Still Trying to Catch Up

November 5

I'm thankful for my little brother Matt.  I am 8 years older than my brother.  That's quite a difference.  When I left for college he was 10.  When I came home from college he was 16.  Thank goodness I missed most of those 6 years!  Matt and I butt heads like you would not believe.  He can instantly irritate me.  But I wouldn't want a different brother even if I could choose from a line-up on the best little brothers in the world.  Matt has accomplished a lot of things in his 20 years.  Matt still has a lot of growing up to do but I think he's pretty great.  Matt and I love to laugh together and are big fans of Marcel the Shell in Shoes.

Matt taking a little nap at Poppa's house

Me, Matt, and KT at Matt's high school graduation

Matt hanging upside down (I assume at Boy Scout camp)

November 6

I'm very thankful that I live in a country where I have the opportunity to have a say in the people who run the country.  Even though the election did not go the way I would have wanted I was still very proud of myself for voicing my opinion.

"I'm Thankful For..." Day #2

As I said yesterday, I'm playing catch up for the "I'm Thankful For...." Series

November 3

I'm thankful for my Dad.  He's simply the best guy around (please don't take offense Aaron).  I'm a Daddy's Girl through and through.  Aaron tells me this weekly.  But he also says he appreciates that about me.  My Dad is the Scoutmaster for Troop 360 even though my brother has not been a boy in scouting in 2.5 years.  He believes in Scouting and has always said he will be the Scoutmaster of that troop until it isn't fun anymore.  This is got to be one of the qualities I respect about my Dad the most.  He gives so much time and effort to Scouting and doesn't ask for anything in return.  Growing up my Dad was the parent who could talk to me about my grades or silly things like that.  Mom and I would fight,  Dad and I would talk.  He has always supported my decisions, even when he doesn't think they are the correct decisions.  My Dad is one of the most laid back people in the world (until he spills a Cherry Limeade in his truck).  He taught me what to look for in a person I wanted to marry.  He always puts his family first.  He is one of the most faithful men I've ever met without being annoying about it.  I think he is one of the few adults in this world that truly has "Faith like a Child."  I completely respect that about him and a lot of the time find myself wishing I could always have Faith like that.  My Dad is a gigantic teddy bear but he has definitely scared away some losers!  His motto is "Don't Poke the Bear!"   Thanks Dad for being an amazing Dad, Man, Bear, Scoutmaster, and overall Human Being.

Dad is his Mic-O-Say Pretendian outfit

Dad after he received Wood Badge

Dad and me oh so many years ago!

November 4

I'm thankful for my sister Katie KT.  She is super!  She tells the people she loves that she loves them.  She is amazingly smart even though many people count her out when it comes to that.  She is silly and funny.  She is always there to cry on and will comfort anyone she cares about who is upset.  She genuinely cares about the people in her life.  And she never forgets someone (this truly amazes me).  My sister has made me the person I am today.  I truly believe that without having a special needs KT I would not be anywhere near the person I am.  In the movie In Her Shoes the older sister says "She's my sister.  Without her I don't make sense."  This might the single most true movie quote I have ever heard that has directly applied to my life.  It's true, without KT I wouldn't be me.  I thank God everyday for sending KT into not only my life but my entire family's life.  KT has always been a gauge for people in my life.  If KT liked them then they were probably a great person.  KT is the reason I've done crazy things like the Polar Bear Plunge.  My sister always has great stories for me to share with friends.  My sister runs the show in our family and I don't think any of us would ever want it any other way!

KT and I at the Metrodome cheering on the Twins

KT and I at Special Olympics bowling!  She's a bowling rockstar!

KT and I at Polar Bear Plunge for Special Olympics Missouri

A VERY PROUD KT at Special Olympics track competition

Thankful Series Begins

I decided to take the "I'm Thankful For..." challenge that is on facebook.  But instead I would do it on my blog.  I have a few days to catch up on since it's now November 5th but I'm pretty sure I can do it!

