The Sanborns

I’ve never done one of these posts in detail, mainly because I am lazy, but I decided that this was the year!

January began with our change to Comcast from the evilness that is Clearwire. I made up some resolutions for the year, of which I completed maybe two. We finally got a Wii Fit, after searching for one all across the surrounding areas. The Titans did so well that they were in the Playoffs and we wanted to win tickets. Unfortunately we didn’t win tickets and the Titans lost their playoff game. I got addicted to 24 and watched the entire first season in one week. I struggled with weight loss and enjoyed the Wii Fit, while trying to do better. In the middle of January I was blessed to go back to school to pursue a degree in nursing. January brought home one of my favorite people in the world to visit for a short while. We bought Chile an exercise ball (which no longer exists) and he loved it! I ended January with a bang by starting to use Pearbudget.

In February we got to see some of my friends from Clearwater at dinner in Nashville. Oh and then I got the flu, right before a major test in A&P. I wonder now if I actually had the swine flu back then. I jumped on the bandwagon by doing a 101 things in 1001 days list. I found it much better than a new year’s resolution because I’m constantly looking at things to cross off. Hello Type A personality! We had an adventure to find a coffee table that, sadly, we no longer own. We gave it away after realizing we didn’t really need one. I made some homemade croutons and realized that being a student is going to take more work than I remembered. I ended February with my annual women’s health visit and agreed to teach the 3 year olds at church.

March hit was a bang as we got SNOW! MTSU was forced to consider budget cuts, so Gray and I joined some students to protest majors from being cut. We chose to stay in our apartment for another year and I got my first stye (ever) in my eye. Gray turned 22 and I made him a reddit birthday cake. The chinchilla continued to amuse us with his presence and so ended the month.

In April we came across a Scottish festival and I found my family’s clan on their map. I had the opportunity to teach the 3 year olds at church and we learned all about the Triumphal Entry. I signed up for summer classes and wished my best friend a happy 24th birthday via video. However, Trina’s birthday was marred by the disastrous tornado that swept the city. I completed all my training at work and got addicted to a new horror style TV show, Harper’s Island.

May brought with it the end of school. I also discovered that Gray is definitely his father’s child. Chile chewed a hole through his plastic water bottle so we bought him a new glass one. Gray and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary with a dinner trip to Demos’, a local Italian restaurant and a walk at the Greenway. I continued to struggle with my weight-loss journey. We watched a hilarious movie called “Murder by Death” and I got excited about an upcoming murder mystery party. I went back to work for the summer and we got a free big screen TV.

June came and I stopped blogged much because of school. I did an entry on my beliefs. My sister got married on the same day we lost my uncle Jim. I dealt with a VERY drunk “co-worker” (not really my co-worker, but worked with me) and was relieved when they were fired. Oh and of course, I blogged the death of M.J. and Farrah.

In July, I got to experience the Nashville fireworks extravaganza for the second time in my life! The sad was when we found out that NFL and Titan legend, Steve McNair, was murdered on the 4th in downtown Nashville. He was blocks from where we were and it was a very sad time. I picked myself up from the hard June semester and I decided to study for the ACT. I quickly decided to not take the ACT again and just apply for nursing school with my current score. All of my close friends rallied together for a weekend of Justin in which we saw Harry Potter 6, played a murder mystery game, and far too much of Apples to Apples. I reflected on my birthday and how blessed I am to be married to Gray.

August was a time of reflection as I remembered my birthday weekend in McEwen, including a quick visit to the famous Irish Picnic. Trina introduced me to True Blood and I gobbled up the show and books. I accidentally put hand soap in our dishwasher and had to clean up the soapy mess. One of our last date nights with Trina and Chad included my first major alcoholic drink and a slightly tipsy Becca. Gray and I visited family in Memphis and McEwen during our break from school and we went to the zoo! I bought the new EA Sports Active game and began a new goal of exercise and weight-loss by signing up for a Pilates class at school. Gray and I started a new school year with a look to the future.

