Fishing Adventures

This past Monday Ant went on a 24 hour fishing extravaganza with his fishing buddy, Jason. Since Ant hates to drive, they made a deal that Jason would do the 6 hours of driving to a primo fishing spot (6 hours total= there and back). These guys are hard core about their fishing! They brought a canoe and ended up paddling over 10 miles in the course of the day. Jason caught the biggest fish, a 42 inch redfish: Now that's a fish you don't have to exaggerate about!
Ant's biggest catches were a 33 inch redfish and a 37 inch redfish:
Of course, the trip wasn't without some hilarious mishaps! First, it was pitch dark when Ant and Jason were paddling back to the truck and they accidentally disturbed a herd(?) of sleeping manatees. They got so spooked they almost capsized the canoe and managed to get Anthony and Jason soaked! Anthony said it was like an instant shower over his entire body. The manatees also put enough water in the canoe that they had to get out and bail the water out. After that, while they were paddling back Anthony and Jason decided that manatees are not docile and slow, but evil bloodsuckers with black hearts.

Second, while driving home on the interstate a strap on the canoe broke and the canoe went flying off the truck! So, at 11:30 pm Anthony and Jason were racing across the interstate to retrieve the canoe and then spent some terrifying time on the side of the road trying to tie it back on somehow without getting hit by a car. Anthony told Jason that if he starts screaming to run for the trees because a car would be about to hit them. Pleasant. In spite of everything, they were pretty lucky. The canoe wasn't that damaged and it didn't hit anyone behind them, it just kind of skidded into the median. Needless to say, Anthony was exhausted when he got home!!

A Fillon Christmas

My parents and my brother got to go up to Ohio to visit with my sister and her family for Christmas. I am so jealous that they got to have so much fun with them, while I am on my third night shift in a row :( Luckily, my brother took pictures of christmas morning, so I got to see my niece and nephew open our gifts. Here is my nephew Savino opening the present we got him, a toy steering wheel with lots of buttons and noise makers. According to my mom, the toy went over great! Look at those curls!!! Here is my niece opening some of her gifts. My dad looks like he raked it in in the stocking department :) That looks supremely comfortable. Apparently the dogs think so too. I would like to proudly point out that Savino is still holding our present!

Rudolph got a little lost

Ant came home from fishing today with these pictures! They are cropped, so they might be kind of blurry, but it's not fish you see in the water. It's a deer! Anthony said that at first the deer was much more offshore, neck deep in the water and once it saw them it moved to land. How crazy is that?

A Lagana Christmas

Here are some pictures from the Lagana Christmas we had with Anthony's family on Saturday. We usually just focus more on getting presents for the kids and it is so much fun to see them so excited!

The twins got a play-doh ice cream shop set. It looked so fun, I wanted to play with it!
Anthony's mom
Now, I don't remember if Dallas is giving Grampa a gift in this picture, or getting one but either way he was just excited to be touching presents!
This is Nevada posing with a play castle we got for her. She is so cute! She definitely has the Lagana-pose-for-pictures gene. Even in the middle of playing with a toy if she hears that someone is taking a picture, she instantly looks up with a big camera smile. Almost every year Anthony gets a t-shirt with some kind of attitude phrase. Some of the past years included things like "My mommy thinks I'm special" and "When God made me, he was just showing off". I'm laughing because of how perfect my gift was: a booklight! Someone must know what an excessive reader I am.

Home Sweet Home

We are finally home!!! We had a lot of fun hanging out with family and visiting friends, but we are definitely happy to be back home. The dogs were with my parents, so we weren't worried about them, but our cat was home alone. We think she peed on some stuff while we were away just to teach us a lesson...

So here is a picture of the beach from our oceanfront room at the Hilton:

And since the camera was out...
As soon as we got to the hotel, we were hungry so we got back in the car and went to a seafood restaurant I had looked up online. Ant vaguely remembered going there when he used to live in Merritt Island, but I was just excited to eat all of the seafood. The restaurant had a large wall of reef aquariums that they used as dividers between the booths, so Ant was really excited to look at all of them while we ate. I ended up getting a seafood sampler of crab, shrimp, scallops, and rock shrimp and Anthony got a surf and turf with steak and rock shrimp. We couldn't finish it all, but it was sooooo good!
I know that you can't really see me in this picture, but I wanted to show you all of my food!

