food, fun and family

We planned on having Doranda's family over for dinner and gifts when they got back from California.  We had each others names for Christmas and decided not to mail them to each other.  I wanted to make a nice dinner but couldn't think of what everyone would like.  A few days ahead of time my friend invited me to lunch at a Korean BBQ place.  I had never tried it before. You cook your own food at the table.

Korean BBQ

 I didn't really like it but it gave me the idea of cooking your own food so I thought fondue sounded fun for everyone.  I borrowed the pots from a friend and we made cheese, broth and chocolate fondues.  We had lots of dippers for each. I think it was a hit. 

the cheese dippers

Leon enjoying the chocolate

The chocolate was probably everyone's favorites.  After dinner we exchanged gifts.  I love the things the kids picked out for us and the selfie stick and Seahawk game day bag were both things we wanted but didn't have so they were perfect gifts for us.  I think the Weostman's liked their gifts too.  I didn't get many pictures though.

Just what the doctor ordered

David and my anniversary was this week so we decided to take an impromptu trip to Las Vegas, where we had got married 3 years ago.  With everything that has been going on I decided we needed a little get away.  It was perfect.  We used some airline miles then rented a mustang when we got there and stayed in a hotel off the strip.  The hotel had a movie theater, bowling alley, bingo hall, about 10 restaurant's and more so we really didn't need to go anywhere else but we did.  While there we went bowling for our first time together and David saw StarWars (again) while I took a nap.

The first night we saw a comedy show in the hotel that was great.  Louie Anderson was the headliner and he was really funny!  Since we had a fun car the next morning we drove to Red Rock.  I can't believe it's rated the best thing to do in Vegas and I have never been there before!  It is a beautiful area with lots of hiking trails.  I didn't have enough energy to go hiking yet though but should next time.  The weather would have been perfect for a hike though.  It was about 60 degrees and sunny the whole time. 

We also went shopping were I stocked up on jeans that I thought were a great deal and they even shipped them home to me for free so I didn't have to limit myself to what fit in my carry-on. :)  Another day we went to the Shelby car factory for a free tour.  It was interesting to see and learn.  I liked this one car and took a few pictures of it then during the tour I learned that one was worth over 26 million! It was the first Shelby ever made and all original still.

First Shelby

inside the factory

 Later that evening we enjoyed a great steak dinner.  On our anniversary we drove to the Hoover Dam.  I've been there before but don't think I have done the tour before so we did.  I learned a lot about how they built it.  It was impressive!  After the tour we walked across the bridge for an amazing view.

Later that day we flew home.  It was the perfect relaxing, sunny weekend that I was hoping for.

funny story (well sorta)

 We are still working on the remodel.  Things are mostly going well.  Didn't get quite as far as we had hoped but we had a few unexpected things come up, not from the remodel just life, ok me.  Anyway I was waiting to post pictures until we were done but maybe I'll post some early.  One thing we got was all new appliances.  How exciting! But things weren't going so smooth.  When they brought the washer and dryer they scratched our brand new floor!  First the installed them flip/flop from the way the hook ups were and how we wanted so we asked them to change it.  When they pulled them out to change them they didn't protect the floor like they had the first time.  That's when I figured the scratches happened.  I didn't notice until they had left though because I was to worried about the fridge not fitting!  We had ordered the nicer, fancier one and had measured the space ahead of time but for some reason it wasn't working! David had to cut the counter top off to get it in.  Good thing the new counter wasn't here yet.  It had been already been measured but we adjusted it in time.  Back to the dryer, needless to say I was distracted and hadn't noticed the scratches until they had left.  I thought about it and decided not to say anything about it to them.  A few weeks later as I'm loving my new dryer (it works so fast) David says to me does it always make that funny noise?  I said yep! He said that's not right, I said it's fine I just ignore it because works amazing!  He called the repair man to fix it.  About a week later the guy came out and of 'course had to order a part.  He came back and put the new part in.  I didn't do laundry for a few days and had fallen a little behind because of the surgery's.  When I finally went to do it the dryer wasn't drying anymore! Ugh!  Now what!   I knew it had to be something simple when the repairman was just there, but David couldn't figure it out.  He called the guy again.  He could come until the next week.  I was running out of work towels and jeans for both of us.  I actually went to my friends house to dry a few necessity's. She is pretty pregnant and has an older dog that was being protective and bit me.  (It was nothing really just figures the way this was going)  The next week the guy didn't call or show up.  David called again.  He said he ordered the part and was waiting till he got it to come out.  I really didn't think we needed a part since I knew it had to be something simple.  I told my client I was on towel ration at work because of the whole ordeal. She insisted on taking them all home and she wash, dried and folded them then brought them back for me with dinner that she had made me too.  Today the dryer guy called the part came in but he wasn't sure if he could get there before David went to work. After I got home I went to see if the dryer had got fixed when I noticed the big dial on the top was turned to no heat instead of heat! Really could that have been it.  I called David and asked if the guy had came out to fix it today.  He said no. He can't make it till next week.  I told him about the knob.  He couldn't believe it either!  Sure enough I turned the knob and was back in business.  Now David has to call him to tell him no need to come out! Ugh  I'm now catching up on laundry and blogging while I'm waiting for them to dry!  2 loads down already! Time to get folding. :)

