Before I get to the main reason for this post I want to share with you two of my favorite hand turkeys I've come across this month. The first is the gift from Kaitlin, this girl knows me way too well...
And the second is the icon that has been on google the past two days. I think everyone thought that I was crazy for loving hand turkeys so much, I know Dan does, but this is proof that they are a huge deal! They are on google for goodness sake!
So back to the reason for this post... if you have read the blog in the past, or been on Facebook this month, you know that one of my favorite things is the hand turkey. I've made one every year and it has come down to the wire but I have finally made mine for 2011. I was waiting so long because I was honestly having a hard time narrowing down the four top things that I was most thankful for to put on the feathers.
During my long drive home, I had made my top four list. I walked into Paul and Theresa's house and decided before everyone got home from work I would work on the turkey. Well, apparently since cheerleaders don't live at The Horstman House any longer there is no construction paper, that's fine I can use crayons to decorate him. Well, there is no computer paper, no lined paper... nothing, just that thin little paper that Theresa makes her grocery list on, my turkey would never fit on that! Unless Theresa is hiding the paper somewhere (which is perfectly reasonable explanation) or I'm just a really bad looker (which is an even more reasonable explanation) there is no usable paper in this house.
So I was in a real crunch for time now and wasn't sure what to do, I could make it on newspaper, but I'm more thankful for online newspapers since that is what I prefer to read, so I thought that wouldn't be really good for my turkey. And then it came to me... and below is my hand turkey.
Now you may be wondering where the things that I am thankful for are since they aren't written on the feathers. Well, they are all wrapped up in that picutre. Looking back at this year I am so thankful for that day. Everything that I was going to write on my feathers was there that day. I'm thankful for feeling joy, thankful for my marriage, thankful for all of my family, and for my wonderful friends. Food, wine, laughter, dancing, Rod Stewart songs, beautiful weather... those things were all there that day too. It was the day where everything was right in the world, and nobody can ever take those memories away from us. They are ours, and that is what makes my 2011 Hand Turkey so special. Probably one of my favorites to date! Happy Thanksgiving Everyone, or what I like to say "BE THANKSGIVING!"
So this past weekend was so full of many adventures, good food, wine, the girls, and of course many laughs. Once I upload the pictures from the evening I will share more about the weekend, but one of my favorite parts of the weekend was going to the Carr’s new house in Bloomington. It was so reminiscent of driving to Blue Goose Road, the curvy roads, the cows you’d see every once in a while, and the fear of hitting a deer. And then we arrived and it was like the same house, we walked in and there was the office, the beautiful, spotless kitchen, the big comfy furniture, the sun-room, a dog barking… it was the exact same!
Don’t even get me started on the awesome decorations that Diane had out for the shower, as always, it was top-notch. I was also introduced to a new website called “Smarty had a Party!” Diane, I’ll be sure to not let Dan know who introduced me to this site because I’m sure I’ll be using it! The only thing missing that was always at every wonderful event Diane held during high school was gossamer, but I don’t think it was needed, everything was just perfect!
Once the shower festivities were over the little girl came out in all of us and I asked, “Can we go see your room?” And you’ll never believe it, but the upstairs is the exact same as Blue Goose’s upstairs. They have a play room (which is now the wedding room), awesome bathrooms, and all the rooms are connected just like Kait and Evan’s bathrooms used to be. The only thing missing was the chalkboard in Evan’s room and the unicorn in Kaitlin’s.
Around every corner Kaitlin wanted to show us something wedding related. We peaked a little but decided that it would be more fun to have it all unfold the weekend of the wedding. From what I saw everything, of course, is going to be absolutely beautiful. Very elegant with a splash of sparkle! I have always loved winter weddings and I am so glad to be a part of Kaitlin’s.
And as we were leaving her bedroom, in true Kaitlin fashion, she pulled out a little gift she picked up for me… you’ll have to wait until the next post to see what it was, but just so you know, it was my favorite gift that I’ve gotten in awhile!