We spent the next three days with Anthony's family. We went to the zoo with our twin niece and nephew and I know everyone says this about their kids, but I really think that they are the smartest and most articulate 4 1/2 years olds I have ever seen! We had a family christmas with everyone who could come with all of the traditional holiday food and presents. I'll post pictures later when my father-in-law emails me his. Our camera battery died after the first day :( I'll have to make sure to recharge it for christmas with my parents and brothers tomorrow!

Has it really been three years?

Today is Anthony and my three year anniversary!! Can you believe it's been three years already? Time has really just flown by :) Last night I was thinking over the past three years and how our marriage has changed. There are times when I watch chick flicks or read romantic novels that I feel sad that we don't have that new couple shine anymore, but now that I really think about it I wouldn't want to go back. There were definitely growing pains the first year :)

I think that I've also learned to let go of things. Before, I used to get so upset over small things because I thought that there must be some deeper meaning behind (like Anthony didn't respect me) and then I would get upset that I had to endure whatever it was for eternity! Now, I've discovered that Anthony is a guy, and there almost never is a deeper meaning. (Sorry guys, but you know it's true) Stuff I used to get so upset about, now I just shake my head, sometimes laugh, and say "oh well".

Anyways, we are off to Cocoa Beach for our anniversary + christmas with the in-laws. I'll be sure to post pictures later!

Bargain Shopping

I know I haven't posted about any of my great coupon deals lately, so I thought I would share this one. Since we are going out of town tomorrow I didn't go regular grocery shopping and just went around getting the highlights. I paid $7 for all of this!!! I got 6 boxes of cereal and 15 protein bars from CVS for $4.25 and I got the shirt from Kohls for $2.75 after I used a $10 coupon I got last week from Christmas shopping. How fun! Cereal and protein bars are things that we go through like water around this house, so I was really excited to get a deal on both of them in the same week. The shirt I got just because I had the coupon :) I didn't get anything more fun and exciting because I need to build up more professional clothes I can wear at Shands next semester.

In other news, today is day two of my new 30 day workout. I am trying out Jillian Michaels (the trainer from The Biggest Loser) 30 Day Shred DVD. I've heard so much about it and I was talking about it with a friend of mine from work and we both got so excited that we decided to do it together! I know, I'm probably crazy for starting a new program right before the holidays but my family isn't really into big christmas dinners and such so the holidays for me just means time to do what I want (i.e., new workouts :)

Anyways, I'm really excited about it! I even took "before" pictures, measurements, and everything. It's kind of funny, but I ended up being so proud of the before pictures after I saw them. Technically, they're not really "before" pictures since I have been working out and lifting weights for awhile but I can't wait to see what they look like in a month. I'll keep you posted!

We made it

The end of another semester is upon us!!!!

Anthony did really well in his first semester of graduate school, and let me tell you, he was really excited/relieved when he got his grades back :) Thankfully he will still only have to drive down to Tampa once a week next semester so that is a blessing. We're going to have to start working on getting our place ready to sell and I'm really not looking forward to that.

I had a good semester as well. It was busy!!! It really was the most work-intensive semester yet. Multiple 12 page papers+presentations+practicum interviews+tests= no social life. However, I am so excited to be done! This was it, it's all downhill from here. I have my last two classes next semester and then it is on with internships and real life. Scary, but cool at the same time. I love to fantasize about graduation. This time next year I get to add all sorts of initials after my name so I will be Virginia Lagana, MHS, CRC, RMHI. (Translation: Master Health Science, Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Registered Mental Health Intern) Cool!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Ant and I had a great Thanksgiving! We went down to Tampa together on Wednesday because Ant still had class scheduled. We decided to make a little trip of it and spent the night in a hotel. The next day we got up early and went to the Museum of Science and Industry before going to my Aunt and Uncle's house for family dinner. It was really fun and there were so many hands-on exhibits that I have to admit I felt a little ADD, spending a few seconds at each one before going on to the next thing with buttons and knobs to press :)