Oh September… I started another semester of school, knowing it would make or break my future. I decided to make my own Halloween costume and set out to acquire what I needed. We went to the Tennessee State Fair and it rained most of the night. However, we still had a lot of fun. I realized that I needed vaccinations for nursing school and so began the rough time trying to acquire my immunization records. My blood work came back without several immunities so I began the long process of more immunizations. I was able to attend the 70th anniversary showing of the Wizard of Oz in Nashville and thus began an obsession with all things Dorothy. I turned in my application to nursing school and began the long wait with a sigh. This was also the month of the new HD TV. The old one we gave away.

Then came October and all the ber holidays. We got google voice and got all nerdified. I decided to run a 5k in November and began training. I was so excited about the fall that I convinced Gray to exercise with me! I had participated in a Lose for Good challenge and gave away some food to the local pantry. I voted for Paranormal Activity and was able to see it in theaters and was blown away! I vaccinated for chicken pox on the day before Halloween. Oh and for Halloween, I was Dorothy in my homemade costume.

November began the longest month ever because I participated in NaBoPoMo again. I caught you all up on the murder mystery party we threw for Halloween. A dead body was found burned near campus in a dumpster. It was later discovered that the dead body was a suicide. I did a post on politics and completed my 5k without dying! Then there was nursing school. I got my letter in the mail and put Gray through a wild goose chase to get it. I documented the last few days of waiting and my results: ACCEPTANCE. I went to Anna’s (an old resident of mine) wedding and we had our ipod holder stolen. Trina and I went to a matinee showing of New Moon and were amazed at how sold out it was on a Sunday afternoon. I ended November with new glasses and putting up our Christmas tree.

Finally came December and the end of a wonderful year. I completed my classes and took finals. Oh and then I got rear-ended and the miata was totaled, leaving us without a second vehicle. To the top off the badness, I went to the dentist and discovered I needed a lot of work done on my teeth, including wisdom teeth extraction. We wished you all a Merry Christmas and enjoyed a week with our families.

Tonight we will be playing some games together, watching the ball drop, and drinking to a new, and more awesome year together as man and wife. I look forward to 2010 and am eager to see what it holds for me, my family, and friends.

SO, we got some amazing gifts for Christmas.

I’ll just do my list because it’ll be hard to do Gray’s… K?

From The Sanborns:
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
Make it Fast, Cook it Slow by Stephanie O’dea
The Sims 3 World Adventures Expansion Pack!
Twilight on DVD!
Plus some earrings, a fluffy brown blanket, an ornament, and some stuff I’m probably forgetting but it’s just as good. Caleb gave me some fluffy socks and then Taylor gave us all toy guns, slime, and mind puzzles.

We got some coasters and cocoa from Gray’s aunt and uncle and money from his grandparents, brothers, and parents.

We used money that my parents gave us and from the rest of them to purchase my favorite present of all:

Basically, my dream present is on its way to me! It should be arriving tomorrow.

We also purchased Guitar Hero: World Tour and that is what we will be doing on New Years Eve.

I’ll try to write up the rest of the holidays while it is still fresh, but for now I’m watching 500 Days of Summer and hopefully taking down the Christmas tree.

It’s Christmas Eve and I’m sitting at my parent’s house, listening to the wind outside. It will probably not be a white Christmas for us, more like a rainy and wet day instead. We will be eating brunch with my siblings and their spouses/kids tomorrow and then heading out on the trek towards Memphis for part two of Christmas.

I’m going to start working on a New Year’s resolutions post, but first I wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. We are so blessed and fortunate to be able to celebrate such an amazing thing as the birth of our Savior.

I get a little ruffled at Christmas because I tire of all the Santa talk. I bought presents for my loved ones because I simply, love them. I like to see them happy on Christmas when they open something I picked out for them. The truth is, I don’t want my kids to grow up believing in Santa to be real or the big deal. Will my kids learn about jolly old St. Nick? Yes, but he won’t be anything more than a fictional character based upon a generous old man who did great things in Europe. I love Santa movies, but I love even more the real story behind Christmas.

Anyway, I hope you are your family have a wonderful, merry Christmas!

So, first things first…

My glasses arrived Friday. They are progressive lenses made specifically for my eyes to adjust to different focal points. Basically, I will be able to read up close, medium, and distantly by looking through the lenses in different ways.

Also:

Our tree is up and decorated! No presents are under it yet because I’m an exhausted human being right now. We went shopping yesterday and bought ALL of the gifts (minus our gifts to each other). It made for a cranky Gray and Becca but we survived.

