Did You Hear the News?

Yes, it's true.  I'm due on June 7.  We're excited to have this new little addition to our family.

Does this explain a little bit of why our lives have been so crazy lately?  Pregnancy itself hasn't been too bad (minus some complications), but I've had a recurring infection that mimics food poisoning except it lasts a lot longer.  Combine that with morning sickness and I've been very, very sick.  As in going into the ER to get rehydrated sick.  We think that I am finally over it and I'm feeling much better.

The only upside to being so sick is that we've had lots of ultrasounds (I think about 6 or 7) and have been able to see baby a lot.  Baby is quite the squirmer!  It's quite exciting to see baby's heartbeat and growing strong.  We'll find out next month if it's a girl or boy, but we will be happy with either!

A Longwood Christmas

One side effect of our lives being so beyond crazy lately is that Brad and I haven't really had any time together, but a few weeks ago Brad got out of class a few hours earlier than usual.  We've been wanting go to see the Christmas displays at Longwood Gardens and this was our chance.

I know this may sound lame, but our favorite part of the night was Brad treating me to dinner in the park.  We haven't had a good solid hour to sit down and talk together in a while.  And more than just about our crazy lives right now.

They had these awesome water fountain displays put to Christmas music.

You really can't get a scale of how big this tree is.  Those silver ornaments on the tree were as large as bowling balls.

The conservatory was spectacular.  There were Christmas trees everywhere and they had lilies perfuming the air.  It was fun to see all the lights at Longwood since we can't go see the lights at Temple Square anymore.  I think it might become a new Christmas tradition.

Christmastime in the City

On Sunday at church we sang both Joy to the World and Go Tell It On the Mountain in the same meeting.  The ward gospel choir (yes, you read that right, gospel choir) did a number and was moving and a swaying.  There might have been some hallelujahs and amens in there too.  And there was a harp solo.  It was quite the eclectic mix, but it was actually one of my favorite Christmas sacrament meetings ever.  It definetly had a Philadelphian spin on it.

We also had some friends over to enjoy the Packer tradition of French Pancakes at Christmas.  Yes, they heard the story of the dying French solider and why we make ten times the recipe every year.  We also made some gingerbread houses.  Scott and Mikjan made the Eiffel Tower, Nettie the Nativity scene, and Holly the house from Up.  What did we make?  Brad wanted a dental office.  He's funny like that.

You Know You Married a Dental School Student

Brad has these awesome "Lunch and Learn" presentations at dental school.  Basically some dental company/professional provides lunch for the students and then tells them about their product or company.  The great thing is the Brad often gets free lunch 3 or more times a week.  I don't have to remember to pack him a lunch!

Brad gets all sorts of great dental products to try for free this way.  This includes more free tubes of toothpaste then we know what to do with, floss, mouthwash, and even a free professional grade electric toothbrush from Oral B.  Sometime Sonicare is supposed to come and Brad will get another free toothbrush.  Brad also won a $50 gift card to Target.  Thank you, thank you very much.

One day the presentation was by a company who make loupes (special dental magnification glasses.)   These are something you just have to buy even though they are ridiculously expensive.  We're talking about putting down a $1000 on glasses! During the presentation, the presenter showed the class the indestructible material that the loupes are made out of.  She asked Brad to come up to prove that the material was unbreakable.  She gave Brad a hammer and told him to hit it as hard as he could a few times.  She said with confidence that if Brad could get it to break she would give Brad a free pair of loupes.  With Brad's tennis serve prowess he came down on the magnifier and shattered the thing!  The class broke out in cheers while the presenter stood speechless.

Brad received an email from her later saying that in the twenty years she had been doing the presentation no one had been able to break the magnifier, nor had anyone in the testing lab.  She was good to her word though.  Brad only needed to stop by their booth on campus to get fitted and the loupes were his for free.

They came in the mail last week and Brad had to put them on right away.  Don't you love the bug eye look it gives?  I will admit they are pretty cool.  We are so grateful that we didn't have to pay for them!

*If you are feeling at all jealous of our freebies please remember we are paying a way ridiculous amount of tuition and the free perks are nothing in comparison with that.  Even after winning a free $1000 pair of loupes.  But it certainly doesn't hurt!