And Baby Makes Three

Keeping my fingers crossed!

2010-10-28T01:29:00.000-04:00

A few days from now I'm going to be granted the opportunity I've been waiting on for the last year! I'm going to be interviewing for a permanent position at the library. I'm super excited and super nervous... what am I going to wear? How am I going to answer that sticky "what is your greatest weakness" question? Gosh!

So this is me asking for prayers, crossed fingers, great tips, etc. Anything that will make Monday go smoothly! I know I've got some stiff competition, so I'm going to need all the help I can get. Anyway, here's hoping. :)

Something to Write Home About...

2010-09-01T11:48:00.000-04:00

Let me just begin by saying that I am a very lucky woman who is married to a great man. I am always proud of him, but today I cannot find the words to say it adequately.

Most of you know my husband is a medical student and recently has been taking his licensing exams. Well a few weeks ago he took one that was very important to our future, and this morning we found out that not only did he pass it, but that he totally rocked it!!!! :)

So that was this mornings, good news.

Now the not so good news...

I had another phone call this morning. This one was from my brother. He called to tell my that my grandfather passes away last night. I know that he is in a much happier place today. He has had alzheimer's that has progressed so much over the past few years, that it has made things hard... He will be greatly missed and never ever forgotten. Services for this wonderful man will be held this weekend in Van, Texas.

Granddaddy feeds Rachel ice cream... Yum!

Holy Cow It's An Update!

2010-08-05T21:38:00.000-04:00

Alright, I really fell of the blogging bandwagon... Well, here's a quick update for those who are curious. Basically, nothing really new has happened. Still doing the same stuff. Cody's studying, I'm hanging out, we get together with friends whenever we can find a good excuse. Here's a few highlights from the last 10 months or so... :)

Mom came to visit in November and we took a trip to Sequoia National Park. It was a super fun trip, and I even got to see bears, oh my! Though for the record, Cody said that would never happen. Ha!

We had a great time exploring the park and seeing the huge Sequoias! If you ever get the opportunity, I highly recommend it.

Somewhere along the way we got hooked on going to hockey games. I know, crazy! Bakersfield has a semi-professional team, the Condors, and I think we made it to seven or eight games last season. I can't wait for the new season to start. Wonder if I can talk Cody into season tickets?

We also had the great fortune of going back to Texas for Christmas. It wasn't exactly a white Christmas, but it was definitely snowing on Christmas Eve. Our dog, Bo, absolutely loved the cold weather. Here's a few pics from our time with the family.

Eric, Anna, Rachel and Cody

Us and our baby - who's almost as big as me!

Mom, Cody, Jenni, Troy and Bella

Baby sister got engaged!!!

After Christmas, not much happened. We came back to Bakersfield and went through the motions of everyday life. Cody has not completed much of his core clinical rotations including Family Medicine, Surgery, and Ob/Gyn. For me, OB was the absolute worst. Cody was always gone, and when he was home he was absolutely exhausted. So so so grateful that's over with. Now, we are just days away from Cody taking his Step 2 of the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Exam), and we'll be that much closer to calling him Dr. Cody. Or if you are Holdyn, Dr. Cokey!

I should point out that in May we made a special trip back to Texas for my sister's wedding. It was absolutely the best feeling in the world to stand beside her as she said her vows to one very lucky guy. Honestly, I couldn't have asked for a better person to walk with my sister through this life. He is an amazing person, and I know my father would be proud. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Troy Roberts!

So, now you are all caught up! I'll try to be back in the near future with more! I head to Texas next week for Robin's wedding and Cody will be headed to New York for a pediatric rotation, so I should have lots of material. Ashley, if you are reading this, please remind me to post an update when I get back! :)

My fantastic job!

2009-11-26T02:50:00.027-05:00

Yep! I know! I'm once again way over due on a post...

What can I say?

I GOT A JOB!

Many of my friends have asked what I've been up to in the last few months. Well, the truth is not much unless you count working like a dog. I got a gig at the local library here in Bakersfield as a Reference Librarian (basically I answer lots of questions all day long) and I am LOVING it! I have been so blessed to have gotten settled into Bakersfield and to have found a job almost immediately when so many are without. In fact, in the last few months the library had laid off almost thirty people and cut their hours so drastically that some branches are only open one day a week!

Beale Memorial Library, Bakersifield, CA

In the last few weeks, I have discovered just how much more of a blessing it is to be working at the library beyond just being employed. I absolutely love the people I work with, and I have been given responsibilities that make me feel like the time I spend at work is worthwhile. How many people can say that?

Berta and I dressed up for Halloween

Anyway, my job is just one of the many reasons I'm thankful this holiday season. Happy Turkey Day everyone!

Hollywood here I come!

2009-11-26T02:38:00.001-05:00

So a while back Cody and I had a date night (this was while he was in Las Angeles for a psychiatric rotation). Ashley and I had gone down to visit our guys, and Cody decided that we needed a night out on the town. First he took me to see something that I never thought I would see in this lifetime. I saw the real Hollywood sign, yep, the one in all the moves!

It was a really neat drive, through a very pricey neighborhood (to say the least). I was a little disappointed that you couldn't get right up to it, but I suppose that's probably best considering the level of graffiti in Las Angeles.

