Closing time

December is coming to a close. 2012 flew by, but the end has also been slow in coming... Here's what we've been up to this month, the last month of the year! (& the pictures are out of order and refuse to change)

Finished my last clinical day at the hospital! We celebrated with a "fancy" lunch at the "fancy" hospital cafe, it was delicious and the company was lovely. Just one more semester to go, and although this one was no walk in the park, I'm looking forward to getting my motivation up for the final four months that are around the corner. Getting close!

Annual night in the city to see the Christmas festivities! The tree is always so beautiful to me, and breathtaking when you get us close to it, it's just massive and so sparkly, what's not to love? 

Mckay's brother Jared came to town to celebrate his birthday and we got to hang out with him all weekend (we were supposed to go to the Killers concert, which ended up being canceled).  We had brunch at Sarabeth's, a "chick" place, but I think they both ended up really liking it. Jared liked it more than his face in this picture shows.

Our sweet neighbor baby Tillie (who we absolutely adore) came to play one night when her Mama needed to run an errand. Lucky me got to soak up her darling baby-ness for a few hours.

Birthday desserts for the birthday boy! Toasted marshmallow milkshakes -the best milkshake I've ever had in my life!

Mckay's flag football season ended, don't worry, I believe another one has already started up again.  They shall not go without.  I said, "give me a tough face".

We had dinner with our wonderful friends, the Francia's and laughed for two straight minutes at their baby stuck in this foam toy.  It was hilarious watching him try to escape. 

Stars changing colors to Christmas music at the Time Warner Center.

Red 

My milkshake from the birthday dinner. I kid you not when I say it was the milkshake of ALL milkshakes. Toasted marshmallows aren't even my favorite thing and I couldn't shovel this into my mouth fast enough. If that + our wonderful company isn't enough to get you to visit I don't even know what is.

When we stole away to Otis...

One of my sweetest friends from nursing school offered to let us use her cabin for the weekend. We jumped on the thought of running away for a weekend.  We didn't know what the cabin would be like, but couldn't very well screen it; "Yes, we'd like to use your cabin, but how nice of a cabin are we talking?"  No, that would be rude, so one graciously accepts and hopes that one is not stuck in a freezing shack in the woods, sleeping on a futon.  We were so very thrilled to discover the most beautiful log house (I can hardly classify it as a cabin) we'd ever seen.

We spent the weekend tucked away inside, putting together a 1,000 piece Christmas puzzle, drinking cup after cup of hot chocolate, sleeping in the comfiest pillow-topped bed, soaking in the claw-foot tub, cooking yummy meals in the gourmet-cabin-kitchen, building fires, falling asleep to the crackling embers, watching movies, ignoring phones & computers, simply enjoying each other.  We were even lucky enough to wake up to a few inches of softly falling snow on Saturday morning, so perfect.

It was a cozy, comfy, lovely weekend in Otis, Massachusetts. 

The fire I built us.

The cabin that wasn't a shack.

The puzzle we spent 8+ hours putting together.  

The pretty patchwork quilt that divided the living room & kitchen, my Mom would have loved it.

The cute colored mugs that held our hot chocolate all weekend.

The tired but obsessed lovers working on the puzzle at 1:00 AM.

11.30.12-12.2.12

Mormon Helping Hands

Last Sunday church was canceled so that members of our stake could spend the day garbed in the bright yellow "Mormon Helping Hands" vests helping to clean up the mess Sandy left.

We hopped onto yellow school buses after a mini-sacrament meeting in work boots and sweatshirts and got comfy for the 1.5 hour ride to the Rockaways, a peninsula of Long Island.

We were split into teams, arrived in Queens, gathered supplies and made our way through the neighborhood still littered with debris & sand and lined with damaged homes.  It felt a little like a ghost town & a war zone at the same time.  We found people that needed help, and we helped.

They were hours well spent.  Every home had been flooded. I couldn't have imagined the damage that was done, it was something you had to see to believe. People still without power, homes destroyed, and the sand, weird to see it so far removed from the ocean! It was just devastating.

