McNaughton Family Christmas Pictures

Since it had been a couple of years since we have had family pictures taken (and even longer since they have been of good quality), we really lucked out by meeting our friend Ashley, who is an awesome photographer.  She was more than willing to get some pictures of the four of us just in time for Christmas cards this year...and since it has been more than a rocky year (with Kira's illnesses, Jeff finding a job, and some personal struggles), we decided that we needed to focus on what we were thankful for, with family being number one on the list!

So, here are the results of the McNaughton Family Picture Session 2011...enjoy!

And finally, just to show it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, here is one with Mr. Koda giving a stinky look to the camera...he just couldn't be happy during the whole photo shoot!

Thanks, Ashley...you did an amazing job (especially with two unruly dogs)!  If anyone is interested in having photos taken by Ashley, you can view her photography page here.



Carving Pumpkins

....or punkins as I like to call them.  Last Tuesday night, Chase and Ashley came down to carve pumpkins.  This was the first year (in the nearly 14 years we have been together) that Jeff and I have actually bothered to carve a pumpkin together...usually we just buy them and put them outside but never actually get around to cutting them open and making them jack o' lanterns.

This year was an exception though; I guess it has something to do with Chase and Ashley who are still into all the holiday traditions.  Maybe their youth is rubbing off on us and keeping us young?  I can only hope so!

Anyway, there were three pumpkins that were opened up and carved all on the bar of our kitchen.  Even though I didn't do any of the carving (I left that up to my Engineer and perfectionist husband), I had a blast digging through the pumpkin guts and pulling out all the seeds to roast them in the oven.

Here we all are, getting into the Halloween season by carving pumpkins...



And it took some effort on everyone's part (especially Ashley, who was diligent with her design long after Chase and Jeff had given up), but here are the end results...

Ashley's pumpkin...

Chase's pumpkin...

Jeff's (and my) pumpkin (although he did all the work)...



So much Halloween fun...thanks for a memorable night!



Need Help Moving?....

...well, I certainly would not contact these people who solicited our apartment complex by placing the following on it...

There is only one word to describe not only the bad grammar and spelling, but the suckiness of the overall content of the advertisement.....FAIL!

Love A Fair

Well, not so much, but since that is the slogan of the 2011 North Carolina State Fair, I figured I would use it as the title for this post.  Last Saturday, me and Jeff and our friends Chase and Ashley (and pretty much the rest of the state) decided to check out the fair.  As a state fair, I was expecting it to be a whole lot better than it turned out to actually be.  I got tickets through the concierge service at work and we headed out.  First of all, the crowds were ridiculous...there were times when there were so many people everything just bottle necked and we were stuck for a little while until people started moving again.  Then, the rides were not too impressive and scattered in various areas throughout the fair grounds.  But there were not that many of them either....but there were a ton (and I mean a TON, which ironically is what you would weigh if you sampled all of them) of food booths.  I mean, how many deep fried oreos and turkey legs can one person eat?

After I had my annual, obligatory elephant ear, we walked around and found a Ferris wheel to ride.  It was fun to see the entire fair as we went around on the Ferris wheel (even though Ashley scared the crap outta me by opening up the door of the gondola).  Here are some pictures of our day at the fair...

While on the Ferris wheel we were also lucky enough to witness one of the "highlights" (said sarcastically) of a fair in the south...a tractor pull!  Really?  Isn't the fact that North Carolina is attributed with NASCAR redneck enough?  I guess not, as we got to watch the tractor pull...I am not sure what is more redneck, the fact that we had to watch it or the fact that Jeff documented it by taking pictures?



Finally, here are some pictures worth posting...the four of us at the fair (which was Chase's first fair). 



Overall the fair may have been a bust, but the four of us had a blast and even went through a fun house that was for kids...I love acting like a kid sometimes.

After the fair it was back to the car and home to make dinner for the four of us and watch the Clemson game against Maryland...it was a squeaker, but Clemson pulled it out in the end and remains undefeated at 7-0!  Go Tigers!

Grandma's Coming to Town...

...at least Kira and Koda's grandma!  At the beginning of October, my mom and Mike came up to spend a weekend with us before heading to the mountains for a week.  We had a crazy, but really fun weekend...we had tickets to the Carolina Hurricanes' first hockey game against (who else) but the Tampa Bay Lightning!    Even though we were outnumbered rooting for the Lightning, they wound up winning so it was a great night capped off by having dinner at the Carolina Ale House.  On Saturday we went to Cameron Village, did some shopping and came home to watch the Clemson game and drink sangria.  It was delicious!

