Minne...sconsin?

{via}

I've been terrible at posting lately. And there's been a good amount of excitement in our apartment, too! 

This past weekend, Andrew's parents came to visit! It was so, so great to have them here, we were so glad to take them around the city. We love visitors (hint hint, family and friends), and not just because it gives us the perfect reason to go out and enjoy Milwaukee, but because we love having people stay with us! Our apartment at home in MN was always a gathering place, and we've really missed not having people stop by or stay over. Of course, I failed and didn't get any group pictures of the four of us...I always want to, but because getting everyone in it without leaving someone out to take the photo involves asking random people to step up, I forget about it. So the only picture I could come up with that best encapsulates the MN-WI love from the weekend is the one above. Don't you love it? I actually saw someone wearing it last summer on a walk we took on Stone Arch; how appropriate. 

Onto more double state news - I was sworn in today as a Wisconsin attorney, and can now officially practice in both Minnesota and Wisconsin. The ceremony was in Madison, and, I have to say, beat out the MN ceremony last October on nearly every level except for the fact that I knew no one there. It was much (much) shorter, held inside the Supreme Court Chambers at the Capitol building, and my name was pronounced correctly! Sorry, dear MN, but you lose this one. 

In other news, we'll be home in ONE MONTH for my sister's graduation from the University of Minnesota! Fight that senioritis (although I fear it may be too late for that) as hard as you can, D, and we'll be sure to celebrate lots and lots when you're done.

 Hugs, like the shirt, from the 414. 

Thoughts, post-bar.

While I have been through this lovely ordeal once before (and thankfully, came out of it both alive and successfully), taking the bar a second time has definitely taught me a few things about myself. Some of these thoughts are new, learned from this most recent experience, and some I was already aware of but had forgotten, thanks to the distance that a whole seven months provides...

One. Taking the bar exam is tough. It's a marathon of studying, memorization, highs, and lows; the process really takes over your life and can quickly put an obvious strain on your relationships. I know that I wasn't always the brightest, happiest, most likable person to be around while studying for this beast, and I truly do feel badly about how often I would let my own insecurities get to me. But I know, 100%, that there would be no possible way to get through this without my loves. Andrew has been amazing (both times, but especially for this last exam), despite how much work he has to do for his own classes. I remember a friend of mine from law school said that if she and her husband could get through the summer of the bar, they'd be able to get through anything. So I think this means Andrew and I have a pretty good shot at "making it" - we've survived two bars. My mom and sister, and Andrew's parents, too, have also been incredible with their words of encouragement and support, but I must say it was definitely harder to to not be able to come home for a blueberry scone break on rough days like I did last summer or study outside on our patio with Medyk in my lap. Thank goodness for FaceTime, text messages, and phone calls. Of course I already knew my favorite people in the entire world would get me through anything, but everything they did in this last month was so, so appreciated (and so needed). I love them more than words can say.

Two. When I say the exam takes over your life, I mean it really does, so that nothing else that you might normally enjoy can be done without the sound of a voice screaming in your head, "YOU SHOULD BE STUDYING NOW!" All I've wanted to do for the past month is to go to the gym without flashcards or outlines. And enjoy cooking dinner without trying to recite legal rules in my head. And drink wine without feeling that I should be doing practice MBE questions. And start making pysanky. And relax with Andrew. And do laundry and clean (you have no idea how badly I'm looking forward to cleaning this apartment from top to bottom).

Three. The fact that Wisconsin law students don't have to take the bar is extremely unfair. I know there's absolutely nothing I can do about it and it's something that's completely beyond my control. But really. I've already taken one and passed it - shouldn't that be enough?

Four. I took this for granted last summer: there's a lot to be said about studying at the same time as your classmates and friends. As much as any of my other friends would try, the bar is something that only those who have worked for it and taken it can understand. Studying for this test was a lonely experience at times, more so than last summer, and I really am glad it's over.

Five. I absolutely cannot wait to get to some serious wedding planning. I've been trying (mostly successfully) to hold off on doing too many things because I've wanted to save it as a reward for myself after the bar. Finally, the self-imposed ban is over and I can happily browse wedding websites without feeling guilty. We are now less than six months away; it's hard to believe I actually need to start getting things done, because for the longest time, I told myself it was too early to do anything!

This weekend we're keeping things pretty quiet - I'm still relishing the fact that I can sleep through the night without waking up...for a long time, I wasn't sleeping well and would try to lull myself back to sleep with legal rules. No, that never worked, and yes, I was crazy.

I'm going to see Andrew present at another conference this afternoon and start my pysanky production factory this evening. And in two weeks, we'll be at home, hanging out...with our family. I can't wait.

Have a wonderful weekend, friends. And happy March!

Saturday Post No. 4

My view, for what seems like forever. Jealous, aren't you. Oh, and there are more outlines that aren't pictured. Now you're super jealous.

Today I'm taking a break for the afternoon to go see Andrew present one of his papers at a conference on campus - I'm so proud of him - he's presenting along with other grad students from all over the country! And I'll actually take a break, meaning I won't be muttering the rules for Terry stops and frisks to myself, as I've caught myself doing on several occasions lately (while doing dishes, running to the store, etc...if people think I'm crazy I certainly wouldn't blame them!).

