I Fought the Pumpkin...

...And I Won!

Sure I look happy and sure the pumpkin may look cute now but you should have seen me carving it! (Just ask my Mother!) I have never had a pumpkin that was so thick and fought me so hard! (Note the evil twinkle in the pumpkin's eye in the second photo!)I broke two carving utensils while carving it! I literally was using a broken handled carving knife at the end of my carving experience. Each time I tried to let this pumpkin know who was boss it would eat a tool (no joke...I have no idea where one carving tool is right now...it broke off in the pumpkin and I couldn't find it!) or it would spit at me (literally a little piece of pumpkin would fly out of no where with such force it would bounce off my face or end up in my eye!) I was determined though and I am happy with the final product. However, this pumpkin truly put up a fight! I actually feel a little traumatized from the whole experience and have decided I am glad this only happens once a year!

New England Patriots

Here is a lighter blog for all of you who were depressed by my last one :)

The very first weekend Tony and I were home from our honeymoon we were offered a chance to go to a Patriots game. Tony and I both had never been and I honestly could have cared less if I went. However, I really wanted Tony to have the opportunity and he didn't want to go alone as two other couples were going (my parents and a family friend with his girlfriend.) So, at 9:00 pm the night BEFORE we had to be up at 5:00 am to head to the game, I said I would go. Thus with a bright and EARLY start, Tony and I were headed to a Patriots game with my parents and Eric and Kim (thanks to these two we had tickets.)

Eric and Kim couldn't find anyone to take the tickets so even though we were a last resort, Tony and I didn't care and we graciously OFFERED to take them :) We tailgated before and after the game and sat so close to the game we couldn't believe it. It truly was an experience I am glad I didn't miss, and fun was had by all (as you can tell by my ever comical husband's picture below...notice how poised I am despite his antics?) :)

No Sugar Coating It

So here it is. No sugar coating; just straight forward how I feel right now. STRESSED! WORK SUCKS! LEAVE ME ALONE!

However, I believe everything happens for a reason so I am looking for that reason right now. Haven't found it yet, but I sure am checking everywhere to find it!

I will get through this, I know. I also know nothing is as bad as it could be. However, I could definately use a light at the end of the tunnel and I am not seeing even a flicker of light yet. I know it is coming though; if I just keep plugging along. I also know, I have something special. I have a friend who I lost far to soon who is watching over me. I have faith that her and God will be sure my light comes soon.

Until then, I am pushing through. That's all you CAN do right?

THANK YOU!!!!

It was a crisp Fall day when my family embarked on the walk for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America on Sunday, October 14th. The family dog, Buster, even made his debut at the walk and I must say, I think he would have been the first one to cross the finish line had we not had him on a leash! If you have seen him you know he is a little on the heavy side. However, size didn't matter for him; he was moving when he walked! He must have felt the excitement in the air :)

The Walk hit a record number of walkers (140) for Maine and a record amount raised for Maine as of the walk date ($26,000.) My family collectively passed the $1,000 mark thanks to the help of many of you who donated. It was wonderful (as it is every year I walk) to see a group of people all there for a cause so close to my family's hearts. It is great to share stories, smiles, and hugs with those who truly understand. Next year's walk has already been scheduled (May 31st) and my family has already registered; so all of you be ready because I will be asking you again to open your hearts (and your wallets) once more to a very important cause.

Thanks again everyone, words cannot adequately describe how much I appreciate your donations.

Walking for My Brother

I know I just posted but I felt this topic deserved its own post. This Sunday my family will be participating in the Guts and Glory Walk around Back Cove in Portland. This walk is so important to us all because my brother has been living with Crohn's Disease for almost 10 years now.

I could ramble on about what an inspiration he is and how I don't know if I could ever be as strong as he is about all that this disease does to his life but I wont because what is most important is that I have a goal of $250.00 and I have raised $170 right now. There is still time to donate. Go to www.gutsandglory.org (the link is also on the lower right of my blog) and click on ME-Portland Walk. Click on sponsor a participant. Enter Jennifer Giles (I set the site up BEFORE I was married) and then click search. Scroll all the way down and click on my name and it brings you to my website where you can enter a donation amount and donate online. It is safe, secure, and tax deductible!

Please, it isn't too late, donate to an organization that has supported the research that helped develop Remicade infusions, which my brother currently gets to help him live with his disease. However, if it stops working, there are no more options for my brother. With your help though research will continue and another medicine may come along, or better yet, a cure.

Another Cute One

Below is another cute photo the photographer took. He thought of this one too. I will stop posting wedding photos after this for a bit as I don't have the others back from the photographer yet. If you want to see all 700 (I made that number up but there are a lot) then you will have to see my albums but I do plan to post a few more favorites when I get them from the photographer :)

Wedding, Wedding, Wedding!

For your viewing pleasure,(hope you aren't sick of the photos yet!) here are a few more wedding photos the photographer took. I can't wait to post some of my favorites that he did once I get them from him. However, these three below are all very nice too.


