Grey's Anatomy, What a Downer

I was a little late to the Grey's Anatomy boat.  I probably started tuning in during the middle of the second season I think.  But I really liked it, so I ordered the first on DVD and got all caught up.  I even got Michael hooked on it (or he just watches with me because he loves me.  Either way).  I used to even watch the repeated seasons during the middle of the day, but don't really anymore because I'm watching repeats of Beverly Hills 90210 too busy these days. 
That being said, last season they almost lost me there at the end.  (By the way, I will probably be spoiling it if you watch and are not caught up.  If so, read no further.)  The docs at hospital have never been very good at keeping themselves out of the worst possible situations imaginable (near drowning, getting shot, bombs, cancer, terrible car crashes...I could go on and on).  It's hard to see how they can even concentrate on being doctors and saving actual patients' lives, they are always trying to save each other.  I would never go to Seattle Grace/Mercy West Hospital, if I could help it. (I guess it helps that it is a fictional hospital)
But the cliff hanger at the end of last season was literally the worst....a plane crash with more than half the doctors on board.  Not to mention that a plane crash is in my top three worst fears....most of them survive the actual crash and then are stranded in the woods with a multitude of life-threatening injuries to deal with.  Sort of unrealistic that they even survived in the first place, but I was super disappointed with the fact that one of the characters that I actually liked, Lexi, is killed right off.  Apparently a ton of Grey's viewers were mad at that little plot twist that no one saw coming. 
Anyway, at the end of the episode, the remaining living doctors are left out in the woods and you have no idea what is to become of them.  And the other night, the new season started back up.  And you find out that yet another character on the show, a likable one at that, is going to be killed off.  And oh, those writers are soooo good at putting the right sad music with a flashback of said dying character on and before you know it, you are crying like you know the person, for crying out loud.  I am just so tired of this show being so freaking depressing!  Why can't they write a season of the show that good things happen to the characters??  Even worse, the previews for next week show that they are going to go through the whole what-happened-while-they-were-stranded-in-the-woods drama.  I can't take it.  'Cause I know the whole season is going to be more of the same and no one on the show is going to be happy and nothing positive is going to happen to any of the remaining characters. 
What was the point of this post?  Ah, yes.  I guess I am just annoyed that a show that I used to really like, a light drama revolving around doctors in a hospital setting, has turned into a please-drag-me-from-the-ledge-I-just-watched-Grey's-Anatomy show.  And sure, Housewives of Anywhere doesn't have a single redeeming quality....but I do not cry during it, nor do I feel like I might down a bottle of aspirin with a bottle of vodka after watching (ok, I wouldn't do that ever, definitely not after watching TV...I think you get what I am trying to say though). 
Surely there is a comedy that I can watch in place of the most depressing show ever to air on TV??  Because if things continue to go the way they are going on Grey's, I might just turn off the TV altogether. 

Flashback Friday: Engagement!

For this blog, I am taking a break from just catching up and am linking up with The Journey of Parenthood, another blog (that I read allll the time).  Emily started off the link up by sharing her engagement story...I thought I would do the same (and since it seems like everyone is else sharing their engagement stories as well). 
Check out Emily's blog, it really is great!


