10 Awesome Things About My Brother

In honor of my brother turning 28 today I wanted to share 10 awesome things about him:

1. He loves to travel

   

   Headed to London

   
   
2. He's an awesome basketball player
3. He is accepting and non-judgmental
4. He believes people can achieve their dreams

   

   Grad school graduation at Drury

5. He is funny and an excellent storyteller
   
6. He welcomed Robert to the family and made him feel like a brother instantly
   
7. He's great at encouraging me even when we're hundreds of miles away from each other

   

   Saying goodbye before moving to NC

8. He is very humble
   
9. He's getting married to a wonderful woman in just a few weeks
   
10. He's a C.O.O.L Dude!
    

Love is in the Air

Robert and I had a absolutely splendid Valentine's Day together.  I was rather bummed out due to the fact that I had class on VD.  How is it that every cool thing the past 8 months has fallen on a night that I had class?  It was unavoidable in June since there was a 6 out of 7 chance that a holiday or special day would fall on a school night i.e. Robert's birthday.  Then in the fall there was less of a chance (3 out of 7), but it still happened i.e. my birthday.  Now with just a 1 out of 7 chance it's still happening i.e. Valentine's day and still to come - our two year anniversary.  Aww well.  It turned out great!  Robert made me breakfast - chocolate chip pancakes, cheesy eggs, bacon, and orange juice.  Yum! He also brought beautiful flowers and a heartfelt card.  Later in the day I got a letter from Drury stating that I'm all set to graduate in May!  Robert and I left for Springfield right after his class.  We spoiled ourselves by using a 20% off coupons and two $25 gift cards to Bed Bath and Beyond to buy a 17 piece Pyrex set off of our registry.  Did I mention we got all of our dishes last week?  8 place settings, 1 platter, 2 serving bowls, and 2 vegetable bowls!!!  While I was in class Robert went to the chiropractor.  More on that later.

It's official!

Notice the details in the bouquet.  Also, that Valentine is from my favorite two year old.

Gorgeous!

 

 

 

 After class we went to Avanzare.  I had been there for Valentine's Day a few years ago and loved it.  I went with my parents and another married couple.  Talk about the 5th wheel!  It was great to go back with my Valentine.  I ordered the same thing I had gotten the other time because I remembered loving it.  It didn't let me down.

Yum!

Robert loved his dish as well.

Jim has so graciously offered his house for Robert's man shower. hehe  Here's the invitation that inspired the invitation I made.  It's going to be a "shower," but to make it less girly we're titling it "Burgers, brats, and basketball."  They'll have the "shower" during the NCAA Final Four so they can have dinner and watch a game or two.  This will be a chance for Robert to get the tools so he can be a handyman. 

Lastly, Bolivar High School had an alumni basketball game last weekend.  It was graduates of even years vs. graduates of odd years.  Jim and I both graduated in even years (2004 and 2008).  The even year time won.  Duh!  Jim was a stud and scored multiple times and even got a dunk!

I'm Melting

Today it's supposed to be 108 with a heat index of 115.  Can you say "sweltering?"  I cannot remember another summer in my life where it has been this hot for this long.  Can you?
This is the last week of summer school.  I'm getting so antsy for it to be over.  Only 53 hours to go to be precise.  I have to go to Drury for actual in-person class Today, Wednesday, and Thursday from 5:20-8:00.  Not too bad.  I've turned in everything for entrepreneurial communication, and now I'm just waiting for things to get graded.  I'm nearly finished with communication consulting.  I just have an oral presentation on Thursday and a paper to turn in with it.  Thankfully, all the work is done.
To celebrate the end of summer school Robert and I will be spending the weekend with his family.  The weekend will consist of going to a water park, sleeping, relaxing, watching movies, eating good food, and NOT thinking/talking about school.  It is greatly needed.
When we get back I'll still have about a week and a half sans class.  Next Wednesday Robert and I are taking the day off and escaping to St. Louis.  We plan to go to the zoo, have a picnic lunch in Forest Park, go back to the zoo, and eat dinner on The Hill.  It'll be the first real date we've had since before summer school started.  Sure, we've had meals together and wandered around Wal-Mart for cheap and easy dates, but it'll be nice to get away without feeling guilty or like I should be studying.  It'll also be nice for Robert because two days after our trip he starts RA training.  I guess it's our end of the summer last hurrah.
Yet another change: Jim (my brother) found a place to live.  This is a big deal and very exciting for everybody.  Things seem to be falling into place.  The satellite guy came today and got everything set up.  Water and electricity were set up yesterday.  Tomorrow the Internet/phone guy is coming.  We've gotten quite a bit of stuff moved over there.  It makes me feel old to know I have a brother who has a rental house.  Crazy!