45 minutes… I can do a lot in this amount of time, make a fantastic dinner, run a load of laundry through the dryer, ride the train from downtown Chicago to Hammond, Indiana, or watch an hour long television show that I dvr’ed. But these 45 minutes sitting here are really dragging, because in 45 minutes I get to leave work and start my journey to see the girls.
Yes, the journey will be a long one, a mile walk to the train, 45 minutes on the train, 3 hours and 50 minutes in the car, PLUS a time change which makes me lose a precious hour! But all that is standing between me and the beginning of that journey is this 45 minutes. I hope it goes quick, I hope my phone starts ringing to make the time go faster, and I hope nothing drastic happens to make me get out of here any later.
I need this weekend, it’s been way too long since we’ve all been together and it will be so good to see them. I’ve got my car packed with more things than you can imagine because who knows what this weekend might turn out to entail… which means lots of outfits. I can’t wait to start the celebrations for Kaitlin’s wedding because I am just so excited for her and Adam. And most importantly, I’m very excited to go out on the town with the girls, drink champagne, and dance like a crazy woman.
So here’s to the girls, I can’t wait to see you… it’s going to be a great weekend! And thanks to the sixth and seventh Friends, Dan and Adam, for holding down the forts while we are out playing this weekend!
So I have just realized that it has been almost two months since my last post, and I honestly cannot tell you where that time has gone. And today, as I sit here and plan out the rest of the year, I think these six weeks will go quicker than the last. Since there has just been so much going on lately I feel like I couldn’t even put together a well written post, so here it is, one of my famous lists of what has been going on in my life… and just inside my head lately.
The past months have revolved around Mustang Football. It was an absolutely great season. Dan’s goal at the beginning of the season was to make it to the playoffs, and to make it all the way to the quarterfinals was more than I could have ever imagined… I think a little more than he could have imagined too. But I am so proud of him, if you couldn’t already tell from all my Facebook updates, and I’m very excited for next year!
With that being said, I am so happy to have Dan back in my life. It’s good to walk in the door and have him already there, and what is even better is our house rules are now working in my favor… First one home makes dinner! Chef BoyarDan is back in action.
Work has been a whirlwind, but a good one. I’ve had many, many challenges lately, but I’ve gotten through them. I had to do a lot of things I didn’t want to do, but I have come to realize that you just have to. It’s like a Band Aid… Just pull it off already! With all this working lately I will enjoy five days off over Thanksgiving which I am so looking forward to.
Speaking of Thanksgiving… As most of you know it is my most Favorite Holiday (Halloween being my least, which is my explanation for not blogging at all in October). I am really looking forward to all of the wonderful food and seeing my family. Today I realized that I really really miss them and I am starting to get St.Leon Sick! I have been making practice hand turkeys… I still haven’t narrowed down my top four things I am thankful for, but when I do I will be sure to share the 2011 Hand Turkey with you.
The Thanksgiving weekend is going to be a busy one. I hope to start the weekend off with a trip to Harry’s. I haven’t been since graduation, which is way too long, and I’m starting to have withdrawals from the place. We’ll then make the last leg of the trip to St. Leon, spend time with the families, eat lots of food, attend my 5 year class reunion, and of course, go shopping on Friday. Dan, Donna, and I already have our list made, we just need to plan out the route. I’m not really in the market for anything this year, I’ll just go along for the adventure, yummy lunch and bloody marys that Dan has promised me will end the trip.
Speaking of reunions, I’m in for a big one this weekend with the Five Friends. It’s Kait’s Bachelorette Weekend! I am so excited to see the girls, and meet the rest of the girls in the wedding. I’ll be sure to share the pictures and stories from the weekend next week. I can hardly contain my excitement for Kaitlin. This is the first time I’ve been a bridesmaid and I have to say, I am just as excited for this wedding as I was my own. And we are very thrilled we’ll be gaining our Seventh Friend, Adam.
I feel as if there is so much to do between now and the end of the year, I don’t know where to start, but I knew that I wanted to share these last couple of weeks with you, because this is one of my favorite times of year… even though Dan calls me his Grinch Wife, so I’m back to blogging! For now at least, who knows what the next couple weeks may bring!