After seeing the sign we were pretty hungry so we decided to find the Hard Rock Cafe. Turns out the one in L.A. is just outside Universal Studios theme park. We walked around for a while looking at the neat shops and restaurants. (Anna, there was a sock store that you would have loved!) We got one of the other tourists to take our picture in front of a fantastic fountain. Little did we know he was a professional photographer.

We did end up eating at the Hard Rock Cafe which was something I'd never had the chance to experience. Let me just say how cool the atmosphere is in that place. The full size car, the ceiling that changed colors, and all the great memorabilia had me in awe. So here's to the coolness that is the Hard Rock Cafe!!

Home Sweet Home!

2009-10-20T01:24:00.013-04:00

After just a few short days of driving around Bakersfield, Cody and I found the perfect apartment complex. There was just once problem: we had to move in immediately if we wanted the apartment. So the very day we unload the u-haul at Jill's house and turn it in, we find out that we have to load all our stuff back up to move into our new place. (You can imagine how happy my husband was about this.) Haha! Life is great, huh?

Notice the beautiful mountains in the background! I see these out my bedroom window every morning. The picture below taken from the bottom of the stairs leading up to my apartment. We've got some great shade trees, a fountain, swimming pool, and hot tub just out our front door. OH! And the pond with the fountain has koi in it. How cool is that?

Our apartment is on the second floor, so we have great views. Below you can see our balcony and our front door.

Here are a few pictures of the inside of the apartment. We made the second bedroom our office, the better for me to sit and work on my blog. :) Remember, it's a work in progress...

Bakersfield or BUST!

2009-10-13T00:20:00.004-04:00

Yeah, so I had this great post planned out about our trip out here, but then I really got to thinking about it. There was nothing really great about our trip. We spent twenty-four hours seeing who could spot the most trains. Oh, and thank God for walkie-talkies. Anyway here's a few highlights...

On the first day, we spent twelve hours in two separate cars and barely made it out of Texas. For the most part I saw only the back of the trailer Cody was pulling... What the heck is a custom hitch anyway?

The second day? Well, we left early in the morning from Albequerque. We loaded the cats and our suitcases back in the car and started out around seven thirty in the morning. For those of you who don't know, I'm NOT a morning person. The cats were not happy to be back in the car, and I was not happy to have them. The finally settled down after a while, but they let me know exactly what they thought about it first. We did get to see several hot air balloons taking off that morning, which was cool, but soon we got back to the boredom that is New Mexico. See below.

Arizona was somewhat better since the landscape began to change. Cody and I both fell in love with Flagstaff. It was an absolutely beautiful town. The mountains and trees were a great change of scenery.

Of course, the cats didn't care where we were. I did learn that they did better with a little air conditioning and that my Louie is WAY more needy that Madison will ever be. In between each new spot that he tried to sleep in he would come and sit in my lap for a few minutes. He eventually decided that no where would make him happy, so he rotated about four or five spots every half hour or so, stopping to visit me in between. Not that I'm really complaining because since we've been in Bakersfield he's been my bestest buddy.

Below is just a snapshot of me being bored. Nothing like the Mojave Desert to make a girl crazy.

We finally reached Bakersfield, California around eight that night. It was great to get to see our friends, Ben and Jill, who so graciously made room for us in their home. God truly blessed us with our friends. I nearly cried when I got there because they had gone over the top to make us feel at home. Dinner was waiting on the stove. We had a bedroom to ourselves, and they had even cleaned out a closet and a dresser for us to put our things away. I cannot say how much these people mean to me, but I hope that one day I will be able to return the kindness in some way.

Now we are here in Bakersfield, and we are happy as can be. The town is more than I had dared hoped it would be. The people here are nice, and I have friends nearby who have helped make it feel like home (Ben, Jill, Ashley, Jason, Laura, and Steve in particular). Thanks guys!

I'm a big bad...

2009-10-08T03:18:00.004-04:00

GRAD!!! Yep! I know this a late announcement, but I did it! I finished my master's degree. I can now officially be called a librarian. Sexy, right? Anyway, here's a few pictures to commemorate the event. (Like my fancy words?)

My graduating class - August 2009

Waiting in line to walk across the stage!

The fancy announcements I ordered!

Then out to dinner with the family to celebrate! Aren't they a beautiful group!

My summer in pictures...

2009-10-08T01:04:00.007-04:00

I know the last post was all words and no pictures, so I decided to do one that's all pictures and well a few words. :) These are just some snapshots of the fun things Cody and I got to do this summer.

We went to Shreveport, Louisiana to celebrate our anniversary! Here's the beautiful Horseshoe Casino Hotel where we stayed. We were on the 27th floor and the room and the view were amazing!!

While we didn't go down to the casino, we did spend some time betting on the ponies! Of course Cody looked at the statistics and all that jazz. I just picked the ones that I thought were pretty!

Afterwards, we went out to dinner (Mexican food, yum!) then went down to the riverwalk. The sunset was incredible, but mostly I just remember having a great evening with my hubby.

When we weren't off having fun, Cody was working from daylight to dark. His old boss loved having him back in the tractor. Some days I was lucky and got to ride around with him... it was just as much fun as it was in high school.

Since Cody got to work pretty much seven days a week, I took the opportunity to visit my friends. Here's one of Maisie and I. We met during college and worked together at Foley's.

Okay, so not the best picture of me, but this was too good to leave out. Cody and I went to visit his brother down near Austin. While we were there we got to visit one of our old friends who happened to have set up a deer feeder in his front yard. Now he has about a dozen deer who visit every evening to eat corn out of his hands.

