Almost over...

As I type this Regan is in his fourth an last final. And I am so nervous for him! He has been studying SOOOO hard and put a lot of time in... so I know that he will do great. His test is 3.5 hours (he's about an hour and a half into it right now) and I think I will finally be able to breath when its over. Then start the celebrations. I'm not sure when the last time was that he had a whole three weeks off of work and school so we have lots of fun things planned for our extended vacation.

The weather outside is... DELIGHTFUL

By the by, it was a balmy 61 degrees today. And it is only getting better as the days go on. I can't believe that we'll be in the 70s next week... how will we ever have a White Christmas?! I told Regan that our trip to Utah was going to be a rude awakening only because we have totally been spoiled by this mild weather. Although we both agree that it will feel more like Christmas to see snow in the mountains. I'm all ready planning to pack my snow pants for sledding!

I didn't really get to enjoy the weather today- other than the walk from my car to work and back (but let me tell you, that was niiice). Yes, that's right I had to work today. Finals are in full swing at the law school, so obviously my skill-set is in high demand. I can trouble-shoot a computer with the best of them, heh. It wasn't bad though... no 1Ls cried today (not even regan) so I think it went smoothly. Working on a Saturday is not as bad either when you know it's OT. (yeah yeah!) I'm trying to get in as many hours as I can because after next week Regan and I will be on a little 3 week vacation.

The newest edition to our Chistmas decor

Regan's mom just made me this for my birthday and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. She picked out such cute fabrics. I told her that they were ones that I would have picked out. I think it looks very "Lindsay" (don't you?) Apparently Regan's little brother, Ben, thought so too, haha. When we were deciding where to hang it I suggested to take down our picture hanging over the kitchen table and replace it with the wall hanging (because it is a good sized, white wall that would have given it the prominence it deserves)... although Regan didn't think that it was prudent to take down a picture of Jesus during Christmas. Good call on that one, Reg. So instead we used it to cover the ghastly hole over the fire place (which is really just a tv nook)... I think it fits quite nicely. Thanks, Ann!

1 down... 3 to go.

This is my semi-sophomoric attempt at being supportive. The sign was made with good intentions... but it really didn't look as great at a thought it would. It lasted for about a night before I decided to take it down. I think Regan appreciated it (and was immensely inspired to persevere?) so I guess it was effective all in all. HOORAY for Regan though for finishing his first law school final. I think I will be almost has happy as he will be for him to be done next Thursday!

Got my hair did.

Again. I don't normally get my hair cut this often but I guess the shorter 'do calls for it. I think I mentioned before that my friend Tiffany cuts hair. I have to tell you that she is SO talented. I know this because the pictures I'm posting were taken just a few minutes ago at almost 11 pm... after I had run my hands through it all day, gone running, fallen asleep with it in a sort of up-do, and then tried to smash it down a little... and I STILL love it and think it looks decent. (I realize in these pics it looks a little whacky in back... maybe I should have waited until the morning to take pictures? Oh well, you get the point.) For some reason it looks a little more curly now which must be from the running and pony tail holder because I actually purchased a straightener after she told me that I needed one the last time I got it cut. (I bought this really cheap one at Walmart but I think it works great.) If any of you come to see me in Winston-Salem you should definitely have me schedule you an appointment. She is like my human root-booster (which is what I've been looking for because I always want my hair to have more body). Ok, I'm going to stop because it is a little embarrassing that I just made a whole post dedicated to my hair.

Cheeseburger Soup

This recipe I'm about to share has been handed down for generations and generations. Ok, not really unless you count it going from Regan's mom to Regan to me. (Regan I are definitely from different generations, right? Or was it planets? I'll have to ask him...)

Anyway, my neighbor just had a new baby so me, being the dedicated super-server... Okay, okay, I can't lie... I may have gotten around to it eventuallly but if it wasn't for Regan's brilliant suggestion I wouldn't have called on my lunch break, offered to make something after I got off work at 5pm, or let him to run to the local (strike that. insert: ghetto)Food Lion during the middle of his reading days. I'm sure I would have had good intentions... but he definitely got that ball rollin'.

So, I offered to bring dinner and then I was thinking out loud as I looked in my cupboard... what in the world am I going to take? (I feel like I am CONSTANTLY buying food but it just keeps disappearing! What's the deal?!) Regan suggested soup. Brilliant. This is one of his favorites (i'm 95% positive that his number 1 fav is Zupa Tuscana... but it is kind of spicy and I wasn't sure that that would fly with a new mother, if you know what I mean) Perhaps he was just glad that we weren't having one of the 3 different meals that I have put into rotation each week, haha.

