Just call me Auntie...

I have a new nephew! A new puppy nephew that is.

Meet Jack....

Isn't he precious? My brother and his girlfriend picked him up Saturday. He's a 7 m.o. black lab/terrier/something else...he's still pretty little and is very timid. It was hysterical to watch him jump off the couch and flop on the ground. I already warned big brother that I'd be borrowing this little guy!

Happiness is....puppies!

Simply,
MJ

Very Merry Christmas

I had a very merry Christmas this year, if not illustrated well enough by taking jello shots with my 85 year old grandmother. I had a great holiday with my family...and a WHITE Christmas at that! Mom woke up the day after Christmas really sick though...she is still in bed today, so let's hope that clears up soon!

Hope Santa was good to you all!

Meg

Where Have I Been?

I don't know where time goes anymore! I can't believe it is NOVEMBER. Yikes. I'll do a quick life update here if I can.

This happened to my best friend from back home:

She tried to call and text me the day of Homecoming, when I was of course working (trying to get the 82-hour work week over with!). I threatened her within an inch of a life if she was playing a trick on me. But she was very serious -- I cried (multiple times), but they were happy tears! Her fiance is a great guy, and she has said basically since the moment she met him that she knew she would marry him. I made a quick trip home the weekend after to see her and catch up. It was a great break for a few days.

Friday, my mom took a fall during her Zumba class and now looks like this:

Broken wrist (right hand), a day at the hospital getting it checked out, surgery, and a brace. I think she feels pretty helpless right now. Dad has been putting in her earrings for her and cooking dinner. I guess this means I'm in charge of Thanksgiving dinner now?!?!

Add in an early October wedding, Race for the Cure, football games with friends, plus work and my classes, and I have had my hands full! Lately I have really felt good about myself as a confident, independent person. I can do what I want, when I want. I have just been trying to dedicate more time to me (eating right, working out, spending time with family and friends) and to the people important to me. I put so much effort into work and my classes sometimes that I have just been exhausted and not putting enough energy into myself. I'm working on it...

Simply,

MJ

Free Enes

(Image Courtesy of KSR)
(Anyone recognize any of these ladies?)

There was a work event back home last Thursday night, so naturally my boss let me work it and spend some time at home -- a much needed break! It was great to have a three day weekend with time spent at home, visiting with the parents, and wedding festivities. But there is just one recap from the weekend I want to emphasize. Friday night's dinner conversation with my parents. (Disclaimer: If you are offended by "get your head out of the gutter" humor, you may want to discontinue reading at this point.)

Time: 7:30 p.m. CT. We had just say down to pot roast, squash, and mashed potatoes - good home cookin'.

Dad (to me): So you know that Turkish kid on the basketball team -- how do you pronounce his name?
MJ: I usually say Enes (ee-nis), but I'm not sure.
Dad: That's how I said it too, but I was watching the news and this announcer said Enes (En-es). It sounded almost like initials, N.S.
Mom: Or Enes (ee-nis) like P****! (I'll let you all fill that in. You can figure it out.)
Dad (to Mom): That's all you think about isn't it?!?
Mom: Only yours, dear, only yours.
MJ: (pushing away from the table in disgust) Oooohhh...I'm trying to eat dinner here!
Mom: Well, I had to have some sort of retort to that!
Dad: Well it didn't bother me at all, just her! (Pointing at me) (Pause) See, what it is, is that your mom heard how tall he was and wanted to know if he was.... (makes a hand motion)
Mom: ...proportional?

And this, my friends, is why I am so screwed up :)

Simply,
MJ

Welcome to the World!

Here is the newest addition to my extended family:

Introducing Daniel Jacob...

He is a precious little one, isn't he? He's my cousin's third son. He was actually born last week but I didn't have a picture until now!

I also loved this picture that my Aunt Joan (the proud grandma) took:

That's Danny's two big brothers and their Uncle Mike (my cousin). There is just something sweet about the balloon, the blue sky, and the St. Louis landmarks. Just had to share. Hope you all had a great start to the week!

Simply,
MJ

More Milestones

Today is officially my one-year anniversary of being a full-time employee. Yikes! Only about 40+ years to go until I can retire. {When did we get so grown up and starting talking about retirement savings and Roth IRA's instead of fun, college stuff?} In order to make it through the next 40 years of work, I might have to try Jessica's tactic of a "Daily Affirmation":




It's also the one-year anniversary of the passing of my maternal grandfather. He is still loved and missed! Here is a picture of my mom and her sisters at Grandpa Joe's funeral last year:

(Too bad I didn't get my height gene from this side of the family.)

