Eye Problems, Cook Books, and Pat Benatar...OH MY!

A LOT has happened in the past two weeks! 

To start with, Saturday, January 14th, Nick and I FINALLY cleaned out our garage (after living there for over a year), and my car can fit!  This made me extremely happy!  Speaking of, I have a nice couch and slip cover (that I would like out of my garage for more room) for sale for $75 if anyone is interested. :)  Any ways... In the midst of all the cleaning, and putting things in the attic, some insulation fell on me.  I didn't think it was that big of a deal.  Then, all day Sunday, my left eye was super blurry.  I just kept thinking my contacts must be messed up or something.  Monday morning (my day off for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), I woke-up at 4:00 am with some of the worst pain I've ever been in.  It felt as if my eye was on fire and popping out of my head!  I tried to suck it up, rinsed it out, laid really still, but it kept getting worse.  We called Casey to see if I should go to the ER, and she said to wait and go to the optometerist because they could do more for me.  So, at 8:30, we were crossing the threshold of the doctor's office.  She looked and said I had a lot of abrasions on my cornea.  I believe that insulation that had fallen on me had gotten under my contact and spent the day scratching my eye on Sunday.  So, I got precription drops, my eye dialated, and felt MUCH better!  I've had two relapses of intense pain, but I know if I put drops in and lay still, it will get better quickly.  I've now worn contacts four days in a row, and haven't had any problems.  Whoop whoop!

Tuesday, January 17th, our ladies' Bible study started back up.  It's so good to be back with all of those wonderful ladies!  We are studying a book called Seeds by Priscilla Shirer.  It is AMAZING!  We had our second meet up yesterday.  I thoroughly enjoyed it, and Stacey and I brought the food. :)

The book we are going through this semester.

Thursday, January 19th, Nick and I met up with Mitch & Casey and the kids at Two Senioritas to eat.  Then, Casey, Kenlie & I went to the movies to see Beauty & the Beast in 3D at the movies.  I absolutely LOVE that movie.  Kenlie had never seen it.  She got scared during the wolf part, but she crawled up in my lap and watched the rest of the movie.  I asked what she liked best about the movie, and her response was, "When the Beast started being nice to Belle."  It was so cute.  Glad I got to be a part of introducing the next generation to Disney classics.

Saturday, January 21st, Nick and I headed to Henderson for the unveiling of the Nicholson family cookbook.  Nick's paternal grandmother (known as Mimi or Edna) was a Nicholson.  Hence, Nick's name. :)  We went to Nick's aunt and uncle's house for a good ol' family potluck, visiting, and unveiling of the cookbook.  It was so much fun!  People are coming out of the woodworks for these cookbooks.  I believe Melanie has sold 31 all together so far!  I can't wait to crack that puppy open and start cooking new recipes.

Little Grace and I. :)

Staging of the cookbook unveiling. 

Yay!

Our AWESOME cookbook. :)

That evening, Nick and I went out for our friend Kelley's birthday.  We had 6 or 7 couples who all attended.  We started the night at Pete's in Mt Pleasant.  Loved it!  It was the first time Nick and I had ever eaten there.  BBQ & pizza.  All American, right? :)  After dinner, we headed over to Kelley & David's house to play some Kinect, hang out, and eat cupcakes.  It was a blast!  I love the group of friends Nick and I have made here in Pittsburg.  I was so concerned when we came that there wouldn't be anyone to hang-out with, but the Lord has provided for us, and for that I am truly thankful.

A few weeks back, our youth minister/contemporary worship leader at church approached me about starting up a Praise Choir for our second service.  Wednesday, January 25th, we had our first practice, and our first time to sing with the band was Sunday, January 29th.  We are in need of more voices, so if you'd like to sing along, come join us!  I'm so excited for this new experience!  I've always wanted to sing in the church choir, and now we're getting to have one! 

