Abby's New Jersey

She's had one for awhile - they were on sale at Petsmart like a year and a half ago, so I bought it.

I didn't make her wear it often, I promise. Just for some random pictures at home, and our engagement pictures, and during the BCS Championship game this past January when the Gators one the National Title.

Well, I can't find it anywhere. With the move into our new apartment, combining our stuff, and throwing out a bunch of said stuff, that jersey vanished. Which is probably a good thing, because it had gotten a little snug on her anyway...

So, Abby got her new Gator jersey today. With Florida doing so well again this year, she didn't need to be the only one at our house not dressed in orange in blue on gamedays. And it really is the cutest thing ever.

But the FUNNIEST sight is Abby's face when we put this thing on her. You'd think we were absolutely torturing her. She is also thoroughly convinced that the jersey magically makes it impossible for her to move. At all. She will stand in one spot looking in one place until we call her.

Look at this face!!
She's hilarious. And so adorably pathetic!! lol

Eventually tonight (with a several cookies to aid in my cause) she learned that she could indeed still move around, sit, and even jump onto the couch while wearing the jersey. She finally quit making that pitiful face as well.

Abby says: Go Gators!

Josh, Kim & Abby

Fall is here!

Well, kind of.

We went from record highs in the 90's to lows in the lower 50's over the weekend. It was breezy and the sky was perfectly clear - not a cloud in sight. Just beautiful.

So, I got out all our (my) fall decorations and put them up, made a mental note to buy a new Pumpkin Spice Yankee Candle jar, opened up all the windows, cooked up some home-made apple cider, and made a pot of chili for dinner.

I may have jumped the gun.

Today we're back to 80 degree weather.

But either way, I am so looking forward fall. And all the holidays the season brings. Thanksgiving has always been my favorite - partly because of the meaning behind it, and partly because of the enormous quantities of FOOD.

But this year, when I get up early to reheat the breakfast casserole, make coffee, and get ready for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Josh will already be there. I'll coax him out of bed onto the couch to watch the parade with me, and although he'll probably sleep through it anyway, it will still be just the two of us. Well, and Abby of course. She'll be asleep as well, curled up right beside him on the couch.

And for Christmas, when I wake up extra early, say around 9am (ya... I know) because I'm so excited for the day, Josh will already be there. We'll open our stockings, exchange presents, watch Abby tear up Christmas paper, eat cinnamon rolls, drink eggnog (well, that will just be me)... and it will be just us. Our little family.

I expressed all this to Josh a couple nights ago over our chili dinner with the windows open to the cool air outside. Of course, he doesn't understand my sentimentality about it all, and that's OK. I think women get much more emotionally connected to holidays and things of this nature - the nesting/nurturing side of females that comes out. Or, maybe it's just me.

I just know I am so, so excited for all of these "firsts" as our own little "family" this year.

It's these memories that I was so excited about making with Josh once we got married. We always said that we looked more forward to "being married" rather than the actual wedding and wedding day itself. And that part Josh does understand and completely agrees.

So here's to fall, hoping it comes quickly and decides to stick around awhile. Cheers.

Josh, Kim & Abby

What happens when I'm not home... the Sequel

Josh went camping last night since the weather turned cool and beautiful. And, although he still has that room all to himself... this is what was waiting for me in our bedroom when I got home today.

I laughed and laughed.

Evidently, with the cool weather came a dewpoint of 41, which means all of his equipment was soaking wet this morning. This picture is of the fly, which covers the tent, and the actual tent was airing out in our guest bathroom....

This time I asked if we were going to tell ghost stories under our tent canopy tonight when we go to bed, and I got a smirk and a sarcastic "Sure" as the answer.

=)

Josh, Kim & Abby

My best friend's wedding.

No, not the movie. Although, it's a great one!

My best friend Robyn got married last weekend. I served as her Maid of Honor - well, Matron of Honor I guess, since I'm an old married lady. They were so happy with everything and she was such a beautiful bride! I can't believe how quickly their wedding came and went. Seems like yesterday that we were talking about how far away it was 8 months ago at Josh and I's wedding.

I was her chauffeur to the ceremony, so in true Kim & Robyn style, we took a picture while driving. It's tradition. Even on her wedding day. I also carried her touch-up makeup throughout the day, which she's handing me in the picture lol.

Here we are just minutes before the ceremony.

Their photographers already posted a few "teaser" pictures from their wedding. This is us at the Embassy Suites Downtown Orlando. I'm one floor above Robyn (the one in the white dress.)

And this is the sign I made for their pedi-cab leaving the reception! It's also called a "rickshaw" apparently. It's this thing you ride in that's towed by a bicyclist. SUCH a cute getaway vehicle for leaving their downtown reception!
Yes, Josh was also a guest at their wedding. He sat with my parents and we did take a picture together, but it's on my Mom's camera. They're out of town at the moment.