I will give a little back story before I jump right in to the night that Michael and I got engaged.  We started out as just friends working for the same credit union.  And we did lots of 'friend' things together for about a year and a half before we actually even started dating.  By 'friend' things, I mean we worked out together a lot, hung out for drinks after work, went to concerts and out to eat...sometimes in a group and sometimes just the two of us.  As the year and a half went by, we realized that we were pretty close friends...and that we wanted it to be even more than that.  The thing was though, that both of us still worked together and I didn't want most of our co-workers to know that we had started dating.  For lots of reasons, but the main one being that I didn't want so many others in our business before we could find out if we were going to last as a couple...I wanted to just enjoy my relationship with him and to get to know him even better, without other opinions, advice and general nosiness from our mutual co-workers and friends.  So, for a timeline, we started to date in August of 2007.  Our first official date was during Atlanta Restaurant Week, at a place called Avanzare, in a hotel downtown. 
Fast forward 5 months, to January.  I decided to leave the credit union to pursue other things and most folks there still didn't know that we were dating.  Once I left though, I didn't care who knew.  Plus, Michael and I already knew that the relationship was serious.  I, for one, knew that he was the one who I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.  By May, I had started a new job at a jewelry store.  In that atmosphere, the topic of engagement rings and the subject of engagement came up a lot in our conversations.  Michael really wanted for us to have dated for at least a year before becoming engaged.  I agreed with him and his reasoning behind it.  With his family living in Florida, there had only been a few occasions that I had gotten to travel down with him to meet them and spend time with them.  He wanted to make sure that his family liked me and that we got along and all that (which we did, his family is so super nice I can't imagine anyone not really being able to get along with them).  So, the longer we dated, the more opportunities I had to spend with his family, as well as him spending time with mine. 
Meanwhile, at the jewelry store, I had looked at some things and I knew that Michael knew what styles that I liked so after we talked about it a little bit, I decided to just leave things between him and my boss.  I might have checked every single box that came in to see if it might be something of interest, haha.  But my boss was totally on top of things (either that or he had stuff shipped to his house) and I really never saw anything.  Michael told me that he was opening up a safe deposit box at work so that he could keep the rings in when they were done.  Seems plausible, I am a touch of a snoop, haha. 
Anyway, we were a couple weeks away from our one year anniversary.  In my head, I sort of thought that a proposal might come some time near my birthday (which is mid-August).  Towards the end of July was Atlanta Restaurant week...and we decided to go to the same place where we had our first date, Avanzare.  It was a Wednesday.  I really wasn't thinking much in the way of proposal.  We were dressed pretty nice, but it was nice place.  One funny thing...as we were heading down to the restaurant on the escalator.  I reached back to grab Michael's hand...I may have brushed against his pants or something...and he practically threw my hand off so fast I nearly fell down the escalator.  Well, that could be an exaggeration, but he obviously made it clear he didn't want to hold my hand!  I should've taken that as a sign that maybe something was up.  Nope.  Not a clue. 
We had a really nice dinner.  And after that we went out to where there is a deck area.  For some reason, Michael didn't seem to want to leave, even though we were just kind of standing around.  There was some crowds of people milling about.  Finally we ended up leaving.  On the drive home (I can't remember why, but I was driving) we started talking about when we first started dating and even before that.  There was a park that was between my condo and his apartment that we would always meet up at....and somehow we decided to stop by there before finishing the date. 
It was nice because we were really the only ones at the park.  We sat on a bench as it started to get dark and were talking.  Again, Michael didn't seem to want to leave.  Finally, I was like, well, we better go and then all of the sudden Michael was on one knee in front of the bench! 
I really was surprised.  He said originally he was going to propose at the restaurant, but we were seated in a table that wasn't 'romantic enough'.  And then again when we were outside, but there were too many other people.  I'm not sure what his plan was going to be if we hadn't started talking about the park and decided to go there...that wasn't part of his original plan!! 
It took me a minute to even realize that he had a ring box in his hand...I had no idea the ring was ready at all, between him and my boss throwing me off, I just never expected a proposal then.  I LOVE that he was able to surprise me.  I figured I would know when it would happen and I was actually happy to be caught off guard.  After that, it really was dark, so we left the park!  I immediately took a picture of my new ring when we got back to my place.  :-)

The best part of the ring was the fact that waaaayy before we got engaged, maybe even before we were officially dating, some how a conversation of what shape of diamond I like came up.  I think maybe there was a magazine ad that sparked that conversation?  And I told him I really loved radiant cut, since it was a cross between my mom's emerald cut diamond and my sister's princess cut diamond and that I really loved both of theirs but wanted something different for my own. And Michael actually remembered that and told my boss and picked out a radiant center stone for my ring. 
Like I said, we were the ONLY people at the park....so I am sad to say this is the only picture from minutes after we got engaged....

A real great one, right?!  But even looking at it, I remember exactly that night and how great it was.  We planned our wedding and got married in February, six months later.  :-) 

First Day of School....Ever!!

On Tuesday, September 11, 2012
my sweet Sophia had her very first day of school ever.  She is in Mrs. Dwayna's three day a week 2 year old class at St. Lawrence Preschool.  And she was SO excited for it. 
I happen to be a three day a week 2 year old teacher at the preschool....so it was my official first day as well.  I might have been a little less excited and a bit more nervous, haha. 
Michael decided to go in to work late and accompanied us on our very first days (and to be the photographer). 
I will say I have had some mixed emotions regarding my daughter starting school.  She just turned two.  Technically she probably doesn't need to be in school until maybe next year.  But.  She is definitely ready to be around other kids, if nothing else.  And so, since I agreed to teach the other two year old class, even though her birthday falls after the cut off date, she is able to join the preschool.  Is my little tiny girl old enough to start school????  Yeah,..she really isn't my little tiny girl anymore...she is very quickly becoming my big girl!  Even if I am not ready for her big life milestones, she is ready and is going to hit those milestones with or without me.  And I would also say that maybe I was a little more sad about the big event because I wasn't able to give as much attention to the fact that it was the first day for her because it was also my first day as a teacher. 
But the first day (for Sophia, definitely) went great.  She didn't cry at all (me either, haha) and was completely fine when we left her off in her classroom.  And her note in her folder at the end of the day said that she did great, really fit right in with the class.  She even said she had a fun day and that she did want to go back.  :-)
Here are the pictures that we took that morning....

 All ready to go to school!

 Having a good breakfast to start the day.

 With her Daddy.  :-)

And with Mommy...also ready for the first day!

 She is not actually wearing her backpack...she just didn't want to...so we leaned her up against it!

 Cute girl!

 Walking in with Mommy. 

 She looks like she is thinking 'am I really going to do this?!'

Yup, we're going in!!

 Making herself at home in her classroom and checking out the toys. 

Rearranging some couch cushions!

 And settling in with a good book. 

I really don't even think she knew we were still in there.  So we quietly slipped out. 