I think this one is cute. It took Tony and I a little balancing to stay there (the photo was taken on a slight hill) and Tony needed a little direction to "bring his body closer" (I think he was worried about crushing my dress) but in the end, we got a great photo I think :)




This is a nice casual photo I think. I wished I had remembered to turn my bouquet towards the photographer (he had to keep cuing me for that) as he did this in color and just made it black and white for this photo so it would have been prettier in color had my stems not been facing the camera! Tony is looking at the camera as he had a hard time remembering he didn't have to pose all the time. I however was a natural by now :)




The photographer thought of this photo. I think it is cute and it shows we did take a tram up to get up the mountain! Oh, and I remembered on my own to turn my bouquet around in this photo :)

So now, after a few photos, more wedding details. The rehearsal dinner was wonderful. We had it at Applebee's. It was right in the hotel parking lot so it was easy to get to for everyone. Applebee's doesn't normally do this sort of thing but they did it for us and they did such an amazing job! The tables were beautiful with linens, table runners, decorations, candles, and they had our server wear a tux! Hats off to Applebee's, I always liked the place but now I am truly a loyal patron.

I can't say much about the wedding other than it was beautiful. We had a little fog and it was windy enough that we had to have it inside instead of outside but I was happy either way. The musician did a great job, the caterer did wonderful, the minister was great (except that he almost left without our license!) and the cake was wonderful too. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and I know Tony and I did. Everyone said everything works out in the end and it sure did.

More Wedding Stuff

First, here are two more pictures.


This one is of my sister and I as we were leaving for the wedding. Can you tell we are sisters? :) Oh by the way, my sister did my hair and if you can't tell from the photos so far, she did an amazing job! This was the first time she tried this on me too! She said she would be a hairdresser if she wasn't an OT. I think an OT probably pays more Kris, but you sure did do an amazing job! Thanks so much!




This is one the photographer liked enough to put on his website. I however hate it because I look half asleep! I think it is a nice one of my bouquet so if he cut my head off and just had from my shoulders down or something it might not look so bad. The flowers by the way were beautiful as were my centerpieces, and groom's and parents flowers. However it was not without a little "scary moment" that I got these flowers. My florist was "very laid back" (like my musician) and when I made a final trip to NH before officially coming for the wedding she assured me she had no need to meet with me and no need to call her until I arrived for the wedding. Against my better judgement I obliged. However, upon calling her when I arrived for what I thought was a quick check in she informed me she hadn't heard from me in ages (it was actually less than 20 days) and had no idea what she was supposed to do for my wedding! I tried to calm myself as I freaked out inside (and I think my parents and Tony might say I showed it a little on the outside too) as I told her I spoke with her less than 20 days ago and she told me NOT to call her again until now. She kind of stopped accusing me at that point and said all her files were lost in an "accident" recently so I needed to meet with her to discuss flowers AGAIN. So, no waterfall visit that day as I had planned so that I could instead meet with the florist. In the end, as you can see by this sneak peek of my flowers they came out wonderful.

So, now for a little more wedding information. As you probably remember from my "need to vent post" from my hotel in NH (see the last post in September), Tony was very sick the day we left for our wedding (4 days before our actual wedding.) He got progressively worse despite all the meds I pumped in him and kept me (and himself) up all night coughing. Tony told me to go sleep in my parents room so I would get some sleep but I wasn't leaving my fiance just days before the wedding to "fend for himself." Thus, Thursday instead of visiting the waterfall in the morning as I wanted, we (my parents, Tony and I) spent the early afternoon in the ER. My Dad offered to take Tony so I wouldn't miss visiting the waterfall I wanted to and miss the meeting with the lady in charge of my wedding on the mountain as we anticipated a whole day spent in the ER. Again though, I wasn't leaving "my man" alone so soon before the wedding. It just didn't seem right. However, this hospital was very new and very efficient. We were in and out of there within a half hour. Other hospitals, including the one I work in need to take notes from the Littleton, NH hospital, they sure are efficient and the doctor was great too! (He also had a great accent I found charming.) They gave him some over the counter stuff to try, suggested I take Airborne to try to keep me healthy and gave him an antibiotic "just in case." If you see photos of him the first few days before the wedding he sure does look sick :( However, he was on the mend and feeling good enough to "go out with the guys" after the rehearsal dinner. "The girls" begged me to go out but by that point I had hit a mental breakdown. I was so exhausted from Tony keeping me up at night with his coughing, worrying about him, last minute wedding details, and making sure everyone settled in that I just needed some alone time. Thus, with disappointment (so sorry girls but I needed it) they headed out on the town while I moved my stuff to my parents' room where I would sleep the night before the wedding, did more last minute things, and then took a much needed run on the treadmill. (I might have cried a little in there too.) I was just so mentally drained. Well all for now everyone, I will leave in you suspense for a bit. I have to try to get some work done as I try to ignore my very present and very itchy rash. The doctor's stuff hasn't' worked and I have a call in to him but haven't heard back. I don't know how much longer I can take this itching!

The Happy Couple

Here is a photo my photographer liked and put on his website. I think it is really cute too. I am working on copying the other six he posted on his site (I have to watch it scroll through a hundred other photos waiting to catch mine at the right moment) and posting them for you all to see. Here is a "peek" of what is to come. I promise more details later too. For now I must get home from a long first day back at work. I really itch from a rash I have broken out in so I need to get home so I can start taking the meds I got from my doctor. Again, more details will follow.