Giving of the Thanks

Well, my second favorite holiday of the year has come and gone.  I really can't believe that this year is almost over.  Are we sure that's right?!  I remember when I was young and my parents used to say that I kiiiiind of thought it was just something adults said to create conversation.  I certainly never felt like my semesters were going very quickly.  Of course, when you have to learn about space every single semester, it's easy to see how one might feel that way.  (Yeah, yeah- North Star and Orions Belt.  Got it.)  Turns out my parents really did know what they were talking about though because time as an adult is flying.   Who'd have thought?  ;c)

Back on track... this year Thanksgiving rudely placed itself in the middle of Ryan's bad week at work.  Bad week = working days Monday through Wednesday and nights Friday through Sunday.  Thankfully, he at least had Thanksgiving and most of the day Friday off.  We made the most of it by hitting up both the Martin and Boarman family abodes in that short span of time.

We started out on Thursday morning at Ryan's parents' house in the dirty branch.  The morning and afternoon were filled with delicious scents, lounging around and watching football.  Kylie kept us all entertained with some newly acquired colorful vocabulary (thanks Texans), shoe sharing and making sure that we were all appropriately covered in the way of band aids.  A delicious meal of turkey, sausage balls, pink stuff, green bean casserole and stuffing capped off what I would definitely call a perfect holiday. 

Who needs the green beans when you can just eat the fried onions by themselves?  Why has no one else thought of this?!

Lola & Harley are excellent turkey carving supervisors.

Kylie pie showing off the newest addition to her line of seasonal animal noises.

Turkey coma or lack of turkey pouting?  It's very hard to say.

Kylie making my shoes look goooooood.

The absolute best part of family meals- lounging around on the sofa together afterwards.

Uncle Ryan looked like he needed to accessorize that stinky foot with a Disney Princess band aid.

After Thanksgiving feast #1, Ryan, Lolers and I hit the road to head to Conroe for the evening.  Upon arrival we were immediately greeted with wine (or in baby & I's case- blueberry grape sparkling juice) and even MORE delicious smells.  While most people choose to follow a meal with dessert, Ryan and I opted to follow it with another equally large meal because that is how we roll.  After round #2 of turkey, homemade stuffing, fruit salad, corn casserole, green bean casserole and pumpkin pie we finally tapped out of the eating game for the day.  I may have spoke somewhat questionably of the lack of zipper/button on maternity pants in my last post, but after experiencing that wonder during the biggest eating day of the year... I'm beginning to think they may make an appearance annually.  We went to bed that evening full of both amazing food and gratitude for the wonderful families and friends we've been so blessed with.  

The next day we spent most of the morning and afternoon car shopping with Jules and just lounging around the house.  After Ryan left for work in the late afternoon, my parents set up the fire pit we'd given them last Christmas for it's maiden voyage.  After all, any opportunity to bust out the awesome denim Gallery Furniture jackets we have is one that the Boarman's choose to seize.  It was so relaxing to sit around and gab with the family.  It's so rare that the 5 of us all get to be in the same place at the same time.

The reason Caddy & JJ probably look so in awe here is that it's the smallest fire they've seen in probably 2 years.

No fire trucks involved in the making of this photo.

The remainder of the weekend was filled with more talking, laughing, football and general family bonding.  Oh, and we bought a Christmas tree.  :c)  The Boarmans are not typically known for their amazing tree-picking skills.  Over the years we've been known to think we've found "the one" only to arrive home and realize one side of branches appears to have been attacked by a wild pack of squirrels, a completely crooked trunk and/or a Dolly Parton-esque shape which makes you terrified to add any ornaments to the upper half.  While I don't have any pictures of the final product this year yet, I truly believe this year we may have bucked that tradition.  

Caddy doing some very precise measuring.  Thankfully she was in charge of the mental math portion of this excursion, not me.

Matt looking very enthused about the prospects of this ol' fir.

All in all, it was an absolutely perfect Thanksgiving.  I know that I say this often, but I truly mean it- Ryan and I are so much more blessed than we deserve to be.  Thank you to all of you in our lives who make it that way.  Special thanks to our families for sharing their homes, their food, their hearts and their graciousness with us.  We love you all!

I think this picture perfect encapsulates the weekend.

Thanks-Full: Edition 4

• Friday, November 25th - Having Immediate Family In-Town.  So many of my friends have spouses or significant others from out of town which means splitting holidays.  Despite the fact that the patrons of Wal-Mart in Conroe might lead you to believe you're in another world, I am thankful that it is not. I am SO SO SO thankful that Ryan & I's families live close enough that we can go to each of their houses in 1 day. 