The best part of the museum was a natural disaster area that among other things had a booth you could stand in and feel 80 mph winds! Anthony thought it was fun, but I was scared and wanted to get out. I got to pretend to be a firewoman:
There was also a "parts of you" exhibit that had everything to do with the body and development. It started out from the womb (they even had a pregnancy sympathy suit you could try on) and went through adolescence and stds! Ant and I did a hearing test in a little booth, did an eye exam, played health Hollywood Squares, and tried to drive a car simulator while wearing drunk goggles. The last thing we did was watch an IMAX movie about extreme sports. It was so cool, but after 45 minutes we both walked out of there a little bit nauseous. There were a lot of crashing waves and looking-down-a-huge-mountain shots. Here's Ant right before the movie started
After the museum, dinner with the family was great! It is so much fun to get to catch up on everyone's lives. My Aunt and Uncle live on Tampa Bay, so Anthony caught a good number of fish while everyone else watched football. Go figure.

New Adventure

I had my practicum interview today and I am officially placed! I've been looking around for awhile since I decided not to do substance abuse counseling and I found a place that seemed perfect for me. It was a spot at Shands in the Pediatric Pulmonary clinic where I would be counseling children with chronic illnesses (like cystic fibrosis) and their families. Since I've worked at the Children's hospital for so long, it seemed like a great way to combine my experiences there with counseling. I get to attend clinics, rounds, and various other things and I finally get to do one-on-one counseling sessions! I'm excited, but it is also a little scary :)

The best part is that I get to be excited about my placement for the next month and a half before I actually have to start the work :)

Playing with Play-doh

Lately school has been all about the kids! Last Thursday and Friday I volunteered at a Child Advocacy Center conference here in Gainesville. I traded setting up video and audio equipment and introducing the speakers for being able to attend without paying the $85 registration fee. Awesome!!! I learned a lot about kids in therapy, especially about how they typically disclose things like abuse and the different risk factors to consider when you are working with children. I was definitely shell-shocked after two full days. I was nauseous/wanted to cry all day after hearing about some of the terrible things that people will do to kids. But, I guess it is necessary to know those things and to be prepared if it ever happens to one of my clients.

Today in class I had the most fun I have ever had in school! We had a woman who is a graduate of my program and a certified clay therapist (!) lecture us on play therapy. We got to practice playing with the play-doh and making different shapes like this snail:
Mine didn't look so good... He was slightly overweight and lopsided. We also got to make snotty-booger man with snot hanging out of his nose and into his mouth. I wish I had gotten a picture of all of us, professor included, playing with the play-doh! As we were doing it, the guest speaker was giving us examples of what she would do with a client. For example, one girl was getting aggravated with her snail not rolling out properly. The speaker pointed out that if she were a client, it would be a perfect opportunity to discuss what she is feeling and to identify it (frustration) and talk about what she does when she feels that way. So cool!

Quirky Tag

I've been tagged! And we all know I can't pass up a tag :) Here are my 6 unspectacular quirks:

1) I can't stand getting water on my face!! Even in the shower I avoid the water getting on my face when at all possible and I only barely tolerate it when it is unavoidable. I also hold my breath in the shower when the water gets anywhere near my nose. I know it is pretty unlikely that I will drown in the shower, but try telling my brain that. It won't believe you.

2) I have a difficult time remembering to lock doors. Car doors, house doors, you name it. My parents never locked our house doors growing up so I just never got into the habit. Anthony had to really work on getting me used to locking things, especially when I was alone in the house. I am much better at it now, but I still have to remind myself every time to make sure I locked everything.

3) I can't open bags or boxes neatly to save my life! They always end up ripped open or the bag opening goes all down the side of the bag. It cracks Anthony up every time he goes to get a snack or something because he can always tell who opened it. Sometimes he just starts laughing, finds me and shows it to me saying, "I wonder who opened this one?". I stick by my claim that I just happen to always get the boxes and bags that are difficult or have extra glue or something!

4) I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome which we won't go into details about (I know, gross!) but among other things it means that whenever I get excited or nervous about something I spend a good amount of time in the bathroom before or after. It has gotten to the point that after my third trip to the bathroom, Anthony will ask me what I am nervous about.

