Today I am Thankful for ...

Our new house! I love having a place of our own! After renting for 7 years, I realize how much it means to make payments towards the purchase of something. Of course, with home ownership comes all of the downsides as well. We have had to do some remodeling, and still have more to do. However, we love it! We are so proud of our house that I am hosting Thanksgiving for the first time ever! Our old rental was just to small. Put 2 more people in it and it was overcrowded. We have space to work with here. In this economic situation, Travis and I both feel blessed to be home owners!

Thankful for...

I know I have missed a day or two, but today I am thankful for my in laws! We had Thanksgiving yesterday with Travis' mom's family and it was great! It has been a rocky year within the family, but I am really hoping that the past is in the past and we will only move forward!

Thankful for...

Today I am Thankful for my job. It may stress me out and give me migraines, but I am working. There are way to many people (my dad included) that have been out of work for too long! While I would love to find an Early Childhood Center closer to home, I am grateful to be recieving a paycheck!

Thankful for family

Today I am thankful for my family. My dad has been my rock throughout my entire life. My sister is amazing and brings alot of interesting things to the table.
Along the way, I have learned that families come in many different forms. I am lucky enough to be a part of some amazing families. My favorite Aunt and Uncle are really not related to me at all, but I love Bud and Steph more than anything!! Their kids (Brandon, Conor, and Josh) are great. I have been so proud of Brandon this year! My Aunt Marsha and Uncle Rick are actually my Godparents but they, along with my cousins, Chris and Jessica, have meant so much to me.
Then there is the Hessel, Sutphin, Smith, Ballard, Wunderlich, Cook family. I am so upset that I did not get a group shot of us to show you how that group has grown but it now consists of Danny & Karen Hessel, Grandma Lucille, Ben, Bridget, Benny, Jake, Danny, & Tucker Sutphin (with Charlie on the way), Gary& Tiffany Smith and Stevie and Jenna, Rachel & Mike Ballard with Andrew, George, and Carli Grace, Will Cook, and Me and Travis. I have known the Hessel family for my entire life! I love these people as my own family!
I have many more people in my family but it is hard to mention them all.

So here's to families, both large and small, related or not! Keep them close and cherish every moment!

Thankful

I am thankful for my amazing friends. I love my girls! They have all been there for me through thick and thin and I appreciate it so much!!!! I have known my BF Bridget for my entire life. Leslie and I met when I was 11 and boy have we been through some times! I met Jayme and Stephanie in middle school and spent the best four years with them in High School, and of course, my sister. We may not always get along but I love her!

What I am Thankful for!

I am taking a page out of Erin's book and telling you all what I am Thankful for this Thanksgiving. There are 10 days to fulfill.

Today might be obvious but I am Thankful for my Husband. Travis came into my life when I was at my lowest. I had put up with a boy (because he was definitely not a man) for 6 years that did not respect me. Travis became a light in my life. He showed me what I deserved and treated me how I should have been treated all along. I am forever grateful to him and love him more as each day passes. We have been married for 23 perfect days and I have loved every minute of it.

How I spent my Sunday...

So, I have been promising the Sutphin Boys that I would take them to go see the Dinosaurs at the Science Center forever. The day after Halloween there were no games or birthday parties or obligations so we headed out. It was the first time I had taken all 4 of them to the Science Center and we had a blast. BTW, Tucker is the first one of my nephews to NOT cry when he saw the big dinosaurs. The three big ones all have, although Benny will tell you that he would never cry at them because they are just robots. Jake will tell you that they are always staring at him. Here are a few shots that I got before my battery died.