Tis The Season For Love

Early Thursday morning I got to pick up my husband and bring him home :) The next morning my mom brought our son to our house to surprise him with daddy being home. What followed was the cutest reaction I could have asked for. My husband hid around the corner while I opened the door and hit record. My son came in and threw off his hat and gloves and immediately asked where his "prize" was. I of course played dumb and asked him what prize? He just says, my prize? I tell him to take a look around, he looks towards the kitchen and out my husband jumps. Our son halfway scared in total shock stares for a few seconds and then his face changes and a big smile cracks from ear to ear. The smile was heart melting and right away he released a high pitch scream and proceeds to throw himself on the ground with excitement. 

Since the excitement of his dad's return, it has been non-stop happiness for both of them. My husband and son have such a great relationship and every day I am so grateful that I have such an amazing husband who is the best dad in the whole world. My son worships his daddy. There is nothing that I love more than to watch my boys play. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful little family. I can't wait to someday have more children and have our family grow.  Until then, I will cherish every moment I have with my husband and son and thank everything I believe in that I have what I have.

A wonderful woman

Today we got to celebrate a wonderful day of birth to one of the most amazing women I know. My mom. I think that I am quite lucky to have such an amazing relationship with my mom. Throughout my life I have never been scared to share a story with her. While she is my mom and I always respected her, I always considered her to be a good friend as well. In high school most teens skipped school to hang out and do things that their parents wouldn't approve of, I skipped school and went home and hung out with my mom. Over the years our friendship has grown stronger and stronger. When people make comments saying that I am just like her, I am proud.  If there is one woman that I aspire to be, it would be my mother. While she is not perfect, she strives to be each and every day. She has always balanced her ability to be a parent and adult. Her emotions almost always in check.

I remember when we would argue, things would get heated but just moments later we were able to make up and continue on without skipping a beat. That is a trait I truly try to take on. I wouldn't be lying if I said that I truly believe that I have one of best moms thats ever been.

The point of this post I guess is to give thanks to my mother. The woman who chose to have me. She chose to care for me in the hardest of times, love me in the roughest times and cry with me in the saddest times. I am one lucky daughter. I'll love you forever,  I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living,  my mommy you'll be.

Decorating the tree

Around this time of year, I cant seem to get my tree up fast enough. I love to decorate the tree and get the full Christmas spirit going. Last night while up at my parents house we decorated their Christmas tree. While I am quite OCD with my own tree, I am able to just simply enjoy decorating theirs. Breaking out all the old ornaments from when I was a child, and the ones even before I was born.

 There are so many vintage ones that are just so beautiful!  My boy was so excited to help decorate he could barely control himself. He was given a few that weren't breakable to hang up, then helped himself to the rest of the bunch.

  This week I will be setting up our own tree and he will be so anxious to decorate yet again, with less interesting ornaments. I think I need to make a tradition of buying a few new ornaments a year :)

This week we are going to make some of our own with salt dough. I cant wait for my boy to get to make some! I made my very first salt dough ornament when i was three years old. So time for him to make one of his own to hang next to mine!

Turkey, games, shopping oh my!

Today was a wonderful day! I spent the day cooking a ridiculous amount of food and it was so yummy! My taste buds were going crazy!

I was able to squeeze in a game of candyland with my boy and sisters. Within his first 5 cards he managed to beat the game. Haha! We listened to Christmas music the whole afternoon and I was as happy as ever. If only my husband could have been here to enjoy it with us!

This year I braved the crowds to indulge in some black Friday sales. Needless to say, I didn't last very long. I am home before midnight and ready to curl up in the fetal position and go to bed! I bought a few things for my boy and some stuff for my sisters. After that I checked out as fast as I could to get out of there!

So here it is, the end of an amazing thanksgiving day. I am grateful for so much in my life and I try to not ever take it for granted. My husband is my rock, my best friend and the one I look to in everything I do. I am so lucky to have him, he puts up with me and my craziness and works hard to provide for our family. I am so thankful for our little boy. He is such a giving and loving boy. He is so tender hearted and he also puts up with me :)

I have the most amazing family anyone could ask for. They are so supportive and are always there to lend a hand. My friends are awesome and over the years I have been fortunate to find ones that love me as much as I love them. Bottom line, I have a lot of people to be thankful for. I love my life and the ones in it. I will continue to thank my lucky stars for what I have every day.

Lots To Be Thankful For

I can't believe it's already that time of the year. I can remember forever ago someone telling me while I was a teenager that as I got older that time would go by faster and faster. They were right. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and while I had different plans as of last night some things have changed. My husband was supposed to get home tonight for the holiday weekend, but a last minute change from the head honcho changed everything. He is no longer able to come home which is heartbreaking. BUT I am so happy that I did not tell our son that daddy was coming home, dealing with that devastation would have been so difficult! So instead of spending the weekend with my husband, I will be spending it with my mom and dad and sisters. I am so grateful that I have such an amazing family that is always there for me. While I will wish that my husband was here with us, I know I will be taken care of here at home. He is planning a steak dinner with a few traditional thanksgiving side dishes with his roommate.

