What a difference a year makes.

Yesterday was GB and I's wedding anniversary. The big two years. Cotton anniversary for those of you who care. I realized how much that the time away from each other has changed our relationship. GB's present to me did not get to me on time and neither did mine to him, however I could care less. I mean sure I would love for him to be able to open the little gift full of love that I sent him on the actual day, but the five minute conversation I got with him was more than enough gift for me. I hadn't talked to him a couple of days and it always makes my mind wonder so hearing his voice and seeing his cute face over Skype put the  biggest smile on my face. The only thing that disappointed me was that I was walking out the door to head to work so I only had 5 minutes with my love. But what a perfect five minutes they were! So if you read this GB, realize how much I cherish every minute I have with you! You are an amazing husband and father and I cannot imagine spending my life with anyone else!

I cannot wait until I get to kiss my husband again!

I have fallen behind.

I knew this would come, but I promise I have been thankful even during the days that I missed. We have been a busy bunch lately. We had an extra little one for a week and while they had a great time, it was a lot of work. Mommas to twins have my admiration for sure. Max learned a lot from having a someone a couple months older around. 

Can you tell that they had so much fun? I promise to fill you in on all the exciting details of life soon.

Day 15

I am thankful that I am home and get to be a daily part of my sister's life. We are seven years apart and yet we are the best of friends. I have so enjoyed helping her get ready for Homecoming and helping her with homework and the little things that I don't get to be a part of when we are so far apart. She is an amazing aunt and Max loves his Auntie Lo like crazy! She makes my life easier every single day and I don't know what I would do without her!

Day 14

We have had some snow and wind here today! I am not going to lie that when the storm started all I wanted to do was have a hot chocolate, decorate the house, and watch White Christmas/Christmas Vacation. I am getting excited for the holiday season. It is very hard to believe that Thanksgiving is 10 days away.

Day 14

I am thankful for nap time. We are babysitting for a family friend for a few days and having Max plus another 21 month old makes me tired. I definitely have more respect for moms of twins now. I am so tired today and worn out that nap time has been amazing. I should be productive, but instead I am stretched out on the couching, catching up on Pan Am, and enjoying myself. I look forward to nap time everyday.

Day 13

I am thankful for outside playtime. Max loves it so much and I think the fresh air is so good for him. He smiles constantly and comes inside worn out. Today we went out and played on the deck. Max rediscovered his car and was in heaven. We ran with the dogs and kicked leaves. The only downside of playing outside is trying to drag Max back inside. His biggest temper tantrum to date was today as result of making him put his car away and come inside.

On the go!

Happy to be outside!

Day 12

Today I am thankful for growing up in Idaho and getting to show Max how amazing my hometown is. I had a fabulous childhood and think I live in pretty much the most beautiful place in the country. The people, the scenery, the small town feel, it is as close to perfect as you can get. I love being able to walk into the bank, grocery store, post office, etc and knowing someone if not everyone. The care and concern are so prominent here and I hope I can instill the values that I learned in large part from growing up in such a fabulous community.

Here Max is enjoying living in Idaho these past few months!

Exploring the backyard.

Cabin boy. 

Playing at City Beach!

No matter where we are we are always thinking about Daddy!

Learning early!

Who needs the lake when I have my own pool?

A beautiful September day to celebrate a year of Max!

Taking the car for a spin!

Swinging!

"Man, this thing is heavy!"

Trick or treat.

Checking out the first snow of the year!

Day 11

It is hard for me to put into words how thankful I am for those who serve and have served in the military. They give up so much for their country especially their time. That kind of selflessness is awe inspiring. So thank you to all who have given up so much for me and all Americans. You are all truly amazing and I am thankful that I get to live in a country as stable and wonderful the United States.

Days 8, 9, and 10

Well I am already struggling to to write my thankfulness everyday, but I am going to at least account for everyday.

Day 8

I am so thankful for my sorority sisters. I was a little tentative about entering the Greek System, but it was the best decision I could have made. I met so many amazing women, both in my house and in others. They inspired me, they cried with me, we laughed, we were silly, we were family. Each one of them made me a better person in a different way. Even to this day, it never fails that when I am having a bad day, I will check my phone or my Facebook and I will have a message from a Theta sister that turns my day around. 

Day 9

I am thankful for Max's health. We recently learned that the "dry skin issues" that Max has always dealt with are exzema. Thanks Alaska doctors for figuring that out a year ago... oh wait... they didn't... So frustrating. But I guess I am getting off topic. Anyway, come to find out the horrible sores and skin irritation that Max that has gotten about 25% worse in the past few days is exzema. Coupled with his egg allergy, which is always on my mind, I sometimes get to feeling sorry for him. But everyone is dealt things they have to deal with in life, and the fact that my son cannot use soap or the fact that he cannot eat cookies at kindergarten Halloween party are not the worse things that we could be dealing with. So many little ones are sick and have much bigger issues so I am thankful for the fact that we have a healthy, happy, active 14 month old!

This was Max right before we left AK for the lower 48 this spring.  Now his entire body has started to look similar. My poor baby. At least we now know how to help him! Did I mention that I am thankful for my new doctor who actually listens and knows what he is talking about?

Day 10

I am thankful that I am living with my parents right now. One of the main reasons is the fact that every morning when I get up their is coffee made and waiting for me. Nothing helps start a day better! Oh and my parents are awesome and all that jazz.

