Thankful list almost a week late

Considering it's Friday I could almost skip this post altogether, but if I skip one, that I'll stop doing it altogether. Trust me, I really am the wort blogger ever. Last week was a long and tiring one for me. The kind that makes me with I was less of a workaholic, because when my job is stressed, so am I. I really try to stay focused on the good parts of life, but sometimes it's hard. So here's a list of the little things in life that make it more bearable.

1. My husband does the dishes- I swear dishes is quite possibly the worst chore ever. I absolutely hate it. And JT hates cooking, so it works out well- I cook, he does the dishes.

2. Hair dye- I love changing my hair and am grateful that dying it is such a simple and easily changeable thing. And I'm grateful that everyone likes my blonde hair, because I sure do!

3. For the store manager at the Shopko Payless. Let me tell you, Brenda is one of the greatest managers I have ever worked for. And Just because she loves me and wants to help me out, she has been giving me hours at her store. So nice!!

4. For days off- I swear I'm always busier on my days off than on days that I work, but I love how productive I feel after finishing a long to-do list.

5. Chapstick and lipgloss- I don't know how people lived without those little tubes of goodnes!

6. Dr. Brook- not the friendliest doctor I've ever met, but the best! With his help, JT's blood pressure is at a normal level for the first time on ten years, and his medicine isn't the most expensive name brand anymore either.

7. That I wrote a check and it didn't bounce. Does anyone else ever do that? I swear the only time I write a check, I somehow plan wrong and a bill, or something happens to make that single check bounce. But it didn't this time and I'm so glad. I'm also glad JT and I are doing so much better at making a budget and actually sticking to it. Yeah!!

Thankful list

This week has been a long one for me, but a pretty good one too! I got to see some friends and we went out on a date too! I swear date night is the best night of the week! So here's my list
1. That my mom mates my socks- I have this slight OCD thing about not being able to wear mismatched socks, but I absolutely hate mating them up- so the fact the mom is willing to do it for us is so nice!
2. That our Christmas decorations are finally put away- so I know a lot people leave their trees and stuff up a long time, but my mom never really has. Especially in the last few years, the day after Christmas she takes her decorations down, and I guess I'm kinda the same way. I just want the space and non cluttered feel back (is that bad?) anyway we have been too busy to do that this year, so we finally got ours taken down on thursday and I'm loving my clean house.
3. Friends- old and new. I got to spend some time on Wednesday with some of my best friends this week, and it was just what the doctor ordered. I love just sitting around and catching up, and getting advice from my friends.
4. A husband that is easily entertained- JT and I have been enjoying watching tv and just relaxing in our down time the last week and it has been so nice. I love that he's so laid back and enjoys the simple things like just being together.
5. An approachable boss- I'm so grateful for my job at Payless, I really enjoy it and my store manager is amazing! She is super nice, organized and I can talk to her about anything. I was a little unsure when she took over our store, but it's been better than I could have hoped for.
6. That my house is clean- after taking down our decorations we also did laundry and cleaned the rest of the house. It's so nice to come home to clean house.
7. Being treated as an equal by someone who is technically my boss. I am helping out at the Payless at Shopko while their full time lady is on vacation and I was over there tolling to the store manager about what all she wanted me to do this week, and I noticed that she never talks down to me, and I really appreciate that. She even asked my opinion on a couple things and it was so nice.

Kind of a weird list this week, huh?

Thankful list: A new year!

It feels very surreal to be welcoming in a new year already. Just thinking about the differences between where we were at this time last year, and where we are now is kinda funny. But anyway, on to the list.

1. That we pulled off a great Christmas surprise- my mother in law is kind of a worry wort. And a little down that they are still living in an apartment in Boise, do we decided to surprise then in the middle of the night on Christmas morning. We left Idaho Falls around ten after celebrating with my folks, and so we got to Boise about 2. We called Chris, and she was so happy, she cried.

2. That we have two amazing families that love us. I was reminded over Christmas, how terrific our families truly are, and man we are lucky!

3. That there is once again hot water in our house- what a temporary first world problem- but man- icy showers in January are NO fun!

4. That Dr. Simpson (our dentist and long time family friend) cares enough about us to call JT not once, but twice to check on his infected tooth the week after Christmas, while his office was closed. That's right- two calls from home. And an amazing payment plan for when JT is better enough to have it pulled.

5. That Angie loaned me her Chevy. Since our car needs a new engine and is in the shop, my best friend loaned me her truck, and I am so grateful for the gas gussler with four wheel drive. Not that the weather really calls for the four wheel, but it's so nice not to have to try to share one car with JT.

6. Tights- I love to wear them lately and have been getting lots of compliments on them. And they make it do I can wear skirts and still not have to shave my legs, or freeze!

7. Netflix- we watch more netflix than regular tv, and I love it! We've been watching lots of stand up comedy lately and just started the series Mad Men on a friends recommendation. The best part is no commercials, or maybe being able to pause it. Maybe it's a tie.

I promise that by the end of the week I'll post our Christmad decor, and some pics from my awesome new camera! Until then, Happy New Year!

Thankful list: Christmas Edition

Merry Christmas! We split our holiday between Idaho Falls and Boise, and it was great!! We were so spoiled by both families and each other! I think JT and I might like to buy presents a bit too much, but that's for another post. This week I have so many blessings to be thankful for, but in honor of the day, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for our most undeserved gift. Our Savior and his atonement. I feel so amazed that he willingly gave his life for us. I am humbled that an unworthy person like myself was given the ability to repent, through his sacrifice. What an amazing gift! So much more important than anything I could wrap and put under the tree. I hope you had a great holiday and took at least a minute to remember the reason for the season. Merry Christmas!!!!