On another note, the holidays are officially here and I couldn't be in a more happy holiday spirit. Christmas music on full blast and Christmas lights are up at my house :)

This weekend I will be putting up the Christmas tree, and wrapping presents. I have my scentsy burning the most amazing scent of cinnamon buns and frosting and it is pure heaven!

So even though we hit a little speed bump with Thanksgiving, I still count my blessings. I am so very lucky to have my amazing family around me. Amazing friends to call on when I need them and so much more!

Taco Heaven

For dinner tonight we had tacos, not just any kind of tacos either. I decided that I would go the extra mile and make my special fresh hard tacos. Not only do I LOVE these tacos, but my whole family does too which is always a good boost for me :)

It's crazy how one bite of something that you love can make you feel so much better!! My little boy helped himself to eat his entire taco without any complaints. All I heard from him was a quick muffled " MOM! I am all finished!" These kinds of meals are the best. No mom on the planet can complain when their child eats all of their dinner. Its something that I dream about...wow how my dreams have changed!

All It Takes Is One Movie

Tonight I went with my mother and two sisters to go see the movie, Breaking Dawn part one.

Now, I have been a fan of these movies since before the movies. I started reading the books before the fourth book was released and I was addicted within the first few pages of the first book. Like so many other movies that were inspired by a book, I always agree that the books are way better. However, this movie was pretty dang good! I just might have to treat myself to another showing in the theater :)

Like millions and millions of girls and women all over the world, I am team Edward all the way. But more honestly, I would say I am team " love story".

I have tried to explain to many non-believers that the Twilight series is not so much a book about Vampires and Werewolves as it is a romantic love story. One of which I am head over heels for.

These books and movies sent chills up my spine and waves of goosebumps covering my body. It ignites my love that I have for my husband and the love I have for the people around me. These movies inspire me to look at my husband like I have never seen him before and like its the last moment I will see him. Every hug and kiss goodbye is something to be cherished, and every hello is the hello that sweeps me off my feet. While this may not always be a reality, I don't mind. I make my own "reality" and enjoy my love stories. As for my husband, he really is my "Edward". I waited a lifetime for him and I couldn't imagine my life without him.

So I am beyond thankful for these movies that send me into a whirlwind of emotions. In a few short days I will be reunited with my "Edward". Until then I will continue listening to the soundtrack to this amazing movie that makes me fall in love all over again.

Brrr!!

This morning I crawled out of bed to see that the temperature was a chilly 32 below zero.

I could not be more thankful for a roof over my head and a cup of hot cocoa on these types of days.

The day I have ahead of me is nothing to be gawked at.

I plan on simply enjoying the day with my son.

As I sit here typing away he stands 15 feet away playing Mario Kart for the Wii. Truly one of his favorite past times. He concentrates so hard with his eyes fixed on the tv and his lips pierced

hard together and fingers griping the wheel. How is it that little boys know how to play

these games so well at such a young age!? 

I remember when I was little and we got a nintendo for the first time. 

The games were simple and yet for the life of me, I could never win.

Somehow I believed if I threw my controller around it would make my little mario go faster, or jump higher.  Needless to say it did not and I ended up looking like an idiot :) 

So the sun is shining, and yet it brings no warmth. I will continue on with my countdown

to summer. Only 5-6 more months to endure the cold. Until then I will try to concentrate on 

the beauty of this wonderful place.

Truly Amazed

Sometimes I can be so amazed at how truly amazing the world is.

This past week I was lucky enough to spend 7 days in Maui for a friends wedding.

It was my first trip to this particular island and I have to say that I fell in love right away.

The first couple of days we spent in Hana, a crazy windy road away from the city tucked away with the most amazing trees, waterfalls and beaches I have ever seen. This was my first time seeing anything like a rainforest and not a moment went by that I didn't recognize it's beauty. I felt like i was repeating myself over and over with a constant "oh my gosh" or "its so pretty".

We left Hana and made our way into the city and even out of the rainforest, there I was with wide eyes and a smile at all the beautiful beaches we passed. We stayed in an adorable little condo in Kihei that had an amazing few of the ocean. Almost every morning I could walk out onto our deck and see wind surfers riding the waves and living life to the fullest.

Over the rest of the days we visited beaches in Wailea, Lahaina, Makena and more. Each beach was crazy beautiful and I would like to say that I had a favorite , but there is no way I could choose. The sunsets to the sunrises, all of it was out of a movie. Picture perfect in every way.

          

As sad as I was to leave the warmth and sun of Hawaii, I could not wait to return home to Alaska. Even with the unbearable temperatures of 40 below I can still appreciate the beauty of home. I drive the same road every day, and yet every day I am able to stop and think to myself, " I live in the most beautiful place on Earth."

I try to make an effort to appreciate the world around me every day. Remember that things could always be worse. To live in the now, to continue to live my life according to my beat. Whether or not the beat is slow or fast, just make sure that it is mine.