How Was Your Time With Family?

How was your Time with Family over Thanksgiving?

Any family fun that rivals this video?




My family was laughing SO hard at this accident...

My Boys...

Aren't these just the CUTEST boys you have ever seen?!?!

I think this is my new favorite picture of them!

My Girl...

I just love this girl!

 
She is so happy and so at-home with my parents, without her little brother (the dog).

She is so affectionate and vocal and adorable!

 Come on, Lex, you're too pampered... give me a growl like you give Lloyd when he's around...

Treasuring the Present: Growing Up!

Treasuring the Present... I'm growing up, I can tell.

 This week, I can really tell that I am growing up.

I know, the fact that I'm married, have a full-time job, have two animals, have a little home, have a dozen and a half visually impaired students, I live 1400 miles from my parents, and I'm nearing 30 years old apparently wasn't enough for me to realize that I'm growing up.

But the truth is, I am growing up.

Last year, the week after Thanksgiving, little Lexie and I stayed in Vail with my parents due to work travel reasons and it was SOOOO nice!  I felt like I was able to go back-in-time for a week.  I was newly married and still adjusting to life as a wife, with a husband, and puppy.  When I stayed in Vail with my parents last year, I was on vacation!!  I still had to work, but I had a week off from taking care of my husband and puppy and it really felt nice.  I'm ashamed to admit that, but it was a really nice week of going back in time to a time when I was the daughter instead of the wife.

One year later, I am back staying in Vail with my parents solely for work travel reasons, and I miss my husband, my puppy and my home.  I am happy to be here with my parents and I REALLY appreciate having my mom cook dinner each night... but I don't feel like I'm going back in time... I feel like I'm missing my grown up life.

I am growing up -- I am here with my parents and I am cherishing every minute with them... but I don't belong here anymore.  I belong with my husband and my animals, taking care of them.

This is the way it is supposed to be, and it is okay.

I am not "the mom" yet with my own children... but I am not just "the daughter" anymore, who lets her parents take care of her for the week... My most important role is "the wife" and I need to be in Vail for the week... but I miss my hubby like crazy, and he knows I am not here to escape, I am here because it makes the most sense for financial and safety reasons.

I love my parents... but their "home" isn't my home anymore.
My home is where my husband is.

Images of Thanksgiving...

We had such a blessed, enjoyable time over this Thanksgiving week.

My parents arrived in Colorado on Monday afternoon,
Chris' parents arrived at our place on Tuesday evening,
Chris' siblings arrived at our place late Tuesday night,
We had our Thanksgiving turkey dinner on Wednesday night,
Our whole crew headed to Vail on Thursday...

Chris and I feel unbelievably blessed to have our family together for this quality time.

Here are some images of our wonderful time together:

Check out Brother-in-law Nick's instructional ski video:

Rivalry Saturday!! GO BLUE!!!

Michigan has ended OhioState unbeaten seasons in 1969, 1973, 1993, 1995 and 1996.
Here's hoping 2012 is the next on this list...

All photos from twitter.

 I wonder how Ohio fans feel about their coach's initials being UM?!?!?!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

via

 Thank You, Lord for all the immense blessings you continue to bestow upon me, my loved ones, my country, and Your children.

Cooking Confessions...

This might be completely and 100% accurate...
either dog or cat hair... or both...
but there's lots of love in it too!

Just a little extra protein... right?

I Remember

This time of year I am overwhelmed with memories... and all of them bring me to a place of total gratitude for my amazing husband.

I remember so many holiday seasons when my heart was aching for my husband.  Not just any 'ole boyfriend to kiss me under the mistletoe, but my husband.  That man for whom God was preparing me who would become a part of my family and would be my partner, lover and friend for all time.

I remember watching sappy Christmas movies and bawling because I had not found that kind of love yet.  Now, I still cry in these movies -- but it is a few tears of joy instead of heaving sobs of sadness.

I remember the dread that accompanied past relationships.  That feeling that the other person was pulling away and I didn't know if it was over.  I didn't know if the relationship or the person was worth fighting for.  I watch the old Gilmore Girls episodes and Luke pulls away from Lorelei and she is full of dread just waiting for him to make up his mind.  I watch the old Grey's Anatomy episodes when Meredith pleads with Derek to "Pick me. Choose me. Love me." and I remember that dread.

I remember the determination of breaking up with someone because the relationship needed to end and having to stick to my guns despite plea after plea from the other person.  I remember having to put on a very strong, cold, firm exterior only to burst into tears as soon as the phone call ended.

I remember the holiday season when Chris proposed to me and how my life changed for ever with that simple question.  I remember wrapping my head around the fact that I was joining a new family and that Chris was joining my family.

Now, I can watch these character and remember that dread like it was yesterday... but there is a peace I have never known before in being married to my wonderful husband.  We don't agree on everything and we don't always speak to each other in the most loving tones -- but we are committed.  We are committed to each other and to our marriage.  I will never feel that dread again.

We know we will have to work at our marriage every year, every month, every week, every day... but when I imagined being married for all those years, I never imagined this peace that comes from completely trusting my husband and completely trusting our commitment to each other and our marriage.

I don't want to forget the dread, the sobs, the heart-breaks, the dreams of the past because they make me so very grateful for the amazing blessings of the present.

My heart is so overjoyed and overwhelmed with love for my wonderful, amazing, loving husband, and so overcome with gratitude to God for all these blessings.

Remembering the past helps me focus my heart all season on giving thanks -- Thanksgiving.

Lex and Lloyd

Our Lex and Lloyd...

I love them so much!