I'm not getting my hopes up.

BUT.

Ryan found a paid internship this summer. In Columbus. Ryan keeps telling me not to get my hopes up, but I told him that I can't really do that right now. My hopes are up [huh?]. It's a long shot, especially since his connections are his in-laws. But I just told him to name-drop my dad (He's a big deal, just FYI. Even met with VP Biden earlier this month, nbd) and he'd have it in the bag.

Ok, not really, but it's exciting to think about it either way. The plan is to stay put this summer, so that's probably what will happen. And I promise not to mention this again until we have a more concrete plan ahead. But still. It's so hard to keep exciting "what ifs" to myself!

Also, when Ryan was applying to law schools this time last year we had no idea where we would be. But then we knew we'd be wherever that place was a solid three years. But with internships it kind of feels like last January/February all over again. We definitely live in constant motion around here.

EDIT: Just in case anyone was confused, Ryan found out about an internship opportunity available in Columbus that he'll be applying to, but he hasn't gotten it. Also, I am now not allowed to post anything about this summer until it's a done deal. That's what you get for marrying a boy who's in training to be a lawyer though--very explicit rules :) haha.

Friday.

I'm finally on the up and up and getting over this darn cold. On Wednesday my package finally came and I shared a few pictures via twitter. I'm ridiculously excited about the BYU onesie and can't wait for our little one to wear it and wear it out, maybe even share it with a sibling if it lasts that long.

I was doing a little blog-surfing while on my break and came upon this awesome video of a flautist beatboxing. Maybe I need to do a little less blogging and a little sewing/crafting/singing..SOMEthing.

Also, for my birthday Ryan gave me an awesome Camelbak insulated waterbottle that I'm in love with. I also just got back from an Elementary school in which I left it last Friday and was crossing my fingers that it was still there. I had just decided that if it wasn't I was just going to buy another one and not tell Ryan so as to not look as irresponsible as I really am... Thankfully it was there. And now I've got a death grip on it.

Mailtime.

I'm a huge fan of getting mail. Especially when you order something online and you can track it to know just what day it's supposed to arrive. Especially when you've ordered some super presh baby clothes online and just want to see the dang things in real life! Especially when you're an emotional wreck and NOT getting those things would make you break down in tears.

The other day I found a key to our building just hanging out inside the key lock. Meaning anyone could just walk right into our building. No good, right? So I took the key out and put it on the ledge right inside the door so whoever the key belonged to could find it.

We haven't been getting any mail lately, which isn't a huge deal since really all we get are Netflix dvds and the once a month electric bill, so I didn't really think anything of it.

But the aforementioned package was supposedly delivered on Thursday of last week and on Friday there was no sign of it. No good. So I called Fed Ex, then USPS and found out that it was at the USPS place near BU. Awesome. Ry could pick it up after school, right? Wrong. A letter and my picture ID are necessary for him to pick it up. Cool.

Finally, today, I decided that my one venture outside (I took a sick day and totally have a head cold, runny nose, sneezing…fun stuff, right?) would be to go to the Post Office and pick up that package. I even took Instagrams on my walk over there. I was totally pumped. the plan was to then proceed to take a bajillion pictures of what I ordered and then wash them tonight so just in case this little boy was born tomorrow, he'd have some adorable clean clothes to wear.

Wrong again. I get to the Post Office and there's no sign of my package. They may have tried to re-deliver it, they say. Cool. I walk out of the Post Office with tears in my eyes because hey, I'm sick and pregnant and I just wanted that dang package. Then I sulked my way back home. I walked into our building and lo and behold there's a note from the mail man right outside our door that says "lost key to building. can't deliver mail. call bu."

So it was our MAIL MAN that left the key in there and now WE have to call BU to get our mail. Cool, right? Of course, I can't even call BU today since I left my cell at work yesterday and thought I'd get it today but then called in sick.

All I wanted was my adorable package. Is that just too much to ask for?

Geez, this kid of mine is going to think his mom is crazy.

Instagrams.

I haven't been feeling too hot for the last two days. Just a sore throat so nothing major, but I took the last few hours off work since I just want to be home, cuddled in a blanket and drinking soup and eating ice cream. I taught three classes this morning and headed home afterwards.

Ryan and I are participating in a spelling bee tomorrow (Jealous, aren't you? I'll write all about it next week) so I'm hoping to have a super chill night tonight so I can win, or at least just not get out in the first round, haha.

Before I head off to take a nap and then watch a bajillion hours of Law and Order: Criminal Intent I thought I'd leave all my lovely readers a few pictures of what we've been up to lately, via Instagram:

1. Ryan chatting with his parents on the banana chair (thanks again Drew and Jennifer--we can't thank you enough!)

2. We bought a car-seat!

3. One of my co-workers gave me some baby toys including big legos, a soft book and mailbox, a singing cow, and an awesome wooden book. Ryan is already a bit tired of that cow, but I just can't wait to play with them!

