Just a Few Things...

1. Work - Last week was a crazy week of work. First of all, going back to work after 2 months is not an easy task, but to make it worse January is our busiest month. So while I was watching Ellen & Oprah all my little friends at work were working SUPER hard. You can imagine they were excited to have me back before the January 31st deadline. They were very supportive & made sure I didn't over work myself, but I did have stuff waiting for me. All this to say...I couldn't ease my way back into work.

2. 4:30 a.m. - That is the time we all left work on Thursday night/morning. That is also the time some people wake up to get ready for the day. Tim, Stewart & Lucy all greeted me when I fell into bed.

3. Groundhog Day - I love this day because it is such a silly holiday & it is my oldest friend's birthday. Since Amanda was the birthday girl her wishes were our command.

We started the night out at Lupe Tortilla...

followed by some entertainment at Laff Stop...

Christian Finnigan was performing & he was hilarious. Also, Kyle admitted to us that he thought about doing Open Mic night. He even shared a few of his ideas. I 100% support him.

Don't worry a birthday is not a birthday without dessert! Cupcakes from Sugarbaby's...YUM!

4. Super Bowl - I decided that I was going to support the NY Giants because I love Peyton Manning & wanted to show his brother some love. Tim & I made some black bean dip, turkey sausage & turkey burgers to celebrate the LAST football game of the season. Amanda & Kyle joined us for a good time & several high fives when Eli took the win!

That was supposed to be my New York sign. First of all, I did it backwards. Second of all, I did an M instead of an N. It's the spirit that counts! Of course, Tim is always putting his horns up even when they aren't playing!

These were their best Super Bowl moves...hmmm!

5. Biggest Loser - Since I worked late on Tuesday, I didn't get to watch The Biggest Loser until this weekend. I cried several times. Can I just say that I love Bob, but he really upset me when he didn't pick Bernie & Brittany. They were with him from the beginning & they are my favorite team. So now I love Jillian & I am giving Bob the silent treatment for awhile. Go Black Team!!

Back to Work, Back to Reality

As I type, tears are forming in my eyes. Tomorrow is officially my first day back at work. Granted, I would have much rather been at work for the past two months instead of having a valve replaced in my heart...BUT, short-term disability has been pretty sweet!

My usual day consists of waking up to give Tim a goodbye kiss, cuddling with Lucy & Stewart in bed, watching Matt Lauer do his thing, watching a movie, taking naps, reading, calling Sunni MANY times to talk about nothing, eating, calling Tim to ask if he thought he would get off early...you get my point - I usually do whatever I want. Tomorrow morning that freedom is O-V-E-R.

This didn't occur to me until I was taping Miss America on Friday afternoon. I figured since it was on TLC on Saturday night, Tim probably wouldn't want to watch it. I shrugged my shoulders & thought what does it matter I will just watch it on Monday while he is at work. To my horror, I remembered that I would not be sitting pretty on the couch...I would be at my desk in front of my computer screen...DOWNTOWN!!!

Actually, it will be fun to see all my friends & get back to real life & communicate with humans instead of two dogs. I even wore high heels to church this morning so I could practice for tomorrow.

FYI, they were not as comfortable as the socks I usually wear, but I know I will be fine as I go back to such a supportive & understanding group. They have been wonderful to me.

I'm not sure Lucy feels the same...

as she will be going back to THIS tomorrow morning!

Twenty-Eight...Let's Celebrate!

I just love my birthday! I love the date, I love the festivities, I love getting to do whatever you want to do because you are the Birthday Girl!

Here are 28 things I did on January 20th...

1. Tim said Happy Birthday at midnight...while we drove home from a wedding.

2. Looked at my cell phone before I went to sleep & saw my BFF Sarah Beth had called at midnight.

3. Tim sang Happy Birthday to me when I woke up...Stewart & Lucy joined in at the end.

4. Ate a glazed donut, chocolate covered donut & a twist donut. I have been craving donuts for such a long time. What better day to do it when calories don't count?!

5. Got roses from Tim's Mom.

6. Went to lunch at Rainbow Lodge with Tim

7. and Alix. It was very yummy!

8. Opened Rainbow flip-flops from Alix.

9. Changed into a movie outfit.

10. Picked up Amanda & Kyle.

11. Saw 27 Dresses with Amanda, Kyle & Tim.

12. Made Tim get me some popcorn.


13. Made Tim go back & get me a Diet Coke...apparently he didn't hear me the first time when I said I want popcorn & a diet coke.

