Birthdays.

A birthday has never been a significant day for me before. My parents always celebrated birthdays with parties and cake when we were younger, but as we got into our teens we kinda stopped celebrating. We usually got a card with cash or a check in it made out to us to go shopping for whatever we'd like. I was always completely content with that. Russell's family celebrates them in a whole different way. We celebrated Russell's younger brothers 14th birthday tonight. He got gifts like it was Christmas morning. haha. Too fun! There was this game I wanted to get him, but the store was sold out. Due to the fact that we were completely LAST MINUTE about it, I decided to get a little creative with the cash and made him this.

It was a success. He really liked it.

TODAY I AM THANKFUL FOR:

Family. My family back home in Oregon and my new family. I sure miss my family, but Russell's family has been so kind and welcoming to me. I know that the transition and the move would have been a hundred times harder without their support. They really have gone out of their way to make me feel welcomed and loved. 

"How sweet the name of Jesus sounds"

Russell is propped up on the rug studying for a couple tests tomorrow. I've been trying to keep myself entertained by showering, baking peanut butter cookies, doing dishes, cleaning out my purse, writing in a card for a dear friend, talking to my parents on the phone, making tabs for the file system I thought I had to have, and looking at pretty things online. I'm needy and therefore need his attention. This is hard for me. Stupid school.

Today, I am thankful for:

• my husband
• my job
• my church
• our gym memberships
• peanut butter
• my kitchen aid mixer
• a dishwasher
• shaving cream
• texts from sweet & understanding friends
• magazines
• babies
• flats
• cookie scoops...I don't know how I ever baked without one

Today I am missing:

• parents, brother, sister
• the pink fuzzy comforter on my bed at home
• the summer heat
• trey, the family dog
• dutch brothers coffee
• ahuva bagels (...bagels in general actually. I have not had one since wedding day when I ate breakfast at Starbucks with the girls)

(Summer 2010 feet at the Oregon coast. Him: white, Her: tan.)

(My sweet parents on one of their matching days)

Ps, Russell and I matched today. We both wore green shirts (him=polo, her=t-shirt) from Target. Same color. Love.

*lyrics in title from Amazing Grace

Sick.

We love the weekends. No work. No school. All play. Two little days where we can do anything we'd like. This past weekend was different. Sickness hit our household. Super yuck. So, we spent the weekend watching movies, talking, napping and watching football. Nothing got accompished around the house. We didn't go on any adventures. We just stayed in. It was nice. I love my husband. He loves me. I really wouldn't mind spending every day just hanging out with him. It was a nice change of pace for us allthough I hope this next weekend we are all better and can do something fun.



Russell has a fantasy football team so we always catch at least one game. Sunday night we caught the Packers vs Falcons game. Everytime we watch the Packers play, it reminds me of my sisters love for that team. She also has a crush on Aaron Rodgers. I miss my sister.

*photo: this is one I took at her house. She has a framed picture of Aaron Rodgers, along with an action figure Russell gave to her last Christmas.