One last thing I wanted to mention... I got to spend the summer with my favorite doggy! Bo is our dog who lives with Cody's parents. He is very lazy and absolutely loves green grapes. What can I say, he takes after both his parents. I like green grapes too!!

Ready or not, here they come!

2009-10-02T16:39:00.004-04:00

Yep, I know what you are thinking... Who is this person that finally updates her blog? I know it's a shock, but I finally have my camera charged, my pictures loaded, and I'm ready to give you the epic tale of my summer. It all started long ago in a far away land.... Haha! What can I say? I'm in a good mood today! Life has finally put me in a place where I look forward to each new day. More to come on that. For now, we will start with the beginning and see how far we can get.

So I spent my summer in Texas visiting my family and my friends. I saw my Grandmother and Grandpa Duncan (you never ever ever call her grandma because that sounds "old"), my Grandpa Stiles, along with some aunts and uncles and cousins. I spent many weekends camping out on Robin's couch when I just needed a friend (thank you so much). My sister moved home, and I think we are both grateful for that time we spent together (even though there were a few moments where neither of us would have said so). I got to spend time with my mom and Cody's parents, all of whom went above and beyond to give us that great feeling of being home. Overall, it was a great summer and one I will never forget.

While I did lots of stuff, the time I spent with my family and friends is what made it so special for me. The next posts will be about the stuff, but I wanted to do this one as a big THANK YOU to everyone who made our summer what it was.

My favoritest students ever!

2009-05-26T12:46:00.005-04:00

Yesterday I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to meet up with some of the best kids in the world. The McKnights lived in St. Maarten, and I was lucky enough to get to help with their homeschooling for a little while. Anyway, they happened to be in Dallas, so Cody and I drove up and met them all for lunch at The Grande Lux Cafe. It was an awesome restaurant and the company was even better. I'm so impressed with how well they are doing in school and how much they have grown since I saw them last.

This is a picture of Michelle and I (and McKenzi's helpful hands). She's an awesome mom and teacher. Thanks, Michelle, for the chance to get to see you all again. I miss you!

Good friends are hard to find

2009-05-26T12:35:00.003-04:00

This is just a short post to let my friend, Robin, know how much I love her! We were roommates in college, and I love the fact that I'm back in Texas where I can go see her whenever I want. In fact, she has let me escape to her house twice since I've been back in the states for some much needed R & R, and a little therapeutic shopping too! She bought my favorite foods, and took me to my favorite stores.

So the lesson here is, when you find a great friend hang on to them with all you have! I'm very grateful to have friends like Robin in my life who make everything just a little easier. Thanks girl!

He loves me....

2009-04-21T22:45:00.005-04:00

That's the only explanation I have for why Cody would agree to get me a new shiny car. He loves me! Yesterday, we went down to the dealership looking at cars and trucks. He kinda wanted a truck, and I kinda wanted a car. After looking at our options, we both agreed on a 2009 Pontiac G8 GT. I'm pretty surprised that I got financed for it, but I'm super happy I did. It's pretty much fully loaded, and SO SO SO much nicer than the Nissan Sentra we had on the island. Here's a few pictures though they really don't do it justice. The second one is after we got the windows tinted.

Can I Move to California.....?

2009-04-16T12:40:00.002-04:00

Please, please, pretty please!!!!

So, I've been blog-stalking again... One of my closest friends, Jill, is really good about keeping up with her blog (unlike someone you may know). After looking through her pictures with her two adorable daughters, I'm realizing how VERY much I miss them. So this is my ploy to nudge Cody in that direction. :)

Very sly, I know! Anyway, keep your fingers crossed for us that everything goes well, that Cody passes his Step 1 of the USMLE, and that I get to hang out with Jilly-Bean by the end of the summer. *big cheesy grin*

5th Semester Bash!

2009-03-30T20:05:00.006-04:00

This weekend Cody and I went to a terrific party. It was the 5th Semester Party hosted by Cody's class. It was held at the Sonesta Great Bay Hotel in Philipsburg. This is basically an opportunity for everyone to get dressed up, have dinner, a few drinks, and lots of dancing. The girls and the guys all looked amazing. Here's a few of my favorite pictures from the evening...

Ashley and I looking GORGEOUS!

The girlfriends... Megan, Hanna, Me, and Stephanie

Cody, Rachel, Geneva, and Chuck

One of my newest friends, Amanda, and I

The classic shoe picture - left to right - Steph, Geneva, Me

The Laundry Fiasco...

2009-03-30T19:36:00.005-04:00

Okay, so some of you have heard my stories about how I do the laundry, but now I have proof. For those of you who didn't believe my crazy island setup, here's how it works. First, I have to run the connection hose through my kitchen window. Then I walk outside and hook it up to the waterhose, making sure it doesn't leak.

Of course this means that the washing machine has be set up close to our kitchen window. Therefore, we have it just inside the front door. (Definitely not my first choice, but what can you do?) In the picture below, the blinds are covering the front door, but you get the idea.

Okay, so once I have everything all hooked up through the window, I have to make sure that the drain hose is in the sink and that there is a bottle of detergent weighing it down. If there is nothing to way it down, the pressure of the water flowing out pushes it out of the sink and we wind up with a flooded kitchen. Yes, it has happened more than once. Did you know they make squeegees with really long handles? We have one attached to a broom handle that comes in really handy when this happens.