Saturday, January 28th, I helped my boss out by being a "celebrity" for the Pilot Club's Celebrity Waiter Dinner in Mt Pleasant.  The theme was 80's music.  We had lots of people dressed as 80's music icons, and I was Pat Benatar.  I felt extremely awkward, but it was a blast.  :)

Michael Jackson, Joan Jett, and David Lee Roth 

Tina Turner, Madonna, Cindi Lauper, and Pat Benatar

Pavarotti

Devo

Gene Simmon's shoes...those are fish

Hubby and I

Pat Benatar, Michael Jackson, and Cindi Lauper :)

Myself, Slash, and my boss, Charlotte

This was my inspiration for my outfit. :)

I can't believe I walked out of the house dressed like this!

The next two months are shaping up to be EXTREMELY full.  But, it will all be fun, I'm sure. :)

Jess & Larry's Christmas Shower...Oh My!

This past Saturday, Lisa Crain and I hosted a Christmas shower for the future Sullivan's.  It was an absolute blast!  I handled invitations and the location, Lisa handled all the food (and man was it delicious).  Jess and Larry were loaded up with some great items for future Christmases.  I know that when they unpack each item every year, they will remember who bought it for them and how special it is to them. :)  We played a "game" of sorts.  No one won anything, and it wasn't competitive, but it meant a lot to everyone.  All of the attendees were to write their favorite Christmas tradition on a card then read it aloud.  Jess and Larry got to keep all of the cards and will hopefully make some Christmas traditions of their own.  Nick and I were able to pick out lots for their gift.  Since the party was after Christmas, we were able to grab all those holiday deals (and Jess doesn't mind me saying this because she's a bargain shopper as well). :)  We got them 4 boxes of solid colored shatter-proof ornaments that are Jess's favorite colors, kitchen towels, and a soap pump and two towels for the bathroom.  I know they loved it, and I can't wait for the future showers over the next few months. :)

This was one side of the invitation I created and poem I wrote.  If you click on the picture, it will blow up larger and be easier to read.

The hostesses with the happy couple.  Look at all the food! AND there was even more on the counters.  Go Lisa!

Sherry and Sandra getting some yummies.

The Robertson ladies with the newest Robertson.  His attention is on the important stuff...cookies.

Yay!  Aggie ornaments and an "S." 

The table runner that was one of the biggest hits of the shower.    Every time Jess opened something after this it was, "Oh, that'll look good with that table runner." :)

Pretty new Christmas apron!

This was our gift to the Sullivan's.  I made a Christmas tree out of the boxes. :)

New plates. :)

Everyone was joking that Sandra and Sherry were going to be in every picture, so they started posing as "Vanna White."

Larry's gift from the shower... a ladder to put it all up.

Some of the Bridesmaids and the Bride

The Bride & Groom with their mothers and maternal grandmothers. :)

The Bride & Groom with their ring bearer.  Isn't he the cutest?

The nephew...Oh My!

I have one of the cutest nephews around!  As I posted in my last post, Nick and I took Owen out for a photo shoot for Alan & Tovah's Christmas present.  They were both so excited, and I've wanted to share these pictures ever since we took them in October.  Nick's parents helped us out by trying to get the little man to smile.  Owen was 5 months when we took these.  He's almost 8 months now!  Time has definitely flown.  So, without further adieu, here's the handsome little man. :)

The handsome little man.  I bought his outfits for him too. :)

This is one of my favorites!  The hat he is wearing belongs to Nick's dad.  A lot of people call it the "Joe Rex Hat."  So, Owen was getting to support JoePa's hat. :)

The rocker nephew...ACDC is awesome.

This is the picture we have hanging in our living room.

Cutie patootie!

This is the picture I printed for Tovah for her office.

He kept giggling at Oma (Nick's Mom) because she was singing "Zippi-dee-do-dah."

What's that in my face?

This is the only pic I got of him in his Baylor onsie.  We'll have to do more Baylor pics.

This was the most precious of them all!  I had this one printed in a 16 x 20 and framed.  Gorgeous blue eyes!

He wasn't happy with me for this one, but I wanted a pic by the pumpkins.

This was his Christmas present from Oma and JoePa.  This is the only year he'll be able to see his presents before Christmas and still be excited Christmas morning.  :)

Just chillaxin.