 

• Saturday, November 26th - Fresh Linen Scented Air Freshners.  I live with a man who includes Taco Bell as an entire category of his food pyramid and a pup who farts audibly.  I believe this one is self-explanatory.    

• Sunday, November 27th - Guadalajara.  First and foremost, it's delicious.  Second, I'm not sure where the Martins would celebrate birthdays and/or other occassions without it.  I have some great memories at that place- from the first time I went and met Ryan's WHOLE Missouri family right after we lost to A&M to tonight when Kylie pointed at one of the cowheads and said "woof."  Thanks Guad.

• Monday, November 28th - My In Laws.  Today is my wonderful Mother in Law's birthday.  So many times I hear people complain about their In-Laws or say how they just don't feel close to them.  I feel so incredibly thankful to have In-Laws that I don't have to just tolerate, but who've actually become an extension of my own family.  They're warm, relaxed and they like making fun of Ryan as much as I do- a match made in Heaven.

 

• Tuesday, November 29th - Christmas Music on Sunny 99.1.  A combination of being slightly sick and having the back-to-work blues has made getting into my car to go to work each morning a little bit more arduous than it's been in a while.  After the first verse of Rocking around the Christmas Tree or All I Want for Christmas, I'm a brand new woman.  Oh Sunny, what WOULD I do without your excessive festive music?

• Wednesday, November 30th - Laughter.  I don't know how I'd make it through life without it. 

Thanks-Full: Edition 3

Happy Turkey Day everyone!  I hope this post finds you surrounded by love, family and food.

• Friday, November 18th - Health.  The older I get, the more exposure I have to serious illness.  Cancer in particular is something that has had a huge effect on both sides of my family within the past year.  I know youth and health are fleeting, so I vow to be thankful as long as I am granted it. 

• Saturday, November 19th - Michael Buble. Nothing turns a day around for me like hearing a little Buble on the radio.  It's impossible to be in a bad mood while listening to him.  I dare you to try.  Oh, and the sentimentalist in me would point out that Ryan and I's first dance was to the Bubs.  Thanks, fella.

Crazy Love.
• Sunday, November 20th - Sunday Night Dinner.  Recently Ryan and I started making a nice meal Sunday night.  I've tried a new recipe every Sunday for the last 5 or 6 weeks and its made a day I used to dread into one of my favorites.  Tonight: crab cakes and cornbread.  Cue the elastic sweatpants!

• Monday, November 21st - Lola.  I just can't say enough how happy this little beast and her tail of fury make me.  I'm incredibly thankful that she is ours, despite her continuous flatulence.  Like father, like puppy.

My love.

• Tuesday, November 22nd - Happy Hour.  Tonight we had an impromptu HH with friends.  Now that I'm a 'burbanite I don't do this nearly enough.  Drink specials, great company and lots of laughs- what more could a girl ask for? 

• Wednesday, November 23rd - Slumber Parties.  Tonight we are sleeping over at Ryan's parents house which will kick off a weekend of slumber parties with the Martins & the Boarmans.  I can't wait to hang out, stay up late, watch bad tv and play with family.  It will be just like when I was 13, but probably with less Ouija board.

Who wouldn't want to have a party de slumber with this cutie patootie?

• Thursday, November 24th - Family Time.  As I'm sure you've gathered if you are a vigilant blog-reader (that's you Mom & Julie!), I am a HUGE fan of my family.  Both my birth family and my in-laws.  I could go on and on, but I'll spare you all.  The bottom line is that I've been blessed with the most loving, loyal and FUN family that a girl could possibly have.  Today that is what I'm most thankful for.  I LOVE YOU FAMILIA!

P.S. Today Ryan and I are attending the UT/TAMU game together in College Station.  I wonder what the Vegas odds on us surviving this would be?  HOOK 'EM!

... Til Gabriel blows his horn.

Thanks-Full: Edition 2

• Friday, November 11th - My job.  As an adult, especially in this economy, I am thankful to have a job period.  I feel exceedingly lucky because I not only have a job, but I have one that I like.  I love lots of things about my job, but today its the fact that I'm not there.  9/80s- HOLLA.

   

• Saturday, November 12th - My friends.  Without them, who would ever tag inappropriate pictures of me?  Who would wish me a happy birthday a month late?  How would I ever have perfected my I'm-not-reading-a-totally-ridiculous-text-right now face?  I love each of you oodles. 

Who would I hang out with in all yellow?

Who would I down 5 Hours with before I walked down the aisle?

• Sunday, November 13th - Honey Wheat Pretzels.  They're crunchy.  They're delicious.  They're part of my lunch most days. 