Although it was sad to see them leave on Sunday morning (and the dogs were devastated the rest of the day), it was so good to see them.  They got to see Kira for the first time since she had been sick, which gave my mom some comfort because she looked so well.  We were so busy catching up and running around, I didn't get a single picture all weekend.  Oh well, we will always have the memories!

Goodbye 32...Hello 33

Well, even though I didn't want it to arrive (as I am with most birthdays these days), my birthday did come (as birthdays have a way of doing).  I was so not excited about turning 33...I feel like this birthday was one where I looked up and said, S@!T, how did I get this old?"  And then it really didn't sink in until my friend emailed me and said she couldn't believe we had been friends for 26 years!  Really?....I certainly don't feel old enough to have had a friend that long.  Completely crazy.  I mean, I feel good, am happy and would like to think I am taking good care of myself.  Still, 33?  When did this happen?

But, those feelings were completely erased when I got up in the morning (another case of the anticipation being so much worse than it actually happening); I had a great day at work, capped off by lunch with amazing friends, cards and gifts and an actual card and gift card from my boss.  I was completely shocked (but also extremely grateful).  What a nice gesture to show that he appreciates the job I do each and every day.

That night, Jeff and I went to Melting Pot to celebrate the big day.  We had not been in quite some time and it was even better than I remembered.  Scrumptious is the only word I can use to describe it...especially the dessert.  Dark chocolate with dulche de leche...it. was. glorious!  I almost felt gluttony for the first time...almost.

Here is a picture of us taken at the restaurant...

...and one taken with Kira and Koda when we got home.  They were excited it was my birthday (or maybe it was the fact that we had just gotten home...who knows?).

Here's hoping 33 brings a lot of luck and good things to me!  Cheers!



Happy Early Birthday to me!

Last Tuesday afternoon, Jeff came home from work with an envelope he wanted me to open immediately; I told him I didn't want to, as my birthday wasn't until Friday, but he would here nothing of it.  So, I broke down and finally opened it.  And this is what I saw...

It was season tickets to the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC)'s Broadway series!  We are going to eight different shows...Come Fly Away, Rock of Ages, the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes, Memphis, The Addams Family, Bring It On, Wicked and West Side Story!  There is one each month (with the exception of December) for the next nine months.  I was so super psyched; this is the most thoughtful present he has ever gotten me.  I almost couldn't believe it.  And, since our first show was Thursday night, I had to open my gift early.

And Come Fly Away was an awesome show.  All Frank Sinatra music with choreography by Twyla Tharp.  There was no dialogue during the entire show, but a story was told through the music and dancing.  I loved every minute of it.  Already looking forward to the next one...Rock of Ages with music from the 80s (only my favorite decade for music). 

Thanks, Jeff...I am so looking forward to seeing all of these shows.  You made my birthday this year one that I will never forget!  You are the best and I love you!

Who's got School Spirit?

Last Saturday was another big football game for Clemson...one against ACC rival Florida State.  It is a huge deal at our house, not just because I love Clemson, but because Jeff's entire family are Florida State fans.  It is literally the one day each year that I do not see eye to eye with his family.

It was a great game, with Clemson grabbing the lead on their first possession and never giving it up; we wound up winning 35-30! 

I would like to think my Clemson cheerleaders once again had something to do with it!  Jeff took this cute picture of me and the puppies during halftime.  We were all decked out in orange and rooting for the Tigers.

Following another impressive win, Clemson is now 4-0 with one more difficult test coming this Saturday against Virginia Tech.  Right now, we are ranked # 13 in the nation and are poised to be the best team in the ACC this season.

Go Tigers!



How do you know you have had too much rain?...

...you start seeing crustaceans out and about! 



While we were out walking the dogs on Friday morning, Jeff looked down and saw this little guy in the grass.  After some research, I think it is a Rusty Crayfish, an invasive species that started in Minnesota and Wisconsin and is slowly making its way across the United States.  The fact that it was aggressive gave it away,  as it reared up as Jeff and I were taking pictures of it with our camera phones.

One word...CREEPY!

Hanging with Bruce

Last weekend Jeff's college friend (and groomsman at our wedding) Bruce visited us.  He was in North Carolina for a presentation at Duke's marine lab on the coast and decided to hang with us for a couple of days before he flew back to Massachusetts from Raleigh.  Bruce has a pretty cool job; he is the pilot of Alvin, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institutes submarine.  You can read more about Bruce's submarine experiences here:  http://www.whoi.edu/oceanus/viewArticle.do?id=5879. 

Without a doubt, Bruce has some of the best stories about his underwater excursions, so it is always good when our paths collide for a couple of days and him and Jeff can catch up; this time was no different, since we had not seen Bruce since our wedding over six and a half years ago!  Needless to say, there was plenty of catching up to do, so we basically just hung out and ate delicious food that Bruce made all weekend (quite the chef).  And, as you can see, Kira warmed up to him quickly, even though she was still recovering from her cataract surgery.

