's & Women's
- Women's Table Tennis
- Archery - Men's & Women's
- Basketball - Men's & Women's
- Gymnastics - Men's & Women's
- Women's Skeet Shooting
- Men's Volleyball
- Women's Synchronized Diving
- Cycling - Men's & Women's
- Women's Tennis
- Women's Field Hockey
- Men's Boxing
- Women's Rowing
- Women's Fencing
Sports we want to watch:
- Handball
- Judo
- Trampoline
- Wrestling
- Weightlifting
- Track & Field
- Canoeing
So basically what I'm saying is if its an Olympic sport, we will watch it.
I am also obsessed with the medal count. Right now China has 12 medals and USA is in second with 11. Get it together USA!!
We even did some decorating of the fireplace and had fish & chips and onion & chicken rings during the opening ceremony.
Dixie gets the gold medal for cuteness.
Random Abby & Matt couple fact: We both were vacationing with our families in Myrtle Beach during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and we both were staying up late and watched the Kerri Strug vault. I think its a sign we were destined to watch many, many future summer Olympics together.
Go Team USA!
We even did some decorating of the fireplace and had fish & chips and onion & chicken rings during the opening ceremony.
Dixie gets the gold medal for cuteness.
Random Abby & Matt couple fact: We both were vacationing with our families in Myrtle Beach during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and we both were staying up late and watched the Kerri Strug vault. I think its a sign we were destined to watch many, many future summer Olympics together.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
I Know Its Not An Award, But...
My team at work has been working with IBM for a few months on a case study about the work we've done and it was published today. I am very proud of the work I've done and the work my team has accomplished. And for my non-technical friends and family, this case study also provides some insight into what I do 5 days out of the week.
Its nice to have a job that challenges me and that I enjoy and get paid to do. Its even nicer to get recognition for our accomplishments by a company like IBM who is known all over the world.
I know its just a case study and not an award, but I can't pass the opportunity to say thanks to those that help me get to where I am today.
To my dad, who made me work for him and gave me a BASIC programming book one summer and told me to go figure it out. I created many infinite loops that summer and a seed was planted that eventually turned into my career.
To Matt, who listens to me vent and talk about my projects. He also makes sure there is always wine in the house. He and Daulton also remind me to leave work at work and focus on family when I'm at home.
To my team, I know I am bossy, opinionated, and not friendly in the morning. Thanks for putting up with me and remember to ask if I'm caffeinated before trying to talk to me in the morning.
To Sam Bridegroom, thanks for challenging me and not letting me slack off. And if you aren't following Beyond The Defaults, you should be!
And to all the little girls out there who like math, science, and technology, its okay to like all those things and to be good at them. You have so many skills and smarts to share with the world and the world needs more female brains like yours! Stick with it, don't let anyone knock you down because you are smart, and remember to sit at the table (this video is worth your time). Don't let the boys intimidate you or make you feel like you don't belong. Anything they can do, you can do better.
Hendricks Regional Health builds apps to meet high standards - IBM Case Study
Its nice to have a job that challenges me and that I enjoy and get paid to do. Its even nicer to get recognition for our accomplishments by a company like IBM who is known all over the world.
I know its just a case study and not an award, but I can't pass the opportunity to say thanks to those that help me get to where I am today.
To my dad, who made me work for him and gave me a BASIC programming book one summer and told me to go figure it out. I created many infinite loops that summer and a seed was planted that eventually turned into my career.
To Matt, who listens to me vent and talk about my projects. He also makes sure there is always wine in the house. He and Daulton also remind me to leave work at work and focus on family when I'm at home.
To my team, I know I am bossy, opinionated, and not friendly in the morning. Thanks for putting up with me and remember to ask if I'm caffeinated before trying to talk to me in the morning.
To Sam Bridegroom, thanks for challenging me and not letting me slack off. And if you aren't following Beyond The Defaults, you should be!
And to all the little girls out there who like math, science, and technology, its okay to like all those things and to be good at them. You have so many skills and smarts to share with the world and the world needs more female brains like yours! Stick with it, don't let anyone knock you down because you are smart, and remember to sit at the table (this video is worth your time). Don't let the boys intimidate you or make you feel like you don't belong. Anything they can do, you can do better.
Hendricks Regional Health builds apps to meet high standards - IBM Case Study
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