How did we get through this last summer? Sometimes when I'm trying to memorize rules, I still can't believe I wrote something intelligible enough on those essays to pass the first time around. Here's hoping that kind of luck will strike again.

I'm off to see if I can knock a few more note cards off my list before the conference and move them from the "I-don't-remember-studying-this-at-all" stack to the "I-think-I've-got-this-memorized-for-now" stack.

The rest of you, enjoy your Saturday!

Hello, sunshine!

The only thing that is making studying bearable today is the amount of sunshine that's streaming in from the living room windows. Can it be that springtime is trying to make its way to MKE?  

I have to take a bit of a blogging hiatus because the next several days have to be devoted to full time studying. In just about two weeks, I'll be on my way back from Madison, ready to celebrate being done with another bar exam...we should start stocking up on wine now in order to adequately prepare for that. 

On tonight's menu: shrimp étouffée with red beans and rice, very appropriate for Mardi Gras! The kitchen smells so good because we did a lot of our prep work earlier, when Andrew was back home on a break before heading back to campus for class tonight. 

Now I just have to make it through a few more hours of studying before dinner, then it's back to the note cards and outlines yet again...

But if you're looking for something fun to watch for a few minutes (which I inevitably am, after every few pages of notes!), check out Paperman, one of the animated short's that's nominated for an Oscar this year. It's a sweet and lovely distraction.

This week, in Shorewood...

Our weather has been everywhere and back again! On Sunday, we had this:

Yesterday, it was wonderfully sunny and the snow started to disappear:

Today, it was rainy, and gray...but a beautiful 61 degrees! I went to work without a coat this morning, and the best thing was that I could actually smell spring in the air. I'm so anxious for springtime and am so DONE with winter...

...but apparently winter's not done with us. Today was just a mean joke, because tomorrow we're supposed to get 3-5 inches of snow and by Friday our high temperature will climb all the way up to 9. How excited am I? Enough to want to buy iced coffees and swimsuits and flip flops and sundresses, just to spite Old Man Winter. I'm so tempted...but the sane, rational side of me is keeping me in check.

Our cold blast will be perfect for cooking this weekend, and since we'll be watching the Superbowl, we're going to make wings, some sort of queso, guacamole (and I can't wait to use our new molcajete that D bought for Christmas!!), and maybe even homemade tortillas. Sounds like the perfect thing to look forward to while I attempt to study Property Law, Criminal Procedure, and Evidence rules. Sunday, get here NOW!

MN Mondays: Weekend update.

What a fun fall weekend we had, and it was so, so great to be home. What did we do, you ask? Well...

I was sworn in as a licensed attorney, 

we had lovely family dinners with oh-so-delicious fall recipes, 

we cooked some, 

we celebrated some, 

and laughed a lot. 

We also carved pumpkins with these monsters: 

It really was just the best time, and we cannot wait until Thanksgiving (only a little more than three weeks to go!) until we're home again. Love to all our family and friends - thank you for everything!! 

From the lake to the City of Lakes.

In less than two hours, we'll be hitting the road to head home!

We're excited for family, pumpkin carving, some wedding planning, and nights out with friends. There's also the swearing-in ceremony on Friday, which will make bar results official and me a licensed attorney.

I'm off to finish packing, which is presenting a mental challenge for me at the moment. Here, it's currently sunny, 73 degrees, and humid: summer is making a comeback for the last full week in October (but HOW is it the last week in October already?). Tomorrow, the weather in the Cities is supposed to be rainy with a high of 42. I guess we'll be bringing the boots and raincoats, and I'll ignore the fact that I ran outside in a tank top this afternoon!

We can't wait to see all our family and friends - let us know where you are and let's get together!

MN Mondays: Good news from Minnesota.

Results from this summer's Minnesota bar exam were posted on Friday. Ever since taking the test in July (two brutal days, six hours of testing each day), I've been anxious about the outcome. I felt good after the morning section on the first day, but the essays during the afternoon tested subjects and sub-topics that I didn't feel completely ready for. And the second day - 200 multiple choice questions - there was just no way to gauge how that was going to turn out. After months of waiting and fretting, I was so excited...and relieved, thrilled, grateful...to see that everything worked out, and that I had passed! 

I am so lucky to have had the support of my friends and family (especially Andrew, my sister, and my mom), not just this summer during the hours of studying outlines and preparing hundreds of flashcards, but over the last three years of law school. There is no way I would have survived without your constant encouragement and reassurance. From the coffee dates and emails to baking breaks and homemade dinners (and drinks), know that I appreciated it all and am beyond grateful for your kindness and love. 

Congrats, also, to my fellow St. Thomas grads who passed and made it through this test; we did it! 

This weekend, we relaxed and reveled in the good news; we cooked up a storm and then went out to enjoy some beers and chilly fall weather. We'll be back in the Twin Cities at the end of October, and would love to see everyone from home to celebrate. 

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend; Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian friends! 

*Photo credit: lover.ly.