You can call me Ms. Dracula

The Count and Countess

Watch out...we bite

Saturday night we went to the best costume Halloween party (since college at least that is). Christina and Justin Miles hosted it. First we played the donut game boys against girls. She had donuts tied on strings hanging from poles. We had to eat them without hands. Of course the men won. The women had to sing "Mary had a little lamb" after sucking helium from the balloons as our punishment for losing. Then we ate deluxe nachos and played the newlywed game. We topped off the night with Banana splits and a bon fire outside. There were about 15 couples there and everyone was in costume. It was a really fun night!
Dracula himself. He even did his own makeup...impressive.

She decorated so cute and even had a photo backdrop for everyone to take pictures! There was a costume contest too. Niel and I won "Scariest couple" and we won a gift certificate to Hollywood video. Thanks for a great party!
Some of the ladies: Lindsey, Susan, Veronica, me, Autumn, and Jordan.

Veronica and me

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM THE VAMPIRES!

I can be domestic when I feel like it...

Last weekend I got an urge to bake. I was feeling festive with Halloween approaching and I thought I would make some cupcakes. The frosting turned out more of a peach color than an orange color, but oh well. They tasted yummy! I took some to work to share with my co-workers.

Like kids in a candy store...

Last Saturday night Niel and I went to Dave & Busters for dinner and an evening of fun. I hadn't ever heard of Dave and Busters until we moved to California. For those of you who don't know, it is a restaurant and bar with a huge arcade on the other side. The arcade is like Chuck E Cheese for adults...and twice the size. We played basketball first and I beat Niel on the first round! He couldn't beleive it. Then we had some fun playing ski ball, air hockey, horse racing, and various other games. The coolest part is that you get tickets just like at Chuck E Cheese! We had a fun night and we felt like little kids again.I love this picture. He was really into the race and I think I captured the moment:)

If I get fat, it will be ColdStone's fault

Last Friday night Niel and I went to Coldstone. We always get "All Lovin' no Oven". This consists of cake batter ice cream, cookie dough, brownie, fudge, and whip cream mixed in. The whip cream makes it a softer and creamier consistency. It is the BEST ice cream ever. We get it every time we go...in this size of a tub. Go ahead, try it. It will change your life.

After that we went to rent "IronMan" at the redbox. Unfortunately, I accidentally rented "Ironman" the cartoon. oops...they looked the same in the redbox. Poor Niel, he was so excited to watch Ironman.

I'm an aunt again!!!

A week ago from today my brother Brent and his wife Beth had their fourth child! They named him Daniel Leland Child. Beth was able to carry him full-term which was a blessing since she has had complications in the past with very early deliveries. He is so cute, which isn't a surprise since all of their kids are adorable. Congratulations Brent and Beth! I wish I could be there in Washington to meet him.

Big Brother Elijah with Daniel.

I am now the proud aunt of 14 nieces and nephews with one on the way!! I have two nieces and twelve nephews. I love being and aunt, it's so fun! Big sister Allison holding her little brother for the first time.

MeOW

This is our first and only Halloween decoration. Isn't she cute?! I couldn't pass her up. I made her that custom orange collar so that she looked a little more Halloweenish (I know, real impressive huh?). This is the closest I will ever get to a pet cat since Niel doesn't want pets.

Diagnosis...

Alright so I am not writing this post to get attention or pitty, but merely to fill people in on something that will effect me in the coming years (plus it would be really awkward to tell each one of my friends on the phone or something ugh). Most of you have probably heard me complain the last several years about having pain in my back. I had seen several doctors but no one ever really knew what was wrong with me. They thought I had a strained back muscle or something.

My brother was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis a few years ago. After Niel studied about it in school he thought I should be checked out by a rheumatologist to see if I had it. After waiting three months to get into the rheumatologist I was finally able to see him on Tuesday. I tested positive for the blood test of the HLA-B27 gene marker that is present in patients that have ankylosing spondylitis. The X-rays of my lower back also showed chronic inflammation of my sacroiliac joint, a sign of ankylosing spondylitis. I also had several other symptoms. It is a genetic systemic rheumatic disease. The doctor said that it is hard to say with a 100% surety that I have it, but he said I have almost all of the symptoms. I am glad to finally know what has been wrong with me the last couple of years. The unique part about ankylosing spondylitis is that the symptoms come and go. Symptoms can be triggered by trauma, stress, cold weather, and infection.

I handled my diagnosis pretty well since I am not having much pain lately. The good news is that there is medicine I can take that can ease my symptoms when I do have flare ups. The bad news is that it will probably get worse as I get older and effect my lifestyle. The doctor gave me some meds and told me to come back in January. Yay for drugs!

We are currently accepting donations of charity. JK:)

Help! I need your opinion!!

I am more seriously contemplating starting my own swimwear line. I need your help with thinking of names. I have thought of a couple but I am still in the brain-storming stages. Tell me what you think of these. Other suggestions too please!

1) Wailea Swim or Wailea Swimwear

2) Bella Swim or Bella Swimwear

3) Gold Swimwear

Ok, so Wailea is pronounced why-lay-a. Wailea is an uppity town in Hawaii. I love the name but I am nervous people would butcher it and not know how to pronounce it. Honest opinions please!

The Testaments

On Tuesday night we had the young women come over to my house to watch "The Testaments" on our big screen. All the girls came in their pajamas. It was fun to have them over to our house!

I love this movie. I have seen it three or four times but every time it brings a tear to my eye at the end when Christ comes and visits the people. It is an inspiring film. If you haven't watched it in a awhile I highly recommend it.

Performance Review

I am pretty much just bragging in this post, so skip it if you don't want to hear it:)

On Monday at work I had my performance review. Of course there is always room for improvement, but overall I did pretty good on my review. My boss praised me and had a lot of great things to say. She told me she was very happy to have me as an employee and that she really enjoys working with me. She also said she wished she could clone me and have more Darci's. I thought that was kinda funny.

As for Niel he is also doing really well with his rotation. He is on his second rotation doing family medicine. Luckily he survived his brutal first rotation at the county hospital doing OBGYN. His preceptor told him that he could tell Niel is in the top third of his class. I asked Niel how he could know that but I guess this dude has been doing the whole preceptor thing for awhile.