I am so happy the tree is up because now officially beings my favorite time of the year!.

Phew, I don’t even know where to begin.

Wednesday night, Gray and I left Murfreesboro at around 5:30 and took HWY 96 through Franklin and all the way to 40W in Dickson. We did this because traffic is usually insane and awful in Nashville at rush hour and if you combine that with Thanksgiving, it’s just worse.

We actually made it in about two hours, pretty good if you ask me. The next morning we drove to Memphis with my parents and had Thanksgiving lunch with Gray’s family. The rest of the day included shooting a BB gun, watching The Blind Side at the theater (AWESOME movie, especially since it takes place in Memphis at the school (under a different name) that Cathy went to, pretty cool!), came home and had leftovers, and then finished the night by watching Star Trek, which was also good.

This morning(Friday) we drove back to McEwen and went to my aunt’s for lunch and now I’m playing catch up on ALL the gazzilion emails and such that I got over the past two days.

I’ve been kind of cranky the past few days and I’m sure there is a reason behind it, but I’m just not sure. Regardless, I am still thankful for the time with my family.

Finally, tomorrow we drive back and I finally get my glasses, woohoo!

P.S. – I think I might actually be in love with Eric from True Blood, but in a fictional way of course.

Today is Thanksgiving. Gray and I are traveling with my parents to visit Gray’s family in Memphis. I thought it would be a good idea to share what I am thankful for:
1. Salvation: That I know where I will be when I die.
2. My Husband: Because sometimes he’s the only thing that keeps me from jumping out of windows.
3. My family: They are all a gift to me in some way. I was blessed with a massive family and it just got a little bit bigger now that I am a Sanborn.
4. My friends: There are a few that stand out to me: Trina, Rachel, Sam, Lory, Kelsey… and then my new nursing friends… it’s going to be a long year!
5. My church: We’ve been blessed with a wonderful community group and great church family. I am thankful for my mentor Molly who has been such an encouragement!
6. My job: I get to work on campus and get paid a lot of money for not doing a whole lot. I am thankful because it pays as much as working a minimum wage job but I only work 20 hours a week, great for a student!
7. Nursing school: I am so thankful I got into nursing school!
8. Working vehicles: I am thankful we have a way to get around.
9. Technlology: Without it I wouldn’t have a job!
10. You: Thank you so much for reading our blog!

As promised, the murder mystery photos! They are totally all backwards, so this shall be interesting…

Trina reading about her character, Madame Aretha Garlique.

Trina brought over her pumpkins… Jack, a cat, and my little mermaid.

Skull goblets.

Dead flowers.

Glumda the Wicked Witch of Depressed (played by Samantha) and Asthmadeus, the Prince of Dimness (played by Forrest)

My bling and my pet spider Boris.

Trina and me. Trina turned out to be my enemy and my lover and they were totally not related.

Gray dressed as mummy “Alldrinktotat” and he also played Hannibal because Chad’s car broke down.

Kevin as Balihi, a Frankenstein monster who composed Broadway musicals.

I was Lizzie Bordeaux, engaged to the deceased. Check out that bling yo. I was supposed to be a gothic chick from France so I tried to pull off the Ms. Lovett look from Sweeny Todd.

Trina was very proud of her costume.

Kevin’s wife Ashley was Angela Deth, a dentist who liked putting people 6 feet under.

Forrest cheesing.

Sam.

Our bubbly cauldron.

Gray was excited about the dry ice he got.

Graveyard brownies.

Witch’s fingers.

I also made spaghetti with meatballs (eyes) but I’m too lazy to track down the picture. Overall, this party was the best murder mystery we’ve done yet. The plot was crazy but it was one we all understand. It was solvable (and was solved) with some twists. I like this series better than the other one we’ve tried, but as Trina has said before, it’s hard to find these games with CDs as they are older.

I won’t tell you the ending in case you’d like to play it yourself but I will say this is not for light hearts. This party had a lot of scandal (think sexual), more so than any other game we’ve done. They do warn you about this, and we all handled it well, but it’s definitely not for a church group.

Today marks the first day of November and I will be posting every day for a month. I hope.

Yesterday was Halloween and we hosted a murder mystery party called “An Affair to Dismember” from the How to Host a Murder Mystery Series.