• Monday, November 14th - The feeling I get walking into our house.  Sure we don't have furniture.  Sure our couch is a trainwreck.  Sure we are still using an ill-sized rug in the living room to keep Lola from scratching the floors.  There are a lot of things our house doesn't have, but when I walk in and hear the hubs playing video games with pre-teens and see the little beast who's so excited that her entire body wags - I'm reminded that what it does have is more important.  That is the feeling of really being home.  

My boos.

• Tuesdsay, November 15th -  Target.  If Target doesn't have it, you probably don't need it.  (Not to be read literally, Ryan Martin).

• Wednesday, November 16th - Date Night In.  Give me Chinese food and some good DVR on the couch or give me death!  Is that not how that quote goes? 

• Thursday, November 17th - My Parents.  Today is my wonderful Mother's Birthday.  What better day than today** to be thankful for the people who gave me life?  This is meant to be a short paragraph, so there's surely not room to list all the things I'm thankful for, but near the top are the values they instilled in me, the ability to laugh at myself and the example of unselfish love they set for me.  Also high on the list- the fact that my Mom would always make a version of dinner without cheese for yours truly.  Who's spoiled?  I hope your day is wonderful, Mom!  Love you too, Daddio!

All together... awwwww.

** for the record I'm thankful every day.

Thanks-Full: Edition 1

The older I get, the more I realize how richly I've been blessed.  This past year has made me especially aware of this fact thanks to the outpouring of love Ryan & I experienced in the whole tying of the knot process in addition to all the other exciting changes that have taken place in our lives during 2011.  There is no greater time than November, the home of Thanksgiving, to specifically take time to call out the things you're thankful for. 

Therefore, I'm going to think of at least one thing I'm thankful for each day this month and I'll post them each Thursday.  Of course, the brilliance driving this plan didn't strike until after the first Thursday, so I'll be catching myself up in the first edition.  Don't worry, no skimping on gratitude for me!

• Tuesday November 1st- My husband.  I know I make fun of him a lot (rightfully so), but he is truly the best partner in the world.  He cooks, he cleans, he does yard work, he does laundry, he helps take care of Lola Bean and I could not do it without him.  Most importantly - he makes up funny songs.  Thanks lova. 

Yeah, I put a ring on that.

• Wednesday, November 2nd - Diet Cream Soda.  I hate diet drinks but this one does not suck.  Without it, I would be very thirsty at lunchtime.

• Thursday, November 3rd - Color-coding.  How would I ever be able to glance quickly at a spreadsheet and tell which cost center expenses were assigned to without this tool?  I wouldn't my friends, I WOULDN'T. 

• Thursday, November 3rd - Workout buddies.  At my new job, there is a gym on site employees can use for free.  This is amazing, right?  So amazing that I'd made it nearly a month without going.  Theeeeen Thursday my work-friend and I hit the gym.  I laughed a lot and got my fitness on.  Hallelujah for other people to make me get my butt in shape.

• Friday, November 4th - SBux Salted Caramel Mocha.  Going to work on a Friday is rough.  Bribing yourself to do so with a fabulous seasonal beverage makes it borderline exciting.

I didn't take this picture.

• Saturday, November 5th - Family Texting.  Told Papa bear I loved him before he left for Africa on business.  Sent Mama bear a precious picture of Lola.  Sent the S-Bend family lots of fun party texts.  Without having a text-savvy family, I wouldn't be nearly the multi-tasker I am today.

• Sunday, November 6th - Crock Pots.  These babies make even the worst chefs (read: me) feel like Emeril.  Maximum aromacy, minimum effort.  Who doesn't love that? 

I totally made that.  Mmmmm... chicken & corn chilli.

• Monday, November 7th - Blogger.  This significantly cuts into my online shopping time which makes for a happy wallet and a happy Mr. 

• Tuesday, November 8th - Google Images.  I can't tell you how many things I google image.  This morning for instance this huge bird that sits on the ledge of windows on our floor came to visit again.  Popped "hawk" and "falcon" into google image and bam- learned he is a Peregrine Falcon (I think).  Google Images = My Pintrest.

• Wednesday, November 9th - Oak Trees.  I fell in love with our neighborhood, and our house, initially because of the huge oak trees.  The part of Baker I take home is lined with oak trees as well and just driving down that road puts me at peace.  Maybe it's the shadows they make, maybe it's their perfect tree shape or maybe it's just their size and strength... regardless, something about oak trees reminds me that  there are more important things in this world than the spreadsheets I can't fix and/or the formulas I can't figure out. 

 
1.5 of my beloved oak trees.
• Thursday, November 10th - My Siblings.  I can't imagine a few days without a picture text from my sister or a family gathering without a diatribe from my brother about stereo speakers or the latest Apple product.  I am so thankful to be one of 3... especially when the other 2 have turned into such wonderful adults.