New blog address

I will be changing the web address of my blog (i.e. www.beckamcginn.blogspot.com) to something different. Please leave me a comment or email me so I can tell you the new site name. Thanks!

7

Our first date... March 8, 2002. Yes, seven years ago today. I still remember what I wore on our first date (joked that I looked like a Target employee because I wore khaki pants and a red shirt). We were so young! I was just 19 and Mike was 21. I went out and got my nose pierced an hour before Mike picked me up for dinner - seemed like a good idea at the time? I remember not bringing a purse but tucking my debit card in my back pocket in case this guy turned out to be a dud and made me pay for dinner (he didn't). I ordered cheese ravioli. Mike tried to nicely dump me a year later when he wanted to move to Spain and work for the US Embassy (he denies this dump-attempt... anyways, I didn't let him). Here we are... seven years later... married... house... dog... Life is good!

*This is one of our engagement pictures from Target (we also got engagement pictures taken at JCPenny's - why, you ask? I'll save that story for another blog). Mike begged me not to kick my leg up like that. The picture reminds me of something from a high school dance.

I'm baaack!

Hello friends. I'm back after a month of not blogging. I couldn't find the USB cord to get the pictures from my camera onto my computer. I have found it, and I have lots of blogs to write.

Valentine's Day was lovely. Mike sent me tulips (my favorite flower) and this huge balloon to my work:
After I got off work, we went out for supper at Gino's - the best Italian restaurant in Des Moines. They were not taking reservations so we had to wait a while to be seated... but the yummy food was worth the wait!

Here's my boys relaxing on the couch:
More blogs to follow...

Not much new here

Not much new here in the McGinn household. Mike is taking a weekend class for his MBA so that keeps him busy. I like to work when he's at school on the weekend so he doesn't feel like he is missing out on anything. Mike is training for his IronMan, which is in September. Once he sets his mind to something... he follows through. I love that about him.

I have been working a lot, as usual. Days, evenings, nights. I do it all. I prefer evenings because it's more fun and less drama (from staff, not patients). I am going to start going to the YMCA again tomorrow. Exercising helps my mood and I feel so great after I work out. Getting there is the problem... it's so easy just to crawl back into bed. I went to Babies R Us last weekend to get a gift for a friend - Boy do I need a baby! So many cute things these days. I think Mike was scared to death by all the screaming babies and running toddlers. Maybe next year we'll add another to the family...

Darrell is still Darrell. Cute and funny. Loveable and snuggly. I don't know what I did before Darrell. I would bring him everywhere I go if I could. He is disturbed by the raccoon mating that is going on at night in our front yard. Yes, I said mating. (Mike saw two coons doing it the other night). It sounds like a screaming two year old. Gross.

My rock star Mom came through and found me the mellowcremes I was lusting for. She sent me a huge bag of them in the mail. Thanks Momma! Love you!

Check out a picture of my guys at Christmas:

Me, Jess, and Leah

For Christmas, my husband got me a great gift... Two tickets to a Jessica Simpson concert! I have always loved Jessica Simpson and I am convinced that I can sing just like her. :) The only stipulation with the gift was that I had to take a friend (Mike said NO WAY was he going). Ok, ok, force me to have a girls night out. Twist my arm. I invited my sister-in-law Leah. Here we are at my favorite mexican restaurant, throwing back a strawberry margarita:

I am a sucker for concert t-shirts. Worth every penny:

Me, Jess, and Leah:

Two different people stopped me and Leah at the concert and asked if we were sisters. I'm sure Leah was flattered.

I need your help...

Calling all candy connoisseurs.... I need your help!

My favorite Valentine's Day candy has been missing from the shelves!
They are made by:

They are called Valentine's Day Mellowcremes.
The mellowcremes are red, pink, and white.
They are shaped like hearts, cupids, and cupid's arrow.
I last spotted them at an Iowa City Osco in 2005.
I have looked far and wide and have yet to find any of this delicious candy!
If you happen to see these at the store...
I'll take fifty bags.

Movie review

I saw the movie Marley & Me with my family on Christmas day. As is the case with most books turned into movies... the book was way better. The movie had its funny moments. And we all know the dog dies in the end so no shock there. It was emotionally draining to watch the dog get old, sick, and be put to sleep. I think the whole theater was crying. (Do not go to this movie if you have never owned a dog - You won't understand). It brought back too many memories of my childhood dog *Jake.* Oh he was a good boy. I wish I had a picture of him on the internet to post. He was a dalmation and had the most beautiful markings.

Another heart-wrenching dog movie is My Dog Skip. It's the same kind of story as Marley only this dog is a Jack Russell (same as Darrell). I made the mistake of watching this movie while I was snuggled up on the couch with Mike and Darrell. Lets just say 'hysterically bawling' is an understatement. Most of you know how much I love my dog... and watching this movie was just too real.

What a Debbie Downer post huh?