However, much to his chargrin, I will post it for you once I get it as proof that he DOES, in fact, dress up every once in awhile. And boy, was he handsome!

Congrats Robyn & Brian!!

Love,

Josh, Kim & Abby

Into the Woods

It's no secret that Josh likes to go backpacking and camp in the woods. At one point, he was seriously planning on through-hiking the Appalachian Trail, which would have taken 6 months to backpack from Georgia to Maine. I told him to have a great time... but no, I was not interested in going with him.

Eventually he may get to accomplish that dream, depending on our life and family situation. In the meantime, Josh takes short overnight trips out to one of the State Forests, which is just a short distance from our apartment. Normally he takes one or two other guys, they hike a couple miles in, find a "campsite," pitch their tents, then come back the next day.

Sometimes it's even just a morning hike into the woods and then right back out - just to stay in shape for bigger trips.

When they come home, they look like mountain men - dirty, sweaty, and most of the time sporting beards.
Side note: the tradition when they come out of the woods is to have breakfast at Cracker Barrel - without going home first, changing, or SHOWERING. Those poor people at Cracker Barrel.....

I've only been hiking once in my life - last November, in Georgia, in 30 degree weather, in the RAIN, wearing a plastic fishing poncho from Walmart we got on the drive up there. I was soaked to the bone, freezing, and miserable.

Probably the worst first experience hiking I could have had, no? My version of hiking/camping is sleeping in a camper trailer, with heat, a bed, and a cook-top stove that I can make spaghetti on.

Regardless, I've promised that when it cools off this fall/winter, I'll attempt one of the short trips into our woods with Josh. As soon as I said I would, he got us that new tent and me a snazzy new jacket specially made for hiking in the woods. Completely waterproof. He promises I'll stay dry.

Now, the only thing left is for him to convince me that the the bears he's seen in the woods and been followed by... yes, followed by... hibernate in our "winter" just like up north.

Josh, Kim & Abby

Rotating Dinner - Pizza Night

I mentioned a couple weeks ago about our Rotating Dinners, and wanted to follow that post up with some pictures of our creations from Pizza Night, and also the recipe for the Fruit Pizza I made.

It started with a little dough tossing...

and then we got serious...

and after awhile, they really did look like little pizzas, ready to be cooked...

and our finished products! they were so, so good...

And now... Fruit Pizza!!!

Yes, I baked it on a cookie sheet. Yes, I realized after the fact I should have used the pizza stone. Yes, I'll get it right next time. Anyhow, it was delicious!!

Here's how you make it:

• Roll out a pre-made sugar cookie dough and shape into a circle (preferably on a pizza stone...). Follow baking directions on pre-made sugar cookie tube to bake the cookie. Allow to cool completely. You can put your cookie in the freezer if you want the cooling time to be shortened (like we did).
• Combine 4 oz. of cream cheese, 4 oz. of marshmellow fluff, and 1/4 tsp vanilla extract. Spread on the cooked and cooled sugar cookie dough base.
• Slice your favorite fruits and place on top of cream cheese icing in decorative pattern you desire. We used strawberries, bananas and kiwi.

Enjoy! We sure did!

Josh, Kim & Abby

Here goes nothin'....

I scheduled my GMAT exam and paid the non-refundable fee.

So it's official: I'm going to Grad School!!


After much discussion, we decided the best avenue for me is UF's Master's in Business Administration (MBA), and I will do the online program. This means I only have to go up to the UF campus once per semester and the rest will be completely online.

The program is 27 months long, and I will start in February... providing I get a high enough score on said GMAT exam to gain entrance, which I am taking in November. On Josh's birthday.

Listen, it just worked out that way, ok? He's fine with it...

It took awhile for us to decide what degree, what school, what program would be the best investment for our situation, and what would benefit me greatest in my future career. Graduate degrees are not cheap, by any means, and scholarships and grants are extremely hard to come by for graduate work, we are discovering. So, we needed to be sure we were making the best decision on the school and the program for us/me.

And UF it is. It doesn't hurt that we've been getting UF's MBA program fliers in the mail since I finished my undergraduate degree there in December of 2005..... and they're giving me a laptop. And an ipod. Sweet.

So I'm on the hunt. And filling out applications. And sending transcripts. And writing essays. And looking for study aids for the dreaded GMAT.

But I'm super, super excited. It took me awhile to get to this point, but there's probably a reason for that. I know this is all part of God's plan for us. Josh has been so supportive, and is helping me so much in this process.

And finally, lemme just tell you how excited I am that I'll be attending the University of Florida again, and getting to go on campus again, and be a STUDENT again. How fun.

Wish me luck. And let me know if you hear of any scholarships for grad students.

Josh, Kim & Abby