Pardon the blurry phone pic! I just opened my new canon rebel, so hopefully better pictures are in my future!

Thankful list: A day late

So it's happened! I'm a day in late posting my thankful list, but if you only knew how hectic yesterday was for me, I'm sure you would understand. Let's get on with my list

1. Laughter- what a great release. and you can laugh yourself sick and still be happy about it! I'm grateful that no matter what, there is always something to smile and laugh about in life.

2. Books- I've been so sick of tv lately, and so I'm grateful that there are so many amazing books to read! I just started the longest series ever and can't wait to finish all 43!

3. Our FREE Christmas tree- While pulling out our decorations we discovered that the last guy who lived in our apartment had left his fake tree- so we put it up, its prelit and the perfect size for our place.

4. Lunch breaks- At Payless, I get an hour long lunch break and I love being close enough to spend that hour at home. My wallet kinda likes it too! Its so nice to have that break from work for a little bit to relax and de-stress in the middle(ish) of the day.

5. Short Road Trips- JT and I had Thursday off this last week, and spent some quality time and made a quick trip to SLC. It was so fun! We hit Savers, DI and had some In-N-Out Burger for lunch. We love to drive so it was the perfect day.

6. The Batteries Plus Christmas Party is over!- Even though I no longer work there, I had started the planning and organizing of their Christmas Party, so I finished it out. As a company, we adopted some seniors and made them gift baskets. I was so happy to do it, but it was a lot more work than it seemed. Then we had a Potluck Dinner and coordinating that, and setting up and doing the actual party. It was fun, but made more stressful by the fact that my party at Payless happened to be on the same night. But they were both last night and both events were a blast!! Thank Goodness!

7. Help from family and friends- I don't what JT and I would do without all the help we get from our family and friends. Between sweets being made, favors being done, stories being listened to, and even some bills being paid- we are truly SO SO SO blessed by the people in our lives. I don't think there are enough words to express our gratitude for all the things that others do for us.

8. Being taught early to give- Last night at my Payless Party- we shared our favorite Christmas story and I was struck by how so many of mine are not of gifts I was given, but of gifts I helped give others. My family has always done secret santa or adopted angels, no matter how little we had for each other- and I am so grateful for the memories I have of doing that. and the tradition it is, that I want to carry on.

New pictures

So I posted a couple weeks ago about our friend Sarrah taking some pictures of us. We got out CD in the mail the other day, and I'm in LOVE. Here are some of my favorites. Enjoy a post with pictures!




This one is my favorite!!





Aren't we soo cute? I think so! It's so nice to have updated pictures. The last time I got him to smile for pictures was at our wedding. And he had so much fun that we'll be having more done in the snow!!

Thankful list

So another week has gone by! It's funny I was talking to Cateira yesterday about how things we talked about and that were going on a year ago seem like they happened so much longer ago, but that at the same time this year has passed super fast! I can't believe that Christmas is in TWO WEEKS! and none of our decorations are up yet! But at least my shopping is done! WOOT! Happy dance here! Anyway. My list for this week.
1. It's my final Batteries Plus shift today. I know you're all thinking, wait a minute- didn't you just go back? and that's true. I've been back for 3 months total and have decided that I want my career to go a different direction-so I'm going back to Payless. It was a tough decision to make, but I'm confident it's the right choice. the biggest benefit to leaving, is I will only have one job, which means I might get a day off. I'm so excited for that!!
2. Cars and having my license. I have an aunt that can't drive. and i don't know how she does it. I love having the ability to drive myself where I need to go. And being able to drive to clear my mind with no destination in mind. Something about the open road and good music on the radio are so comforting.
3. My In-laws. I feel so blessed to have married into an amazing family. I truly got a second set of parents that love me. They do so much for JT and I, that I could never say thank you enough. In November they moved to Boise and not having them in town has been a lot harder than we thought. We miss them soo much. And my sis-in-law and her family are amazing too! Our nephews are the BEST teenage boys I've ever met! I think Jennie (my sis-in-law) should write me a parenting book.
4. Acrylic Nails- I love getting my nails done, and while I know its not a necessity in life, that hour of pampering me time is so nice. And they look so pretty and prevent my cuticles from splitting and they stop me from chewing my natural nails down until they bleed.
5. The crafty/homemaking skills I've learned. I know that its totally cliche- but I'm surrounded by some very talented ladies. My Nana taught me to crochet and I've used that skill this year to make some great presents and saved us money at the same time. My mom always homemade decorations with her friends when I was younger, and I've followed in her footsteps and used that inclination to make things for others and I love it! Its fun to make something for someone else. I just hope everyone likes homemade gifts. I know I do! I also love making goodies and treats to share. My mom and I have made cookies, caramel, toffee and fudge to name a few.
6. That my husband cares, but doesn't really about how my hair looks. I know that sounds confusing, so let me explain. I love to change my hair. Like I would change it every month, if it wouldn't kill my hair. And I know that no matter what JT will like it. even my lastest idea-a faux hawk. Its so cool, a little out there, but I like it! I was nervous he wouldn't but he does. i like that I change it up without worry. I have so many friends that let their husbands or families dictate that, and I find it very strange. I kinda like surprising him with different looks. He told me once that I could do whatever i wanted, as long as I didn't dye it blonde, but he even liked that, BOTH times I've been blonde since.
7. Journals- It's funny that I'm such a terrible blogger, when I love to write in my journal. I think writing in my journal is the most relaxing thing. I can whatever I want, however I want. I can ramble and babble and it's ok. I love the release that writing down my thoughts gives me. I think it has something to do with being able to give a voice to my every thought, without any judgement. Nothing I write in my journal is ever mocked or considered stupid. I always buy new ones to start fresh with in January.

I swear the longer I do this, the weireder my lists get.