One bite of the elephant at a time...

When Kenny and I were planning our wedding and I was feeling super overwhelmed with the wedding, grad school, getting ready to move, becoming a real adult, etc., he told me that I couldn't eat the whole elephant at once. He said that I had to take it one bite at a time. Now of course, he doesn't remember this poignant conversation like I do, but nonetheless, it is something I seem to be reminding myself a lot lately!

Kenny leaves tomorrow for his last detachment. This time, I can say last with a little more certainty as he detaches from the squadron in April which is the month he comes back. This means, that we will pack up, and he will move in May. Then I will wrap up school and leave after graduation on June 11th. This means that I have got a super long list to get done during his two months away. You know, that whole getting a job thing... it takes a wee bit of work. But as I told my dear friend this week, you have to take it one step at a time, just take a little nibble of that elephant at a time.

So for anyone feeling a little bit overwhelmed, your lesson for today is this: you can't eat the whole elephant at once! One bite at a time, my friends. One bite at a time!

And please keep Kenny in your prayers!

Happy Birthday to TWO cool people!

This is a wee bit belated because we have been crazy busy, but I would be a terrible aunt and sister in law if I did not recognize the birthdays of two awesome people!

First, on the 21st was MAEVE's 3rd birthday! I can still remember the moment she was born and we finally found out she was a SHE! I never thought I would watch someone give birth, but it was one of the coolest things ever. And with her birth, I became an aunt, Kenny became an Uncle, mom became Grandmother, dad became Doc, and Meg and Andrew became MOM and DAD! She has brought such joy and love to our family, and every time she puts her little arms around my neck for a hug, it makes my heart burst with love! So Happy 3rd Birthday MAEVE! We LOVE you!

Maeve's first week home. All I wanted to do was kiss those sweet little cheeks...
So wee!
Maeve, now 3 and a princess!


Secondly, on the 23rd was Christine's birthday! Christine is a fabulous sister-in-law who helped raise my husband and beat... I mean, form him into the great man that he is. She has the best recommendations for books to read, can whip up an amazing meal, and so kindly is always on call when we have questions about pretty much anything and everyone else on the east coast is asleep! We hope that YOU had a great birthday, and we are so glad to have you as our sister/sister-in-law!

Kenny and Christine visiting Santa
Christine enjoying her stocking at Christmas. Santa was good to us!

A little more skiing

Last Friday, I embarked on an adventure with some of my school (8 students as opposed to 16). We went skiing at Mt. Baker! Now I have skied with Kenny, but never have I had to rent my skis, get my lift ticket, drive up the mountain on my own, or be responsible for others! It ended up all working out fine especially since the mountain was practically empty! I even went down a couple of runs I have never done on Mt. Baker with the assistance of one of my students, Kalissa. The best part (other than conquering the BIG run twice!) was getting to hang out with two of my favorite students and spend some major QT with them. It will certainly be hard to leave them at the end of this year, but I will certainly look back fondly on our ski day together!

Mary and Kalissa, my skiing buddies (and US History students and NHS members)

Posing at the top of the mountain!
Kalissa and I after going down the BIG run! She was so kind to go down first and wait for me so I could tell where to go. She was awesome!Never did I think that I could go skiing all on my own and be the responsible adult, but I did! I guess I really am growing up :)

More to come on the NHS inductions!

There are moments...

when you just want your mom around. Like right now when I am attempting to download the template for my National Honor Society certificates, but it isn't working, and I could REALLY use her perfect handwriting. Or like when I need her unbiased opinion on whether or not my quotes for my induction ceremony are "too liberal" or come from "too liberal" of sources. Or like when I have terrible congestion and a cold and I just want my mom to rub vick's vapo rub on me, but she is off gallivanting on a cruise off the coast of Mexico with my dad and some John Steinbeck scholar.

Well, I guess she does deserve her fun. Plus, my 24 hours of being mopey and sick are up (Buchanan house rule), so I would probably have to rub my own vick's vapo on me anyway. But, boy, could I still use her handwriting...

A Trip Out East for Christmas!

Merry Belated Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Vaughns!

Kenny made his way east a little bit earlier than I did, so he got to spend a little extra time with his parents and sister. Then I arrived on the 18th RIGHT before the HUGE blizzard on the east coast. We were supposed to make our way to NYC on the 19th; however, with the snow, we decided to stay home and watch the Duke basketball game on the television. I wish I had taken pictures of the snow, but alas, we did not. We did go trek in it, shovel it, snow angel in it, make a snowman in it, and throw snowballs, but no pictures... In MD, we got around 2 feet of snow!

Then Kenny and I headed down to Virginia Beach on the 21st to hang out with the Buchanans and Fosters. We got in some great time with the niece and nephew and they plum wore us out!
Grandmother and Maeve making biscuits for Christmas Day breakfast!
William wanted some biscuits too!
Uncle Kenny and Aunt Molly before 9pm services. We stole this little guy for the picture. His cute outfit was courtesy of Grandmother!
We celebrated Christmas morning in VB, and then headed to MD to celebrate Christmas up there!

Happy first Christmas William!
Aunt Molly and some of her favorite munchkins! (Maeve is wearing her princess costume)
Uncle Kenny got a headlamp! (We are both wearing our onesie pjs!)
Someone is overwhelmed with his cuteness in his first Christmas bib...
In Maryland opening our stockings!
The Vaughns!
The Ladies!
I even got to have some of my best friends from college and undergrad gather to catch up!
(Top: Bridgee and me, Bottom: Lizzy, Jan, Bri, and Julia)

After much celebrating, Kenny left on the 28th to head back to WA, and I headed south to Richmond to spend some more time with the Fosters and Buchanans. I got to spend an entire day with Meg and my mom shopping! We had a great time, and then it was time to make my way back west. It was a great holiday season, and now we are gearing up for all the changes in 2010!

Hope you all are having a great start to the 2010!