Thanks for spending the weekend with us Bruce...it was nice to see you and we hope it won't be another six and a half years before our paths cross again!



Kira's Cataract Free

Last Tuesday, Jeff took Kira to NC State for her second ophthalmology appointment.  Just that morning, we had gotten back the results of her third sterile urine sample and found out that she was indeed E. coli free...I was so thankful that we had finally gotten rid of that nasty resistant strain, especially since Ophthalmology was asking us to consider having her cataracts removed even if she still tested positive (although that would have seriously increased her risk during and after surgery).  So, you can only imagine our surprise to find out that she had kicked the bacteria.  During her appointment that afternoon, they looked at Kira's eyes again and Jeff called to tell me that they were going to perform cataract surgery on the next day (Wednesday).  I was shocked...really, that soon?  I was also freaked out because I had a work trip to Atlanta the next morning, meaning that I would not even be there to see her off to surgery.  Still, knowing that the ability for Kira to see again was the highest priority, we scheduled the surgery and brought Kira home for her last night with cataracts. 

The next day was crazy to say the least...I flew out to Atlanta and left the house at 4:30 am.  While I was in meetings at the CDC all day, I kept sneaking peeks at my phone to see if Jeff had text me to tell me that she was out of surgery.  She was their first case of the day, so I figured we would hear something early.  The surgeon didn't call Jeff until almost 2:00 pm...we were going crazy!  It seems they got a little behind and had to push back the surgery.  Dr. Hempstead told Jeff that Kira was doing great and slowly coming out of surgery.  She had to stay overnight so that they could monitor her and ensure that the surgery was successful.

We found out later that Kira was up and walking around the hospital by the end of the night.  The vet techs and students told us that she was looking around at everything, so glad that she could see again...it was like she was seeing things for the first time!  On Thursday afternoon after work, Jeff got to pick her up and bring her home.  I was headed home from Atlanta, so I got to see her shortly after she got home and settled in.  She looks a little funny because they had to shave around her eyes; she resembles a raccoon and Jeff wants to get her a black mask for Halloween so she can be Zorro.

With the surgery, Kira was also enrolled in a current research project being conducted on artificial lenses at NC State.  Following cataract surgery in both human and canine patients, a white filmy deposit can develop along the edges of the lens after time.  This trial looks at a treated lens to see if it will prevent the development of the white precipitate over time.  I am so glad that something positive may come out of Kira's development of cataracts...maybe she can help another dog (or human) have better long-term vision in the future!

After almost seven weeks of having cataracts, Kira finally has her vision back.  It was a long and very uncertain road at times, but I am more certain than ever that we did the right thing for her.  Yes, it was expensive and scary, but there is not a better feeling than giving your animal the ability to see again.  I had chills her entire first night at home...I literally could not stop crying I was so happy to have our Bella back.

Kira, we love you so much and are so glad that you have a super quality of life again.  Now, if only your hair will grow back quickly, you will be all set.


Clemson's Cutest Canine Cheerleaders

It is the most wonderful time of year...the college football season is upon us!  And the best part about being back in the south for the start of this season is that Clemson games are generally televised (either on the TV or over the internet on ESPN).   So, needless to say, we have spent most recent weekends in front of the TV watching (and rooting for) my team.  But Jeff and I aren't the only ones...Clemson has some pretty cute doggy cheerleaders rooting for them as well.  Anytime we ask them if they want to put on their Clemson 'dannas (short for bandanna), they run up to us and put their neck out so that we can slip them over their heads.  And they are just so darn cute in them that they always get attention when they are out and about in the complex.

And their support must be working, since Clemson is currently 3-0 following a big win over Auburn this past weekend!  Wear those bandanna's proud, Kira and Koda!



Fun Times at the Baseball Field

At the end of August, we were invited to a Durham Bulls game with a friend of Jeff's from work and her family.  We met them at a restaurant before the game for dinner.  Jeff loved the restuarant as they had a ton of beers on tap to choose from...even without food, he was in heaven.  It gave us some time to hang with Anji, who works at BD with Jeff, her husband Travis and their two kids.  We had a great time at dinner and then headed over to the game.

This game, the Bulls were playing the Gwinnett Braves, who looked much like the Atlanta Braves with their uniforms.  It didn't matter to us...we had a great time!



The Bulls even won the game and we got to see a manager ejected from the game (theirs, thank goodness, not ours).  It was a super fun, albeit it tiring night at the ballpark.  So much so that getting up for work the next day was pretty difficult.

Thanks for inviting us to join you at the game...we will have to hang out again sometime soon, Wills family!