14. Laughed & almost cried at 27 Dresses...what can I say, I am a sucker!

15. Tried to go to 2 sushi places, but they were closed.

16. Ate at Mai's with Amanda, Kyle & Tim.

17. Listened to birthday messages from all my family & friends!

18. Talked to my Dad.

19. Talked to Sarah Beth.

20. Opened gifts from Tim.

21. Blew out candles.

22. Ate some delicious TCBY cake.

23. Watched the end of the NY Giants & Green Bay Packers game.

24. Stated that there was only 1.5 hours left of being the Birthday Girl.

25. Talked about what a crazy year it has been.

26. Got ready for bed.

27. Finished The Kite Runner.


28. Watched the clock turn 12:00 am & realized someone else was officially the Birthday Girl!

Oh, What a Night!

Picture this...

3 Panian Girls

Several Barbie Dolls

AND

The Key to our Living Room Dance Party Success

Oh man did we love our parents' Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons CD. We'd dance around the living room singing at the top of our lungs & I'm pretty sure my Mom always joined in with us. Some of my favorite songs are:

Sherry

Oh, What a Night

Who Loves You

Can't Take My Eyes Off You

Bye, Bye, Baby

Walk Like a Man

You can imagine my delight when I found out Jersey Boys the musical was coming to Houston. I ordered tickets immediately for my birthday weekend.

Last night Tim & I were off to the theatre for a very fun 'dance party' (at least I was doing the dancing in my mind.) It was a very interesting and entertaining show. I was able to relive my childhood days & learn how they became Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. The crowd was LOVING it & I was even able to dance a little to the encore of Oh, What a Night!

I was just so sad when it was over, but you know what Frankie Valli says...Big Girls Don't Cry!

How I Love Thee...

Dear Stairs,

Oh how I love thee, let me count the ways. You are so kind to help support me when I fall. When Tim came home on Monday & I got too eager & ran down the stairs & slipped...you were so sweet to cushion my fall with your pointy edges covered with carpet. Tim couldn't believe his eyes when he saw me completely horizontal, but he was so comforted to know that you were there.

It reminds me of a time when Ava & I were sitting on the bottom step and Sunni slipped down a few steps. She ended up about an inch away from us...I know it was you that stopped her from knocking us over. You have such a wonderful heart.

Thank you for the memories, the tears, the laughter, the soreness, the whip lash & the bruise on my tailbone.

How I Love Thee.

Tiffani Does Dallas

Christmas I was with my family.

New Year's Eve/Day I was with Sunni, Xavi, Ava & Sarah Beth.



New Year's week I was with Jason & Amanda.


After Jason left I was with those chirping crickets again...shoot!


But then again, so were Sunni & Ava...we might as well listen to them chirp together! Since I had been released to drive, I left for Dallas on Wednesday & planned to stay until Friday, but my hubby got asked to go hunting with a friend for the weekend...so I stayed until Sunday!


Here are some highlights...

Ava's play date at Pump it Up!

All of her little friends are SUPER CUTE!!

Lunch with Emili/Visit to her Office

I don't have any pictures of food, but let me just give PROPS to my sister right now. Sunni made the BEST meals while I was there. Turkey spaghetti, homemade ranch dressing, yellow cake with chocolate frosting, hamburgers, steaks, cowboy potatoes and chocolate chip pie...so good! I think I have decided to move in with them just so I can partake in all their eating goodness. I also decided that I should become a better wife & think of some delicious dishes myself!

Choo-Choo rides with Conductor Ava

(not sure the wheels will ever be the same)

Cheesecake Factory with the Fam

Lunch with Kristen after Church

'Stephanie Tanner' & 'Kimmy Gibbler'

It was a fun weekend with my sisters, brother-in-law, Jason & my Ultimate Niece. Now I am back at home trying to busy myself with little projects...wishing I was having guests this week. I'm sure once I go back to work in 1.5 weeks I will be wishing I could hear those crickets chirp once again!

Holiday Happiness

So I haven't been bored for the past 2 weeks. Although, if you have visited my blog lately you might think so since I haven't updated in awhile. It's just that I was having so much fun that I couldn't stop to blog...

Socialize with my sisters or blog...socialize

Eat another Christmas cookie or blog....eat

Watch a good movie or blog...movie

Hang out with friends or blog...friends

Play with Ava or blog...Ava

The list goes on & on. Of course, the fact that I couldn't find my camera battery charger might have had a lot to do with it...you know I can't blog without pictures! Since my battery was low I didn't get many pictures from all my Christmas fun, but here are a few...

A Family Night at Perini's

Making Cookies

Where is Emili? On the phone!

Making Strukla

My Dad gives us an Angel every Christmas Eve

And then, the camera battery went dead!