Last Day for Jay. Hip Hip Hooray!

Yesterday was Jay's last official day of classes!  Finals are next week but lectures are over for good!  KCUMB threw a big party for the students with burgers and hot dogs for everyone.  We can't believe two years are over.  This is a huge milestone for the Thorpe family because 1) He is halfway done with med school and 2) Jay has been in school for 20 straight years!  We can't wait for the next step in his med school career and are looking forward to rotations coming up this August.  But before rotations start he will take the national boards - they are coming up in 2 months!  He will study harder than he ever has and I will probably have more girls nights than ever before but it will be worth it!  He is so determined and I know he will do great.  Here are some pics he took at the cook-out:

Good friends Jacob and Marcus

Celebrating the last day of school!

Admin Appreciation - M&S Style

Yesterday was Administrative Professional's Day so Jenny and I took the liberty to celebrate each other at McCormick & Schmick!  We waited til the last minute to find out if there were any surprises at work but unfortunately there weren't so we headed down to the Plaza to have a nice lunch at M&S.  Who knew I'd see the inside of that restaurant twice in 3 days?!  They were running specials all week for us admins including free dessert (below), a free $20 gift certificate and a drawing for a pamper basket (valued at $1200)!  We ate a wonderful lunch together and then our waiter brought out our mini chocolate bags!  We were having such a great time we didn't want to go back to work. 

Truly delicious!

Jenny, I don't know what I'd do without you, friend!  You make work so fun and I'm so glad we have each other at KTI.  Thanks for celebrating Administrative Professional's Day with me!  :) 

Immaculee's Story

Last night was the April meeting of Book Club.  We all met at Panera Bread for some tasty treats and great discussion.  This month Valerie, Shea, Katherine and Amber were there! For April we read Left To Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust.  I think we all agreed that it was a very provoking and powerful book.  One reason I like book club is to bring together women who are interested in books and each other.  It makes for good fellowship and I really like that.  I also like what kinds of discussions spark from reading these books.  We always have such interesting things to say and share with each other.  We've ready nearly 20 books together and I think that is pretty impressive.  Thanks for making it worth the effort every month, ladies!  Here's to many more books and many more chats! :)

Easter Happenings

This weekend Jay, Leslie and I were so happy to have Mom and Dad in town for the Easter holiday!  They made a last minute decision (a very good one, I think) to come celebrate Easter and share the weekend with us.  They arrived Friday evening and we joined Leslie for dinner at Spin Pizza before the Good Friday service at Jacob's Well.  It was a very nice service and was helpful for reflecting on what Christ did for us that day.  I am overwhelmingly grateful for His sacrifice and even more so for His resurrection!  

Saturday morning Dad got donuts and we sat around the living room sipping coffee and reading from the Word and talking.  It was very relaxing and neat to hear how God is working in our lives.  While finishing getting ready, Mom had a minor set-back and made a quick trip with Dad to the Emergent Care Center.  Don't worry everything was just fine!  :)  We also had some car trouble so we had to make a pit stop to get Mom a new battery for her car.  Perfect time to snap a sassy sissy pic.

We headed down to the Plaza and ate lunch at Firehouse Subs.  Then we were off to find some Easter outfits!  It was a beautiful day so we stopped to take a picture with a giant bunny named Bess.  

Jay and I had great success at Banana Republic.  They were so helpful with everything and we found the perfect Easter outfits!

Sunday morning at Covenant Chapel was wonderful.  Resurrection Sunday always reminds me of the hope I have in my Lord and Saviour.  Praise God He is risen!  I sang in the choir for both services and helped downstairs in Kidz Cove for the second service.  It is always so neat to hear those kids talk about Jesus.  After church we had reservations at McCormick & Schmicks for Easter Brunch!  Can I just say "yum?!"  Oh it was such a treat.  We had to wait a little bit because it was so busy.  Yet another great opportunity for snapping pics:

Talk about handsome. 

We certainly could not decide what we wanted because everything looked SO GOOD.  But we finally decided and were definitely not disappointed.  We even got our own "private room" with green curtains and everything!  We felt a little silly at first closing them, but it was nice to enjoy our brunch just as a family without all the hustle and bustle of a busy restaurant.  The food was superb and we had a lovely time together.

Dad and Mom - love them so much.

It truly was a blessed weekend and we were so glad to share it with family this year!  Mom and Dad, thanks for coming to KC and making Easter even more special.  We love you!

Unfinished Projects - Complete!

After almost a year in the new rental house, Jay and I have finally made the third room into an official study!  Mom and Dad are coming into town this weekend for Easter and that was just enough motivation for us to finish it!  We think it looks great and very condusive for studying.  We are so excited to have Mom and Dad here this weekend and to celebrate such a meaningful holiday with family.  Here are pics from the study:

I also found some decorative crosses from my old room at my parents house and Jay helped me put them up in the kitchen.  Kind of random but pretty nonetheless:

Yesterday during my lunch break I found a beautiful hibiscus plant at Home Depot.  After work I went outside and planted it immediately.  Here is an updated picture of my back porch pot:

Ahhhh Spring.