After the laundry is all done washing (and with luck, no flooded kitchen), everything goes on the drying rack with a fan to help dry all our clothes. You guessed it... no dryer! Am I grateful to have the opportunity to live in the Caribbean? ABSOLUTELY! Am I going to be grateful for a washer and dryer when we get back to Texas? HECK YES! Have I made Cody promise to buy me the fanciest set on the market as soon as we can afford it? You can bet money on that. :)

Making a List and Checking It Twice!

2009-03-10T19:44:00.002-04:00

Holy Smokes! How did it get to be 5th semester?? And where HAVE I BEEN?

Well, I can't believe it, but it's here... We are nearly to the end of 5th semester which means a lot of things. First, it means that Cody is studying like CRAZY. There are comprehensive exams, shelf exams, physical exams, behavioral exams. You name the exam, and I can tell you he's probably studying for it. Second, it means that we are getting ready to go home in just 5 short weeks. I know, I can't believe it either... seriously. We've bought the plane tickets, got our cats confirmation numbers for the flight, got their shots up-to-date, and now I'm getting rid of my stuff! That's where the list comes in. I'm packing up what we don't need, and I'm getting rid of it. Good golly it's a lot of work.

So where the heck have I been for two months??

WELL, I wish you could see my calendar that I use to keep up with my school assignments. It is almost as jam-packed as Cody's is. Most of you know this, but I'm taking 9 semester hours of course work for my master's degree this semester. I know it's crazy, but I'm gonna be finished this summer! *Crosses fingers* But for now, I have papers coming out the wood-work with no end in sight. *sigh* This week it's two papers, a formal outline, and a midterm. Wish me luck....

Rachel

who is sick of research papers

Happy Birthday to me!

2009-01-27T16:41:00.008-05:00

For my birthday (the big 25) Cody took me on a trip to Saba, which is an island we can see right out our front door. It was really neat to get to see another Caribbean island. I kind of thought they would all be the same, but boy was I wrong! Saba reminded me more of a tropical rainforest than anything else. The towns (all 4 of them) were very charming. People were NICE and thought very highly of the medical students on the island. It was very refreshing.

The cottages where we stayed were super cute. They were on the side of a hill looking out over the ocean. There was no a/c, but the cottages were completely open. The kitchen and the bathroom were technically outside. It got a little cool at night, but it was nice just to feel the breeze. The picture above is the view from our kitchen /porch area.

Anyway, our big adventure while we were there was to hike Mt. Scenery (basically to the top of the island). As you can see, the top of the mountain is actually in the clouds. And the picture really doesn't do it justice. On a side note, when you are climbing to the top there are 1,067 concrete steps, and more than a few uphill slopes. Yes, you are looking UPHILL in the picture below...

There were a few times that we both questioned our sanity, but we made it to the top. Yay! We sat at the top for about 30 minutes, but we really couldn't see much because of the cloud cover. It was fun anyway. We had a blast and enjoyed the rest of our weekend relaxing in the cottage.

And it begins again...

2009-01-20T23:18:00.002-05:00

I just wanted to let everyone know about my misery. My graduate classes officially started back up today. The internet is already acting up, looks like it's going to be a long semester...

Things you might not know...

2009-01-14T10:57:00.007-05:00

So I was thinking about what really defines me as, well, me. I came up with a list of things that I find essential to understanding who I truly am, and I found that most of them are the little things that you might not know about me. Here they are in no particular order:

1. I love peace - not in the world peace kind of way (though that would be great), but in the way that I want every thing around me to be easy going.

2. I'm OCD when it comes to textures - I compulsively touch things when I walk through stores. I can't help myself! If something doesn't feel nice, I don't buy it.

3. I think Giraffes are CUTE! I even have socks to prove it. :)

4. I'd rather scrub a toilet than do dishes. There, I said it. I hate doing dishes, so that job usually falls to Cody. I know, poor Cody. (And you'll never find a nasty toilet in my house.)

5. I am loyal to my family, almost to a fault. I'm the only one who gets to talk bad about them. They are mine! I'll defend them even if you are right.

6. I have several best friends. I can't say that one is any more "best" than the others. They have entered my life when I needed them the most, and I will forever be grateful to each of them.

7. I am madly in love with my husband. Probably not a surprise, but a lot of my actions can be traced back to something that involves Cody. But hey, that's how it's supposed to be, right? :)

8. I have a terrible memory - don't blame me, my mom says it's genetic. Honestly, I've forgotten to pick her up not once, but twice. Now, if something is extra important, it gets a sticky note. And if I tell you I've forgot something, I'm not lying, it happens a lot.

9. I know God loves me. There is no other explanation for all the wonderful things in my life.

10. I think there is something sacred about good books. You won't find me "dog-earing" my pages or folding the cover back. Guess you understand why I'm getting my master's degree in library science. (And why I was an English major in undergrad.)

11. I believe in multiple intelligences (the concept of being smart in different areas like reading, logic, technology, street smarts, and so on). I also know where I'm smart and where I'm, uh, lacking.

12. I hate being cold. Part of me wants Cody to do his clinicals in Michigan, but then the high temperature for today was 3, so maybe not so much.

Okay, that's the list so far! That's who I am. Interesting, huh?

Ringing in 2009!

2009-01-08T16:42:00.007-05:00

This is my first official post of the new year! Yippee!

Okay, now that I got that out of my system, it's time for another one of my famously late updates...

