Thanks-giving

Just a quick 'thankful' post before I have to start getting ready for work.

To start off, I'm grateful for my family. I never realized how much I would miss them when I moved to College Station. I love them so much and I'm so thankful for the moments I have with them, even if it's just short visits. Like this Thanksgiving when I wasn't even there for 24 hours.

And I most certainly can't wait for Christmas and Stephen's wedding. To have the whole family together and to celebrate his marriage to Caitlin. I'm so excited for him! And I can't wait for her addition to our family! And I've also heard some more distant relatives are planning to attend and I can't wait to be reunited with them.

And on that note I'm grateful for Jacob's family. They have been my family away from home. They are so loving and welcoming and they treat me like their own. I couldn't be more grateful to have them in my life. And I'm so glad we got to make a trip to Oklahoma earlier this month. It was definitely everything that Jacob had told me it would be.

(This is a picture that his brother inlaw took while we were there, I hope he doesn't mind me using it.)

Now pay attention to this next part closely because I probably won't say it again. I'm so grateful for my job at Walgreen's. I really have learned and grown from it.

Lastly I want to express my gratitude towards Jacob. He's silly and goofy and crazy and absolutely wonderful to me. I don't know what I'd do with out him. I don't want to know either. His whole self and any imperfections are absolutely perfect for me and to me. I love him more than I'll ever be able to express.

And that's all for now. I just wanted to make note of some of the ever important things I have to be grateful for.

October

The first week of October was general conference. And although it was a short trip my mom and I drove up to Dallas to watch it with my sister and her family. Short meaning we left early morning Saturday and came home Sunday late afternoon. Including a 6 hour drive for me and about 9 hour drive for my mom. But it was nice to spend time with them even though it was short.

Setting up their 'conference tents'

He's kind of a big fan. Haha.

Loving on Alyssa. Such a sweet little girl :)

If you know Alyssa, you know she's a little songbird, and if you know her Mom you'll see they share being camera shy. She was so cute singing twinkle twinkle little star during conference, but as soon as she saw me recording she stopped. Her glare at the end is hilarious!

And I just wanted to take a moment to brag about my boyfriend. So I've been wanting to get my nails done for a while. I'm long overdue for a pedicure. But I have this doing things alone issue. And when my friend couldn't come with me I was sad. I had been growing my nails out and getting so excited about going. But I was definitely not going alone. So my sweet boyfriend did them for me :) He's the greatest. And don't tell him I'm mentioning this... but this isn't the first time. Hehe :) So he gave me a pedicure while I did my fingers. Teamwork! Haha.

He got a little antsy when I pulled my phone out to take a picture. Don't worry I won't put it on Facebook I told him, just my blog. (Which I always post a link to on FB when I make a new post. Hehe.)

And he didn't do too bad of a job :)

I like sparkles :)

And I finally got a haircut!! I know it's still pretty long, but I did cut quite a bit off.

I've seen on pinterest a few times a 'recipe' for making homemade caramel. All you really do is put a can of sweet and condensed milk in the crockpot (and I put a rag under it so it would't rust) on low for 8 hours. And tada! Well honestly I got impatient and only left it there for 6-6&1/2 hours and it still turned out great.

I had a few HUGE honey crisp apples from HEB to go with it. Delish!!!

Mid-October we made a somewhat spontaneous trip up to Dallas to visit some friends. And we stayed with my sister so we got to be with them for a little bit too. We left College Station after the football game Saturday afternoon and started heading back to town Sunday around 6. So it was another short trip, but it was well worth it. I'm really glad we could make it there for them. Here's just a few pictures. I get bored in the car and so I'm good about pictures then, but then I don't take pictures when we get to where we're going. Yeah, I need to work on that.

I was excited to wear my new pink pants. Hehe :)

And there were plenty more car pictures, but you get the point. Lol.

On the way home we stopped by the ranch so Jacob could help Kalan out with something, and I was so happy that the kitty and I were getting along. I took a picture for proof because the Friday night before when we were out there he didn't really like me.

This is just a random picture of us from a few weeks ago. We're silly and it makes me smile :)

I am so grateful and happy Jacob got a job. But I must say I really miss him being around all the time. Especially during my lunch breaks on stressful days at work (which is all the time. boo!).

Last Tuesday I went home to vote! And then that night I got to take the kids trunk or treating with my Dad. They were super cute. And I'm glad I got to be there. I've missed out on so much more than I used to living away from them. So it's nice to be there for things like that every once in a while.

They were super excited!

It was hard to get them to stand still, look at the camera, and smile for a few pictures. Haha.

He couldn't wait to start!

She was so happy to be with her friends!

I really miss those little moments!

The next day was halloween and it was also the day that one of Jacob's best friends got home from his mission in Argentina. 2 whole years apart, I know he won't admit it but Jacob was so excited for Taylor to come home. So when Jacob got off he pick up Tobyn and Susan and they went to see Taylor. And then when I got off a little later I met up with them. I was only there for a little bit before Taylor and his family had to leave so he could be released. And then I spent the rest of the night hanging out with Jacob, Susan, and Tobyn. What better to do on halloween than carve pumpkins!