1. Our rendition of Cafe Rio Salad or tacos
2. Wheat pasta with chicken and pesto sauce or
3. Some other variation of chicken and broccoli (and FYI, I know my mom is probably going to post a comment about how she taught me to eat broccoli.)

So here is the recipe y'all are dying to try by now: (btw, we usually leave out the celery b/c I don't typically have it on hand and I hate buying a bundle of it and then not eating it. It is not exactly Low Cal... but its Mmm Mmm Good.)

Cheeseburger Soup
1/2 lb ground beef
3/4 c chopped onion
3/4 c shredded carrots
3/4 c diced celery
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried parsley
4 tbsp butter or margarine divided
3 c chicken broth
4 c diced peeled potatoes
1/4 c all-purpose flour
8 oz Velveeta -- cubed
1 1/2 c milk
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 c sour cream

In a 3-qt. saucepan, brown beef; drain and set aside. In the same saucepan, saute onion, carrots, celery, basil and parsley in 1 tablespoon butter until vegetables are tender, about
10 minutes. Add broth, potatoes and beef; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Meanwhile, in a small skillet, melt remaining butter. Add flour; cook and stir for 3-5 minutes or until bubbly. Add to soup; bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Add cheese, milk, salt and pepper; cook and stir until cheese melts. Remove from the heat; blend in sour cream.

ps- baby and mother seemed to be doing well. I thought he looked tiny... then I found out that he was 9 lbs. Not so tiny. Haha, and after holding him for like 5 minutes my arm was ALREADY getting tired! Guess I need to pump some iron more often...

pps- I'm just now realizing that it was a good thing that I left my rolls for Thanksgiving at home... I just pulled them out of the freezer and they were ready to go. I've been kind of a Nazi about the rolls but I even let Regan have one. (I say I've been a nazi but some how we are down to one freezer bag when we started out with two...)

ppps- do you like have I've been slipping a few "y'alls" into my posts? I must think I'm Paula Dean or something with that and the Velveeta. But it has been fun to try and slip back into my fake roots now that I'm in the South again.

Love Feast

On Sunday I went with some girls (uh, ladies?) from church to a Moravian Love Feast at Wake Chapel on campus. From what I understand, the Moravians are an early Protestant church that started in what is now the Czech Republic. The founder rejected the Roman Catholic Church and wanted to return to "simpler practices of early Christianity: liturgy in the language of the people, having lay people receive communion in both kinds (bread and wine), and eliminating indulgences and the idea of purgatory." The Moravians are pretty big here in Winston-Salem so I have been interested to read and learn a little about them.

I kept calling the night a Love FEST, cause I thought it was funny, but was quickly corrected by some who were slightly less irreverent than me. Oops! Here is a little snippet from Wikipedia about love feasts:

A Lovefeast service is a service dedicated to Christian love, and is most famously practiced by, but not limited to, the Moravians. A Lovefeast seeks to strengthen the bonds and the spirit of harmony, goodwill, and congeniality, as well as to forgive past disputes and instead love one another.
The Lovefeast is based upon the Agape feast and the meals of the early churches described in the Bible in the Acts of the Apostles, which were partaken in unity and love. Traditionally for European, Canadian, and American Lovefeasts, a sweetened bun and coffee is served to the congregation in the pews by dieners (from the German for servers); before partaking, a simple table grace is said.
The Lovefeast also concentrates on the singing of hymns, and listening to music which may come from the organ or choir. The songs and hymns chosen usually describe love and harmony. Many churches also have trombone choirs or church bands play prior to a Lovefeast as a call to service.

All in all, the night was really neat. There was a brass band that played some prelude music, an organist, a handbell choir, and even interpretive dancers. The dancer was a little over the top for me at first... she was dramatically lighting the first candle while dressed in black with no shoes. But at the end they turned off all of the lights and each person had a candle to light. It looked awesome... and when more dancers joined in it didn't look quite as odd. It felt very Christmassy with all of the lights and music and was definitely interesting to see something that another faith does.

I realized after saying that I would go to the Love Feast that that meant I would miss out on the First Presidency Devotional. Don't worry though. Luckily, thanks to BYU TV online, I can watch it for Family Home Evening tonight. I just can't get enough of Christmas...