#5- See A Waterfall

This is #5 on my 25 Before 25...

This past summer I went on a trip to California to visit my sister Katy and my brother-in-law Buck. While I was there, Katy and I went on a camping trip to Big Basin State Park. We camped under the redwood trees (AWESOME!) and went on a hike.

We hiked up to a waterfall, and I was stoked because it was something I have wanted to see and check off my list! But we got there and it was more of a watertrickle....or waterdrip maybe. Anyway, I tried! Here is the picture of it:

  We climbed across that big log that fell over because it watched Dirty Dancing one too many times.

Day 12- Family

11/12/13  (COOL DATE!!!)

Today, after school, I went to grad school. It lasted for about an hour, and then we left, woohoo! Instead of going home and working on report cards, I went to my parent's house to hang out with them and my sister Katy since it was her last night in Illinois before she goes back to California. If you haven't met Katy yet, click here!

We watched TV waaaay too loud, ate pizza, and hung out in the family room. We reminisced about our adventure in California this past summer, which was fun, and talked until it was time for me to go. We even got a chance to add a profile picture to our contacts in dad's phone. A Tuesday night well spent!

It was nice to hang out with family and just do some ordinary things together. Sometimes the ordinary stuff is the best stuff.

Today I am thankful that I got to spend some time appreciating the ordinary and familiar pieces of life that I sometimes take for granted. 

Oh, and Katy and I tried to take some pictures, but as usual, it took us a few tries...

{This first one wasn't good enough for some reason...}

 {And then I started laughing...}

 {And then she tried to cut me out, but I snuck in...}

 {And it was funny...}

{And I couldn't top laughing...}

{But then I did long enough to take this one...}

The End.

Day 11- Snow

11/11/13

Yes, it is true, I am thankful for snow.

When I tell people I like snow, they mostly respond with, "Really? Come shovel my driveway then!" Or some variation of that.

Snow is cool (no pun intended). It is light but can be heavy, it is fluffy but can be hard. I enjoy making snowpeople and snowkitties, but most of all, I enjoy shoveling! It's fun :)

So on Day 11, I am thankful for snow <l:^)OO    (That's a snowman....)

Day 8- Katy

11/8/13

My sister Katy is in town from California visiting some friends and family. She is one of two of my older sisters, and though we look semi-alike (or so I am told at times) we couldn't be more different. For example, when Christmas rolls around and I am trying to think of a present to get her, I think to myself, "Do I like this?" If the answer is yes, then I put it back down on the shelf because that means she probably won't ;)

{Scariest day in Chicago- when we rode bikes in the street!}

For most of my life, my sister Katy has been more like a mother than a sister. 

Her and I share the same birthday, but we are 6 years apart, so you can imagine how that has played into our relationship. Early on in our lives, Katy took care of me, made me feel better, and let me play with her when I wanted. Some of my favorite memories of growing up were when she would tuck me in at night and whisper a good dream in my ear that almost always started with me being able to fly :) Then she would leave the hall light on for me so I wouldn't get scared and leave her bedroom door open across the hall so I would know she was never too far away. She was sweet huh?

{Birthdays}

When we got a little older, I became more annoying and she became more pre-teen. I started to get locked out of her room when she had friends over, and we fought like cats and dogs. I specifically remember telling on her ALL THE TIME to mom just to get her in trouble because I was mad that she didn't let me play with her. Though I'm not sure how long that phase lasted, I do feel like it was normal sister-sister fighting stuff!

Eventually, Katy went off to college at ISU, and I was in middle school. Though I was too cool to admit to people back then, her leaving was extremely difficult on me. I was very sad that she wouldn't be around, especially for our birthday because we had always shared that day together. Katy would email me and tell me about her college life, and when I entered high school, she would specifically give me advice on things. Our relationship shifted from being sisters, to Katy being more of a mom, and it worked for a while. 

