Instafriday

Can you believe tomorrow is December 1st?

Crazypants, right? 

I also can't believe today is finally Friday. After last week's super short school week, this week has seemed to go by super slowly.

Last weekend we wrapped up the ISU football season with a cold home game. It was cold, it was windy but at least it was sunny. 

 

We are cool and yelled at the marching band to come over and play us a song. And then we took pictures with them...because our whole tailgate isn't lifelong band geeks or anything....ha.

Despite the weather, we actually had a really fun tailgate and even snagged a group picture (totally stealing this from you, Christa!). I love it.

 

 

 

We were about the only ones tailgating in our lot. It was windy and we had our tent tied to a tree and it still broke. :o( 

The Cyclones lost but for the most of the game I thought they had WVU beat. It was a great way to round out the Thanksgiving weekend and hope it continues to be a tradition. Go Cyclones!

 

(not an insta, but I'd thought I'd include this one of my sister, Michael and I!)

Happy Friday! 

More Thanksgiving...

....instagram style!

I know, would you expect anything less from me? :o)

A couple of notes:

I had the house to myself on Wednesday before Thanksgiving so I could get things prepped for the big day. It was so nice to be home with a clean, quiet house and the sun shining in the windows. It was bliss. 

We got Michael Candyland when it was on sale for like $4 at Target last week. To say it is a hit is a total understatement....I think we've played 10 rounds every day since! He loves it!

Mom brought Michael the little table and he is so cute when he sits at it. It is his "may-doh" table but we've also started eating his dinner there. So cute. 

Next up...highlights from the last ISU game of the season!

Thanksgiving

 

I feel like I am a little behind here....most people are already posting pictures of their gorgeous trees and homes decked out for Christmas!! However, I feel like I am just getting put back together again after hosting Thanksgiving dinner. It always seems to take me a few days and since today was back to reality and back to school I figured I should get everything up on the blog, too. 

Everything with Thanksgiving dinner went really well. It was a nice day and I think everyone had a great time. The food was awesome and the turkey turned out perfect. Our whole house smelled like rosemary and sage....yum! The only thing I wish was different was that I felt so tired after all the prep work that I took a nap in the afternoon instead of hanging out with my family. I was a worried mess the night before and didn't sleep a wink....terrible, right? I don't know why I get that way. 

 

My favorite dishes were the sweet potato casserole and cornbread stuffing- both new recipes for me. So yummy!  I'm also happy I got to use every piece of my fiesta ware serving dishes....practically every wedding gift we had got used on this holiday!

I hope your Thanksgivings were also lovely and beautiful. Thanks for stopping by!

Thankful

 

It seems like everyone has been doing these lovely thanksgiving tributes on social media this November. I love reading them and I get it, I really do, but I am really struggling this Thanksgiving. 

In some ways, I do think some things are getting easier but in other ways they are just getting harder. I am excited to celebrate with my family and I am happy that we can all be together but I just remember how last year I just wanted all the holidays to go away and well...I still kind of feel that way. Instead of excitement there is just dread that now I get to celebrate for the 2nd time with a huge hole in my heart. It really, really stinks. 

 I'm hosting my family this year at my home and I am really looking forward to it. The planning and preparation is giving me something to look forward to and I'm excited to cook my first big turkey. I do actually have two ovens in my home and (this is embarrassing) the only time we get them both cranking is for pizza night. :o) 

I hope that Thanksgiving day can be a source of comfort and solace to my family as they enjoy my meal and home. I know that I am not the only one who looks around the table and sees someone missing so if this is you also....I get it. It never is the same but that is just life, I guess....no answers here or words of wisdom.

I wish you all a sense of peace and thanksgiving this week as we prepare for Thursday.

Instafriday

Happy Friday! We made it through another week! And guess what? Next week is Thanksgiving!!

Are you excited? I am. I am making my grocery list today and doing a chunk of my grocery shopping this afternoon. I have next Wednesday off work to be a busy bee in the kitchen. I hope everything turns out just the way I am picturing it in my head.

Last Friday I had a day off of work because it was conferences week (and us teachers put in a whole day of work outside of school that week) and so I spent the day celebrating my actual 30th birthday. It was awesome.

First up was a visit to Scott's office where he took me out for a delicious BBQ lunch at my favorite place, Catus Bob's. Next was spending the whole day running errands like a mad woman while Michael was at daycare. I got so much done!

On Saturday, Scott had to work in the morning and so Michael and I hit the zoo since it was 70 degrees and sunny!! It was crazy! We had a great time and we especially had a fun time playing with the new camera on my new iphone 5....a very special birthday present for me. :o) I've had my old iphone since before Michael was born so I am happy to be back with current technology. It's awesome!

We spent the rest of my birthday weekend at home, just hanging out as a family and doing some projects (which I can't wait to share with you later!). We also had my favorite Sunday ever--early church in the morning followed by a big brunch complete with eggs, rolls and bacon. I even snuck a little nap in while I was reading a new book. Perfect day, right?

Unfortunately, it is has been back to reality for me this week with a very busy week at school. We are gearing up for our concert on Monday (eek!) but the good news is that after our concert I will have lots of time to be home with my family, eat turkey, and cheer on the Cyclones!

And plus, with as awesome of students as I have- as demonstrated by this homemade birthday cookie with musical notes frosting-- going to work is pretty fun. Have a great day!

 

30!

This past weekend I celebrated my 30th birthday. It was a weekend early, but I wanted to celebrate when my friends were in town for the ISU game and it just so happened that we landed on an early game time so we had time to rest up and go out again at night. 

I was really wishy washy on celebrating my birthday because it just doesn't seem right that this is my second birthday I am celebrating without Trace. It is hard to watch the little ticks on my timeline go by, especially the ones after he was here...it just seems like a painful reminder. But, all things aside I was feeling in good spirits as Scott and I decided on going out to eat with a group of friends and then heading out to a local wine bar later. It was a total blast and I had such a good time. 

We went to Taki Japanese Steakhouse in West Des Moines and Scott and I treated everyone to some sushi and saki bombs. It was really fun! I think Michael actually had the most fun of all....it is a great place for kids!

 

 Afterwards we headed to New Morning Wine Tavern in Grimes for wine and beer (and coffee!). They had a little band playing and it was a fun atmosphere. It was so nice to hang out with friends and family in a venue other than our tailgate tent or football stadium. Thank you all for coming to celebrate with me and I am so happy to have you in my life! You are the best!

Instafriday

Hi friends, Instafriday is a little late this week! I had the post all ready to go and forgot to publish it on Friday. I guess that is what I get for planning ahead, right? 

 

I finally got a picture with my sweet sister at our tailgate. Aren't we the picture of Cyclone awesomeness? I am so happy she is a Cyclone and enjoys going to football games as much as I do.

I've been enjoying the time change and seeing the sun in the mornings (even though I don't like the dark evenings). I think Michael has finally gotten it sorted out too and he has stopped his very early 5:30 wake ups! But a plus side to those...a chance to snuggle with him in the mornings before I leave for school, usually I don't even get to see the poor guy.

I had the most fun Usborne book party at my home on the 1st. It was great to host so many friends in my home and I loved seeing everyone's cute, cute, cute books! The largest pile is Michael's and I'm excited to add to our little home library....they are all going under the tree for Christmas even though I am really excited to read them now myself!

My parents were in town last weekend to watch Michael during the football game and then we went out for brunch on Sunday morning. Michael looked pretty cool eating his pancakes with his napkin and headband!

Coming tomorrow....birthday pictures! Yes, I'm 30!!