Thank You! Gracias! Merci!

My Thanksgiving was just as normal as the rest.  Food.  Family.  Fun.  And yet, it was wonderful because I had those 3 things... and so much more.  I'm so grateful!  Writing statuses (stati?) for Facebook for the 25 day countdown to Thanksgiving helped me realize the little blessings in my day-to-day life.  Of course I am always grateful for family, food, friends, a home, a car, being adopted, etc.  But I think it's important to "recognize the Lord's hand" in our everyday life.

Some things that I considered tender mercies in November:
1. The law of tithing.  We paid off Charles' OUT-OF-STATE student loans.  Not cheap.  I've never actually been so poor in my life (Charles didn't really have any savings before we got married... I did, so guess where the bulk of money came from?).  And yet we're not, because we pay our tithing.  Money appeared out of nowhere in our savings account.  I have no idea how that happened, honestly.  It doesn't say where it came from.

2. I was able to have a smaller patient load one night, which was good because one of my patients was totally freaking out!  Anxiety attack to the extreme over a milk-and-molasses enema.  Ok, I would probably freak out, too.  But in the end, my patient said, "I just need some fresh air."  Me, too!  I enjoyed a nice midnight stroll outside on the patio and got to see the lights all over the Salt Lake Valley.  Beautiful.

3. Game nights with friends.  Games just make life so much more fun!  We much more enjoy that than sitting and watching a movie.  We could do that by ourselves!  Thank you to the creators of "Harry Potter Clue" especially. 

And many more.  But anyway, here are some pictures of our Thanksgiving.

My cubie shelves all decked out in Thanksgiving decor!  I made the plate.  :-)

I love painting wood stuff!

The Iron Chef... in hot pink and lime green oven mitts.

I 'helped" my grandma to make pies when I was younger.  I ate so much dough!  I then learned how to really make good pies and homemade pie crust thanks to my mom when I was a little older and Grandma was gone.  I always think of her when I'm baking.  I miss her.

Silly Lily!

My family.  I sure do love them.

My Family.  Sure do love them.

Mmm... Tryptophan.

Hope you had a very happy Turkey Day!

 

HP7

I feel like my life is about to end.  Officially, Harry Potter has been a part of 1/2 of my life.  I was 11 when he was 11.  I remember reading "HP and the Sorcerer's Stone" in 6th grade, Ms. Pace's class, sharing a book with Amanda, who sped read faster than I could ever hope to be able to.

Each time a new book came out, I only surfaced from my room to use the bathroom and grab something portable to eat that could easily be eaten with one hand and not need much attention paid to it.  As I realized the last few pages of the books were within my view, I was filled with mixed emotions.  So excited to just finish it and find out how all the 3895 problems throughout the book were solved and anxious to see what new problem the next book would start with.  And so depressed that I would have to wait at least another year before the anticipation of opening pages full of surprises would happen. 

I don't even remember thinking what HP, Hermione, and Ron looked like before the movies came out.  But I remember thinking they all looked like they were supposed to.  I loved hearing the audience laugh when they saw an actor acting just as the character in the book should, saying the things in just the right tones and inflections that they should.  It was amazing to see the real-life action, see the emotions in their faces, watch the incredible graphics that made the unreal things in our muggle world come to life on the big screen.

So, as I went to see the first part of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," I felt a sense of loss.  It is almost over.  The war has almost ended.  The kids are grown, they are falling in love, they are dealing with deaths of dear friends.  Although my circumstances didn't allow me to see it at midnight, I kind of didn't want to.  I didn't want it be over.  I know there's the second half of #7 to come, and I'm dreading it.  The only consolation comes in that this collection of 7 books and movies will be a family favorite in the Burt household, and Charles and I will get to see our kids' excitement as they learn about the legendary Harry Potter for the very first time.  "I'm a wizard?  But I'm Harry.  Just Harry."

  

Voldemort Plays Fetch

Once upon a time there was a cuddly kitten.  He had beautiful white fur and big blue eyes. 

He was very sick, but he got better with medicine.  A little too better.  He turned into a very mean kitty.  His eyes started shining red, and they named him Voldemort.

He started biting his owners who loved him very much.  He then attacked important papers, chewed off strings off clothing, made the house a mess, and was just plain MEAN!  His owners started to not like him very much.  But because they are animal-lovers, they tolerated him.

"Hey that's a cookie shaped like me! ... wait, don't you guys EAT cookies?"

They just kept around him to tease and torment (in a nice animal-loving way).  They fed him his daily rations, and kept him watered.  But one day, Voldemort started to feel bad that they didn't like him.  So, he did something amazing.  He decided to show them he was a special kitty who was unique.  He played fetch!!!

Now Charles and Chandra LOVE Voldemort.  Ok, that's a stretch.  They tolerate him more! 

He's such a good kitty-dog! 

And in the end... everyone lived happily ever after.  And Voldemort gained 10 lbs from getting extra treats.

Happy Halloween!

Halloween was one of my 5 non-major holidays this year at work, so I got to celebrate with lots of sick kiddos!  Pretty sure I ate the candy that they couldn't d/t dietary restrictions. 

But nevertheless, I still got into the halloween spirit and decorated the whole house (in September!).  Here's some pics of our Halloween!

My cubie shelf that I'm going to keep decorated for the holidays.

Mine, Charles and Voldemort's pumpkins

Parvati Patil and Ron Weasley

Mechanic Girl.  Costume #2 for work.

Taken early morning October 27th.  Apparently autumn is over?

Hope your Halloween was full of sweet treats! 

Vroom!! Vroom!!