I’m pretty sure it was the best murder mystery we’ve done yet. Gray and I spent the day doing some light grocery shopping, getting the final bits for his costume, and then cooking (for 5 solid hours) the rounds of dinner. Needless to say, I am an exhausted human being today.

I must also mention that I got the chicken pox vaccine on Friday and have had a mild reaction to it involving swollen soreness. As this is mild (1 in like 3 people get it), there is nothing to worry about, but I’m staying home today to relax and recover before the school/work week begins.

When we set the date for the murder mystery, I completely forgot that my cousin was getting married in the family’s chapel back home. My great-grandfather was a Methodist preacher at Curtis Chapel in McEwen, TN and my cousin Carol got married there yesterday. I’m sad that I missed it, especially because it’s been so long since I’ve been in the church. It’s an old school church complete with no plumbing or electricity! They actually had to rent a port-a-potty for the event. My mom sent me a few photos from the event so I could enjoy it even though I was unable to attend.

Tomorrow’s post will include pictures from the murder mystery party.

For the 4th, Gray’s parents and brother came up to Murfreesboro to hang out with us for the weekend. We gathered up in the van with Chad and Trina and drove to downtown Nashville to see their fireworks/music/4th of July extravaganza. We ended up getting there are 1:30 in the afternoon and the fireworks weren’t scheduled until 9pm. Obviously we had a lot of waiting to do.

Nashville’s display is ranked pretty high in the nation so we knew the all day camp out to watch them was worthy of our time.

We found a really good spot and spread out some blankets to stake our claim. There had been some discussion about coolers because the official websites said they weren’t allowed. We ended up getting ours out of the van because there were definitely coolers everywhere!

There were some fun things to do, like inflatables and walking around downtown. They also had a misting tent (my favorite part, it was HOT!) and freebies like ice cream… which helped in the tremendous heat. Trina and I actually stayed under umbrellas for a few hours because of the heat. Who cares about a tan, I just want to stay alive!

Then came the rain… we were prepared with umbrellas and ponchos and the first rain wasn’t so bad. It cleared up and we could hear a few of the performers  (none of which I knew) while we waited. Sam showed up around 7:15 and by then it was getting so packed, she couldn’t find the stairs to come down to us! Once she got down to us, it was time for a last minute bathroom break. The port-a-potties were available but by this time we had realized that the restauraunts were much better. After a 15 minute wait, we made it into one and out. Of course, we realized we had to fight our way back down to our seat. Let’s just say, we all brought out the guns… we’re not really mean people unless we have to be… So Sam, Trina, and I fought our way back, not without a few people cussing us out and Sam had to push a child away from us. I’m pretty sure Trina was groped in the process. hah.

We made it back to our seats just in time. Wynona Judd had just finished and since it was about to rain AGAIN, they decided to go ahead and light the fireworks. Gray and I captured a small taste of the show to share with you all, it’s from the very beginning. I wish I had captured the finale because it truly captured the idea of being in a war zone, it was insane! For the record, usually the Nashville Sympony  plays live alongside of the fireworks. This year because of the rain, they played beforehand and we listened to a recording.

Fireworks from Becca Sanborn on Vimeo.

P.S. – While we were in Nashville, the body of Steve McNair was found, just a few blocks away from where we were. It turned out that we drove past it just as they found his body. We found out before they announced it thanks to the technology of a cell phone. It’s a heart breaking loss for the Tennessee Titans, he took us all the way to the Superbowl back in 1999, the only time we’ve ever been.  Please keep his family and friends in your prayers and thoughts as they mourn him in this horrible tragedy.

I’ve been really nostalgic about the 4th of July this year. I think it’s because I’m more aware of what is going on with our country and world. I am thankful for all that I have… a wonderful husband, family, friends, and a nation in which I can choose to do whatever I want to as a career. I can worship God without being persecuted, unlike some countries where they would kill me for doing so.

There are many women and men who fight daily to keep our freedom secure and we don’t thank them nearly enough.

So thank you to anyone who is a Veteran, anyone who is currently in the military, especially those who are deployed. Thank you for doing your job so I can enjoy fireworks with my family and friends today. Thank you!

Fireworks from Becca Sanborn on Vimeo.