new year, new start?

By now I think you all know 2016 has not started out as I was hoping.  I had thyroid surgery at the end of December and was recovering well when I went to my follow up appointment and to my surprise they had found caner cells in the part they removed.  I think the surgeon was surprised as well.  I have been watching this growth for about 6 years now and have had multiple ultrasounds and 2 biopsy's none showing suspicion of cancer, but  because there was I had to go back into surgery so they could remove they rest of my thyroid to prevent any more cells from starting.  I got the pathology back from the second surgery with no cancer cells found.  This is good because it means hopefully it hasn't spread yet. They aren't certain yet though.  I don't go back to the endocrinologist until February 17th.  That's when he will tell me what our next step. Most likely I will then have a radioactive iodine treatment, a few weeks later.  This kills any thyroid tissue left (they usually don't get  all tissue in surgery because it 's to close or touches other parts).  Because thyroid tissue is the only tissue that can absorb iodine they put the radiation in iodine form so no other body parts get the radiation.  Then its a mater of regulating my thyroid hormone levels through medication and blood test.  Follow up checks will be likely every few months.  My exact diagnosis was stage 2, follicular carcinoma, minimally invasive, partially encapsulated.  Thyroid cancer is one of the most curable kinds of cancer.  Although there is better diagnosis's then mine my surgeon says he believes I have a 98% chance of being cured.  After treatment most likely no cells will start growing again, but in case  they do, they grow very slowly and people can live nearly as long of a life with them.  My second surgery went well also.  I am already feeling good and my scar looks great!  It's not to swollen or big.  I like the surgeon I had, Dr. King.  He said it looks great because my body was healing good not because his great work.  I do have a few pictures I could add but wasn't sure if anyone really wanted to see them.  This information is all how I understand it to be and hopefully correct.  I'll keep you all posted.  Keeping my fingers crossed this will be all behind me in no time.

2015 review

This post really brings nothing new, just a recap of the year.  I feel 2015 was one of the most challenging years for me filled with change.  Although I am very happy in life I had to overcome more then usual.  In January not only did I move locations for work but also a huge change to no longer have co-workers.

  I love not being the boss of others anymore, but it did take some getting use to working alone.  With David working at night I often found myself lonely after work.  Luckily my family was close by to visit with.  After a few months things seamed normal again.  My next challenge came when my parents moved away!  Believe it or not I am the only one of the 8 kids that has never lived more then a few minutes away from them! Once again I had to fill my evening activities with something else...Next came the hardest challenge for me.  I still struggle with it daily.  It is living with out Samantha.  We found out in July she had cancer and thought she had 6-12 months still.  It was only 6 weeks later she was gone.  I don't think anyone is ever ready to let go of a pet but Sam was a huge part of my life!  (I still haven't finished writing all the stories of her I wanted to share.)  Since I didn't have kids she was my baby.  I was probably way more attached to her then normal but we really had been through a lot together over 14 1/2 years!  I have had the hardest time adjusting to life without her still.

Shortly after she passed away the YMCA opened just a few blocks away from me.  I joined to do something after work besides sitting home alone and being sad.  I started going to yoga and although I'm not very good at it, it has helped me feel better.  I also had a client invite me to trivia night on Tuesday's.  I do like going there sometimes too.  This past month has brought challenges for me too.  We have been remodeling our house witch is looking great but added stress for sure.  Christmas just didn't seam the same with most of my family not being around.  I also had surgery this week for the first time ever.  I was really nervous about it ahead of time and am glad it is over!  I think I'm healing pretty well.  I know it seams like this year may have not been great but really there was lots of good things too.  I love my job, my only complaint is I have to much business for me to handle.  What a good problem to have.  I also got to go to Arizona to visit my relatives and enjoy the weather in February.  This summer David and I went to Wisconsin too where he got to see his family for the first time in a while and I got to meet them for the first time ever.  We took 2 weeks and drove there with Sam too.  It was a fun time.

