proud parents

so, we really lucked out in adopting ellie. someone had already taught her to sit, lay down, and high five. but we taught her a new trick and we are so proud. as you can see, we're still working on getting it just right, but we still think she's the best. 

 ps- please ignore my high-pitched squeal. 

pss- we really have become crazy dog people.

-kelsie.

soooo.....

the fern died. you probably could have guessed this since it hasn't made an appearance on the blog since october. 

i thought that since the fern died, maybe it was a sign the blog should go too. hence the nearly two month break. but since all of my devoted followers (read: mom and mother-in-law) missed the blog SO much, i decided i should begin again.

i sometimes don't know the purpose of this blog. i don't feel that the world wide web is all that interested in our lives, but it has been a great way for me to remember some fun, random times in our life. it also has been a great place for things i like. 

so, even though i have not been blogging, a lot has been happening. 

• i'm wrapping up my last semester of school. i'm spending a lot of time helping to deliver babies. i love it.
• ryan and i are still happy and still married. just trying to figure out what we're going to do for the rest of our lives.
• i'm applying for jobs like it's my job. 
• i'm working on a diy project that i am very excited about. more on that later.
• unlike the fern, ellie is alive and well. we think she's the best.
• i've been finding some amazing blogs and spaces online that i LOVE. more on that later too.

i really am hoping to get back into regular posting. no more two month breaks! i'll be back SOON!!!

-kelsie.

ellie's obsession with....

pillows. 

-kelsie.

lazy wednesday.

it's a rainy, gloomy, perfect fall day here. it's perfect for warm coffee and paper writing. it's also perfect for cupcake surprises! somebody in my family loves georgetown cupcakes and decided ryan and i needed some halloween treats. they were delivered this morning and were the perfect little surprise for such a gloomy day. i'm trying to save some for when ryan gets home... but we'll see. 

i'm headed to a charity auction for nursing school tonight. we're supposed to dress up. i think the weather has inspired me to be a meteorologist. i'm going to wear my rainboots and rainjacket and carry an umbrella and microphone. i'm thinking it's going to be pretty good. 

someone else in my family has been trying out some costume ideas...

 

(the unicorn is obviously the best but i love how the owl looks so chubby.)

 

are you dressing up for halloween?! have a great wednesday!

-kelsie.

ps- i can't stop thinking about how great of a job being a cupcake delivery person must be...

recently.

(ellie and her favorite toy - super pig from the target dollar bin)

*this picture is completely irrelevant to this post

a few weeks ago my wonderful aunt sent me a ton of her old cooking magazines. they have really inspired me to cook more and try new things. for the past two weeks i have had meals planned for every weeknight. it has been amazing how helpful that has been. it made grocery shopping easier and making dinner WAY less stressful. 

here are some things i've made:

chili

butternut squash orzo

layered zucchini parmesan

bread

and i'm itching to make these little goodies soon.

i'm off to work on a paper for my psych class. did you know that most people don't develop schizophrenia until they're between 25 and 35? just a random nursing fact for your monday : )

-kelsie.

fern friday.

happy friday friends!

we are excited because we finally bought our tickets to go home for christmas! we will be there for almost two weeks and feel so blessed that ryan's job allows for us to stay for a while. we will be taking ellie with us and are a bit nervous about it. she will be riding with us in the cabin and we have already started saying our prayers it works out ok.... any pet traveling tips you have would be greatly appreciated! 

ellie and i are still loving fall - the cooler weather, the colors and the falling leaves. i just can't get enough of it.

finally, i wanted to take a minute to praise God for the miners who were all healthfully rescued this week. that story is just so amazing and i was even more encouraged to read this story. we have a very strong connection with campus crusade for Christ and it has played a major role in both mine and ryan's life - so we are very proud of their involvement and encouragement of the chilean miners.

please, read the story here.

i hope you all have a beautiful, blessed weekend!

-kelsie

fern friday.

it's been raining here for the better part of this week. it makes for good study weather but it also makes for GREAT nap/snuggle with ellie weather. 

i hope you have a weekend where the weather is exactly how you like it!

and, if you're interested, here is a really amazing story about midwives in afghanistan (found here).

-kelsie

busy bees.

(denver botanic gardens, 2008) 

here's a brief update on life:

we went to a beach in delaware with some great friends from church.

we watched a lot of great youtube videos.

ryan had his first ever cracker barrel experience.

we went to a baseball game and had our first ben's chili bowl experience.

i got a migraine and threw up in a ziplock bag in the car.

i saw some c-sections.

i spent a sunday afternoon with a very influential woman in my life.

we're holding our breath about the carmelo anthony situation.

we left ellie overnight for the first time with a good friend.

i'm in midterm-mode for school.

i'm feeling connected and busy and loved here in dc. it's amazing to see the difference between now and where i was one year ago when we had only been out here 3 months. we have met some amazing people and i'm so grateful for each of them. while i doubt we will be here forever, i am loving the time that we are.

i hope you all are happy and healthy and having the best tuesday.

