F---REEEEEZING RAIN

Well, we recently had our first experience with FREEZING RAIN!! It was the strangest thing i've seen (related to weather) in a long time! First it snowed a whopping (maybe) 3 inches....which basically shuts down all schools for a snow day...if you add some freezing rain to it, the city becomes paralyzed.

The thing i liked best about the freezing rain (next to my commute to work), was stomping down the sidewalk or across the lawn to hear the ice crunch beneath me!! I know, nerdy! It's like the sound you'd make when stepping in a frozen puddle as a kid!
Luckily my doors didn't freeze shut, but the ice definitely made its mark on the car! As soon as the rain hit the windshield it turned to ice...i'm not sure on the chemistry behind it all, but i just wonder how it can be cold enough for rain to freeze, but not be snow?! ANYBODY? 
These were just a couple of pictures i took in our "yard."  The iced-over snow looks like water, epsecially the picture above. When Brett shoveled our walk, he threw the snow/ice mixture onto the lawn and the it slid quite a few feet across the ice before stopping. WEIRD! So, there's the latest from Ohio....hope somone out there is enjoying some sunshine with their snow!

What's Goin On...

These are just some random pictures from recently that don't really relate to eachother, but they're all being tossed onto the same post...

OKAY...so i'm not obsessed with these things, but i'm getting hate mail saying that you can't even see my braces and the old pic wouldn't zoom in, so here's a close up of the bad boys...silver lower arch and all! Are you happy now (M.W. and C.O.)!?!?!

My friend Megan has a tradition of making and decorating shortbread Valentine's cookies with her grandma each year....well since grandma is in Utah and we still had Valentine's Day we were able to carry on Meg's tradition here in Ohio...the cookies were fabulous!!

This picture of Amanda's boy Tate made me laugh! I have almost an identical picture of Evie doing this while frosting Halloween sugar cookies a couple years ago!
The hubbies were studying on Valentine's Day because they had an exam the next morning...so we did our date on Friday night. We made reservations at a Japanese Steakhouse called "GENJI." It's very similar to Tepanyaki or Benihana's....although i've been to both and this place outdid the others by a mile! I was nervous that i wouldn't be able to chew any meat with the new gear in my mouth. Have no fear...the filet mignon melted like cotton candy. It was the best piece of meat i've ever had! 

Brett and Megan. Below is our chef Braum. He was hilarious! We were laughing the whole time. He was amazing and kept us entertained with his rap lyrics and humor! Not too shabby with the knife skills either! :) Here he's telling us "YUM,YUM sauce is da Bomb!"

I couldn't stop saying how good the food was! It's always fun to go somewhere different. We've been trying to branch out and sample the restaurants unique to Columbus...so when visitors come we can show them a good time (hint, hint visitors)!

Brett has been keeping busy with his school work...he brings homework to do on the weekends...

Here he is waxing up a tooth...i'm surprised his tongue isn't sticking out; he sometimes does that when he's concentrating really hard!

Meg & Brett's microwave went out on them so they decided to go with an "over the range" microwave to free up some counter space. Meg & I actually went out and purchased their new microwave while the boys were at school one weekend (pretty impressive, eh?).

Apparently Meg was a little nervous about the installation....

or maybe just the ones installing it!

Brett showing Meg all his hard work! 

They immediately popped some popcorn ...ahhh, the luxury of a microwave!

These are just a couple pics from our Stampin' Up Group

Above: Sarah, Mindy, Laurie, Kandice

Below: Tricia, Amanda, Me, Kara

MY VALENTINE

TO: My Valentine. Brett, you are wonderful. Thank you for being my best friend and making my life so enjoyable...and for always keeping things interesting and making me laugh. I wouldn't want to be on this adventure with anyone but you! I love you!

WHAT IS HIS NAME: Brett D. Anderton

HOW LONG HAVE WE BEEN MARRIED: 2 1/2 years

HOW DID WE MEET: I worked for his dad (Dr. Anderton) as a dental assistant...Brett used to come around the office "to do landscaping." Thanks to my co-worker/friend Lyndzee, she told Doc i thought Brett was cute...i think word got to him :)

HOW LONG DID WE DATE: 1 year and  3 weeks before our wedding

HOW LONG WAS YOUR ENGAGEMENT: He surprised me with a ring May 25th and we were married 8 weeks later...July 30th!