4. We went to a crepes place a few blocks down for us for a date night last week. Nutella and Strawberry crepes? Yes please. Their savory crepes looked super-good too. Also, I'm wearing the cowl-neck that my mom so graciously let me steal from her and some super cute felt rose earrings from Amanda the magnificent.

5. A sister missionary wearing Uggs. Love it. She's definitely a missionary after my own heart and I'd totally be doing that too if I went anywhere remotely cold.

6. A not-so flattering picture of the bump. We're down to long shirts or maternity shirts only these days to cover up the fact that I just wear jeans and don't even try to button them---just wear a long enough shirt and we're good to go. The shirt in the picture is too small (there's a bump-draft going on, as you can tell) so it's Target maternity v-necks + a cardi to the rescue.

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Have a great weekend! Stay warm!

A winter welcome.

New England has finally decided to buck up and become winter. We've had such a mild winter, but this weekend especially it got COLD. We ran errands in the cold Saturday morning and braved the Babies R Us, Target, Costco, and (seriously awfully designed but cheap supermarket) Market Basket crowds and then spent the rest of the weekend avoiding the outside as much as possible.

Due to our budding socializing we did leave our home (which I would like to say is cozy, but seeing as we live in a basement apartment and BU controls our heat, it can get a bit nippy) both Sunday and Monday night to eat and play games and socialize with some friends and on Monday night we left the Mildenhall's and right into a budding (it's a good verb!) snowstorm. It started sprinkling us with snow when we walked outside and by the time we were halfway home the snow was definitely falling horizontally and straight towards us.

Although it was super-cold, I kept thinking how awesome winter is; how beautiful the streets looked as fresh snow fell all around us. It was Boston's first real snow of the season and as both my mascara and nose ran uncontrollably I didn't really care at all as I walked beside Ryan the whole time home and soaked it all up. Welcome, winter!

Mormon Messages.

I don't think I can watch a Mormon Message these days without crying. Anything to do with family, temples, life and/or death...really, any topic at all, I just start to cry. (edit: even when I described the video to Ryan after watching I teared up...) The messages are so beautifully stated. Simple and touching and I'm super grateful that wherever I am I can get a boost from my Heavenly Father as I watch one of these videos.

I watched a video today on the dedication of the El Salvador temple as told by youth who lived there and participated in the celebration. One girl talked about how she couldn't wait to be in the bride's room with her mom and I lost it. I remember being with my mom there, and being sealed to Ryan and boy am I super grateful that I lived my life worthy of temple blessings and what a great motivator to continue living so that I can go to the temple again and again.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Sunday and continues to have a terrific week. Here's the video if you haven't already seen it.

More of what we've been eating as of late.

I realized on Wednesday that we hadn't eaten meat with our dinner since…maybe last Thursday? and while recipe blog surfing (it's my addiction, in case you didn't know) I found that we had all the fixins for Mel's Sloppy Joes. And man, they delivered.

Ultimate take-you-back-to-bein-a-kid food. Also, I think of "It takes two." The Mary-Kate and Ashley movie where they realize they're twins and switch and then one of them gets adopted…her last name becomes Butkiss. Y'all know what I'm taking about and you're smiling at all those rad memories, I just know it.

I always think of that part where one of them tries sloppy joes for the first time (even though it's the orphan twin's fave food) and she gets it all over her face, she's chowin down so hard.

Oh, and remember that part where one of them says "crystal" or something when her step-mom says, "Do I make myself clear?" and she puts escargot in her champagne glass or something like that? Man, I need to watch that movie again.

Also, these are pretty dang good sloppy joes and there's no "sloppy joe mix" or anything. I think I may do a little less soy sauce next time (which is funny because I could eat rice with soy sauce that becomes something more like soy sauce with a bit of rice..) but other than that not change a thing. I love that when you know how to make a good sauce you can change it to whatever your own preference is, you don't have to make it exactly like the recipe. I feel like such a grown-up cook when I do that.

i love my job

There are many reasons I love my job. Watching Sesame Street videos about cereal is definitely one of them. Also, because they're parody-ing Madonna's "Material Girl." Super catchy. Watch it a few times, you'll be hooked.

Also, when the muppets say "give it a whirl" at the end and spin in their little circle--super cute.

another recipe winner.

Ok, maybe I just posted yesterday about a good recipe, but whatevs. I made this soup last night and am so ticked that I didn't make it sooner. It's one of my pintrest recipe pins and man, do I love pintrest, along with the awesome food  and food blogs that I find through it. Mmmm.

But back to the recipe.

The name? Broccoli Potato Soup with bacon on top. Come on, doesn't just saying that name want to make you make it? Wintertime means eating this soup.

It's totally comfort food, super easy and pretty simple and quick.  Dive in please. It's totally calling your name.

