We will probably never be friends......

Michael Vick. (This will probably come as a major shocker to MV and I bet he will be saddened by this news)

I have such mixed feelings about this guy, it makes me crazy.

I wrote a whole blog about the guy but I have erased it all, because in the end, I am just arguing with myself. Which makes me seem insane (hmmm?).

I just wish he would go away and I wouldn't have to think about him at all, then I wouldn't have the internal struggle of whether or not I should forgive him. And I say "I" (should forgive him), because it's not about what society thinks. It is very personal for me and I can't seem to decide where I stand.

I wonder how I would feel if he were traded to the Titans (because we could sure use a quarterback who DIDN'T throw a tantrum in the middle of the game....yeah...I am looking at you VY).

I guess in the end I don't wish him any harm, I just can't seem to look at his face and not be sickened by his past actions. At what point do you let the past remain in the past and allow people a second chance? And why do I feel so guilty every time I think about giving this guy a second chance?

Do you see what I mean? I really have mixed feelings about Michael Vick. And seeing him be a superstar on the football field each week is not making it any easier. Let's just hope he continue to make strides in the right direction, because although I think I may allow him that second chance (eventually)....I have no interest in third chances.

I can't imagine my life without these beauties. And it breaks my heart to think of some idiot throwing them into a ring for sport.

Thanksgiving, Part 1

I have been sitting here all morning watching TV and goofing around on the internet, while Brandon is working hard in the kitchen preparing Thanksgiving, Part 2. Brandon decided this past week that he would spend Black Friday preparing his family (me) a delicious meal. He has cooked a ham, smothered it with honey, brown sugar, cloves and nutmeg. He has made from scratch macaroni and cheese and as I type there is a sweet potato casserole in our crock pot. I have to say....I am impressed. Everything smells delicious and I am pretty confident it's all edible. The word "proud" does not even scratch the surface of how I feel right now, although....maybe I should save my opinions for once the meal has been consumed!

Yesterday, on Thanksgiving, Part 1, we had an amazing day. Brandon and I got up and ran in the Autumnfest 8k race down on Neyland drive. Brandon had an amazing race and we both rocked it out. I was so happy to see him cross that finish line and beat the time he had expected by over 10 minutes. I think that is incredible for someone who has only been running for 3 weeks....way to go Brandon. He seems to amaze me more and more each day. I had a great race too and we both felt accomplished and were relieved when it was over!

After a long afternoon, Grandma Ryan finally made it to Knoxville for Thanksgiving dinner. The best part about the day was that she finally got to meet Camryn, her newest great grandchild. Wow...now if there was ever something to be thankful for...that is definitely up there on the list.

Here are some pictures from Thanksgiving, Part 1:

Brandon with our niece Camryn (napping) and nephew Chandler watching a little football




Grandma Ryan or G.G. (Great Grandma) holding Camryn for the first time




The beautiful table


Our adorable niece and her chunky monkey thighs

Could she be any cuter?

We have so much to be thankful for this year, as with every year. Our families, health, and happiness, just to name a few! Happy Thanksgiving...Part 1.

Learning to be grateful (slowly)......

The year 2010 hasn't exactly been kind to Brandon and I. I can't seem to recall another year where I have been thrilled to see the end, and even more excited to begin a new year. To put it bluntly, 2010 has been crappy. Although, if this is the toughest of years to come for Brandon and I, we will be incredibly lucky.

This year we dealt with and faced obstacles we were not expecting. Obviously (because I talk about it every few posts) we learned our fates in infertility. And of course, when you find out about infertility, you don't find out in one appointment (at least we didn't). You have to go through a series of appointments here with this doctor, and some there with that doctor, and you have to run tests and give samples and yada yada. No need to give you too many details. My point is, this wasn't something we learned early on in 2010. It was a crumby lesson we learned MORE AND MORE about as the year went on.

In March Brandon had his Lasik surgery. He was so pumped about it...and nervous! We thought this surgery was going to help make his life easier. Brandon is one of the few people whose surgery didn't go as planned. After Lasik, Brandon had irritation and infection in his corneas. After several rounds of medications, Brandon continued to experience blurry vision. Once the inflammation cleared up (months later), it was discovered that Brandon's surgery was done at the wrong prescription. Which, of course (unless Brandon wanted to go through life with bad vision- the thing we had hoped to solve) meant he would have to re-do the surgery.