  I also got to spend more time with my family over the summer then usual.  Isaac and Joshua's family were both here visiting for awhile.  It was nice getting to spend time with them.

  In December I got to attended Jarom and Paige's wedding in Spokane.  I  went to San Diego to see the Weostman's too.

 David and I have been making lots of upgrades to our home.  Thing are going good with that.  I am very fortunate to have a loving husband to take good care of me.  We are both happy and healthy and doing well overall. I'm looking forward to making vacation plans for next year and hoping to get a new puppy sometime in 2016.  I hope 2016 is the best year yet for everyone!

December fun

     As I already said December was filled with lots activities going on.  I wanted to post on how much fun it has been.  First I went to see Doranda's family, which I already posted about.  The next weekend David and I went to Malachi's to decorate sugar cookies.  I love sugar cookies but only make them once a year.  They are so much work!  Good thing Layne had already done the baking and we just got to decorate.

Later that week I helped my friend decorate for her birthday dance she has every year.

  I didn't go this year because we drove to Spokane to attend Jarom and Paige's wedding.  It was beautiful!  We could see all the hard work Tianna and others had put into it.  David loved the taco bar!  The flavors were amazing.

Christmas time weddings seam so hectic to fit into the already busy schedule, but I loved it because I was able to see a lot of my family at Christmas time I would not have seen otherwise.  I didn't have to ship presents for the kids either then.

It was a quick trip though.  I would have liked to visit longer but the snowy roads played a factor.  We drove over Saturday and back on Sunday.  The pass was closed both Friday and Monday so it worked out just right.  I had to work Monday too.

     David and I had a fairly quite Christmas this year.  We have still been busy working on the house remodel.  There's lots of little things to still do.  We decided to do stockings only.  On Christmas eve we stopped by Malachi's to bring the kids gifts then went to dinner at my favorite place, Marzano's. 

It's pretty small and you have to have reservations.  I called just a few days ahead of time and wasn't sure if we would be able to get in.  Luckily we did.  I ordered scallops for the first time ever.  Not only is the food delicious but it's also were we ate the night David proposed to me.  Then we looked at Christmas lights after.  We came home and had a fire and watched StarWars.

Not really a Christmas movie but David just bought the 6 dvd set so we can watch them all before we go see the new one since I haven't seen them all and it's been a little while since David has.  The next morning was Christmas!  We just slept in a bit then made some food to take to David's brothers house.  David made a huge prime rib!  It was expecive!  He said he does that instead of buying gifts since we don't need anything and neither does his family.  I made a peppermint/Oreo cheese cake and a cranberry fruit salad.  It all turned out well, but as usual there was more food then we could eat!.  David's nephew Nathan made these beautiful apple pie deserts.

After dinner we came home to watch another StarWars movie.  Today we are having his family over to watch the SeaHawk game!  They already made the playoffs but a win would still be nice.  Hopefully they will go to the Super Bowl again this year, but there are a lot of other teams doing great too.  I'd better start getting the taco's ready.  Tomorrow morning I will be getting surgery on my thyroid.  I'm a little nervous but I'm sure it will go fine.  Well that about wraps up the month for us.  Hope everyone else had a fun month too. 

"ditto"

I was just getting on the computer finally to blog about going to visit my sister and family in San Diego when I noticed she just had! Figures....Anyway I guess I'll recap too.  After work on a Friday I flew down to see the family.  I got in late so the kids were already asleep.  In the morning Doranda told them to stay in there room and she was going to get a surprise.  It was me of 'course.  The kids seamed excited to see me! My favorite was that Scarlett told me she thought the surprise was going to be chocolate chips but I was a way better surprise then that!  We did mostly hang around the house and enjoyed the beach.  I walked it everyday looking for cool shells. (I got all my steps in) I found a few but nothing I decided to take home.  We also got a little wetter then planned.  Good thing it was in the 70's so I wasn't to cold after.

Tucker watching the sunset

the Donut Bar

 

Leon's mustache during church

I read the kids lots of stories and made candy Christmas countdown chains with them as well. (you can see them hanging in the back of Doranda's picture of the boys gingerbread house)  It was a quick trip because I had to get back to work Tuesday morning.  Unfortunately I got sick Tuesday morning and had to reschedule all 10 of my clients that day.  Penelope told me on the drive to the airport (sick and all) that she wished I could stay!  It was fun getting to go there.