5) I make funny sighing noises in my sleep. I didn't know I did this until Ant told me, but apparently I make a high pitched sigh like when you are exhausted and plop down on the couch at the end of the day. Hopefully I don't do it too much, but I think just once or twice a night. At least it's better than snoring, right?

6) Whenever I wear socks, the lines have to be directly across my toes. My mom tells me that I used to be very difficult about his and would pitch a fit until my socks were on "correctly". I wouldn't say that I pitch a fit now :), but I am definitely uncomfortable until I can get somewhere and fix it.

Now for my tags! I tag: Gabrielle, Tiana, Happy, Rachel, Dana, & Christy
Here are the rules: 1.Link to the person who tagged you and comment in the comment section on their original "quirk" post 2.Mention the rules on your blog 3.Tell 6 unspectacular quirks about you 4.Tag 6 bloggers (or more!) by linking to them 5.Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger's blogs letting them know they've been tagged.

Racism

Seriously people. I know that this election has stirred up a lot of controversy and emotions and I would like to just let this go, but I really can't. I've heard some disturbing things, all the more disturbing because some it comes from members of my church about the new president. Say what you want about him, in fact I would welcome someone's justified criticism of his policies but there is no place for racism in the year 2008.

I think that it is horrific to say that you don't like this president because his name makes him sounds like a "terrorist" or that he only got elected because "black people" went out and blindly voted without consideration of the issues. This is an affront to muslims, many of which share similar names to one famous terrorist through no fault of their own. Charles Manson commited horrible crimes, does that mean we should be wary of all people called Charles? It also is an insult to African American voters everywhere. They have brains, thoughts, and logic just like you do.

Here is a quote I found on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints website and I wholeheartedly agree with it: "How grateful I am that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has from its beginnings stood strongly against racism in any of its malignant manifestations. President Spencer W. Kimball stated the Church’s position well: “We do wish that there would be no racial prejudice. … Racial prejudice is of the devil. … There is no place for it in the gospel of Jesus Christ” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball [1982], 236–37).

It's hard being little

Whenever it is cold outside, Bitsy breaks our "no dogs on the couch" rule whenever we are out of the room so that she can cuddle in one of our blankets. This is probably the fourth time this week that I have walked in to our living room to see this:
When we catch her, she has no shame! She just gives you that face that says, "Can you blame me?" mixed with "I'm cute, remember?" and I fall for it every time! Anthony gets aggravated that I don't make her get down or punish her in some way, but look at that face!!! How can you say no to that face? Sometimes she hides her eyes under the blanket as if she is imagining herself invisible so we don't make her move. What a cute/manipulative dog!

Voting

For the first time, I am actually kind of excited about this election! I never thought voting meant very much and I've only been old enough to vote in one presidential election but I think it is great that so many people are getting fired up to vote and participate. I don't want to go into who I am voting for and why because I am SICK of people bashing one candidate or another. We're all adults here people, let's just agree to disagree and focus on what we have control over: who we personally vote for.

I just have to say, I've discovered that my biggest pet peeve this election is people openly admitting that they don't know anything about the issues, that they can't understand what is going on, but they are POSITIVE that so-and-so would be the best president ever. I personally think that if you do all the research and come to a logical decision that Mickey Mouse is the best candidate, then vote for him, I don't care! Please, just don't try to tell me that you don't know what is going on, but I should definitely follow your lead.

Family Update

I am sitting here with my hot chocolate on my only real day off, and I wanted to update on all of the things going on with us :)

School: Ant and I are both doing really well so far this semester. Right now, Anthony is in his class in Tampa and his schedule of being in Tampa on Wednesdays, my only day off school and work, has turned out great. Wednesdays have become my cleaning/getting stuff done days :) Anthony pointed out that I definitely have senioritis!! I really don't enjoy going to school anymore and it is not because I don't like the material, I am just over school. This is my last full semester and I am just ready to be done! Every time I turn to the travel channel I instantly want to be where ever they are featuring, and I think it is because I never took a break from school. But, on the bright side I'll be getting my Master's degree at the age of 23, so I guess it is worth it right?