WHO SAID I LOVE YOU FIRST: Well, Brett kept dropping the hints...but i think i was the first one to actually say "i love you." I shuffled around it a couple times, and Brett got really bugged by me!

WHO IS TALLER: Brett is...i wanted it that way

WHO SINGS BETTER: Brett for sure! I have a hard time carrying a tune in a bucket!

WHO'S SMARTER: Brett is... he's really smart. i had to work a little for my good grades, he just shows up and gets an A. What the....

WHO PAYS THE BILLS: both of us

WHO SLEEPS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BED: if you're looking at it, Brett...he sleeps next to the alarm clock because i can't hear it

WHO MOWS THE LAWN: condo association

WHO COOKS DINNER: me usually, but brett is great on the BBQ grill!

WHO DRIVES: both of us

WHO'S MORE STUBBORN: uh, me. Brett is VERY laid back for the most part...he got that way while serving a mission in Tonga. If he is ever stubborn it's usually jokingly.

WHO KISSED WHO FIRST: Brett did....on our 2nd date! WOWZA! He will tell you i made the 1st move, but it was really him...i'm not that forward!! ha ha ha

WHO ASKED WHO OUT FIRST: Brett asked me...over a text message. He hasn't lived that one down! He knew i was interested though....i just didn't want to be one of those "forward" girls that ask guys out! 

WHO PROPOSED: Brett did...he surprised me. He made a dvd slideshow of all the pics we had taken during the 10 mos we'd been dating. He left it on my porch with a note for me to watch it as soon as i got home from work. i got home (45 min later than i was supposed to) and put the dvd in...i was so excited, just thinking it was a sweet gift, then after the pics some lettering showed up on the video that said "Engaged May 25, 2005." I was confused for 1/2 a second then came the tears. If you've ever seen "Wedding Singer" you know the song Adam Sandler sings on the airplane, "I Want To Grow Old With You"... well that song started playing and here comes Brett out of my roommates bedroom all dressed up in a handsome suit and he sang me the whole song then got down on a knee and pulled out the ring! I was bawling...i think i squeaked a YES in ! I had no idea he was there...he said he was sick of waiting for me and almost left! ha ha

WHO HAS MORE SIBLINGS: Brett---4 sisters, and 2 brothers. I have 4 brothers.

WHO WEARS THE PANTS IN THE FAMILY: hmmm, I usually get my way.

WHAT'S HIS FAVORITE MEAL: well, anything with meat in it...he's a MANLY man! He has a sweet tooth too...so he LOVES dessert. It all stemmed from a bad childhood experience. Just ask him about "his chocolate cake experience" he'll be glad to expound on that!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!

I TAG: whoever wants to do this.... 

Happy BRACES Day!!

So, I did something today that most people do in their "youth," usually as teenagers...some even pre-teen. I GOT BRACES!!  This is my first go-round with the tin grin. It's been less than 12 hours and I'll admit, they're already sore. I had applesauce and icecream for dinner because my omelette took too much effort to eat!

I was nervous, but i know i will be thrilled with the end product! Most people would say i don't need braces, but there are some things that really bother me about my teeth and being a dental hygienist only makes it worse...i see a lot of perfect teeth, therefore, i want perfect teeth!! END OF STORY! The orthodontist is actually who i refer all my patients to from work. They do a great job! I would recommend Dr.Cook & Dr.Hutta to anyone! Actually, i would mostly recommend my friend, Sara Hicks....(basically my orthodontist) who did all the hard work today! Thanks Sara, you were awesome! 

Last night Brett was joking with me about getting braces and he knew i was already going to be self-conscious about it! I actually had today off work because my dr is on vacation....i was out running errands and Brett made it home from school while i was gone. I came home through the kitchen door to these beautiful roses and a card that said "WITH DEEPEST SYMPATHY...I am so sorry your teeth hurt. I love you and still think you are the most beautiful thing ever. HAPPY BRACES DAY!! LOVE, Brett" 

He is a sweetheart and very thoughtful. I'm grateful for his "support"...he laughs whenever i talk to him...i haven't figured out how to not be akward with my lips when i talk! Thanks for the beautiful flowers babe! Thanks for making my "BRACES DAY" better!