Something I have had to learn recently (although not yet learned how to fully apply to my life) is that you have to find a way to be grateful even when things are not going the way you had planned. It is easy to be thankful when your life is going great, but seems so much harder when things are not going well.

We can't get pregnant on our own. Some days I get emotional just typing that sentence, so don't even ask me to say it out loud. But, I am thankful. I am thankful to be with a man who I know is the man I was meant to spend the rest of my life with. And I am thankful for how much stronger it has made our relationship and how much it has taught us about ourselves, patience, and love.

Brandon's eyes were messed up for many many months after his Lasik surgery. It became a stressful situation that quickly wore the both of us down. It was hard for me to see my husband, who is usually the happy-go-lucky guy, go through this alone (physically), as there was nothing I could do to help. Thankfully, in the end, Brandon's Lasik (the second time) was a success. Brandon has very few problems with his eyes now. And although it was a tough time for him and very stressful for the both of us, I am grateful for the growth it brought us, as a couple.

We are learning (even if slowly), that there are always reasons to be grateful- sometimes you just have to search a little harder. If we can teach ourselves to give thanks, in all circumstances (no matter what), we might actually get through this year...together, alive, and happy. Thank you 2010, for making us stronger and allowing us to grow together as husband and wife. Now please end...and bring on 2011!

Dixie-2, Lauren-0

I love this dog.



I truly do. She is super sweet and LOVES every person she has ever come to meet. It amazes me and we could all learn a lesson from her.

But (there is always a but), in the past week she has busted my lip and ruptured my ear drum (possibly). The problem (truly) is me. I sometimes want to snuggle her too much and she throws her head back to see whats going on (hence, the busted lip) or jumps up in the air and head butts me full-force directly in my right ear (hence the possibly busted ear drum). People are going to start to think my husband abuses me.

But, this ear...
It hurts. And it feels like I have an ear infection and a huge cotton ball shoved in there. My hearing is DEFINITELY affected and it just stopped ringing. Is that a ruptured ear drum? Anyone know?

The worst part (aside from my physical pain) is that she is completely aware, after the fact, that I am hurt. She stands there, tail tucked, wondering why I am holding the hurt body part, fight back tears (the truth...I cry every time I get hurt). She feels so bad then follows me around for hours wanting extra love and attention. She's a sweet girl! I guess I just need to work on my reflexes!

We will be fat by Friday

I am attempting these......



Along with making the Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes (again...see a few posts below) for our office Thanksgiving Luncheon on Thursday. Half of both batches will come to work with me, the other half of each batch will go to work with my husband.

We are excited to try out the Peanut Butter cup cupcakes, especially since the Pumpkin Pie cupcakes turned out so well.

Although, we are both well aware of the weight we will be gaining this week due to the delicious temptations being whipped up in my kitchen.

Napping for Cancer

I feel a little bad. I registered (and paid) for the Buddy's Race for Cancer 5k, taking place this afternoon at 3PM. *side note- why in the world would you schedule a race for 3PM? Why?*

Anyway, this morning I decided not to run in the race, and I feel kind of bad. Running at 3PM really screws up the rest of the day. Had it been an 8AM race, I would not have even considered skipping out. Oh well.....at least they got my registration money, which will go to a great cause. Instead, today I plan to take it easy, watch some football, and maybe even take a nap! Wahoo.

I also registered for the BlueCross Autumnfest 8K, taking place Thanksgiving morning! YAY! Thank you for the early morning race start (the way it should be) and the 8K race that will make me feel less guilty about eating lots of turkey and stuffing and all the other delicious Thanksgiving treats! I am really looking forward to this race, which takes place down on "Volunteer Landing", which is a place I love to run and a course I know well. Brandon and I plan to go down there Saturday morning and run the course, just as a refresher.

