Talk About Boring...

Lately I've been studying for my GRE (Graduate Record Exam).. can I just say, this stuff is soooo BORING!  I mean if I have to read another Reading Comprehension question on lighthouses or life on Mars I may just have to pull my hair out (I read that the test-makers purposely pick the most boring, mundane passages for these tests).  Ugh..  And analogies are the worst!  Analogies are there to do nothing more than lower one's confidence, I'm pretty sure.  Here is one analogy I got wrong while practicing:

Legerdemain : Magician

a. rhetoric : orator

b. baggage : immigrant

c. justice : lawyer

d. map : cartographer

e. tractor : farmer

Personally, I didn't know what Legerdemain even meant, hence my getting it wrong...  but the traps!  Why do they have to give you options in these tests that are admittedly traps?!

Anyways, I should get back to studying, I'm on to the "Quantitative" section.  I found this cute cartoon, it's pretty much in sync with how I am feeling about this test right now.

BTW the answer above was A.  

Great Minds Think Alike

A funny thing happened today, so I thought I'd share.  Now, I know that Nate and I are usually on the same wave-length but this was above and beyond.

When I got off work I texted Nate because I was STARVING and was hoping to eat dinner a little early.  Nate called me back when he got out of the gym, but we couldn't decide what we wanted.  He said he was going to head home to take a shower so I just told him to call me when he was ready and we could both think about what we wanted in the meantime.

Well, since I have been working at the restaurant I have been really bad about eating (since I work shifts that work through lunch, I've been going too long without food).  So because I was hungry I decided I would make the executive decision to go to the store pick up all our favorite items for spaghetti.  My phone was charging and I thought, Should I text Nate to let him know I'm gonna pick this up?  Nah.  I knew exactly what he would say anyways... something along the lines of, "that sounds really good, actually."  So I went to Albertson's got all the goods and even picked up one of the hot Wheat French Breads from the bakery as a special  treat.  I checked out and headed home.

Sure enough, when I get home I have a couple of missed calls from Nate.  I call him back to give him the good news of dinner being handled...  BUT THEN...  When I ask where he is, he says, "I'm at Albertson's picking up stuff for spaghetti."  I would have stopped him but he was already checking out.  I mean really! Same executive decision, same dinner, same grocery store (we had to have been there the same time too!).  

I start cooking up the meat sauce.  Nate walks in a few minutes later with all the same ingredients, oh and one additional special treat - a hot Wheat French Bread!  

Like I said great minds think alike!

Where Have I Been?

Since Sofia's arrival a lot has happened in the world of Nikki so i think it is only right to catch you all up.  Here we go!

After we left the hospital on Sunday the 3rd, I prepared to endure my last week of work at KFMB.  It went by fast enough and I even finished on thursday, a day earlier than expected.  Thursday night SD Fam  (Erin, Andrew, Nate and I) all went to see Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.  I have to say I was rather disappointed (may be due to the 3 Cirque du Soleil shows I've seen now).  My favorites were definitely the motorcyclists in the ball thing and the elephants.

Saturday, morning I got up early and headed to Huntington to spend some quality time with my new niece..

She is so darn cute and funny too! She made us all laugh when she decided to "go" on Shannon's blue dress... Hey, Lisa warned her to keep a diaper near while changing her.  It's all the fun of "practice," right ShaSha?

I also got to meet Grayson, my friend Courtney's new baby boy.  He was so adorable!  

After getting in some quality time with the fam I headed back to San Diego on Monday night in time for an interview I had at a restaurant here called World Famous.  It's right on the beach, it's always packed, and has some Awesome food.  

Well.. I got the job and now I am just getting through my 5 days of training.  Phew!  I feel like the last week has just flown by.  I feel a lot like this...

In addition to all this, I am just getting ready for school and doing all of my little "chores" I have to be able to apply for the credential program.  Okay... time to run to soccer!

Sofia is Here!!!

On August 3rd at 9:17am Sofia was born.  She weighed in at 8 lbs 3 oz (pretty good for being early) and was 20 inches long.  It was such a joyous occasion, with our closest friends and family around.  

And now, introducing SOFIA!!!

The new family, Lisa, Peter, and Sofia

Proud Auntie
Grandma Carol
Grandpa Charlie
Nate (a natural, by the way)
Sofia has hands fit for a pianist
Big yawn
10 toes

My sister was glowing.  She didn't even get nervous going into surgery.
My new niece!

San Fran Fun - Part 2

As promised... here are the pics from the rest of our trip to San Fran. Saturday morning the group woke up early and headed straight down to Pier 41 1/2 (sounds so Harry Potter). We each rented bikes to head for a ride to and over the Golden Gate Bridge. We enjoyed a quick pastry breakfast from Boudin's..


We got fueled up for our trip, which ended up being a good thing because there were a couple of tough hills to ride up.

This was Charlie's first bike ride. Unfortunately, his helmet was a little too big for him, but he was a trooper..

Is that a female version of Lance Armstrong?.... (hardly)

Remember these pics were from Nate's camera. I have to say he took some great pics.. like this one!


Here we are on the bridge.


After our bike-riding excursion we hopped on a ferry to Sausalito. From there we took the CRAZIEST bus ride on the very STEEP, curvy, mountain road to Muir Woods. I'm serious the bus drivers were trying to make us sick. I would love to say I wasn't scared, but I'd be lying.

Em and Mike on the ferry

The Butler Boys enjoying the view

I love nature as you can see. Look how ginormous these trees were!

More great photography by Nate..


In this pic Nate and I were attempting to get a picture of us taken mid-leap. It didn't quite come out as planned, but I still think it's pretty funny.


After our long and tiring Saturday, we got a quick bite to eat and did what we always do on our Butler vacations.... a friendly game of Nertz (okay so actually we all are pretty competitive).

The next morning we went to Mel's one last time and then had to say our goodbyes :( Nate and I were the last to leave. Due to some MAJOR shenanigans* with our flight we got to go to the Giants game before we left.


*Shenanigans (the short, short version) - flight was booked for 4pm. Delayed to 630pm. Delayed to 650pm. Get call at game that it was changed to 430pm!! Run to hotel! Jump in taxi! Race through airport! Board plane at 420pm. Sit on plane with no air for 2 hours!! Finally take-off at 620p! The end.