-kelsie.

fridays and babies.

(this picture is probably going to surprise you. most people who see the fern in real life are shocked by how small it is which is so funny to us. it's maybe 10" tall. i hope this doesn't disappoint you or make you think less of my green thumb)

i've been doing terribly with fern friday lately. this is mostly because i am at the hospital alllllll day on fridays this semester. however, i am not complaining because of these reasons:

two fridays ago i watched a couple of babies come into the world. it was incredible and made me remember why i'm in nursing school.

this friday i sat in the nicu and fed cute, sick, tiny babies all day long. 

next friday i'll watch some c-sections.

i love nursing for a lot of reasons. one major one being all of the different things you can do as a nurse. for example, this week i spent one day feeding a baby that was holding onto its life by a thread, and another day was spent on a psych ward speaking to suicidal and homicidal patients. i'm so grateful school makes us experience all types of nursing. it makes me respect and appreciate nurses even more. 

although this semester has been crazy busy, it has been so validating to me. i have been loving my time with obstetric patients even more than i thought i would. it's the happiest place in the hospital... and i love that.

-kelsie.

bed face.

-kelsie.

family.

we had the best time while my parents were visiting. we are so incredibly blessed to have two sets of parents who love us well.

we spent friday night hanging out in georgetown and my mom had to get some dc cupcakes. i was skeptical. i mean, i love a cupcake from safeway about as much as any other. but the cupcake i had was incredible. the frosting was just buttery goodness. 

saturday we headed to pennsylvania to see the gettysburg battlefields. it was fun to drive around and it was quite educational for me. i don't think i ever learned american history... or if i did, i clearly replaced that part of my brain with something else...

 (my dad and honest abe just hanging out. probably discussing some war strategies...)

ellie got to come which made her oh so happy. can you tell??

sunday we went to church and then headed to the newseum to see the Elvis! exhibit. my mom looooves her some elvis so she was super excited.

we then went and did a quick browse through the american history museum. we visited the national cathedral monday, and managed to fit some shopping in before they left.

we had a wonderful weekend and we're so grateful for them! thanks for everything!!!!

-kelsie.

ps- the top photo is an iphone picture, but i edited some of the others with a trial of photoshop elements. have you ever used it??? it seems fairly user-friendly as i have very little experience with editing software, but i would love some input from someone who has used it! any advice??

fern friday.

happy friday! 

i'm sitting here cuddling with my cute, little, jealous puppy. she HATES our laptops because they take over her area on our laps. she has really wiggled her way into getting whatever she wants...

i'm back to the reality of school and plan on doing homework for the rest of the evening. ryan's working all weekend long so i am headed to an amusement park with the nursing girls tomorrow. i'm so grateful for a husband who works so hard and who is so good at what he does. 

i hope you have an amazing last weekend of august! fall is just around the corner!

         -kelsie.      

fern friday.

happy friday!

ryan's parents have been in town for work and were able to spend last night and today! it has been so fun to show them our home and the places we've been hanging out this past year.  i'll post some pictures of our time with them soon!

hugh, ryan's dad, knows a lot about trees and plants and things so i asked him how he thought my fern was doing. to say he was concerned would be an understatement. the soil was completely dry. there is one side that is looking quite dead. he said i could possibly bring it back to life with lots of watering. apparently ferns need moisture. so, i'm going to work on that.

also, we had our first family photo taken today! ellie looks so mad! she's really a happy, smiling dog!

we're going hiking tomorrow and we'll be trying to soak up every ounce of summer. hope you have the greatest weekend!

-kelsie.

the summer is all in bloom...

the summer is ending soon...

-kelsie.

ellie attacks.

she loves to show her bed who's boss.

-kelsie.

etsy love.

who doesn't love etsy? it's like a huge on-line arts and crafts fair. it's awesome. but now i love it even more because of these pictures of their headquarters:

{pictures via here}

ah-mazing. i'm in love with those orange lamps. and the giant owl. and pretty much everything. 

i'm off to play with ellie.

-kelsie.

introducing....

ellie brandt.

 our newest addition and obsession. 

ryan and i have wanted a dog since we got married and we are now living in an apartment that allows them. we searched and searched for a while and finally found our ellie.

ellie is a rescue dog so we don't know a ton about her. they think she's about two years old. she has been living in a foster home for the past few weeks but she is home with us now! she is unbelievably cute and, surprisingly, SO well behaved!

she knows how to sit, lay down, and high five. she is potty trained and does great in the car. she has slept through the night every night we've had her and she loves her toys.

since she's been with us, she's had quite the makeover. ellie's hair was a cute mess but was extremely matted and wayyy too long. we took her to the groomer and she was a new woman! i think she was amazed how well she could see! here's her before and after:

{before}

{after}

we're just crazy about her and i think she's already sick of us taking pictures of her. but here's our photo shoot from today:

i'm sure you'll be seeing lots more of our little ellie.

hope your monday is beautiful!

-kelsie.