Cody and I enjoyed three glorious weeks back in the good ole United States. It was so nice to be back with our family and friends for Christmas. We made trips to San Antonio, Dallas, Tyler, and Killeen in order to visit as many people as we could.

Mom waited for me to get home before putting up a Christmas tree. (It's because she loves me). Anyway, that was the first item on my to-do list once we got home. It turned out that no one in town had any left, but Cody and I got really lucky. Someone had donated some really nice ones to our church for anyone who needed a tree. Neato! So my nephew, Hunter, and I had a great time decorating a tree. I wish I had gotten a good picture of it because he did a great job hanging the ornaments.

For Christmas Eve we went with my mom, sister, brother, sister-in-law, and my four neices and nephews to drive through the Land of Lights. It was great fun. We got to ride in the back of the truck with the kids who sang Christmas carols at the top of their lungs. Who could ask for more? After that, we rode back to my mom's house to open our gifts (It's a Duncan family tradition).

Cody got me a new Ipod nano (the purple one) because he knew I really liked the color. I know, how sweet, huh? We also got each other tickets to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, which was simply amazing. I also got some pajamas, boots, and a new willowtree figurine from the family. Here's a shot of my mom and sister... I'm not sure what we were talking about...

For New Year's, I went to see one of my very best friends, Robin. (I was blessed to have her as a roommate in college.) We had a blast shopping, hanging out, and doing the girl-talk thing. I am so glad we got to spend some time together.We didn't do much else that was noteworthy, but we had tons of fun.

Last but not least, I want to say a special "THANK YOU!" to our friends Chuck and Geneva. They watched my kitties for me, and somehow managed to rid my apartment of three weeks of cat fur. I can't say enough how much I appreciate them and all they have done for Cody and I. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

5th Semester Here We Come!

2008-12-15T16:06:00.002-05:00

I just wanted to let everyone know that Cody is officially a fifth semester student! That means that this is our very last semester on the island of St. Maarten. Also, we will be going home for Christmas this year! We're leaving early Wednesday morning, and will be gone for almost three whole weeks. I'm super excited to see my family, friends, puppy dog, cold weather, Christmas trees, Christmas lights, real Mexican food, Olive Garden, Chick Fila, 70 mph highway signs, traffic lights... I'm sure you get the picture. Anyway, if you are looking for me, I'll be in TEXAS!!!

When we get back, Cody and I will both be back to school. (Yay, fun!) Then around the third week of April we will be moving back to Texas for a few months until we know where we will be going for Cody's clinical rotations. It used to feel like we would be stuck on this island forever, but now I can really see the light at the end of the tunnel. I even made a list today of things I would like to sell at the beginning of next semester. That's when you know that it's time to go. It's so exciting! I can hardly wait!

Gobble, Gobble!

2008-12-01T17:37:00.004-05:00

Yeah, so I know I am late again in my postings, but I wouldn't be me if that weren't the case. Anyway, here it goes. So last week was Thanksgiving! Yay, food! We had another wonderful Turkey Day on St. Maarten. Some of the students and their spouses got together for a potluck, and, man, was the food delicious!

Here's just a fraction of what we had; it doesn't include the desert counter. :)

Cody was very grateful that they got the Cowboys game where we were (and that Dallas kicked butt). In fact, many of the guys enjoyed Thanksgiving by hanging out in front of the t.v. - now there's an American tradition!

I had a great time hanging out with some of my friends - some of the best a girl could ask for. We're all in this together, and it's nice to know we can lean on each other. Thanks, girls for being there to share another holiday with me.

What's Going On???

2008-11-03T21:21:00.003-05:00

Well, I keep looking at my blog and thinking that it needs something new. Only problem is I don't have any cute pictures to put up! I hate writing blogs without giving people something to look at. Wonder why I feel like I need proof of everything I do... I have to be honest too, I'm not the greatest about snapping photographs. Le sigh.

Anyway, here's what I've been doing the last week or two. Last week I took a trip to the butterfly farm with the kids that I tutor. McKenzi, Sydni, and Jarrett are great kids, and we had a blast hanging out with the butterflies in our hair. I also made it to Jenni's baby shower last week. It is so nice to see the spouses on the island come together to help each other out. Jenni was absolutely beautiful I might add. I only hope I can be so pretty when I'm eight months pregnant.

Yesterday my mom flew in. She's here visiting with me this week (woohoo!). So far we have made it to Baie Rouge (one of my favorite beaches) and to the movies to see The Women. I love having her around!! It feels like it's been forever since I've been home, so it sure is wonderful to have a bit of home on the island.

Well, I guess that should about catch you up on my activities. I'll try to take some pictures this week so you can be further entertained with my shenanigans! Cheers!

We Survived!!

2008-10-16T11:53:00.004-04:00

Cody and I survived our first ever hurricane. Hurricane Omar passed over St. Maarten late last night. When it finally hit us, the Omar had progressed to a category 3 hurricane with wind speeds in excess of 125 mph. It was absolutely crazy! The sights and sounds of mother nature were incredible to witness. From our apartment (about half a mile up a hill) we could see ocean swells breaking in the ocean! Mind you this was at 3:00 a.m. so it was incredible that we could make anything out. We were guessing that the waves must have been 30-40 feet for us to be able to see them so well. Anyway, we got our taste of what a hurricane is like and hope we never have to do that again. Luckily enough for us the power and water remained on the entire time. Thanks for all the prayers! I'll snap some pictures of the damage if we happen to make it out today.