Brocoli Potato soup with bacon. From Dana made it. You should make it too :)

PS The blog also has some adorable sewing and craft tutorials that I love (and really, someone could make them for me too, I don't HAVE to make them myself…): these cute diaper covers (a little boy can wear them too, right?!), this acorn wreath (inspiration for my own lima bean wreath), crib/toddler bed sheets (I can tell you the dimensions for our crib mattress in a few weeks…), adorable hot pads with tutorials on bias tape included, this faux chenille blanket that was the tutorial for the awesome blanket we received from my first BYU roommate, Megan (THANKS MEGAN!), and this super cute paci clip. Just to name a few.

recipe winner.

I love when you make a recipe and know that it belongs on your "make again" list. We actually had the first "I don't think I really want to make this again" dish last week and it was me who didn't really love it. I tried out kale and maybe I messed up the sauce or something, but it wasn't my favorite pasta dish. I'm bound and determined to make dishes with kale in them though because hey, I'm a nutrition teacher, I should know how to use this awesomely nutritional leafy green veggie.

Anyway, we've been experimenting with our "meatless monday" dishes (aka vegetarian dishes, since we rarely only make them on Monday, I'm cheap and healthy like that :) and made these babies last night. We also have some vegetarian friends and I was stoked to try out a new dish for them. We ate this plus fresh fruit and I really loved it.  It was like fish tacos but with roasted sweet potatoes instead of fish. Holey cow they were fantastic. I highly recommend them, especially since they're pretty cheap to make and super fall/winter friendly.

Sweet potato and black bean tacos via Joy the Baker. Enjoy!

The Holidays.

I can't believe we've been back in Boston almost a whole week. I was talking to Ryan and thinking how being with my family for a week and a half seemed so long ago already and he was thinking about how it felt like just yesterday. Either way, we had so much fun and have some fun pictures to show for it. I feel like I never take enough pictures during the holidays, but I think it's because with my family, we have so much fun just being around each other, cooking together, watching Modern Family together, and talking together. Not exactly "picture-worthy", but definitely memory-worthy. I can't wait until March when I get to see my parents again. I seriously never feel like I get enough. BUT, I am proud to say that I didn't cry at the airport this time. The first time I haven't cried as I've said good-bye to my parents.

Ok, ok, I totally was fighting back tears, and my eyes got watery multiple times that day, but thanks to the pickles I took on the plane and the Perrier that I drank before we got to security, I made it back to Boston in one piece. Thanks mom and dad for everything!!

 

Lots of baby Gus, reading and watching college bowl games, great food--both at home and going out (awesome italian and bbq) and awesome family. Ryan and I can't wait to see everyone again and have some come visit us here in Boston!

Service is the Rent we Pay

Pulling myself out of bed each morning is a task, especially when the high that day is below 30. Nevertheless, I got up early this morning to volunteer at an American Red Cross Food Bank in South Boston. I bundled up, caught a bus for the first time since coming to Boston, nervously examined every stop to make sure I wouldn't miss mine, still missed it, walked anxiously up and down the street, and fortunately stumbled upon my destination.

Peter, one of the directors, wasted no time directing me to the assembly line. He offered no "hello, how are you? What made you decide to come visit us today?" Instead, he rushed to show me how to restock the bins of frozen meat, yogurt, hummus, and fruit. A little nonplussed, I jumped right in. Thirty minutes later I realized we were understaffed. We had little time to prepare food packages for people waiting outside in the very cold I feared when I awoke this morning in my warm, comfortable bed. After the initial rush, I spoke with several other volunteers, who were all very kind and outgoing. Two of them even invited me to lunch, and one of them even paid for it!

I found this opportunity through Boston Cares, an organization that works to coordinate service projects in the city so ordinary people can give back. Shirley Chisholm said, "Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth." I could not agree more.

new year's resolutions 2012

*boston's public garden, august 2011*

I still can't believe that it's really 2012. That Ryan will be completing his first year of law school and we'll be in Boston a full year. That we'll be celebrating 3 whole years of marriage. That we're going to be adding a third member to our family. So much will happen this year! So, without further ado, our new year's resolutions for 2012:

Emily
1. Be better at writing in my journal and write at least 30 days in a row some time this year.
2. Complete a "101 in 1001" goal at least once a month. There are a few goals that take a bit of time, and I really want to make a special push to complete more this year.
3. Have baby and lose the baby weight by eating well and working out consistently. It's all about lifestyle changes and although the baby/body kind of forces you to change, I'm hoping that with this change I can add a healthy change to our life, too.

Ryan
1. Index one Sunday a month (hurray for learning more about family history!)
2. Write one blog post a month (I'm (emily) super pumped about this one.  Ry said this year he'd make it "our" blog instead of "mine" :)
3. Read to baby everyday. (Ok, I'm even more excited about this. What a good daddy.)

Really, Ryan has a bajillion goals/resolutions, but I just picked a couple especially cool ones. We're super pumped for this year and hope it's a great year for all of our friends and family.