Goodbye, Harry Potter!

I can remember the first time I heard the buzz about Harry Potter. Macee received the first novel for her 12th birthday from my grandmother. I, of course, glanced at the illustrated cover and title and smirked at such a childish book in all my maturity. After finally being convinced to give it a try, I read the first chapter...and was hooked.

Macee trying to contain her excitement on the way to the theater!

 The movie released the week of Macee's birthday, so I had been checking our local movie theater every couple of days for ticket availability. I've never purchased anything so quickly online the day sales went public. 2 for the IMAX midnight showing, please!
We ate dinner at Cheddar's with fellow Potter fans and friends Sarah and Elliot and dropped by Target for some drastically cheaper movie snacks before the flick. Thank goodness for Sour Patch Kids, Rainbow Nerds, Reese's Pieces, and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites - I needed the sugar high to stay alert.

I have a history of being placed next to the most annoying people in any theater. It's a knack, really. At the Deathly Hallows Part 1 premiere, I got no studying in line or in the hour prior to previews due to a band of local teenagers that were apparently part of the Harry Potter musical cast. They brought a guitar and acted out scenes, forcing the audience to grudgingly engage their attention.
This go round, a lovely bunch of junior high kids - braces, boyfriends and all - sat in the row directly behind us. Was I that loud at that age? There was a gem of a moment, however. A gawky, awkward boy going through a voice change whining, "Man, I have to wear my 3D glasses over my real glasses." Supportive friend: "Its ok, my dad has to do that, too." Macee, in all her doubled-layered glasses glory, looked over at me and said, "Wa-wa-wa...the cool kids do it too!"

Glasses over glasses is cool factor to the fourth power

The last movie did not disappoint! There were great special effects and the screenplay stayed true to the original novel, with one exception. I preferred the author's version of the final showdown between Harry and Voldemort over the cinematic version, but it was glorious nonetheless.
We will officially be able to tell our kids that we were there for the midnight showing of the last, oh, 4 movies, the finale being in the IMAX. Then, I'm sure, they'll say, "What's an IMAX?"

List Lust

The summer is dwindling down and I am slowly being forced to face the reality that is my second year of medical school. Although I'm warming up to the idea, I wouldn't call myself excited. So, being the type-A nerd I am, I attempted to amp myself up by creating to-do and shopping lists. I love lists. I have been known to make lists of lists that I need to make. They're so neat and organized...or so they make me feel. I believe I even sleep more peacefully with a prioritized collection of my random thoughts lying just so on my nightstand, ready to be checked twice in the morning. Sigh.
An item which I'd like to place on my "need" list, but is unfortunately classified as a "want," is a doctor's bag. A few of the ladies in my class have already started to accessorize with them on clinical exam days, which prompted my hunt for it - the timeless, classic piece that shall hold all of my equipment and make me feel legitimate, like a real (student) doctor.
And I found it, about three months ago through a shopping website. Cruelly, it showed just the image at first. I immediately fell in love, and then clicked on said image only to discover the brand (Coach) and the corresponding price tag. I refuse to pay nearly $500 for a handbag...unless its contents include a new stethoscope...and maybe a BP cuff for good measure. I spent a total of $75 on clothes and shoes for myself this entire year. That purse was an entire new wardrobe.

After completing the grieving process, I happened to stumble upon this beauty today. Wouldn't it pair perfectly with a white coat? Alas, at $250, it's still about five times more than I am currently willing to pay for a purse. I've resigned myself to carry my instruments in my tote bag from Target until I'm no longer living on loans. I've also decided to design a line of women's doctor bags for a medical student's budget: we can barely afford the equipment the bags hold, people.

Girls' Day Out

Last Saturday, my mom, sister and I took my aunt Carol and grandma to Tulsa for a little girls' day out. Carol is a physician and has been someone to who I've looked up as long as I can remember. There's a home video segment of my sister and I when I was about 5 - when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I said "a doctor like Aunt Carol." She was my first introduction to, and the inspiration behind, my passion for medicine. Macee's answer to the same question? She wanted to be a "peacha (preacher)," just like our daddy. :)
Carol has a son, and as we all know, sons are different than daughters in many ways. A couple of weeks ago I wrote about one of the positives of having a boy: the legacy of a family name being passed on to future generations. However, boys grow into men, who create their own families. While daughters tend to stay close to home geographically and in terms of relationships, sons tend to move on.
For example, we see my parents at least twice a month during the school year, and have spent half of this summer with them in Tahlequah. It's unusual for me to go more than 2 days without calling or emailing my mom. Aaron, on the other hand, hates the phone...and any other form of communication that's not face-to-face. This is what typically occurs before he calls his mother:
2 days prior to phone call - Me: "You haven't talked to your mom in awhile. You should probably give her a call."
1 day prior to phone call - Me: "Have you called your mom yet?"
Day of phone call - Me: "You need to call your mom...now would be a good time." Aaron: "Ok..."
I'm sowing seeds now so I can reap them in the future, people. I'm praying for a daughter-in-law who prods my son to do the same. Or, better yet, for at least one daughter.
The point of this story detour? We wanted Carol to experience a special day, similar to one my sister and I would create for my mom, and know that she was dearly loved and appreciated by us. 
We started out at Nibbles Cafe and munched on some delicious quiche, salad, and sandwiches with Peach Mango iced tea to wash it down. The decor was so cute! Very feminine, which fit right into the "High Tea" theme.

