Thanksgiving

I think Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. It's time for friends and family to gather together with out having to worry about the presents like at Christmas. We get a chance to look back on the past year and discover all the things we are thankful for. I also love the holiday because of the food! This girl likes to eat and I always look forward to the yummy food that we have for Thanksgiving lunch ( this family doesn't even wait around until dinner). There are some recipes that are must haves at our Thanksgiving meals. The one thing we always have to serve is my grandma's Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole . Someone suggested that we have a different broccoli casserole recipe , let's just say there was a slight uproar. Let's just say we will be having that recipe this year. Other recipes on this years menu:

Turkey with Dressing and Gravy
Stuffing Stuffed Mushrooms
Sweet Potato Casserole
Spicey Green Beans
Dinner Rolls

Desserts
Hyde Park Fudge Cake
Toffee Coffee Pecan Pie
Pumpkin Cheesecake

What are some most have recipes at your house? Do you do something out of the ordinary and not even serve a turkey?

Maddie

Where do I begin? Today should be your 2nd birthday , today you should be in the arms of your family , today your legions of fans should be anxiously awaiting a picture of the birthday girl. Today is not what it should be, it is so different that anyone could have ever imagined. Heather, Mike, Grandma, Bampa and many others you are all are in my thoughts and in my heart today and always.

I wish there was more that I could say or do to my make this day any easier for those who love you. All I can do is share your story with all those I know. I can laugh and cry while I remember the life of a brilliant girl with my group of friends who also fell under the Maddie charm.

Maddie you are truly missed by so many , you are a light that will always shine bright in so many lives. Happy Birthday sweet Maddie, Happy Birthday.


Please consider making a donation in honor of Maddie's birthday to Friends of Maddie.

10 things about me

Aw I just received my first blog award, which is pretty funny because I'm a pretty lousy blogger. It was given to me by the lovely Lu who blogs at http://jadedperspective.wordpress.com/ and who I chat with on twitter . I do think this was her way of saying I should blog something !

She gave me the Honest Scrap award and here are the rules that go along with it.
Here are the rules for receiving the award:

1. Present this award to 7 others whose blogs you find brilliant in content and/or design, or those who have encouraged you. ( Although almost everyone I follow has done this so I'm just going to do it on my own).
   
2. Tell those 7 people they’ve been awarded the HONEST SCRAP AWARD and inform them of these guidelines in receiving the award.
3. Share “10 Honest Things” about yourself.

10 Honest Things About Me

1.I am 22 years old and I haven't graduated from college yet or even really figure out what it is I want to do with my life. I have hard enough time figuring out who I am right now much less try to figure out what or who I will be in a few years

2. I love kids, I've been working with children or volunteering with them to some degree since I've been in 6th grade. As much I love babysitting/nannying the thought of having my own children someday completely scares the shit out of me. It will be the real deal and mom and dad won't be coming home at the end of the night to take over. I know I want children but it's something I can wait for.

3. I think mayonnaise is quite possibly the worst substance ever to be invented. There is something about the consistency and taste that just makes me want to gag. I absolutely hate it if makes on a burger or a sandwich and may throw a fit if I requested for the mayo to be left off. Don't even get me started on miracle whip!

4. I am self conscious, have low self esteem and am shy all to some degree. It's something that I've dealt with all my life and I find it hard to really admit to people how deeply these things effect me. There are times where I feel like I am nothing and have nothing to offer to the world. Luckily I have some great friends who support me and remind me of all the things that I am .

5. I took ballet lessons from age of 3 till I was about 14. When I quit my training it had got to the point where you had to either get really serious and commit your self completely to ballet or not. At the time I didn't think I wanted to do that, to this day I wish I had stuck with it. I miss dancing so much there is just something about the joy of losing your self in the music.

6. I am completely OC about being on time for thing and running on schedule. If we plan to meet at 6 I expect to meet at that time not 6:15 not 6:05. If you say pick you up at 5:00 I will be pulling up outside your house at 4:59 and I expect you to be outside at 5:00 If I am running late for something or even think that I might be late I start getting anxious. It's something I'm trying to work on because most of the people in my life are on a 15 minute delay and there isn't much I can do about it.

7. I have lived in Austin all my 22 years and I absolutely love it. I really can't picture my self living anywhere else and I encourage everyone to move here or at least visit. I promise that everyone will find something to love about it ( and if you don't I'm not sure we can be friends).

8. I will admit that I am one of those people who starts listening to Christmas music Thanksgiving day. Christmas is my favorite time of year! The lights, the music, the smells of Christmas have a way of transporting me back to my childhood when things were so simple. I love nothing more then to go to the Christmas tree farm and cut down a tree to decorate. I only wish Texas got a little colder so I could actually wear sweaters and scarves with out sweating like a pig.

9. I have a pretty irrational fear of bug and all things creepy crawly. Spiders are the worst doesn't matter the size they are horrible and nasty little things. No matter what anyone says bleh!

10. I love to bake cakes, pies, cookies you name it I love to make it. However I don't eat any of this stuff other the occasional cookie. I don't really know why I think it has to do with a lack of a sweet tooth.

6 Months

6 months ? How could it possibly be 6 months since the world lost one of it's brightest lights ? It seems like just yesterday I was reading of Maddie's many adventures on Heather's Blog . I don't think a day has gone by in these past 6 months that I haven't thought of you sweet Maddie Moo. Anything purple instantly reminds me of you, the sun makes me think of your sunny curls , the giggle of a child in the distance reminds me of your infectious laughter.

Maddie although I never had the honor of meeting you in person you have changed my life for the better. You will always have a sunny spot in my heart that will always be bright with your stunning smile.Much love and support to Heather, Mike and Maddie's baby sister Binky today, tomorrow and always.

Thank You

This one is for David and Crystal.

Thank You for letting me be part of your special day 3 years ago.


Thank You for taking me into your home overseas not once but twice.





Thanks for putting up with my camera and being such a ham








Most of all Thank You for serving our country. Thank you for sacrificing your time together.




I'm glad to see that you can still be a ham all the way over there!

Stay Safe and Stay Strong I love you both more then y'all know.

Excited!

I found out a little awhile that my cousin and her hubby are expecting a baby! I'm so excited for them and for their little bean! I love children and babies and I am looking forward to helping welcome a new little life into the family. My other cousin Erik has a little boy but they live in Florida so even though he's a year old I've only met him once! It's so sad to know that I don't get to see him grow up. Lauren and her husband live in Austin so it will be exciting to be witness to their family growing! Here's to you Lauren and Kent and little "duckie". Auntie Magda loves you already!

Almost Wordless Wednesday

My future summer home...