Kai's entry

Not sure what we're doing here.
Kai is so anxious for T-day he's gnawing on paper plates. Crazy kid.
10 year old dream boat, Kai.

Hi this is kai hi Liam how are you hi Gavin and Ryan how are you guy's? how are you auntie Caiti?

Auntie Erin transcribing now:

Auntie Erin and I just finished making pecan pies for Thanksgiving. I want one, but she is taking them to Dave's house for his family. Maybe we can make one later.

I am thankful for:

Nutella, because I love it.
Family, because they look out for me.
A house
Clothes
Mountains
Snow (he's a boy after my own heart)
Snow boarding (he's a good snow boarder)
Santa!
Presents!
Friends
Birthdays

I can't think of anymore. I'm excited for Thanksgiving, 'cuz I get to see the new Harry Potter.

Sweet baby boy

Now, is this not the cutest baby you've ever seen??!! Liam arrived last night and is a whopping 9 lbs. 6 oz. and 21 inches. How I love this nephew I haven't even met yet! I'm so thankful that he and his mama are doing well.

He's coming today!

I am so anxious, so anxious indeed! My 7th nephew is well on his way to making his debut into this crazy, chaotic, and beautiful world. Dear Liam, your auntie can't wait to meet you, love you, and get to know your precious spirit throughout this life.

I am so thankful today for life, for children, for their perfection that daily reminds me of God's love for each of his children here on earth.

Needing to give thanks

Thankfulness: 'tis the time of year, yes? Of course yes. I feel the need to be thankful more often. I need not only voice it at this time of year, but should be giving thanks daily. Here are a few thoughts today...

I'm thankful that my parents have welcomed me home yet again to do the earnin' and the savin'. I promise, it's only temporary. They are good to their children. We hardly deserve their goodness.

I'm thankful that Noelle Livingston asked me to sing at the YW in Excellence in her ward last night. It was a sweet time for me to reminisce about my own days in YW's, and the choices I've tried to make up to this point in my life. I'm gonna keep on keepin' on. Thanks, girly.

I'm thankful to have a job. A job that I actually like getting up for in the morning. All of those months without a job sucked (for lack of a better word), and recognizing that our unemployment rate is still high, I am incredibly thankful.

I'm thankful to Victoria Jane for giving me a roof over my head for a while. She's da best!

More gratitude to come...

Did you look outside tonight?

Yep, it's snowing. I love it, I love it, and I don't care who knows it! Snow haters, I am sorry. Snow is glorious, and this girl is loving it. Bring on the cozy day all snuggly with a cup of hot cocoa in hand. Bring on the winter cuddling with my warm Dave. Ah, heavenly days.

I gots to lose it

How many of us are satisfied with the way we look? My guess is almost none of us are. Even in my very thin days, I wasn't satisfied. It's pretty scary, eh? Why can't we be satisfied and happy with the way our bodies look? I know that it's an on-going struggle for me, but one I wish I didn't think so much about. The truth is, I'm actually much more accepting of my body these days than I have been in a long time. Looking at myself in the mirror, I don't look awful. Like they said in our regional conference not too long ago - "You're doing great, but you could be better". That's how I feel right now. I know that I could be better about my eating habits, exercise, etc. I don't want how my body looks to be an obsession. I've wasted way too much time worrying about it and I'm not going to anymore! From today forward I am committing to quit worrying about the things I can't change. I commit to take care of my body, to feed it good, healthy foods. I commit to giving my body the exercise it needs to sustain itself on a daily basis. I commit to being happy no matter what I weigh. Weight doesn't define me.

Here I go...

Dear Rain,

How happy I am that you stopped by today. I loved seeing you heading anxiously for the golf course that I was on today, and I loved you even more when you began to fall upon me. Sometimes you are quite cold and chill me to the bone, but I can't help just drink it in. I came home today and watched as you pounded my window and everything outside whilst I drank my cup of hot chocolate. Please come back again soon. I've missed you.

The end.

Puerto Rico, swiftly I come!

She got married

My dear friend Victoria Jane married Matthew Jared on Saturday. It was a spectacular day! I was able to attend the wedding at the Manti, Utah Temple and was in tears for most of the ceremony. My dear friend, the friend I've known longest (since birth) was experiencing the happiest moments of her life that day. I couldn't have felt more happy if it was my own special day. She was radiant!
I am so thankful that she found a man worthy of her. Not only that, but she inherited three awesome kids! Life will be busy in her new role as mom, but I have no doubt that she will do it beautifully.

For years Vicki has been a part of a group of friends that has celebrated successes, traveled the world together, commisserated over failed relationships and the frustrations of dating, and shared the silliest of moments together. These are some of my truest friends. I love them all dearly. Having a friend 'leave' and move on to another mission in life is a hard thing to process. However, all of us are spectacularly happy for the beautiful event that was Vicki's wedding this weekend. We are excited for what the future holds for not only her, but for all of us. There is a plan of happiness on this earth, and each one of us are part of that. How thankful I am to know it!

Love you Vicki!

My favorite time of year is here. Every day when I look out to the mountains, I find joy in the new sprouting colors of red, orange, and yellow. I mourn the ending of Summer, but I welcome the beauty of Autumn. Someday I'll fulfill my dream of experiencing Fall in New England. Hooray for sweaters, cooler temperatures, and fast-fading tan skin (ok, not so much).

Welcome Fall!

Sometimes...

We quit jobs.

So basically I'm on the look out for a new job. Wish me luck!

My mug

After being at my current job for over a month now, they finally got my pic on the website. Yep, that's me!

Wordless Wednesday

Emmy winner - I know him!

This is my friend Erik Christensen. We have been friends since High School. I had a major crush on him back at OHS. And look - he won an Emmy last night! So happy for him and his family!

After 6 months...

I have a job. A real, honest-to-goodness, full-time, with-benefits job! True story, peeps. I have to say, I have mixed emotions. I am so, so grateful to have found a job in the midst of such a struggling economy. However, my six months without a job was kind of a dream. One I don't think I'll ever experience again. It was a time of struggle not knowing when I'd be employed, but it was also a time when I got to do things and help people around me without having to get back to the grind.
After so many months of not having an 8-5 job, I have felt so much anxiety this past week. I've done lots and LOTS of praying, temple-going, etc. to ease my nervous self. I feel good about where I am and the people I've worked with for just one week already. I'm not loving the extra early morning hours of getting up, but I feel a sense of pride knowing there is somewhere to be, a place where I get to progress, learn, and better myself and my situation. For this I am thankful. I'm a blessed girl. I have incredible people all around me. How could I not be happy?! Thankful, thankful I am.

The end.