{Sisterssss}

When I went to college, I was still getting the Katy/mom advice and I feel like that made our relationship harder for me. I didn't want another mom, I wanted my sister, and I didn't feel like I was getting that. When I graduated college, I was living in an apartment with Tommy, we were planning our wedding, and Katy had just moved out to LA. Before she left, I remember wishing that I had gone to Chicago more often to see her and hang out with her, but never actually doing it because it seemed so far away...well then she moved out to LA and she was SUPER far away :( so lesson learned: hang out with your family before they move across the country, or something like that.

{Katy's Going Away Party}

While she was out in LA, trying new things and chasing her dreams, I was finishing up student teaching and stressing about finding a teaching job in a time when the job market for being teacher SUCKED. 

 {Rehearsal Dinner and Bachelorette Party 2011}

{Wedding 6/17/11}

Eventually I got hired, and then my husband got in an accident and my sister was on a plane in a flash. Katy stayed with me for about a month....giving me a shoulder to cry on, staying strong for me when I needed it, making sure I ate food everyday and helping me remember to sleep, be it in the uncomfortable plastic chair in the ICU room or my own bed at home. Though Katy became more like a super-mom taking care of me all the time, it was exactly what I needed in the moment. 

I think for me that is when our relationship started to transform into what it is today. I feel like Katy is really now a bit of a sister and a mother to me, but a good combination of both. We have meaningful conversations about life, politics, opinions, and our childhood. I like talking to her about what's going on in the world (when I call her back...because I'm not the best at that...heh). 

{Christmas 2012}

{Chrissy's B-Day 2013}

{California Trip 2013}

{Us and the Redwoods}

 

{Camping on the Beach}

{Back from camping- tired but happy}

{Last day in LA}

Overall, I am super thankful for my sister Katy and her role she has played in my life for the past 25 years. It couldn't have been easy, and I'm sure that it will continue with it's challenges as my life (and her life) unfolds, but I am so thankful she is along for the ride :) Love you!

{We even sleep alike}

Day 7- Stephanie

11/7/13

After work today, I met up with Laura and Stephanie for a movie. We saw About Time (Not bad. Cute story. There were many times that I felt like something bad was going to happen, but it didn't, and I can't decided if I liked or disliked that about it. I am always a Rachel McAdams fan of course). The three of us like to enjoy a slushy when we go to the movies, and it makes me feel like less of a fat ass when they order one too, so yay for movies with these two!

We chatted a little before and after the movie, and in thinking of what I was thankful for today, I realized something. Though Stephanie and I do not see each other as often as we would like...I mean she is a world traveller and all...every time we do see each other, it's sooooo nice. She has always been someone who is easy to hang out with and we mesh well together :) Even if we haven't seen each other in a month, we easily fill each other in on our super exciting and awesome lives, and she is probably the only friend that I have that is as excited about Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and Shark Week as I am!

{High School Graduation 2006}

{Harry Potter 2007}

{Sleepover 2007}

{Steph's 21st Birthday}

{Oh just one of our Bananagrams game}

{Movie Selfie 2013}

And not only is she a funny, fashionable, and cute little gal, she always says, "love you" when she ends a phone convo with you, which is just so nice to hear, lol.

Today I am thankful for my dear friend Stephanie, that I will continue to be friends with no matter who is around ;)

Day 6- Work

11/6/13

On Wednesday this week, I was thankful for my work. In my few short years of teaching, I have taught Kindergarten and Second Grade. This year I am teaching Kindergarten and everyday I am reminded of how much I actually enjoy my job.

Would I rather be sitting on the couch watching any one of my 12 tv showing eating popcorn with a cozy blanket snuggling Tommy and my kitty? yes (especially now that it's getting colder...) But the fact that I have found something that I like to do when I am not doing the above is pretty sweet.

Woot.

(Oh stop, I couldn't pick just one..)

Even on the days that I feel like ripping my hair out because my kiddos are driving me bananagrams, I think to myself "everyone in this room is someone's whole world" and that helps me find my center.

A heads down time out works well too ;)

Today I am thankful that I have a job that I generally enjoy when I am not being a lazy sack of tranch (ha see end of last post here...)