Carol and grandma - she's the only girl of 5 children!

After lunch, we introduced Carol and mom to our favorite antique store. Carol and I spent hours scanning every niche and shelf of every nook and cranny in the store. I discovered she is the go-to girl for antique shopping - she knows her stuff! I always hesitate to buy anything as I'm not sure if it's a good deal or not. She was able to quote specific prices she'd seen similar items for in antique stores across the country. Impressive, no? I learned a lot about what markings and countries of origin to hunt for when looking for the tea cups and saucers I'm beginning to collect. Carol found several gems in the store, including an antique lace tablecloth that had never been used, several hand-painted plates, and an adorable pair of tiny egg-shaped salt and pepper shakers. She was the only one who walked out with a purchase... mom's a penny pincher, Macee's indecisive, and I'm broke. Nonetheless, we had an amazing afternoon!
I so enjoyed spending time with my aunt and grandmother. It was a rare treat and just as special for my mom, sister and I as it hopefully was for them.

Beachy Birthday

We celebrated my beautiful sister's 23rd birthday last night at my parent's home in Tahlequah. It's always been a family tradition for the birthday boy/girl to pick the menu for an intimate family dinner. And of course, the dinner always has a theme. This year, my mom put together a table inspired by our recent beach vacation.

 My sister Macee is one of the most fun people I know, hands down. She retains a childlike appreciation of life and sees the magic in things and experiences, a perspective lost by many adults. It's SO fun to buy presents for her - the girl could be happy with gifts from the Dollar Tree. For example, she died over the whale above, which is actually a bath faucet cover from Target. It's technically meant for toddlers, but it will be making an appearance in Macee's bathroom!

Can you guess our favorite Disney princess?

 We have another unique family tradition: every holiday, from Valentine's Day to Christmas and everything in between, Macee and I receive a pair of panties. Mom found this beach ball pair at Victoria's Secret - they were perfect for the theme!

Macee chose homemade peach cobbler instead of a birthday cake. Yum!

We spent the rest of the evening curled up on mom and dad's bed watching home movies, including one capturing Macee's first birthday party. You've never seen a cuter chubby-cheeked little redhead!

Happy birthday, Macee Michele! And many more...

The Name Game

Aaron and I have been in Tahlequah for a rural externship, and have been blessed to be able to spend some great quality time with my family as a result. One of our conversation topics last night stuck out from the rest. Though I'm not sure how it originated, we began talking about passing down family names. For example, my father and two of his three brothers bear some portion of my grandmother's father's full name: James (my dad), Clayton (my uncle Doug), and Reddell. It was a way in which my grandmother could pay tribute to her father's memory and express her love for the figure she holds so dear.
My father, out of the blue, stated that in hindsight he wishes he would have tried for another child in hopes of having a boy. The reason? The Nolan name - its meaning and legacy - will not be continued through my sister and I. Instead, it ends with him...although he's still trying to convince my sister to hyphenate her name when she marries since he lost that battle with me. :)
My mom told me afterward that it's the first time she's heard my dad express that thought, and that the older he gets, the more sentimental he becomes. I'm so glad he's sharing these thoughts with my sister, husband and I, because we get a glimpse of the perspective and wisdom that comes with age before we reach those milestones.
Aaron and I, in the many discussions we've had about our future children, have always wanted a boy and a girl. Although I'll be ecstatic with whatever God chooses to bless us with (in 7 plus years), I see the value of having a boy to carry on the name of my husband - for the Relic line ends with him if not.
Keep those thoughts coming, Dad. Otherwise, I wouldn't have realized the importance of a name for another 25 years. I'm proud to now be a Relic. Just know, Dad, that I'll always be a Nolan, and what that name stands for, at heart.

"A good name is to be more desired than great wealth..." Proverbs 21:25

Family on the Fourth

One of my favorite holidays is the Fourth of July. It brings to mind memories of becoming a prune in the pool, hot dogs and hamburgers fresh off the grill, parents visiting in the shade, and smoke bombs and parachutes in anticipation of darkness, when the real show begins. Though I've transitioned from the pool to the shade, I still can't wait for the sun to set every year.
My cousin and her family recently moved back to Tahlequah and resumed the role of host of the festivities. It had become a tradition, and I was so excited to celebrate with my family again for the first time in three years!

Visiting poolside

Macee with Chloe...she needs a dog so bad!

I played with this little cutie for awhile. It's precious babies like this one that make me hate having to wait so long to have my own!

Mom with my Grandpa Cooie. He's a highly decorated WWII veteran - we owe so much to this generation, and to those who have bravely sacrificed since.

My two favorite boys. You won't find better hearts!

Misty and Macee lining up the order of events. Misty was more excited than her kids!

Misty and Bryce - I love these two so much!

We had quite the show! My favorites? The ones that appear as if they're raining glitter. No matter how old the audience, there's just something magical about fireworks that captivates each individual as if they were kids again. It may just be my perception, though I hope it's true - the best part of 4th of July is feeling like a kid again!