It's been a busy month!

Wow! It's hard to believe that November is over already. This month was super busy and lots of things were happening at my house.

The month started with an illness (boo), but I got better quickly, which was a good thing so I could enjoy a visit from Juh-Juh and Grandpa! While they were here we booked our vacation for next summer that we're taking with them, Babcha, Pop, Aunt Laurie and Uncle Matt - sounds like a fun time. I can't wait to see what our beach house looks like.

Then one day daddy took off from work and spent the day with me. He took me to the zoo and to get my very own library card. I love visiting the library. I still have to work on using my quiet voice in the library, but it is fun to take out books. I just have to remember to return them.


I also got a much need haircut this month. It is only my second haircut ever and I handled it WAY better this time than the last time. I also braved the mall and sitting on Santa's lap for the first time since I was a baby. Mommy and daddy were pretty impressed.

One of the best things that happened this month was we adopted a new family member! Keegan was adopted on 11/19/11. He is a wild and crazy kitty but I love him!!

We celebrated Thanksgiving at Grandpa and Juh-Juh's house. It was nice hanging out with Aunt Laurie, Aunt Jenny, Keira and of course Gramps and Juh-Juh. The turkey was so yummy. And I learned not to listen to Aunt Laurie when she tells me that the stuffing is poison. I'm on to her now!!!

When we got back from our trip for Thanksgiving, we decorated our home for Christmas. I helped mommy and daddy put the tree up. I'm a really good helper!

I cannot wait for next month...it's Christmas! We'll be heading back to Gramps and Juh-Juh's for it and I can't wait to see what Santa brings me. All I know is I really want a Unicorn Pillow Pet and I think I have been a good enough girl to get it.

Feeling Thankful

I woke up this morning feeling especially thankful. I am not sure why, but I figured that I should capture this moment because often it is easy to get tied up into feeling angry and frustrated and as though the world is unfair.

I am feeling thankful for so many things. I am thankful for my family. I am sure that everyone can say that they have the best family, and I am one of those who believes I do. We're not perfect, but we love and respect each other and love celebrating each other's accomplishments. I am thankful that my side and Jeremy's side of the family love each other so much as well. So much that we all (yes, I said ALL) will be going on a family vacation next summer. How many families can do that????

I am thankful for my hard working and dedicated husband (yes he sounds perfect - though he is not). We have our differences and we're not perfect individually, but I think together we make a great team. It's still crazy to me that him and I have known each other since we were 18...such babies then! Thirteen years of knowing each other - there is so much history (and quite a few stories) there!!

Most of all I am thankful for this year - 2011. I have had so many good years in the past (1999, 2002, 2007, 2008) but this year Jeremy and I finally got something that we lived to dream about. Our first home. Of course this home isn't for us as much as it is for Riley, but there are still days that we look around and think "is this really ours??" I can't wait to share that feeling of all your hard work and dedication paying off to Riley. It would be so so easy to have someone help you all the time or give you things to make your life easier, but the feeling of accomplishment when you get exactly what you wanted because you busted your butt - well it is simply the best feeling in the world!!!

And of course it absolutely goes without saying that I am more than thankful to be Riley Paige's mommy. Some days are challenging, but I appreciate that from my strong willed little lady!! She definitely keeps me on my toes.

So today, I leave for work, even though I don't want to, with the feeling of being thankful for all I have (including the job I don't want to go to right now)!!

I love my little family!

This little girl makes it easy to work hard everyday...even if somedays it is just for her!