Brandon has recently returned to his running roots. So, now, you may be on the look out for two Bice's running! It's fun to have a running partner again, although Brandon may not feel the same. Last time we ran I talked the ENTIRE time. I think Brandon was more exhausted from having to listen to me, less from the run. I love my husband.

The Myspace Shout Out, also known as "The Whole Truth About Our Half-Truth"

The half-truth.
What's a half-truth, you may ask? It's not quite the whole truth, yet not a lie. Let me supply you with an example....

People always ask how Brandon and I met. I assume this is because Brandon is from Chicago and I was raised in Knoxville. So...how did Brandon and I meet?

My half-truth answer? In a bar (classy..I know).

The truth? The whole truth (and nothing but the truth)? We met online. Myspace, to be exact.

You may be asking yourself how meeting in a bar is our half-truth. The first time Brandon and I actually met in person was....obviously....in a bar. Barley's Taproom and Pizzeria. See....it's not a lie. It is a partial truth...more true than false.

Brandon and I corresponded via Myspace for many months before deciding to meet up in person. I was so nervous the night he and I met. I was worried he wouldn't think I looked the same as my Myspace pictures or I wasn't as witty as our messages. Or...what if he wasn't as funny. Or worse, what if he was a psycho (you really would have thought that would have been my first concern). But, in reality, that is most people's concern....meeting people online will lead you to a complete lunatic.

I can understand why meeting people on the internet carries a stigma. It's odd, and risky, and not very traditional (although nothing about Brandon and I has been very traditional). Having said that, I would encourage people to give meeting others online a chance. I mean, be smart about it. Don't meet up with your new friend by yourself, at his house, in the woods. The night Brandon and I met at Barley's I had 3 friends with me, as my safety net.

But...yeah....when people ask how we met, we give them our half-truth- in a bar. The way I see it, people generally figure out we are pretty weird shortly after meeting us, no need to freak them out from the very start. Although sometimes we tell people we met in church...it just sounds a little more respectable.

All I know is that meeting Brandon (both online and in person) has made my life extraordinary! Not only is he funny, he is hilarious. That's my favorite thing about Brandon...he makes me laugh, all the time, every single day. Maybe we would have crossed paths at some other time in our lives, had we not met online. But, we did meet online....and for that, I am thankful! So, there it is, our Myspace shout out, otherwise known as the whole truth about our half-truth!

Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes

Okay....I am not the type of blogger to share recipe after recipe. But (there is always a but), I came across this Pumpkin Pie Cupcake recipe and I just had to share.

Our office Thanksgiving luncheon is coming up in a couple of weeks. I have been trying to decide what to bring and I remembered saving this link. I decided I needed to test the recipe (naturally) before taking it to share with co-workers. Below are pictures and quick descriptions of my process.

I have no intention of giving you the step by step instructions, but I am happy to supply you with the internet link to find these items.

http://bakeitinacake.com/recipes/pumpkinpiecupcakes

The beginning....


I rolled out refrigerated pie crust and used the rim of a small glass to cut the dough. Then placed these pieces in each mini cupcake tin. Each mini pie was filled 3/4 full with the pumpkin pie filling (mixed according to can).


Baked according to directions. While those were baking, I whipped up the homemade cupcake batter, which is much easier than I thought and absolutely amazingly delicious.



While the mini pies were cooling, I placed one heaping tablespoon in the bottom of each regular sized cupcake tin. Once cooled, a mini pie was placed in each tin, on top of the cupcake batter. Then I scooped another heaping tablespoon on top of each mini pie, ensuring the top and sides were covered by the batter.




While the cupcakes were baking I prepared the icing according to the directions. I will say...finding cinnamon chips (which are used in the icing) was not easy, so you may want to track those down first, before you attempt to buy everything else.


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Again, sharing recipes is really not my thing, but these cupcakes are by far the most delcious cupcakes I have ever tasted. The perfect combinination of cupcake, the little bit of pumpkin pie, and a cinnamon butter cream icing will seriously shock your mouth...in a good way! Give it a try, they aren't that hard to make and are completely worth it!

Brandon is not a huge pumpkin pie fan, but these cupcakes only have a bites worth and he LOVES them! My husband is a very happy man today!!!  Thank you bakeitinacake.com for this amazing recipe!