Almost halfway

I've made it through nine days (eights days of class, one day off).  I have eleven days to go (one day off, ten days of class).  I finally feel like I've done the amount of work that needs to be done at this point.
I just got the syllabus for one of my two July online classes.  It doesn't look too bad.
How do you guys focus on today and what today requires?  How do you avoid thinking about that big _______ (meeting, appointment, assignment, etc.) that's next week or next month?
Let's focus on non-school stuff for a moment.  Robert got his wisdom teeth taken out on Thursday, and he's doing okay.  Still pretty swollen.  He's also tired because he's still on the prescription pain killer.  I think he might attempt to go back to work tomorrow.  We shall see.
Babysitting Cooper and Miles has allowed for a break in my classes and studying.  It's nice to think like a little kid for a bit.  I told the boys Robert was working.  They asked if he was saving up for a John Deere Gator like they are.  Oh man. haha On Friday Coop asked if Robert was blind.  I wonder what prompted this.  They've known each other for over a year.  Coop has seen Robert drive his car, read, and pick him up - all things that require being able to see.
Mom and Dad finally got home on Friday.  They had been gone for a week and a half.  It's nice to have my support system back.
My brother's basketball team won the Portuguese basketball national championship.  Very proud!  He'll be back in about two weeks which will be cool.
Robert's sister (Bethany) got engaged.  They're getting married at a country club in KC on September 3.  Congrats!
I've learned a ton about delegating and prioritizing in the past week and a half.  I CAN let others help me.  They want to because they love me.  I am blessed.
Lastly, I got a professional head shot done for class yesterday.  Enjoy. haha

There's a first time for everything

Well, here I am making my first post.  Not sure exactly how to start, so I guess I'll just jump into things.

Mom and I have had a lovely girls weekend.  We watched Despicable Me and went out for dinner yesterday.  Today we had MAJOR shopping success.  That's a big deal for us.  It's so hard to find clothes that fit well when you're tall.  We ended up going to New York and Co.  Success!  Then we found this little German tea house.  Precious!

 This picture was taken of Mom and me at Easter

I've been babysitting the Scowden girls all evening.  The girls have officially fallen asleep.  We had fun tonight.  We had pizza and grapes, watched Veggie Tales: The Wizards of Has, Eisley napped, we played "The Mermaid Game" (An Amy Grabowski specialty), the girls took a bath, we read, and then it was bedtime.

School stuff:  I have my first tests of the semester next week.  Both happen to fall on Thursday: Communication Theory and American Public Address.  I've been trying to make myself study over the weekend.  I've made the study guide for APA so that's a start.  It's exciting and scary that this is my last semester of college.  It's rather surreal actually.  I'm excited to be done with early morning classes, chapel, cafeteria food, and loud dorm life.  However, at the same time I know I'll miss the friends I've made, my fantastic professors, and not having to make my own food.  I had receive an email with my acceptance to grad school in December, but I got the official letter this week.  Another reminder that I'm starting a new chapter of my life.  I have thoughts going through my head like, "Will I be able to handle grad school?" "Will I make friends in my classes?" "Will my professors care?" "Will I get lost on my first day?" I try to ignore those thoughts since it's still a little less than four months away.

RA stuff: This is my fourth and final semester being a resident assistant in my dorm.  It's been rewarding to see the girls on my hall grow over the months.  I find myself starting to detach myself though.  When things happen I just think, "What does it matter?  I'll be gone in three months."  Probably not the best attitude, but it is true.

 After the Homecoming Parade last year

I am so thankful for my wonderful boyfriend, Robert.  We've been dating for almost a year.  He's my first boyfriend, first kiss, and first "I love you."  This past year has been so great!  For Valentine's Day Robert took me to Build a Bear where I made a super cute bear named Franklin.  I had made reservations at The Keeter Center, the restaurant at College of the Ozarks.  It's where my high school prom was, but Robert had never been there before.  It was so special!  They had a Valentine's menu, a band with electric guitar/stand up bass/drums, pink roses, candles, a dance floor, and fantastic food.  I got chicked with cous cous, and Robert got salmon with braised spinach in a phyllo pastry.  After that we walked around the campus for a bit.  It was very nice outside!  We wrapped it up by going to Fedora, a fondue restaurant.  Delicous!

 At a NYE party

My brother, Jim, plays professional basketball in Portugal.  He got to come home for Christmas, and this week my dad has been there visiting him.  He'll be back tomorrow night.  I guess Jim said this week has been the coldest week so far while we've been having the warmest week in a very long time.  Dad got to see Jim play (they won!), they went to the beach, had dinner at friends' houses, and even got to go to Belgium for a few days.

 Jim and me on a train in England

Alright.  I think you're officially updated on all the background information.  May this be the first of many posts!