Work: We have definitely worked out a routine with us working the same schedule. We always know what car we are taking, who is driving, where we are parking (this has been the source of contention in the past) and what time to take a break in our shift so we can visit each other. When I go up to his floor, all of this co-workers go, "It's Mrs. Anthony!!!". Anthony doesn't really like the night shift because there is a lot less action and things to do, but there is not much he can do about it :( As for my internship, I've put working there on hold until the semester is over because of all the school work I've had. I might still work there next semester, but I'm exploring other options as well because I'm not sure that substance abuse is the area for me. I'm glad I had the opportunity to find that out ahead of time!

Our new addition: Anthony really wanted me to include this in the blog: we got a new tv!!
Isn't it ginormous!! Our 10 year old 50 inch tv broke last friday and all the research we did on the problem was that it wasn't worth it to pay to get it fixed. So, we decided to upgrade! After all this time with a big tv, there was no way we could get a smaller one and I found a pretty sweet deal on this 60-inch tv. We got it Monday night, and it probably says a lot about our social life that our tv broke on Friday and we bought a new one on Monday! Now we really want to have a movie night at our house to break it in. Anyone interested?

Progress

Anyone who knows me can tell you that I am a saver. Some might even go as far to say that I am a miser (not that I fully agree:). That said, for months I have been admiring a sweater shawl a friend of mine has. It looks so good on her, it looks so comfy, and would go with so many of my outfits! I finally asked her where she got it: Express in the mall. Let me tell you, I NEVER go in that store because it is so darn pricey! However, we happened to be shopping yesterday and we went to go look for it. I was hoping that since she bought it so long ago it might be on clearance. Unfortunately, no such luck. It was $60!!!!

After getting over the fact that a small sweater was $60, my brain went into dilemma mode. Arguments for buying the sweater: I haven't purchased anything for myself in I don't know how long, and I don't usually buy clothes because I hate clothes shopping. Anthony spends $100 plus dollars a month on his aquarium and I know that he wouldn't begrudge me a sweater if I really wanted it and could get a lot of use out of it. I've been wanting it for a long time, so it isn't really an impulse buy.

Arguments against getting the sweater: It is ridiculously overpriced. I would feel like a hypocrite because I am always getting on to Anthony for spending money on stuff that isn't really essential when we have debts to pay. It isn't on sale. $60 is almost half of my monthly grocery budget. I would have the exact same sweater as a girl in my class and we would probably end up wearing in on the same day.

So, in the end I decided to walk away and look everywhere else for a similar sweater that wasn't so expensive. I did a lot of research online and looked a lot of department stores but I just couldn't find anything that was as good as the real thing. I finally realized that if I was thinking about it as much as I was, than it was worth it to buy it. I found a 15% off coupon online and went to buy it the next morning after class. I am so proud of myself for just doing it and I am so excited about my new sweater! And as a side note, I paid cash for it and we really could afford it, I just have a hard time letting go of money that could be put into our savings account instead :)

Pumpkin Carving

Every year my family gets together to carve pumpkins. For the past few years we've used the pumpkin carving kits with stencils and I must say, we are getting pretty good!

The skull/spiderweb one was painstakingly done by my brother Daniel. I did the next one of a creepy person and a bat coming out of a coffin, Ant did the next one of a bat, and my mom did the last one. You can't really see hers, but it is a x and a needle with a thread hanging from it to represent cross-stitching :) Don't you just love halloween??!!

More Kayaking Adventures

Ant and I took the kayaks out again today, this time to Crystal River. It was really fun to explore all of the little creeks and it was so beautiful! Right as we got out there, we took a detour into a narrow little creek with high weeds that had so many bends and turns that I was sure we would come across something exciting like a gator:) We ended up going so far into it and it narrowed so much that we almost couldn't turn the kayaks around to get out!
Yea kayaking!!!