What Happens In Vegas...

2008-10-01T22:06:00.005-04:00

ENDS UP ON MY BLOG! I could not have asked for a better day to wrap up my trip to Utah. Jill and I had a blast!! We drove to Vegas with lots of laughs and some bad singing. (I sounded like a frog thanks to my allergies... even though Utah was beautiful, I'l be grateful when I get back to the Caribbean and my nose stops running.) When we got to Vegas we did a little shopping, ate some delicious food, snapped some pictures and headed off to see Cirque du Soleil's show Mystere. Here's a few pictures from our visit to the strip.

The show was great, and we couldn't have ended the week any better. I'm home now - safe and sound - but I sure do miss the girls! Thanks, Jill, for having me and showing me a great time! I can't wait to see you all again!

Getting Lost On Purpose...

2008-10-01T00:58:00.008-04:00

So Jill and I thought it would be a blast to go through the 11 acre corn maze just outside the city limits of St. George. It was definitely an experience. Here's a picture of me at the beginning of the maze all confident...

The maze was a blast because I was with great company, but I definitely wouldn't recommend the corn maze for anyone else! There had been a storm the night before and A LOT of the corn had been blown down. That meant that we were running through a jungle of corn and getting smacked in the face with corn when the stalks snapped back from the person in front of us. To top it off, it was just plain hot! Anyway, thirty minutes later we made our way out of the corn with it stuck in our hair and itching like crazy. We decided it was time for a nice steak dinner after our hard work in the corn maze. Here's a few pictures from the rest of our trip.

We kind of got turned around! Turns out we are both terrible with directions!

Jill and I at the end of the maze - tired but still smiling!

I've been converted!

2008-09-28T18:34:00.007-04:00

Haha... just kidding. But I did ride on the Mormon Battalion float in the parade yesterday morning. Here's a link to an article about the Mormon Battalion if you are interested http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormon_Battalion. They were the only religious unit in American military history. Anyway, the parade was super fun. We rode in a covered wagon pulled by a team of horses, and we got to throw candy at the children... err, to the children. Whichever! Did I mention that visiting Jill rocks?!?!

Zion isn't ready for this!

2008-09-26T22:33:00.006-04:00

Today Jill and I took a trip to Zion National Park. It was gorgeous!!! Here's one of the zillion pictures I took of the scenery. It really doesn't do it justice, but it'll give you a taste of what it was like.

This picture was taken at the top of Overlook Canyon. It was a neat little hike, and the view is awesome.

We had so much fun today, and I am so glad we got the opportunity to go. Jill is a wonderful tour guide by the way. :) More to come in the following days!

Visiting Jilly Bean!

2008-09-26T01:22:00.003-04:00

Well, as many of you know, I'm in UTAH! I am having the time of my life with Jill as she shows me around the wild west! Anyway, just wanted to let everyone know that I made it safely... here's a picture that proves it all. I'll update again soon when I have some more pictures. Yeehaw!

Tagged by Jill

2008-09-18T17:37:00.003-04:00

5 things I was doing 10 years ago...

***Okay if you've read this, then you know I CAN'T count! I did this for 5 years ago... not ten... hehe! oh well!***

1. Driving my new Toyota Solara

2. Working at McGilvray's Ford Lincoln Mercury

3. Meeting my good friend (and later roommate) Robin

4. Going to college at UT Tyler

5. Spending lots of time with my boyfriend (hehe) Cody

5 things on today's "to do" list...

1. Clean my house

2. Walk with Michelle

3. Play some wii fit

4. Take a long nap

5. Take a quiz online for one of my classes

5 snacks I enjoy...

1. Raspberry Jello dessert stuff

2. 3 Musketeers bars

3. Grapes

4. Cheesecake

5. Angel Food Cake

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire...

1. Pay off student loans!

2. Build my mom a new house

3. Donate money to cancer research

4. Open a BIG savings account

5. I'd love to open several businesses (a B & B with Robin, a florist's shop, and a medical clinic for low income women who are expecting)

5 places I have lived...

1. Eustace, TX

2. Tyler, TX

3. St. Maarten, N.A.

4. Yep - that's it!

5. Guess we'll see what God has planned for us.

5 jobs I've had...

1. J.C. Penney

2. McGilvray's Ford, Lincoln, Mercury

3. Colonial Title Company

4. Foley's

5. Big Sandy Jr. High

5 peeps who should consider themselves tagged...

1. Ashley C.

2. Hanna

3. Ashley R.

4. Geneva

5. Anyone else who wants to join the fun :o)

Which Disney Princess Are You?

2008-09-12T23:33:00.001-04:00

You Are Aurora! (A.K.A. Sleeping Beauty.)

Thoughtful and loving. Authority figures probably have been sheltering you all of your life. Thankfully you're a very tranquil person who is content with what life has given you, but secretly you want to know how the outside world works.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

Rain Rain Go Away

2008-09-02T13:11:00.004-04:00

For the last week or so St. Maarten has been feeling the effects of Tropical Storms Gustav and Hanna. Mostly it's been rainy and a little windier than usual. Unfortunately, Cody's parents have been visiting us all week and we had to forgo some of the fun activities that we had planned for them. We did get in one good day at the beach though, and it was absolutely beautiful. Hopefully, Ike and Josephine will pass without quite so much precipitation. :)

In loving memory...

