Fall is Flying By!

Well I haven't posted in a while due to a lack of interesting pictures, but life has surely not been boring lately! Last week at work I was already filling out my Christmas holiday time off request and found myself looking at the calendar realizing the next 3 months are likely to just fly right by!

Last weekend I got to present at a Child Life conference that was hosted by Texas Children's Hospital. I was asked to speak on the kinds of things I do as a one person CLS in a community hospital along with two other people in similar positions. I was kind of nervous, but once we sat down I opened my mouth and the hour flew by! Guess it helps that I like my job and like to talk! It was a great conference overall, and I got some awesome goodies for agreeing to be a presenter!
Crazy side note, the above picture of me came up on the first results page when I googled Child Life...wierd!!!

Perhaps the best work news of all is that I was promoted! In order to move up the career ladder in our department you must be a certified specialist, and have 2 years of experience which I accomplised in February of this year. Sadly the raise was not effective until the yearly evaluation process, so starting tomorrow my paycheck will increase a decent amount! I'm feeling like I won the lottery knowing that in this economy some people didn't get raises at all this year, and some were laid off completely. Thanks hospital, I'm happy to work for you!

Roommate and I have been busy lately getting involved at church. We've joined a Sunday morning fellowship group and I've started going to a Tuesday night small group which is really turning out to be a great thing! I'm meeting some really sweet friends and have enjoyed having a few more things each week to look forward to. Last night I got to host small group at my house and I had the BEST time making Balls of Heaven, Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread, and even a cheese ball for our group to snack on! I also got a fun new teapot that has a whistle and matches my stainless appliances...I LOVE matchy matchy! And I know, I know, my diet went right out the window...but I don't regret one tasty bite! We're thinking about hosting a Halloween/Pumpkin carving party at our house for the church group, so I'm excited to have another party on the horizon!

Tomorrow morning roommate and I begin a 10.5 hour roadtrip to Missouri to visit our bestie from high school. Elyse is pregnant and we're excited to spend a long weekend with her before her baby boy is born! Elyse and Jenni both went to school in Missouri, so it'll be fun for them to have some time with all their college friends, I'm just along for the ride and change of scenery! I'm hoping for some cold weather too!

Weekend after next will be Baylor Homecoming, so I'll make a day trip Saturday to sic 'em and see my favorite BU girls, and hopefully Greg, Gina & Ava too!

It's birthday month in niece world, Ava turned one last weekend, Hayden will follow suit in a few weeks, and this weekend Emmy is having her 3rd birthday party! I can't believe how fast these girls are growing! I was so sad to miss Ava's party, and wish I could make it to Emmy's this weekend, but hopefully things will slow down enough that I can make it to Hayden's next month!

Happy Birthday to my favorite kids, I can't wait until I see you next!


Soon after Homecoming comes November and I'm rallying to host family Thanksgiving dinner at my house! This year will be a smaller crowd since my older brothers are spending the holiday with their wives' families. I think I've got my parents convinced I can handle all the work and look forward to being with my grandparents who usually come to feast with us.
So look out 2010, I'll be there before you know it!