Just Another List

• We had Thanksgiving dinner at our place this year. We borrowed a couple long tables from church and converted our living room into a dining hall. We didn't get to spend the day with our families, but we had some wonderful friends fill in. There ended up being ten of us and it was a wonderful evening. 
• I finished knitting the dress I was making. I still have to sew in all the loose ends, but the main construction of the dress is finished. It's adorable, as I knew it would be as I've already made the same dress twice before. I'm making another one of Hailey's dresses only this time it's for me. No, I'm not pregnant, I have just decided that I want to start my own collection of hand knits. 
• Erik and I are planning on going travelling next year. Nothing is set in stone, but we are thinking of going for six months! Wouldn't that be wonderful? We're thinking of doing South America, South East Asia and Africa. I'm a little worried that it's too many continents for only six months -- six months really isn't that long. We are just in the early stages of planning though; we are actually just dreaming still. But we'll make it happen. More on this later. Probably much more over the next year. November 2012 is the anticipated date of departure. We cannot wait!
• We are heading home to Washington tomorrow to attend a funeral for the mother of one of Erik's childhood friends. It will be good to be home. 
• Yes, I do consider my in-law's place home. I'm sure you would too if you were ever blessed enough to visit. 
• I have oriented to another ward at the hospital. I am expanding my knowledge base to include plastics. I'm a little nervous, but plastic surgeries fascinate me! Don't think face-lifts, think taking skin, fat and a portion of the muscle muscle from the lower abdomen, dissecting and elevating it, then creating a tunnel between the skin and the chest wall so you can pull the skin, fat and muscle up through the tunnel with it's blood supply still intact and use it to create a new breast after someone has had a mastectomy. This is a procedure known as the Transverse Rectus Abdmoninis Myocutaneous Flap, or more commonly the TRAM Flap. Now that procedure is absolutely amazing. 
• I borrowed my girlfriend's KitchenAid for a day and it changed my life. It only took me 15 minutes to make bread! And I made a couple batches of cookie dough and it was all done before the bread was even finished rising. Amazing. I have got to get me one of these. 
• I've just started making Christmas gifts. I don't even have ideas for everyone yet. Ugh! I will need to start hounding people for lists. This year Christmas is with the Olsons. I'm always a little sad about not spending holiday's with my side of the family, but I do love sharing them with Erik's. I don't know when we are going to celebrate Christmas though because my girlfriend just sprung an end-of-December wedding on me. We'll just have to work something out though. 
• I work Dec 26, 27, 28 and I may swap an 8 hour for Christmas day. One of the girls wants to spend Christmas with her baby. 
• My SIL is due in December. I can't wait to meet the soon-to-be-newest member of the Jansen family. Shoot! We also need to plan to make it home to meet that little one. I think we are going to have an exceptionally busy December/January. 
• I turn 25 in January. Does that mean I get to throw myself a big party? Who wants to come?