2008-08-30T17:14:00.004-04:00

Today, for me, brings with it bittersweet memories. Just a year ago my dad lost his battle with cancer. It is hard to believe that it has only been a year, but at the same time it seems so far away. He continues to be the greatest man that I've ever known. I love you, Dad. Every day I wish you were here...

Time sure flies whether you are having fun or not!

2008-08-19T00:25:00.003-04:00

Well I never thought the day would come, but we've officially been on the island of St. Maarten an entire year! I really can't believe how fast the time has gone by. Some days here are wonderful, beautiful days. Others I sit in my apartment and pray to God that someone will come out and fix the air conditioner SOON! :)

I can look back on this past year and honestly say that I've learned many life lessons that I could only have experienced here. In many ways this year was easier than the year that preceded it, and I am forever grateful for that. I want to thank both my family and my friends for helping me make it to this point.

On another note, Cody will start his fourth semester of medical school in just a few short weeks! I am so proud of him. Congratulations, babe!

It's time for goodbyes...

2008-08-08T13:32:00.005-04:00

So our great friends recently had their baby girl that we had been anticipating for quite some time. Kimber Anne Cluff is almost two months old now. She's a beautiful little girl, and Cody and I have enjoyed spoiling her since she arrived. Sadly our good friends Jill and Ben will be leaving in just a few short days (taking their precious daughters with them), and it's going to be very hard to see them go. I know that they are going to be great in the future, and we look forward to visiting them when we can. So here's wishing them the very best of luck in the future! We love you guys!

Happy Anniversary! (A very overdue post)

2008-08-08T13:09:00.006-04:00

Okay, so I am married to the most wonderful man ever! I know many wives say that about their husbands, but I think mine is the best. Cody and I have been married for two years now. (Our anniversary was June 25th) I've heard it said that the first few years of marriage are the hardest, and the last two years have been absolutely wonderful. So if that's true, the rest of time together should be a breeze.

This year Cody planned our anniversary activities, and he did a great job. After class Cody came home and took me to Loterie Farms for the extreme ziplining experience. It was a blast! After getting hot and sweaty from flying through the trees, we went home to clean up for dinner. We enjoyed Peg Leg Pub and their yummy food. After that, we were both so worn out that it was time to go home for a little R & R. We had a great day, and I'm looking forward to letting Cody plan another anniversary for us next year.

Welcome Breakfast At Last!

2008-05-18T21:45:00.004-04:00

Cody and I are third semesters now, and I FINALLY made it to a welcome breakfast with the spouses' club. It was a great time to hang out with my friends here on the island who know how hard it can be from time to time. The food was good, and it was great getting to meet the new girls who are just getting started.

I Love New York!

2008-05-18T21:20:00.006-04:00

Of course we had a great time going home for two weeks to visit our family and friends. It was Cody's first trip back home since moving to St. Maarten, so it was really nice for him. We got to eat at some of our favorite restaurants (definitely a highlight), and enjoyed just being back in good ol' East Texas. While Texas was fun, this blog is dedicated to our trip to NYC. We decided to fly back to St. Maarten on Jet Blue airways... which meant we had to spend a night in New York, but everyone knows that one night just wouldn't be enough. Soooo we decided to stay an extra day! We also decided to invite whoever else wanted to come just to hang out in New York for the weekend. Cody's parents decided to come along with us which made the trip extra fun.

This is a picture taken during our very daring cab ride. I think the best part of the trip was the double decker bus tours. It was so amazing to see the sites and especially the architecture. Other fun things included checking out Central Park, visiting the American Museum of Natural History, and eating hot dogs from the street vendors. Overall, it was a great mini-vacation and I am definitely going to make plans to do it again sometime.

On a side note, Jet Blue is awesome! They had lots of legroom, great snacks, and even little t.v.'s in the back of each headrest. We are using them as much as possible in the future.

Long Time No See...

2008-05-18T21:09:00.003-04:00

I know it's been a while since I posted, but I figure better late than never. Right? Lots of fun and exciting things have happened since my trip to the St. Maarten Zoo, and I'm not even sure where to start... I guess the best thing to do will be to highlight the best parts for ya! Just before Cody's break from school in April some the girls got together to throw a surprise wedding shower/bachelorette party for one of the girls who took the plunge over the break. I think somewhere between the jello shots and the tactless games she had a great time. Thanks for playing along, Ashley!

Color Me Happy!

2008-02-05T22:35:00.000-05:00

Today was an exciting day! Jill picked me up this morning and we headed to the St. Maarten Park, which for clarification is the tiny zoo here on the island. There wasn't much to see, but they had a lot of birds and monkeys. My favorite was the peacocks! I have never seen a peacock up close before and this one was showing off for me. Big thanks to Jill for taking the picture after my camera had died. Anyway, if you can't tell, I was super stoked! After we finished walking the zoo I went home and headed to Stephanie's pool party. A lot of the girls were there that I haven't see since I got back to the island and a couple of newbies too. We had a great time. On a side note, Cody found out that he passed his Biostatistics exam, so that class is over with. I'm so proud of my hubby! Good job, babe.

Our "ghost"

2007-12-23T20:33:00.002-05:00

Okay so there have been a few nights when Cody and I have woken up to something tapping on our door. Since the door is made of metal, the sound carried easily. So at 3 a.m. the other night we hear this creepy noise once again. I must admit that in the past we were a little chicken and just waited for it to go away. Well this time I sent Cody out to investigate (I waited safely in the bed just to make sure it was okay). Here's a picture of our ghost.