Mckay and some other guys removed some huge trees and were pretty excited about it (so excited in fact, that they filmed themselves chopping it down with an axe to show their wives).  It was a long day of hard work but it felt wonderful.  It was neat to have the opportunity to be a part of something so good that the church organizes.  It was realizing that sitting in the pew at church on Sunday really isn't what the gospel is about.  It's about love and service and charity; about lifting others and pulling together as a community.  It was so great to spend the day with work gloves on my hands and sneakers on my feet doing good. 

The men transporting our "sleigh" of supplies.

At one point during our day a possibly looney, very small Asian man said that we were going to save the world. "Just watch!" he said, maybe a slight exaggeration but I'll take it.

Cleaning up in the dusty, sandy basement.

Lunch break at the food trucks.  Businesses donated food for the people (& volunteers, we assumed) in the area.  It was tasty stuff!

Right before we went home, a walk down the street to see the ocean. 

In front of one of the homes on the shore.

Cleaning the ruined windows in a family's newly remodeled (and now completely gutted) basement.

We were tired by the time we finally made it home through NY traffic (ugh) and slept well that night.  It's crazy to think that tomorrow as families across the country are roasting turkey in their ovens, there are still people without power, camping out at hotels and trying to salvage their properties and get life back to some form of normal.  It lends a whole new meaning to gratitude this year.

This year, my Thanksgiving thankful is for my warm home, bright lights, cold fridge and hot water.  

oh sandy baby

sandy visited us & certainly did a number.

but i'll start with halloween.

we had a funny/slightly inappropriate costume in mind for mckay that didn't reach us in time for party #1. so we improvised and he went as a male nurse. and he played the part well.  in fact, we were scared that he was going to win the "most convincing costume" award. but he didn't, much to his relief.  he wore my scrubs and when he first put them on at home, i flat out said no, he could not go out in public dressed like that, even on halloween. but he did.  luckily they had stretched some by the time we made it to the party, & luckily he didn't rip them.

me and my hospital patient at party #2.

seriously!?! it was almost too convincing for some people.  he was wearing spandex under the fake, foam butt, unfortunately he insisted on playing the part (there is a theme with him) and had them pulled up into boy-shorts so they wouldn't really be seen.  the lights were off for most of the party, but that didn't do much to camouflage his huge behind from sparkling in the candle light. it gave everyone a good laugh.  love that he is willing to go along with stuff like this.

Meanwhile.... something nasty was brewing outside.

by sunday night all work & school & social engagements had pretty much been canceled all along the east coast.  on monday, mckay and i took advantage of his empty office across the street from us and went to work. we were there for most of the day, all the while he talked about how blown out of proportion this "hurricane" had become.  because he's from texas and he knows hurricanes and east coast people are wussy and it's going to be nothing... talk like that.  i told him he better pipe down or we'd be humbled.

& sure enough... that evening we lost power.

the short (under 2 minute) walk from his office to our house was incredibly eerie; howling wind, completely empty streets, thick darkness, and branches scattered all over the ground.  i actually ran home because i was creeped out. he followed suit a few hours later and found our sweet little apartment without blessed electricity, which is how we would remain until saturday afternoon. 

the night we lost power i was thrilled. it was like being a kid again in california and having a thunderstorm wipe out the power and being so excited for mom to light candles and pull out a board game.  mckay came home and we lit candles and played scrabble.  and it doesn't matter who won, but i did!  that was my favorite part of our sandy-week.

the next day we still didn't have power but were sure it would be on within the day.  we live in downtown darien and weren't concerned about the whole situation because of our proximity to the train station, fire department and all the shops & restaurants that would certainly be a priority in restoring electricity.  we hit starbucks for hot chocolate and to charge our phones and spend the rest of the day driving around taking in the devastation and visiting friends.

right about here is where we were humbled.

scenes like the above were literally on every street.  it was bizarre to see trees completely horizontal.  95% of our town was without power the day after sandy due to fallen trees taking out power lines.  transformers blew up all through the night and the wind howled.  there wasn't pounding rain, or rumbling thunder, just wind.  it's amazing what kind of damage a little wind can do.  it brought the water level up and into homes and took trees down and destroyed properties.  

