Stiff Competition

I never thought I would have to compete for Sterling's love, especially not with a 5 year old! While we were on vacation, I quickly learned that I am not the only one with an eye for Sterling. I have a niece that decided Sterling was her "honey" (as she called him often) and nothing I could say or do was going to change her mind.

If I sat next to him on the couch, she would jump on his lap, nestle her head in his neck and say, "Hey! that's my honey." If I gave him a hug...same reaction.

Let's be honest people, I couldn't just break it to her harshly, I tried to ease her into the idea that he was my husband. I tried a bunch of different tactics, none of them worked, and in the end I had to let another girl have the love and affection of my husband for a day.

Take a look for yourselves, it doesn't look like she is going to give me any room to step in. Oh well, it makes Sterling feel good that his nieces and nephews love him.

BBE or Best Burger Ever

My nephew, Clark Kent, as he likes to be called these days, really enjoys watching TV shows about cooking. Evidently he watched an episode of some show where they made hamburgers that are large enough to feed a family of four and just as filling. He calls them BBE's and if you simply call them a hamburger he acts as though he doesn't know to what you are referring.

Anyway, here are some pictures of the BBE's from start to finish, pre-digestion.

Chef Kent showing off his stuff

Chef Kent cookin' it up on the grill

Sterling and Clark opening wide for the first bit

Me mid first bite

Mom trying to smash the burger and bite at the same time

The BBE's were really good and consisted of at least 1/4 lb of burger, roast beef, turkey, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, jalapenos, onions, mushrooms, ketchup, mustard and of course the buns.

Clark Kent is willing to talk to any and everyone about the burgers so if you are interested, just let me know!

Go West Young Man

Our latest vacation consisted of lots of driving, a little bit of family and tons of fun. I learned a couple of things while we were gone.

1. The drive from Iowa to Wyoming is not fun! We've made the drive three times now and it seems like each time I learn the same thing, 16 hours in the car is not fun.

2. Spoiling nieces and nephews is awesome because you don't have to deal with their tantrums later.


3. Family really is the most important thing in my life.



Unfortunately we didn't take a picture with my entire family and so you get a picture of Sterling and I with some of our nieces and nephews. Sometimes you just don't think of the family picture thing until it's too late.

Anyway, we spent time in Wyoming, Montana and Arizona. We attended baseball games, county fairs, we went horseback riding, we went to a play and so many more things. I can hardly wait to tell the stories of our fun and post the pictures.

Stay posted, there is more to come.

Future Plans

It is funny to look back and realize that we have been in Iowa for two years now. I am half way done with my Doctor of Audiology (AuD), and some exciting parts are coming up. We have really enjoyed our time here in Iowa. However, I have to admit that I am becoming anxious to move on to some place new and exciting. I have become accustom to moving frequently and have come to enjoy it. I had not lived in the same place for more than one straight year for six years before we moved to Iowa. These past two years in Iowa now seem like a long time even though they have been great.

I thought that I would let everyone know about what may be coming in the next few years of our lives. I am currently preparing to apply for placements for the last year of my doctoral program. The last year is a full-year externship in which I work full-time. I can complete that externship anywhere in the United States. It is exciting to consider all of the possible places we may be living in one year and the possible externships I could obtain. Most of the externships begin during the summer months. I will start my externship in the summer of 2010, in less than one year. I am considering placements in Minnesota, Nebraska, Arizona, Oregon, Ohio and Massachusetts. Those of you who know how indecisive I am will appreciate the magnitude of the difficulties I will face in making the decision. Cylynn is willing to move anywhere. She claims to be so impartial or apathetic to where I decide to go that it is sometimes frustrating. Sometimes I wish she would make the decision for me so that I do not have to make it myself. Stay tuned to hear where we will be in a year. I will find out early next year (February or March).

I will also be doing some traveling as part of my program for conferences and humanitarian work. I will be in China for a couple of weeks in May next year providing hearing aids to orphans and educating doctors on Audiology. I will also travel to Arizona and possibly California for conferences. This year will be full of traveling for interviews and school. Luckily I like to travel.

Following the AuD degree, I have the option of working as an Audiologist or continuing for a PhD in Audiology. Another decision to be made. Unfortunately, I seem to have a change of heart or mind every other day. The PhD would be an extra two years following the end of the AuD and would be back here in Iowa.

Anyway, just thought I would give an update on the current and future plans for our family.

New Posts are Fun

Well everybody (especially Hollie), the moment you have been waiting for...Sterling and I finally did something fun and worth posting about. We just returned from vacation and took plenty of pictures of family and of all the fun we had. Stay tuned for exciting updates on our vacation and our otherwise monotonous lives.