We came across some really cool coves as we went down a bigger creek area: By far the coolest thing about the entire trip was that we got to get up close and personal with some manatees!!!! I have never seen them this close in the wild and I just couldn't get over it. One manatee in particular loved my kayak and kept going under it. I was afraid to put my paddle in the water because I didn't want to hit its back, but I also wanted to move my kayak when he went under me so that he wouldn't try to surface and tip me over! At first we didn't know if he knew we were there, but we realized he did when he surfaced right next to my kayak and came up to sniff it. I swear he looked me in the eye like he wanted me to pet him! Soon after our friends the Tripps joined us in their kayaks. We went back to try and find more manatees, but unfortunately they wouldn't come and play no matter how much we called them.
:(

OCD: Obsessive Cullen Disorder

There are only 38 days left until the Twilight movie premiere!!!!

I am planning on seeing as soon as humanly possible after it comes out, which might entail some midnight movie-going. I really wanted to wear this t-shirt to the movie but (a) it's not really in my budget to buy it and (b) I think that I would get beat up verbally if not physically by other fans:
That's right folks!!! I am on Team Jacob and I don't care who knows it!!! So far I am the only person of the people I know who have the read the books to feel this way, but so be it.

Yea!!! I got tagged!!

I love doing these!!
3 Joys:
1. Being with Anthony
2. Reading a book by the pool
3. Finding a good coupon

3 Fears:
1. Water (specifically, not being able to breathe in it)
2. That I'm not good enough
3. Heights (specficially, that I will fall from them)

3 Obsessions:
1. Coupons
2. Email and blogs
3. Schoolwork (I really wish I wasn't obsessed, but I am.)

3 Surprising Facts:
1. I have a screw drilled into the roof of my mouth (It's true!)
2. I once snuck into the springs in the middle of the night.
3. I have always loved broccoli, even as a kid.

8 Things I am passionate about:
1. My marriage
2. Being a good counselor
3. Rights for people with disabilities
4. Following the Savior
5. Reading
6. Treating others as you would be treated
7. Spending money wisely
8. Getting enough sleep!

8 Words or Phrases I say often:
1. Really?
2. I love you!
3. You're my honey.
4. What's up?
5. I hate school!
6. Let's watch a movie.
7. What do you want to do tonight?
8. I don't know

8 Things I Want To Do Before I Die:
1. Go to Europe
2. Go skiing
3. Have a baby
4. Learn to play the piano
5. Own my own horse
6. See my kids graduate from college/get married
7. Go scuba diving
8. Run in a race

8 Things I Pray For:
1. For both of us to do well in school
2. Safety for family
3. Happiness
4. Our relationship
5. Patience
6. Understanding
7. Comfort
8. Thanking Heavenly Father for everything

8 Things I've Learned:
1. I can't do everything for everybody
2. Family is the most important relationship
3. School is school, not life
4. It's okay to let go of things and not stay mad.
5. What's the point of something if it doesn't make you happy?
6. Showering everyday is a good thing.
7. No, everybody is not looking at me all of the time.
8. Be nice to people and they will enjoy being around you.

8 People I Tag:
Umm, do I know 8 people? Let's see: Claudia, Rachel, Reggi, Chris, Gabrielle, Mom, Sharon,... That's it. If I forgot you, then I still tag you!

Kayaking for sharks

We recently went kayaking with some friends of ours and their kids and it was a blast! This was my first time kayaking in the ocean, and let me tell you kayaking against the wind AND the current is no picnic. However, the view was breathtaking and I got a serious workout kayaking the half mile from where we put in to the actual ocean.




One of the big goals for the trip was for Anthony to catch a shark for the kids to see. Anthony told the kids about catching a 100lb nurse shark last week and they were amazed because they had just seen sharks at the aquarium. Zeke was TOTALLY excited at the idea of seeing a shark up close and I am pretty sure he thinks Anthony is about the coolest guy ever and gets to do the most fun things. Now he comes up to Anthony all the time and asks him when he can come over to play :) Unfortunately Ant didn't catch a shark, but he caught a pretty good sized sting ray and caused a serious 5 minutes of excitement and anticipation while he was reeling it in.


We had a really good time and will definitely be doing this again soon! Here is a picture of the sunset just as we were putting the kayaks back on the car:

Just as a side note, since I just marvel at the cute things kids say, our friends' three year old watched as an airboat came in and loaded onto the trailer. The water from the boat started to empty out of a plug on the back and she kept saying, "Look! The boat is going potty!" Too cute!