& the damage done to other parts of the east, manhattan and new jersey, is just staggering.  

it was more than we bargained for, that is for sure.

what the dunn family learned:

candles will keep a little room amazingly warm 

being cold is the worst (just reinforced our knowledge of this)

have water bottles in storage for emergencies

prepare, prepare, prepare

you may have to throw out your entire fridge and freezer, but look at it as organizing, not wasting

a dirty house is wonderfully disguised by the dark

a down comforter will save your life

a hot shower is sometimes all you could ever want

but when a sweet friend with electicity lets you use theirs, don't run their water bill through the roof (it's just too hard to get out)

someone is always worse off than you are

be grateful

& the last one- we should have taken off to aruba for the week.

saturday the power surprised us by buzzing on.

never have we been so thrilled to flip a light switch, it was utter glee.

October review.

I cannot believe that the end of October is upon us.  October is my very favorite month (after September -the month in which we were married that will forever hold the softest, warmest place in my heart).  The leaves are to die for.  Every autumn I think "how could we ever dream of moving away from here?"  It is staggeringly beautiful.  So beautiful that as I look around on a drive to or from the hospital, or even just around town, a huge smile breaks out on my face. The beauty of this earth, it's truly something. (at this point I'd say 80% of our trees look like this one.  AMAZING!)

Anyway- October is nearing it's end. & it's time I throw an update on ze blog.

Along with this update I'd like to offer a blanket apology to friends, family and neighbors who have been neglected over the past two months.  I know I should call, visit, text, etc. but my life is consumed.  Nursing school has me barely keeping my head above water day in and day out.  Otherwise I'd be a better housekeeper, cook, friend, & wife.  Thank you. & thank you for blogging because it pathetically keeps up some level of connection.

I'd also like to apologize to any family members who read my blog and were cheerleaders at one point in their life.  My Mom told me that I am offensive because I don't like cheerleaders (in reference to last post) in general and some read my blog.  So sorry.  I like you.  Just not the choices you make (hehe).

Update-

We are good.  Keeping busy, keeping healthy.

We spent last weekend in Chicago with Mckay's brother Jared and our good friends Danika & Kevin (& their three adorable girls).  We went to the Notre Dame v BYU game, which was a blast.  BYU was ahead and it was quite exciting, but then they lost it (shocker).  It was sad.  We explored Chicago on Friday and had a wonderful night out to dinner with D&K.  I came home on Sunday and Mckay stayed for one more "man day" with his brother (NFL game, Ditkas steakhouse, shopping... only manly shopping of course.)

Mckay left for SF this morning for a meeting he has to go to tomorrow.  It's only for two days and I miss him.  I don't think I'd love if his job required a lot of travel.  Home seems really empty and lonely without him in it.  But he likes to get out of the office & do something different. 

The air is getting colder and the leaves are starting to fall, which is bitter-sweet.  As much as I love autumn, the frozen mornings and massive snow falls are my least favorite time of year.

Cannot believe Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and then Christmas after that! 

This semester of nursing school has been a big one for me.  The heaviest work load I've yet to encounter but I've learned so much.  I did my first catheter and trach tube suction, which were two very big deals.  Nearly cause for celebration.  Except Mckay has a rule that I don't talk about gross nursing school stuff at home.  So I only celebrate inside, or with  my Mom! :)

That's about all the update I have.  Here are a few Chicago pictures...

The Dunn clan at the game.  It was cold.

A cold but magnificent day in Chicago.  This is a little beach at the end of the Magnificent Mile.  

The BEAN!

Beachy.

They love BYU football.

Mckay and Kevin (they grew up in the same ward and have always been great friends) and the sweet little Hannah baby. 

The girls were so excited that there was a real life Dr. staying at their house (that would be Jared).  The first thing we heard in the morning was, "Is the Doctor awake?!"  But even a finance guy will do for playing pretend with little Leah.

the weekend of football

We went on a little trip South last weekend- to beautiful Virginia.  Mckay went to college at Southern Virginia University after two years at BYU & absolutely loved it.  He played football there and every year since I have known him he goes back down in September for Homecoming.  This year it wasn't Homecoming but the 5 year anniversary of the 2007 (his last year of football) football team's winning season (one and only).  So we left Thursday night to make our way to Buena Vista (& the people there pronounce is Bu-nah, which is funny to me).  

 Craven love!  