Well after a much cooler Friday than expected, it finally warmed up enough yesterday for me to get out and do some much needed yard work!  I guess they really do call it "spring cleaning" for a reason!  I cleaned the house in the morning and then after lunch I headed over to Suburban Lawn & Garden to get my flowers!  I spent the majority of the day de-leafing my garden (something that probably should have been done last fall, ha ha) and tilling up some fresh soil for planting.  This year I got begonias, pansies and geraniums for my front bed.  I also got some sweet potato ivy for my pots but am waiting for the weather to warm up a smidge more for a few other sun-lovers.  Mom suggested getting a hibiscus bush so I can't wait to see what that will look like.  This is my first year in a home to experience the cycle of perennials.  It is amazing to me that these plants will without a doubt return to my garden every single year!  After such an incredibly cold winter it is hard to believe.  But they look great and I can't wait for them to start blooming.  Here's a picture of the house.  I think it looks great, but you can barely tell what's planted!

My back porch pot still waiting on the hibiscus.

The animals are also loving the spring weather.  I decided that they needed new summer collars so I took a picture of them for you to see.  Since we don't have any children you will have to suffer through many more of "these kinds of posts" until we do, I'm afraid.  Millie got an orange one with some sort of bird on it...

It even as a bell which has been fun... kinda.

Good model pose.  This is her favorite spot: on top of the couch next to the front window.

And Dash got a nice "manly" blue and green striped one...

Here I am trying to hold him in one place, but it's a good shot of the collar.

Soaking up some sun.

As I said before, Dash has been very much enjoying this warmer weather.  He spends most of his time outside laying in the grass and hunting rabbits.  Wait, did I say hunting rabbits??  Yes, as a matter of fact I did.  Apparently we have a burrow of rabbits under our shed in the backyard and yesterday Dash caught a full-grown adult rabbit.  And proceeded to eat it.  It was disgusting.  Of course I caught him in the act and screamed and yelled at him (I'm a great mom) and sent him straight inside.  My wonderful husband disposed of its lifeless and mangled body (I will spare you a picture); however, we are not sure what to do about the whole situation for the future.  Any suggestions?  Who knew such a cute dog could be so cruel?  We most certainly did not.  Bad Dash.  

Jay spent his day studying inside at his brand new desk.  We don't have the room completely organized quite yet but I did manage to sneak a picture.  Way to be, Jay!

Our friends Jonathan and Heather Sterk helped us put it together and we could not have done it without them.  Thanks so much Sterks!  The room looks tons better already and Jay has been enjoy his new desk very much.  Thanks to all who made it happen!

Ain't No Party Like a Pi Phi Party

This past weekend I went down solo to Little Rock for a friend of mine's wedding.  Deborah is also a Pi Phi so a bunch of my sorority sisters and besties met in the LR for a fun-filled weekend.  It was a late drive Friday night but I finally made it about 11:45!  My sweet mother-in-law stayed up to see me in bed.  Saturday morning we all met up for manis and pedis!  We can't get together without splurging a little!

Is this the life or what? I think we belong here.

After pedicures we ate lunch at ZaZa's- the most delicious place in Little Rock!  Well maybe not, but it was so so so good.  We ate so much we nearly felt sick afterwards.  I was able to see Maw Maw for a little bit before Lauren and I met up to go shopping for a new dress!  Thanks for being my shopping buddy, Lo!  Then we all met up back at Allison's to gussy up for the big night.  The wedding was at Immanuel Baptist- same place Rachel and David got married.  It was neat to be back there for a different event this time.  After the wedding was the reception at Pleasant Valley Country Club.  Oh we had a fun time there!

Eating a marvelous dinner at the reception.

Pi Phis know how to dance for real, y'all

Besties in new dressies!

Oh sweet friends - just call us the Fab Five

The Newlyweds - Frazier & Deborah Edwards

Me and the stunning bride.  Gorgeous

Waving good bye!

We had a sleep over at Allison's after the wedding/reception were over.  It was so fun to catch up with everyone!  Sunday morning we got up and had breakfast at Cracker Barrel.  Nothing like some good 'ole country cookin'.  We said our good-byes and parted ways after that - such a great weekend with wonderful friends!!

Fun Family Weekend and a Big Legacy

Last weekend really kicked off our busy spring schedule.  We went down to Oklahoma for one of our annual family reunions.  This one was on my dad's side.  It was a big year because we were also celebrating my great-aunt's 90th birthday.  Wow- what a legacy.  Saturday was the big get-together and we all came together in our family colors bringing lots of food to enjoy together!  We very much enjoy getting together with our families and appreciate all the hard work and commitment people have in coming together year after year.

Great-Aunt Kitty - the birthday princess!

Sissies.

Jay and the girlies.

Yummy food!

The Stewart Girls in our sunshiny yellow- above and below!

Our yellow tribe showed up in full force!

Proud Daddy and his clan. :)

The Help

Well ladies and gentlemen (if you're out there and reading) it's been too long.  Basically I just need to catch you up on a few things and post a few pictures.  My book club has been going very strong for over a year and a half and it's still going!  For March we read The Help by Kathryn Stockett.   We had a great turn-out and fantastic discussion.  Thanks for coming everybody!

From L to R: Me, Anna, Val, Tabby, Jenny and Katherine