Giving Thanks

What an awesome Thanksgiving we had!  Kyhle and I were able to spend the entire day with all of our Indiana family, and we had a fabulous holiday.  We started out with our first meal at Kyhle's family's house.  Let me remind you, Kyhle has 2 younger brothers, and 4 male dogs, so I am definitely the odd one out while at that house, but I love it!   I did feel like quite the wimp as all the boys are piling the food on their plates, and I took smaller portions of everything trying to save some space for the meal to come later.  After we ate, we all laid back, unbuttoned that top button of our pants, and enjoyed the movie "Super 8."  Kyhle and I had seen it before, but it was his family's first time.  Such a funny movie, and I highly recommend it! 

Our next stop was at my uncle and aunt's house, just 10 minutes from Kyhle's mom's.  (Very convenient!)  I just love going to Steve and Paula's house.  It is so comfortable, cozy, and warm there, and my Aunt Paula has quite the touch decorating for all the holidays.  The house was full of 19 people, and we all sat around the same table. (It was 2 combined into one, but it worked!)  We missed my three older siblings and their families, but we enjoyed our time together as a family all wrapped around the table.  It was nice just to look around the table and see just how much our family is expanding.  

I'm so incredibly thankful for all the family I have in my life, near and far.  I miss my siblings, nieces, and nephews out of state everyday, but am so grateful we will all be together for Christmas this year.  I can't wait to look around that table!

Thankful

I'm Thankful For...

The mess to clean up after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends.

The taxes I pay because it means I am employed.

The clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have 

enough to eat.

My shadow who watches me work because it means I am out in the

 sunshine.

The spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I 

am capable of walking.

All the complaining I hear about our government because it 

means we have freedom of speech.

The lady behind me in church who sings off key because it means I 

can hear.

The piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones 

are nearby.

The lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and 

gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home.

My huge heating bill because it means I am warm.

Weariness and aching muscles because it means I have been 

productive.

The alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means that I am alive.

We were able to have my parents, along with my sister, Laura, her husband, David, and little boy, Eli over for dinner tonight.  We made homemade pizza, salad, and cookies.  It was a really nice night to just sit back and relax.  My mom said, "It's so nice to not have to be the one to do all the work, and just enjoy my little grandson!" It was a good excuse to get the apartment all clean and pretty, so I decided to take pictures and let you all see our place.  I have some pictures on Facebook, but wanted to show you some of the things I am thankful for! :) 

Could you pass me a tissue, please?

"A woman wears her tears like jewelry" -Unknown

I cry.  All the time.  Over everything.  

Tonight as I was watching an episode of one of my old favorites, "Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman,"  I found myself in tears.  Over what, you may ask?  A man pointed a gun at a pregnant Dr. Quinn and I just lost it!  I watch the silliest commercial on TV, and next thing I know, I'm wiping the tears off my face.  While I was at work on Wednesday, I got a text letting me know that a dear friend of mine had a beautiful baby boy and I had to leave the room for a moment because I was too embarrassed to cry in front of my coworkers.  Give me a break!  While I was trying to register for classes the other night, it kept telling me that I had to go see an adviser to register for a certain course, and I don't want to have to go sit in some office talking to an adviser about my classes.  So what did I do?  

I cried.  

What is wrong with me?

I am a 22 year old who works with kids all day.  I see them cry over anything and everything.  If they have to share a toy, they cry.  If they have to take a nap, they cry.  If they have something on their plate that they don't want for lunch or snack, they cry.  If you don't pick them up right when they want you to, they cry.  If they don't get to pick the movie, they cry.  If they have Winnie the Pooh instead of Princesses on their diaper, they cry.  If they don't want you to take their shoes off or put them on, they cry.  If they want to color with colored pencils instead of crayons, they cry.  If they want the purple binky over the blue binky, they cry.  If they want Baby Mozart instead of Baby Beethoven, they cry.  

Are the behaviors of all of my 2 year olds rubbing off on me?

**Note, the images above are not of my dear crying kiddos at work...