We stopped in Baltimore Thursday night for the Raven's game.  My first pro football game (his 2nd) & it was pretty neat.  We went for a couple of reasons.  #1 because I love Ray Lewis.  Mostly because he gets emotional during the National Anthem and then when he's done he's back to looking like the scariest man alive.  But he's obviously a sweetheart.  #2 because I am married to a Dunn, the Dunn men love football.  #3 We didn't want to drive the full 7 hours in one night (that wasn't really a reason). 

 The annual golf tournament in BV.

 What I did during the annual golf tournament.  Hid out in SVU' stuck-in-the-70's quiet room of the tiny library.  It served me all too well for five hours of COPD & acute respiratory distress syndrome.  

 The Banquet.  Too many speakers, and lacking a highlight film, but still lovely.  He played with some really great, stand-up guys.  It was fun to meet new ones, and spend time with friends.  Mckay and I had very different college experiences-- as in, he is super enthusiastic and loyal to his.  There's a lot of camaraderie and devotion to their school & the team.  

 The lovely Jill Lund who Mckay absolutely adores.  He was good friends with her daughter while he was at school and was always hanging out with all the other guys at their house.  She makes his favorite cake ever (besides anything I make, of course) Molly Cake and every time we go she has it waiting for him.  It's the sweetest thing. 

 The 2007 team was honored during half time.  Don't know why I wasted picture space on the cheerleaders (barf) when I could have captured more of the team.  Oh well.  They gave a little highlight on each player-  my proud wife moment of the weekend.  Mckay holds all the WR records at that school.  I didn't even know.  

& our weekend wouldn't have been the same with out the Whetstone's (Chelsea is the Lund's daughter) and their hospitality.  I had grits for the first time -they were made with cream cheese and... other fattening things, and they were dangerously tasty.  Chelsea cooked us a wonderful breakfast and their daughter Maggie provided us with hours on entertainment.  She is probably the happiest baby I've ever met, even though she doesn't look it in the picture!  So content to just do whatever the adults were doing.  

Go knights!

2 years ago-

2 years ago today, I woke up on my wedding day & it felt like any other day.

Kind of the way birthdays go when you're little. You think you'll wake up feeling different, but you realize everything is pretty much the same as it was yesterday.

My soon-to-be in-laws were staying at my parents house. My mom made everyone german pancakes & peaches for breakfast. I ate a little, but the nervous excitement was starting to creep in.

I got my nails done, the color looked too white to me, but it didn't matter.

I ran some errands (can't believe i left buying frames for the reception table until the morning of!).

Family started to show up. Everyone hugged but it all felt slightly surreal. Happy & wonderful, but not really different- not how I thought it would feel. Almost like it could have Thanksgiving; it was funny to think that they were all here for me, for my wedding day!

The clocked ticked on and finally I decided I'd better get ready. I started my make-up & my best friend curled my hair for the up-do that I had in my mind but hadn't thought necessary to practice. Then time flew and Mckay was there to pick me up and take me to the temple. My hair wasn't working. It wasn't holding curl, there was "too much of it"... none of that mattered (surprisingly, and thank goodness), I pinned it half up and it looked like my hair on any other day of the week. We hurried out the door & I looked at my freshly cleaned & sparkling engagement ring in the afternoon sunshine.

Next, Mckay & I were riding in his rental car up to the Logan temple. And all of a sudden, there it was, towering above me as we drove up the hill. Standing so majestic and grand, beckoning two people on a lovely September day.

& that's when it felt different.

When he took my hand and we walked from the car to the doors of the temple. His hands felt familiar and warm and his grip was gentle yet firm. That walk, brought the weight of everything down on me, our wedding day. We saw more family & friends to greet, I was aware of how my grey jersey-cotton dress felt so soft on my skin, I hugged my sweet Aunt Debbie and felt her hair brush my face, everything felt heightened.

We walked hand and hand into that beautiful temple and walked out sealed for eternity. Two people, one life, forever. I hadn't felt peace or love or hope like that before. I remember looking into his eyes as we were married and feeling an unexpected calm wash over me.

Happiness shook me to my core that day. The reality of the commitment we had made was etched deep into my heart. He was mine and I was his, & I don't think there has ever been a sweeter feeling than to know that we were each other's.

It certainly hasn't been perfect, but it has been wonderful.

We're still babies when it comes to this marriage thing and some days I certainly act like I need a Marriage 101 class. But these two years have been the sweetest two years, & I look forward to many more with him.