We aren't really sure how he got down to where our door is considering the entire house is fenced off, but this not so little guy was sure enough on our front steps. It took a little while to get him in the pan, but Cody was persistent. (I stayed a safe distance away) He was interesting to watch for a minute until he figured out how to climb out of the pan. Fun stuff here on the island!

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-23T20:33:00.001-05:00

Okay, so with all the Christmas time activities going on around the island I'm really missing home. My mom come to visit us last month and we had a blast, but it sure is hard doing this without her. I hope she knows how important she is to me.

Anyway, that being said I hope every one is having a very merry Christmas back home. I hope you eat lots of yummy treats, that Santa brings you everything you wished for, and that your time spent with family is cherished. Happy Holidays!

Other funness

2007-12-18T21:45:00.001-05:00

Cody passed all of his classes with flying colors! We have been celebrating all week. First we bought ourselves a Christmas present. We hunted Front Street for hours looking for the best price on a Nintendo Wii. I figured we should go ahead and entertain ourselves while we can before Cody has to get back to studying. The Wii has got to be the neatest innovation as far as video games go. It is so entertaining to watch each other play tennis, or practice our bowling technique in our living room.

We also got the privilege of having dinner with two of our new friends on the island (Chuck and Geneva). We went out to dinner at a place called Soprano's. Cody and I split the Prime Rib. We had heard that this thing was big, but sheesh! For $29 we probably shared a 30 oz steak. It was really delightful to get more than you expected for a decent price on this island. Needless to say we will be going back there again soon. Afterwards, we all headed to the local movie theatre to see Enchanted. It was the cutest!!! I made Cody take me to see it again the next night. Haha. Poor guy.

UMMM... Perhaps it's time for an update....

2007-12-18T21:30:00.001-05:00

Okay, so it's been forever since I last posted anything and I thought maybe our fans would like to know a little about what has been going on around the island. We have survived what I feel has been our "initiation" to island life. It started with power outages followed quickly by a massive water outtage. As it turns out the old water plant was shut down before the new one was up and running! Sounds like great planning, right? Eventually the Dutch side of the island bought water from the French side which resulted in a somewhat sporatic supply of water. Things seem to be working better in that area anyway.

So what could be worse than water and power outtages you ask. How about earthquakes...

Yep, that's correct. I happened to be talking on the phone to a friend of mine at the time. I think my initial reaction was "Hang on. I think I am either seriously hallucinating, or I'm in an earthquake." They thought I was kidding. So yeah, fun stuff. I'm just glad Cody wasn't injured by any sharp medical instruments considering he was in anatomy lab with loads of other first semester students.

______________________________________________

The following is a release by the United States Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center...this earthquake may have caused damage due to its location and size.

... TSUNAMI INFORMATION STATEMENT ...
AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS ORIGIN TIME - 1900Z 29 NOV 2007 COORDINATES - 15.0 NORTH 61.3 WEST DEPTH - 142 KM LOCATION - LEEWARD ISLANDS MAGNITUDE - 7.3

A strong earthquake has occurred, but a tsunami IS NOT expected along the coasts of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico states, and Eastern Canadian provinces. NO tsunami warning or watch is in effect for these areas.Based on the depth of the earthquake within the earth, a widespread damaging tsunami IS NOT expected along the Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, U.S. Atlantic, Eastern Canadian and Gulf of Mexico coasts. At coastal locations which have experienced strong ground shaking, local tsunamis are possible due to underwater landslides.

Volleyball Tournament at Mullet Bay

2007-11-10T11:28:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was a holiday here on the island, and the students were ready for a much needed reprieve from school. A big group of them decided to hold a beach volleyball tournament over at Mullet Bay. Cody is a great athlete, but I on the otherhand was happy to hold the camera and weigh down the beach towel. Another plus is that I had lots of company from the other spouses and girlfriends! We had so much fun. I can't wait to do it again!

Brown doves?

2007-10-31T14:19:00.001-04:00

Yes indeed. You are looking at one of the BROWN doves that inhabit the island. I mean, is it natural that they are brown? They make the same pretty cooing sound, so I guess they are okay.

Can I go too?

2007-10-31T14:19:00.000-04:00

Apparently Louie wants to go to the beach too. You can see his eyes if you look real closely. He climbed into our beach bag today and hid there for quite some time. I think he's trying to be a stowaway.

Our Trip to Plum Bay

2007-10-24T23:00:00.000-04:00

We went to Plum Bay last week. It's a beautiful and small beach. This video features a very short scene with Cody in it. He is pretending that I'm not there.

Louie Loves Butterflies 2

2007-10-24T22:34:00.000-04:00

Louie had been so fascinated by the butterfiles and there were soooo many of them that I thought you guys just had to see. The end of this shows Louie getting a little too excited and falling off of his perch.

Louie Loves Butterflies

2007-10-24T21:09:00.000-04:00

Today, Louie was standing on the washing maching looking out the window where tons of butterflies were keeping him entertained.

Hello and Welcome

2007-10-24T20:35:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone! I'm excited that you found our page. We are loving it here in St. Maarten (most of the time anyway). It's been an interesting experience to say the least. Please stay tuned for all the fun details, pictures, and videos from our life here on the island.