Shocking...

...I know! It has only been, what? over two years since I last posted something. Well with no Internet at my apartment and then forgetting my password and all I'm sure you could see how I, um, temporarily forgot blogging existed in my life. I miss the writing.

So here's the biggest change over the past two years. I no longer work at Kohls but am working as a preschool teacher. I love it. I love the people I have met and the people I work with. I am very happy!

Looking forward to spring time...sick of this cold weather. Looking forward more school. It is the plan to transfer to UNO in the winter semester of '12.

Loving Teagan. He is hitting terrible twos...ugh. But he is funny and adorable and the best two year old basketball player I know! Really. He makes about 3 out of every 4 shots he takes. No thanks to me but he has learned well from the uncles.

Loving my apartment more and more. Finally I finished decorating Teagans room and the kitchen. Working on the living room now. I just hung some pretty art, thank you mom and aunt Sharon, that goes great with my new futon, thank you Sarah Jane.

Yes other things have changed. And some haven't. I miss this writting I really do.

I could write about much more. But really. It's 2 am.

So this is truly a glimpse. Once every two years...I'll work on that.

Holiday!

Lights. trees. traffic. shoppers. cookies. candles. gifts. peace. ornaments. families. holly. music. wrapping paper. smiles. hugs. giving. going the extra mile. coffee. pine needles. snow. glitter. frosting. The holidays are here!
I am caught in disbelief, as I am each year at this time, that Thanksgiving has come and gone and Christmas is rapidly approaching. I love the hustle and bustle of the holiday season! For the most part people are extra cheerful and giving. There seems to be an extra tolerance-well for some that is. Over all Christmas has always been my most favorite time of year.
I love to shop, wrap gifts, run here and there. Decorate the Christmas tree and bake. I love to bake at Christmas time! This though is I believe the first Christmas that I have wanted to incorporate something a little different. Simplicity.
We make things so complicated with our lists and party dates. Our shopping has to be done, gift bought, wrapped, given, done. The entire holiday season has become one big have to-do list that comes and goes right before our eyes.
I love to sit and stare at the Christmas tree. To watch the light reflect of the tinsel and cast shadows of pine needles wall. To inspect each unique ornament and rediscover the memory it marks. To just sit and remember and daydream. To be thankful, to be hopeful.
This is a simple holiday, an unforgettable holiday.

Words of Writting

It is a rare treasure these days when I find the time to sit down and write. I miss the nights I had energy enough to stay up and scribble in my journal or let my fingers dance across the keyboard. I miss the daily journal I used to keep. I miss letting my fingers type each and every word that comes to my mind.
There is so much to write about and so much to capture I am sometimes afraid my mind will never be able to remember it all. So I snap pictures right and left, scribble notes here and there hoping that someday it will end up in a scrapbook or a letter. Maybe a magazine or the newspaper!
Words are like snowflakes, writing like a blanket of snow. The words pile on top of each other and tumble over creating glistening, crisp landscape. A beautiful story, a compelling speech, a heartfelt letter, a heartbreaking song. For some a masterpiece to be displayed and others a bundle of notebooks and papers shoved into a long forgotten box.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, how much then must a word be worth? A thousand sunsets, a million rain drops, one hundred smiles...

Within one day fall has come and gone. Though it's only October, we have already had our first snow here on the plains of Nebraska. It melted as soon as it hit the cement but collected on everything else.
Despite the winter conditions we still kept with our fall tradition and traipsed down to the apple orchards in Nebraska City. I can't say the weather was perfect but the day was. Not matter what somethings, like traditions, never change. It is something you can hold on to and cherish. And though things have changed in ways, the excitement of entering the fall season, picking apples, drinking cider and having fun together still remains. There were times several years back when I would dread a whole day together as a family and now I look forward to them, hope for them and count on them.
I look forward to sharing these moments, days and traditions with Teagan that were made when I was younger. Apples, and cider are only a small part of what these memories bring to me. I never realized how important family traditions were until I had a little one of my own.

Apartment Sweet Apartment

Nothing is quite as exciting to me as change. The most recent big change came a couple weeks ago when Teagan and I moved to our first apartment. Two bedroom, kitchen living room...really it's the perfect size for us and the right price too!
It has been allot of fun decorating Teagan's bedroom and pulling things together throughout the house, apartment, as well. I hate to call it an apartment because it really feels like our home.
Of course it's not always downhill. Laundry for example. I went to the laundry mat for the first time Sunday and what a crazy fiasco! I didn't want to by soap so I split a small travel size pack between three large loads, forgot dryer sheets, and didn't want to pay for extra drying time. Result: cold, damp clothes that are wrinkled and still sitting in their laundry baskets at home!
There are a few little and big adjustments to make still. I definitely miss the busyness of "Grandma's House." It is very quiet and still at our place:)
Mostly I love it and I look forward to the many memories Teagan and I will make there!

Eighty Miles an Hour

Six months it's been. It seems like I measure how much time has passed all according to the day Teagan was born. Sometimes I feel I am running the mommy track a bit too often.
I couldn't imagine my life any other way. I am loving it. The thing is I just don't want to lose who I am in the title of "mom." I want being Teagan's mom to contribute to who I am but not consume me and sometimes I feel consumed.
I think it's the amount of freedom that gets lost. The growing up. Being a mom was a decision I made, one I will never regret but sometimes I wish I were able to be a kid again. To go a little crazy. To not care. To drive eighty miles an hour with windows down and music blaring...

Welcoming Summer

I love this time of year. The hot days and cool nights. Grilling in the backyard, sitting by the fire, hanging out, catching a tan and welcoming summer.
I distinctly remember these days as a kid. Having to go to bed before the sun was out. Listening to the neighbors drive their motorcycles up and down the alley. Always feeling like I was missing the best part of the day. Finally dosing off as I felt the cool breeze drift through the room.
I have always loved this time of year and this year is no exception.