 

I know there will be many more first days of school...but never the very first day ever!  I think it was a good day (for both of us, even though mine was fairly stressful and busy) and now we have hit yet another big day in the life of our sweet girl!  I'm so proud of her (and a little bit of myself for not crying, ha) and how grown up she is becoming.  We are looking forward to a great school year!

Sophia's Birthday Party at our House

Final post relating to Sophia's second birthday....I promise!!
Shortly after we moved into our new house, I thought that it would be fun if we had a little party for Sophia's 2nd birthday and invited some of her friends and ours over to celebrate with us and see the new place.  I knew we'd be having the big party in conjunction with Cooper's birthday party at my parents' house....so I figured whatever we would do would be fairly low key.  And it was.....except for maybe the decorations.  I possibly went a tad overboard in that area.  Allow me to explain.  I had spent the bulk of the week leading up to Sophia's birthday planning for my new classroom job and getting my room ready and even had to bring Sophia up to the school on her actual birthday.  So I felt totally bad about how little attention I was able to pay to the planning and executing of her party.  Which led to a trip to Party City that may have included me throwing practically every princess related item that they sell into my cart.  Oh, and ordering approximately ten mylar balloons (2 large, 8 regular sized) to be blown up.  Let's not forget the cupcake princess cake from Publix.  Mmm hmm....just a touch overboard. 
And she LOVED it.  Streamers decorated her room, her playroom, various doorways around the house, the mantel, and most importantly the dining room (where the largest concentration of decorations were displayed).  I admit, I did have a good time with the decorations.  Did I have as much fun taking them down?  Not sure, I'll let you know when I finally get around to actually taking them down.  :-) 

 

 

I think the birthday party (and first party at our new house...with many to come I am sure!) was a success!  

 

Sophia's Birthday Day

Yeah, so I know that I am posting a lot of separate posts just for Sophia's birthday.  Mostly because I have a lot of pictures for each different day and didn't feel like combining into one long drawn out post.  So you'll get a couple more birthday posts. 
On Sophia's actual birthday (Friday, September 7th) I had to spend a couple hours at the preschool getting my room ready.  I wasn't super excited about having to go in, but it was a necessity and I knew she really wouldn't mind.  Plus, my Mom was going to be there to watch her up in the church nursery....which Sophia loves...and for some inexplicable reason she calls it the 'purple playroom'.  Just so you know, the room is not purple.  Nor are there a ton of purple items in the room.  No clue where that came from. 
Anyway, when we woke up, she was very excited to see that I had hung up some streamers in her doorway. 

 

  

 After we got dressed, I made her a treat of chocolate chip muffins for breakfast (which I called cupcakes...and she was super excited to get to eat cupcakes for breakfast, haha).  She didn't want to look at me for this picture...oh, well. 

We didn't have the most exciting day, for a birthday day.  I had to work, after all.  But we made some cookies together before nap time, and lately Sophia has really loved helping me make cookies (even if they are just the break and bake, easy cheater kind).  When Michael got home from work, we had a dinner of Sophia's choice (mac and cheese and a veggie) and then let her open the presents that we got her. 

Sophia definitely enjoyed her birthday day.  And that was all that mattered.  We might spoil her just a tad, haha.  We sure have one sweet, happy girl though.  And now she is two!!  Still can't believe it. :-)



Sophia's Birthday Party w/Cooper

Last year, for Sophia's first birthday, we seemed to start a tradition of having a joint birthday party with cousin Cooper....his birthday, after all, is the day before hers!  I think it will be a fun tradition that we will continue...at least until they don't want to share a party, haha.  We typically have the party on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend...so this year that Saturday was September 1st, just about a week before her actual birthday. 
This year, we planned the theme to be princess/superhero....and it kind of transitioned into a Rapunzel/Spiderman party.  I guess the kids needed that theme to be narrowed down a bit.  Typically, we go completely overboard with parties around the Mercer household.  Ahem.  Unfortunately, Sara, Dillon, and I had both moved in the weeks before the party for the kids and we weren't able to decorate to the hilt.  We still had a lot of good food, we do have our standards for a party. 
The kids had fun, just like we knew they would, and I was happy that we were able to ring in years 2 and 5 (for Sophia and Cooper, respectively) for the kiddos with the usual family/friends crew.

 The birthday princess

 Mommy and her girl

 Cousins/buddies/friends :-)

 The 'Punzel cake

 Coop's 'Piderman cake

 Grampy holding the birthday girl while we all sang

 Sophia with her Lucy

 And accessories for Lucy.  Thanks, Aunt Sara!

 And her 'pinky' car from Grammy and Grampy.  Currently parked in our dining room, haha. 

 Enjoying the 'Punzel cake. 

 And taking care of her baby. 

I am so thankful for great family and friends to help celebrate our girl.  And I love that she can celebrate her big day with her sweet cousin, she sure does love him.  :-)  Next year we will start the planning a couple months ahead...haha...I am sure it will be a fun joint birthday, just like last year and definitely like this year.  Happy 2nd birthday, Sophia and happy 5th birthday, Cooper!!