Cute little sign I couldn't resist in front of HEB. Haha.

Mine and Jacob's pumpkin.

In the dark.

And all 3 outside!

And last but certainly not least. Yesterday was Elizabeth's 5th birthday. I can not believe how fast the time has gone by. She's grown up so much. I really miss being there all the time, but it really makes me cherish the moments I am there now. Happy birthday pretty girl!

September, September

Okay, I'm awful at this. But I'm gonna to my best to catch up this past month.

So I've been working at Walgreen's for a year now (which means I got a raise, yay!). And in the past the only way I've been able to get a weekend off is if I ask, which includes putting a request in the computer a few weeks in advance. So it's been quite shocking that I've been getting every couple of weekends off without having to ask off. I've been enjoying it to say the least :) The first weekend of September fell over my nephew's second birthday and I was so happy to be able to go home for that. (I don't know why but I've been super home-sick and going home anytime I have off) He's such a cutie! And I can't believe he's already 2!!

His sister couldn't stand to not help him out with his cake and presents, it was hilarious to watch. And I'm so glad we got to be there. And on the way home the sunset was beautiful!

So sidenote, when my oldest sister was here in College Station I would come visit her. And one day she got me a Winnie the Pooh cup. Which she still has, but I'm sure my niece and nephew consider it their own. Anyways Jacob and I went to goodwill one day just looking around, and low and behold I found 2 matching mugs!! And so I bought them. Haha. They were cheap so I justified the expense :P 

And later that night Jacob and I borrowed Chrissy's clubs and went to the golf range to hit some balls. It was a fun little date night.

In his flip-flops... Haha. We had a lot of fun though.

:)

Every Wednesday night at Grand Station (the local bowling, laser-tag, arcade place) they have ladies' night, where ladies bowl for free. So here's a random pic of us before going to ladies' night with some friends.

Such cuties :P

And of course I can't forget the first midnight yell of the first SEC season. Whoop!

I like to take pictures...

And he likes to take silly pictures....

We tried a few times to get a good shot.

They kept coming out blurry.

But we finally got a somewhat good one. Haha, thanks Mason.

:)

And then there's my addiction to buying things for my kitchen....

When I say he encourages it he disagrees, but he sure does like to show me new cool things I could get.

This one I actually needed. Because mine broke.

This one I got because he pointed it out. And I like buying pineapples so it's definitely been put to good use :)

And then there was another quick trip to Katy.

He's such a good sport about always coming with me :)

And I made some yummy cookies :)

Jacob is between jobs right now so he's had a lot of time on his hands. One thing he's gotten into is looking at deal sites. When he first starting looking at them there was a really good deal on a down comforter... And I've been wanting one... So I ended up getting it... And after I ordered it I really that that meant I would need to buy a duvet cover. And when I went to buy one I realized I'd need new sheets too. So now I have a whole new bed set... Oh and since I went from a pink room and am now transitioning to a blue one I decided to make some new decorations. Here's a picture from how it looked when I first moved in...

And here's how it looks now.

And a close up on my little project :)

And on that note, on the 20th we celebrated our one year anniversary. I couldn't be happier to be with him!! A year ago he was waiting for me when I got off work with a rose in hand and asked me to officially be his girlfriend :)

And on the 20th this year, he was waiting for me outside of work with a dozen red roses.

He said he they didn't have our flower (the one he first got me, which he's gotten a few times since) so instead he got me a dozen red ones :)

And he surprised me with some pretty new earrings which you can ever so slightly see here.

And then it was off to Katy again the next day. Seriously, I've been homesick and going every chance I get. I wasn't joking. Haha.

We were going to go to a car show but it ended up being more expensive than we were hoping so instead we spent the day with running errands with my parents, and we even took them bowling. It was a good weekend.

I got off work late the night of our anniversary and we ended up eating whataburger for dinner and red boxing a movie (romantic, I know) Haha. So we had a little date night in this past week. Steak, yummy mashed potatoes, and some sparkling grape juice to top it off. (much better :P) Lol.

Yes that is a huge piece of steak on my plate, no I did not eat it all. Haha. It was delish and I had a great date night in with him :)

Yesterday I had a dentist appointment, so of course... Back to Katy :)

And afterwards we spent the rest of the day running errands and hanging out with my Mom and these two cuties!

This seriously made my day! Haha!

And he was attached to my phone. When I took it away so we could get in the car to go get Elizabeth from school, he pulled an Alyssa. No joke. Tears, sad face, the whole thing. It broke my heart. And he kept asking for it.

One last thing before I end. I'm trying to get this alphabet down. Yes, I'm 19 and never before now bothered to learn it. I can't read lips either. Jacob tried to mouth something to me, and I didn't get it so he tried to sign it... And now he's making me learn the alphabet. Haha. I'm not complaining though. And I've almost got it down! We even tried to teach it to Elizabeth yesterday.

Well that's my update for now, until next time!