Can you all believe how quickly a year flies by?

Simply,
MJ

Things I Love About Home...

Just a few of the things I love about home....

1. These wonderful people are there (although they didn't want to have a picture taken):
2. Dad will still pay for things, like car repairs!

3. We always have breakfast on the weekends. As much as I LOVE to sleep in, I will always get up when I know breakfast is waiting.

4. You all know my theory on how every small town has it's own Mexican restaurant that is "the best Mexican ever." And the local pizza place. When I was home for the weekend we went out to our local Mexican restaurant that seriously has the most authentic, delicious food, amazing chips and salsa, and margaritas. Now this is what I call a margarita:

5. Mom always has real butter. I don't know why, but there is no spray butter, no margarine...just real butter. For some reason it almost seems like a luxury or treat.

6. There is a slower pace. Mom says when they first moved to my hometown she felt like she had stepped back in time because there were still 5 and dime stores. But I love how everything slows down and is more laidback when I go home.

7. Beautiful flowers like this on the table, from our own yard...and some for the road to make my home-away-from-home more cozy. This weekend was peonies:

8. Old friends, who are still good friends. You know the type -- you haven't seen each other or talked in a while, but you pick up right where you left off.

9. Shopping! It's fun to mix it up and go to different stores or go to yard sales and thrift shops and come back with things you wouldn't have found otherwise.

10. For some reason, Mom always feels the need to bake or cook when I come home. So I end up eating cookies, ice cream sandwiches, smoothies, frappes, or whatever the craving of the month is. And I usually get to take some of those with me too :)

11. The stars in the night sky are brighter and clearer. You don't appreciate that until you don't see it on a regular basis.

12. Being right next to the river. My hometown was cleverly coined as "The city on the river but never in it." This past weekend the river was at 41.7' and the flood level is 42' - you can tell the river is up, but still no reports of flood damage to homes and property! River cities seem to thrive around the river -- festivals, fairs, summer concert series, boating...and I love it!

13. Gas prices are cheaper!

14. The church I grew up in. It's a sense of community I haven't found since moving away.

15. Lots of good memories :)

I know this list could go on and on, but those are just a few of the things I thought about this weekend! Sometimes I forget how much these little things mean!

As We Go On...

Isn't it funny how quickly time flies? Tomorrow is the one year anniversary of this picture:

I can't believe that it has been a year since graduation. College was by far one the best chapters in my life. I know I'm in another exciting chapter, with much to learn and do, but I always get a little sad looking at the by-gones. KB and I were talking yesterday about how this is one of the best points we will be at and it's true -- we are making money, living independently, old enough to go out without breaking any laws, don't look like children anymore, but still not having our bodies affected by age yet, etc., but MAN, those were the days.

This year has taught me a lot and forced me to grow a lot. It's been a bit of a rollercoaster at times, from leaving work and immediately calling my parents crying to laughing and going to bachelorette parties and girls weekends. I do know this -- I'm so blessed to have such wonderful friends and a great support system. My friends and family are my rock and keep me sane!

“A good friend is a connection to life—a tie to the past,
a road to the future,
the key to sanity in a totally insane world.”
―Lois Wyse

And it's funny how you can't really plan...if you had asked me 2 years ago where I would be today, my answer would have been very different. Such is life I guess. God has his own plans that we can't know or understand -- we just have to trust in Him and have a little faith.

"Many are the plans in a man's heart,
but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."

Proverbs 19:21

So happy graduation anniversary to you all (and happy graduation this year to Alana!). I love you each dearly.

Sorry for the sappy post! I just get sentimental at times!

Simply,
MJ

Welcome to the Family!

Some exciting news today! My cousin and his wife had their baby! Little baby Nicholas was born Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. Welcome to the world, Nick! You're awfully blessed to be born into such an awesome family.

{Health and Happy!}

{Charlie is a proud big brother! Actually, I don't think he has a clue what's going on.}

{Cousin Ed is a proud papa -- Round 2. And he does have a clue what's going on. Charlie, again, is like "What's that thing?"}

I can't wait to meet baby Nick -- sadly it probably won't be til like Thanksgiving or Christmas, but maybe I'll get lucky this time around and it will be sooner :)

On a semi-related note, if I had children, I would want to take on this project from bakerella.com. The'yre chocolate-peanut butter pudding cups. But be sure to scroll down far enough to see how they make the actually cups! (Hint: it involves balloons.) How fun would that be for a couple kids...and kids at heart?