Day 7

I am thankful for students. I know some may not consider me a real teacher because I am only subbing right now. However, I really have enjoyed the teacher/student relationship that occur when you sub. Today, I was a little cranky. I am not sure why, but the class wouldn't get on task and I was getting frustrated. So one of my students asked me what my degree was in.

 I replied, "Social studies."

She answered, "What is that? Like English or something?"

Thanks you for making me forget my frustrations and have something to giggle about.

Days 4, 5, and 6

November just keeps rolling right along! In many ways I want to stop time and enjoy this age with my active little man who has so much personality, I can't really believe that it all comes from someone so young. In other ways, I am loving how quickly the time is passing.


4 Nov 2011
I am thankful for Christmas. I am thankful for the birth of the Savior. I am thankful for my faith. I am thankful that it is a time to for my family to get together and to celebrate. I am thankful that I get to be home with my family this Christmas as I have to spend it without GB. I am thankful we are able to purchase presents for our son. I am thankful that shopping is a distraction and that I got to purchase my very first present of the season on this day. I cannot wait for the Christmas music to be blaring come the day after Thanksgiving.

5 Nov 2011
I am thankful for GB. I have expressed my thanks for him yet because I was trying to figure how to say how much he means to me. I am so thankful to have found my best friend, that I get to be married to him. I am thankful for how he makes me laugh. I am thankful for Skype. There have been so many mornings when I have woken up cranky and grouchy and a quick 10 minute chat with GB turns my whole day around. I am thankful that he challenges me. He is definitely not perfect (but neither am I), but he is so perfect for me. There are so many little things that remind me of him and his laugh. I cannot wait until we will be busting our dance moves and singing to ridiculous songs. I have a feeling that Max will be embarrassed by the two of us more than once in his life. I am so thankful that I decided to go to his fraternity that fateful August night, because my life would be so boring and so bare without him.

6 Nov 2011
I am thankful for the small moments in life. So often I am too busy or preoccupied to notice how the small things are momentous in their own way. On the days when I am doing this too much, my sweet little boy reminds me. For example, today Max woke up from a long nap very, very cranky. Everything I did made him more cranky. I finally warmed up some milk and gave him his sippy while we rocked. He calmed down and I loved the cuddling that is so rare these days. I am blessed.

The cranky wake up.

The Mommy/Max cuddle time!

I am thankful for every moment, big and small, that I get to be his Mommy.

Day #3

Hugs good bye are so hard.

 I am thankful for my Momma. Not only has she been an amazing mom to me, but she has been an AMAZING grandma to Max. It makes this --->
so much easier. I get to go to work and have a little away time, but I know that he is getting fabulous care from his grandma.

Oh and Mr. Constant Motion says hello!

Thankful

Several of my friends have started doing this and I wanted to as well. Sometimes I need to be reminded for all that I have to be thankful for! I think I am going to try to do this most everyday and to include what we have been up to, but I am already behind so we will see how this goes!

1Nov2011

I am thankful for my job. I love its flexibility. I love its variety. I love the kids and the things they say that make me smile. I love that it gets me up and going for the day. Most of all, I love that it makes time fly by so it makes it feel like so much closer to seeing GB.

2Nov2011

I am thankful for my son! Hearing his giggle makes everything seem a little bit easier.

Title:

Halloween was full of treats and no tricks in the B family! I have always loved Halloween, but it reminds me of GB because we were just starting and nurturing our relationship a few Halloweens ago. What a fun time in our life so needless to say I was a little sad at the prospect of another holiday with our family not together. However, as much as we missed him, Max and I had a blast!

 

I worked a little in the morning and then ran some errands so Max and I could have the entire afternoon to do spooky (read costume cute) things. We went to the store to pick up some candy, because we wanted to do some reverse trick or treating. Max hasn't branched into the candy world for a couple of reasons. 1. Well so much sugar in his little belly may not be good. 2. I haven't researched, which kinds of candy have egg in them so he doesn't get any (sidenote: Did you know that some saltwater taffy has eggs in it? I didn't until our last appt with the allergist). So we had Max give away some candy instead.

 

My dad's office is right below my aunt's store and let's just say Max was a hit. We gave away some Reese's Peanutbutter cups downstairs and then headed upstairs. Max the garden gnome danced on the counter and charmed all the customers in the Hallmark. He loved taking the candy out of and putting it back into his little bucket. He shared and giggled and actually behaved himself! Woohoo!

 

Then after a little nap and some dinner, we headed out to hit the trick-or-treating trail. We went to about 10 houses and were gone for about 20 minutes because the gnome was getting cold. He was a hit at every house and had a blast, but we pretty much hit our limit with the time we were gone. I am sure next year will be a different story and with each passing year, he will want to be out longer and want the candy! I was looking at all the bigger little ones all dressed up and I realized that someday that will be my baby boy sooner rather than later. I am excited for next year when he can say trick-or-treat!

This is pretty talented for me. I am sort of artistically challenged.

My garden gnome.

Smiles!

Max has loved the fall!

Getting ready for trick-or-treating! He had so many layers on he could barely move!

Dragging Auntie Lo!

Walking with Mommy!

The end of an amazing Halloween!

Oh and some guy handing out candy commented on the lack on candy in Max's bucket. I told him that I was putting it in my pockets because Max liked to dump out his bucket and then load/unload it a million times. His response, "Oh I just thought you looked pregnant." Thanks random guy. Thanks.