November 1

I'm thankful for Aaron.  I know, I know, cliche, but it's true.  He's completely changed my world and I love him more everyday.  He's kind and sweet when he wants to be or needs to be.  But he's also the silliest/goofiest guy I know.  He's full of random knowledge that I love to tap into.  He's a computer nerd and he admits it.  He can make any bad day a good day.  He can calm me down in an instant.  He can make me smile even when I'm so mad at him that I can scream.  He is the best guy for me and I'm thankful that I get say he's mine! I look forward to marrying him (hopefully in the relatively near future) one day.  I never thought I would meet someone like him.  He's absolutely wonderful!

 

November 2

I'm thankful for my Mom.  She is one of my best friends in the whole world.  She lets me vent when I need to.  She can always bring me back down to earth.  She has taught me the volunteering my time is a good thing (and she's only done this by example).  We have a blast when we are wine tasting or shopping.  She was hard on me growing up and still can be pretty hard on me but I know (now) that it's only because she wants me to be the best Becky possible.  She truly is an inspiration and one my heroes.  I don't think anyone has a better Mom than I do!

My Mom is in the blue shirt...wine tasting in South Dakota

My Mom with one of our "adopted" youth on the youth trip last summer

P.S.  Aaron's cigarette total as of right now since Sunday, October 28th is 2!

All Because Two People Fell In Love

I had an idea for this post quite awhile ago just because I love this song:

I had recently heard the song on the radio and thought "Wow, Becky, that would be a really great blog post.  I drafted (really, I wrote the title and Blogger considered that to be a draft) the post but I never posted it.  I never finished for one reason or another but that's ok because now this post is going to be even more fabulous because it is now linked to my Poppa and family!

Our whole family went to the Black Hills for Labor Day weekend to celebrate Poppa and Grammy turning 80 this year.  It was a great weekend filled with laughter and great times spent with family that we don't get to see all that often since we are all spread out all over the country.

Anyway, the last night we were there we had to take some family pictures (just like every trip).  We did the normal individual family shots:

We are a pretty good lookin' family!

Then, we had to do the line up picture of the cousins by age:

We go from 28 (me) to 13

 Then, it was time for the wretched picture by height:

This one has a few additional cousins

But, then it was time for our entire family picture:

You're probably thinking to yourself, these are really great pictures Becky but what does this have to do with two people falling in love?

Well, I'm getting there.   Be patient!

Like I said, we did these pictures the night before everyone left.  The next morning we were set to head out around 7 or something crazy like that, but before we left we talked to Poppa and Grammy for a little while.  Poppa made this remark to Grammy, "That was quite a brood we had up on those steps last night.  And they are all our fault."  The conversation continued on with Poppa saying something along the lines of he would have never thought all those years ago when they got married that they would be responsible for that many people.

I do love those old people!  And thank God everyday that they fell in love!

And just for fun here is a picture of me and the Abby's (yes, there are two...Abby and the Other Abby, who happens to be marrying Abby's brother) wine tasting while in South Dakota:

What vacation would be complete without wine tasting?

That Moment

I know today is supposed to be a review of something pop culture but I'm contemplating changing that.  Plus, I had a thought for this post this morning and I know if I don't post it now I never will.

Also, this could be a Puke-In-My-Mouth post (sorry Stephanie!)

This morning I was fast asleep and Aaron moved his arm and it woke me up around 5.  No big deal, I thought, I'll just go back to sleep.

But as I was laying there thinking I realized that there was absolutely no place on earth I would rather be at that moment.  I was snuggled up next to Aaron with Jersey snuggled up on the other side of me.  

I was in between my two guys.

At that moment nothing else mattered.  I was safe, happy, and completely content with everything in life.

I love those boys!

Sorry if you puked in your mouth.  But I challenge all of you to try to have one of these moments in the very near future.  It's amazing the feeling you get from it and how long that feeling lasts.