Have I told you lately, that I love... Charles?  Well, I do!  I've changed my work schedule yet again (every 6 weeks, I try something new and I pretty much am never happy!  I think it's the commute), and now I have Thursdays and Fridays off.  I let Charles know which day he should take off work, but let him know I'd be available 2 days this week.  So, he went sneaking around and making secret purchases and told me not to look at the online bank statement. 

Should I be worried?  Noooo. 

I told him I wanted to see what the Twilight Suite at the Anniversary Inn in SLC was all about.  Then I noticed that the New Moon DVD was in the DVD player when I was home by myself.  I didn't put it there, so...  was Voldemort watching it?  Hmm... 

Well, we ended up driving north on I-15, and we ended up at the Anniversary Inn in Logan.  They don't have the Twilight Suite.  Hmmm... should I be worried?  Especially cuz he has a stupid grin on his face.

I opened the door to this beauty...

I love motorcycles!  I dated a boy who had one for about 2 months.  I kept him around for the sweet ride!

I borrowed Charles' leather jacket.  He conveniently brought it with him.

I rocked at pinball!  Except when they threw 4 balls into it!  That got a little intense!

Charles rocked at pool.  I did not!

He partied hard!  (with diet coke)

and crashed hard!

Our room came with free hot dogs and drinks!  Actually, I'm sure they were a little more than 15 cents!

And breakfast of course!

I love this guy! 

While in Logan, we decided to visit the cheese factory.  They don't do tours anymore!  But Charles was a happy boy anyway...

Smoked and jalepeno cheese curds.  Mango milk.  Root beer milk.  Pomegranate honey!  Mmm mmm!

We also got shakes from the best ice cream place in Logan on USU campus! 

I got pumpkin and he got Blue Aggie mint.

And lastly, we stopped the enjoyed the view in Sardine Canyon on the way home. 

I wish I'd had my good camera!

All in all, a perfect little get-away!  I love my husband!

And because I just LOVE her, here is a picture of Lily from yesterday.  She understood that I didn't want her to take off her 'hat' until I had taken a picture!  Then she went even further and shook her bootie!   

She's such a cutie!

New Blog! Check It Out!

Hey all,

I created a new blog.  I'm still gonna put personal stuff on this one.  The other one is for lupus.  I'd love it if you followed that one, too!  And then maybe if you have friends or family who want to know more for themselves or for one of their friends/family who may have lupus, they can check it out!  If you have any suggestions, let me know.  I tried to throw in stuff about being LDS, but I don't want people to shut down and stop reading once they see that I am LDS, ya know?

http://www.tamethewolf.blogspot.com/

"Lupus is a wolf with a terrible bite.
I keep holding on, hoping there's a cure
To this disease that I must fight."

-part of poem I wrote when I was 14-ish.

Thanks!  You guys rock!

Alright, It's Official...

Fall is here!  Haha, scared ya, didn't I?  Nope, we are not having a baby like A LOT of our friends are.  Like, really, a lot.  It's kinda crazy.  They don't all live in the same counties, or I'd say there really is something in the water.

Anyway, Charles turned on the heater last night (for a dual purpose... I had a fever and it was freezing cold!)  And boy, did it feel amazing!  I'm so sad that summer is gone because I thrive in 100 degree weather.  I try to put meat on my bones by eating chocolate and ice cream (not really any good hearty food, just junk), and it just doesn't work.  So, I freeze to death.  Anyway, what did we do with our summer?  Where did the time go? 

And the most important question: WHY ARE WE IN RESPIRATORY SEASON ALREADY?!?!  (I hate picking up an extra Mandatory On-Call Shift for 6 months out of the year.)

Here are some of our summer highlights:

Nope, we didn't get a puppy.  Fooled ya again!  I got a new camera (a Nikon DLSR) and this is one of my first attempts at real photography.  This is the lovely puppy who my mother replaced me with.

Tiko.

Happy 1st Birthday Lily!  She is my favoritest niece ever! (and my only niece)

She's basically the best baby ever.  Hardly ever gets upset, and laughs at EVERYTHING!!

We went to the zoo.  Fun family time with Ben, my sister, Lily, and Grandma (mom).

Charles worked a lot (like, at least 50 hours a week, a lot.)

I worked a lot.  (up to 40 hours a week).  Charles brought me flowers at work (in Salt Lake)

on a hard day.  Where else to put them, but in a urinal?

I fulfilled my calling as Personal Progress Specialist by having the girls make tiled pictures of the temple.  They turned out really good, but I will never do something that big again!

We celebrated our 1st Anniversary in Park City!  Love you white chocolate cupcake!

I got cellulitis and had to be in the hospital for 2 days.  It was strange to be a patient again.  But I think I was good one.  I took myself to the bathroom.  :-)

We went on the BEST vacation ever.  Mexican Riviera Cruise. 

Puerto Vallarta.  Mazatlan.  Cabo San Lucas. 

Unlimited sun.  Food.  Ice cream.  R&R.  Jamaican music on the deck.  Swimming.  Beach.  Ziplining.  Almost dying when going with a local Mexican guy. 

Priceless.

And, as an ongoing project... trying to tame the demon (a.k.a. Voldy). 

He looks calm here, but don't be fooled. 

He has the wrath of Lord Voldemort.  In fact, I think he could dominate Lord Voldemort.

So, that has been our summer.  All in all, pretty good.  It feels like we just worked all the time, but I guess we got to do some fun stuff, too now that I look at the pictures. 

We never take our time together for granted, that's for sure!

Hope your summer was one to remember!