Almost Caught Up

November 13

I'm thankful for my tablet.  Aaron got me my tablet for my birthday and it quickly became my life.  I have a Polaroid 7" tablet.  It was on sale at Kohl's.  I originally wanted a 10" tablet but my mom got a 7" tablet and she kept talking about how great it was so Aaron convinced me that maybe I just needed a 7".  The more I thought about it the more I realized he was probably right.  What did I want a tablet for?  I wanted my calendar on it and to read electronic library books.  Well crap, Aaron was right, a 7" tablet was going to be perfect.  And it is.  It fits in my purse so it goes everywhere with me.  I have my weekly calendar on my home screen.  And I can read my books whenever I have time.  In case you're wondering, I use the overdrive app and download books from my local library for up to 21 days.  I have a small wish list of books I want to remember and plan on adding to it very soon.  I also now have started making my Target lists on it.  And I have our individual Christmas lists on it as well as a master list of all the presents we have bought/planned/still need to buy.  I'm in love!  Oh technology!!!!

November 14

I'm thankful for headphones.  I've never been a big headphone person but since I've moved from an office to a cubicle I've found the amazingness of headphones.  I can listen to my music and zone out and actually get work done.  Plus, I don't have to hear all of the people around me on the phone.  Another technology advancement that I love!  Plus, my headphones were only $3 at Target and they have frogs on them :)

I'm Behind Again!

November 11

I'm thankful for all veterans as well as all men and women currently serving this amazing country!  It is because of these people that we are can proudly say we are from the USA.  They make it so we can be free in our choices and actions.  It truly warms my heart to hear the Star Spangled Banner.  I've choked up while singing/listening to God Bless the USA.  It amazes me that I can be lucky enough to live in this country.  While I don't always agree with the choices our government makes I will always be proud to live here.

November 12

I'm thankful for days off.  I had yesterday off for Veterans Day.  Those random days throughout the year when most of the working world still has to work but I do not are fantastic!  I didn't do anything of great importance but sometimes you need those days.  Aaron ended up coming home sick from work so we did some Christmas shopping and projects.  It was nice to  have the day together without a bunch of places to go!  When I left the office on Friday I was pretty burnt out and stressed but after a nice 3-day weekend I was renewed this morning.

Jersey

I'm thankful for Jersey!  Duh!  That little crazy chihuahua has made me so happy.  Don't get me wrong he can make me incredibly mad as well.  Like when he poops in the house after having just been outside and pooping.  But, I'm not sure what I ever did without him.  He's like my kid.  I get a lot of flack from Aaron and my brother for having that mentality but it's true.  He goes everywhere he possibly can with me. 

Jersey completes Aaron and I's little family.  Well I guess we aren't married yet so we aren't a family but ya know what I mean. 

I know someday he will go to heaven (Because All Dogs Go To Heaven) and I'll be sad but I'll know that for however long he was here he made me absolutely ecstatic!

Pictures

November 9

I'm so thankful for pictures.  For the ability to take a picture and then have it printed and framed.  Or heck not even framed.  I love how I can see a picture and I'm instantly back in that memory.  I have pictures of me with family and friends all over my desk.  It keeps me sane during those long days.  I have a wall of just candid pictures in my living room.  I'm really bad about putting new pictures up on that wall but that wall is amazing.  

I have pictures from college up there, that immediately take me back to the amazing cruise I went on for Spring Break with my 3 best girl friends in college.  

Not the picture I was thinking of but it works!

 

Or this picture on my desk of KT and myself at the Metrodome celebrating the 20th anniversary of the 1987 World Series. 

Or this picture of my cousins Abby and Ciera and myself at a minor league baseball game in Savannah, Georgia, on the first of many family vacations.

 

Pictures make me happy!  Pictures show outsiders the people you care about.  I love them!

Finally Caught Up

November 7

I'm thankful for my job.  I'm thankful for the challenges it brings me almost everyday.  I'm thankful for the friends I've made through my job.  We are going through a re-structuring right now and there are a tremendous amount of headaches associated with that.  I'm trying to stay positive about it and remember that there are people who do not have a job and desperately want a job.  Maybe blogging that will help me remember it better?!?!?!?!

November 8

I'm thankful for the best family in the world.  I know I've already been thankful for each individual person in my immediate family but I'm incredibly thankful for my extended family (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.) as well.  We are a very close knit group on both sides of the family.  I love it.  I can't imagine life without my amazing cousins.  I love that I have cousins that are my age as well as way younger (like 1 year old).  I also love that I have aunts who I can call at the drop of a hat just to chat or to cry or laugh with.  Aaron says he's never met anyone who is this close with their extended family, but I wouldn't trade it for anything!  Sure it makes life holidays a little difficult to plan but it's worth it in the end!  The thing that I love the most is that we are all over the country but still find ways to connect and stay in touch!  I hope my kids are lucky enough to be close with their cousins and maybe even my cousins' kids!

Whole family on my Mom's side

A good portion of Dad's side

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