Organization

I was talking to mom the other day and we got on the topic of being organized.  I told here that I have a calender in the kitchen that is my calender and I put up all the appointments, schedules, tests, ect. on it. Then next to Zach's side of the bed I put up his calender so that he could do the same if he wanted.  Well I being mom's daughter,  I am extremely organized.  And once I concoct a plan I intend it to happen that way.  Zach is way more flexible than I and the difference between us in the organization realm has taken some getting used too.
 Anyways back to talking to mom, I was telling her how organized I was and how I would come up with a plan and Zach on the last day at the last minute would suggest something different and that it would drive me crazy! Well turns out Dad does the same thing and mom told me to get used to it.  But she also told me that it was a good thing because if both of us were crazy planners then I don't think we would have ended up together, it is good to have a little flexibility in life.  I need some especially because I have a hard time changing my plans, but I am grateful for Zach who shows me it is ok sometimes to allow things to just happen when and how they happen.

I read a funny little list once that sums up this post.  It was a list of differences between men and women and it said that when women have kids they know where they are, where they need to be, when they will be home,and what they need to do.  And when a man has kids he is vaguely aware of shorter people in his house who eats his food.

Now to explain the pictures.  My calender has looked like this through almost the entire year.  So Zach feeling left out decided to write down stuff to do on his, but literally that is what he wrote =)  I just thought it was funny so I am sharing =)
MY CALENDER:

 ZACH'S CALENDER:

Christmas Party

I have never been much of the party planner type, but since this past semester I have become a lot of things (wife, chef, responsible adult ;) ) I thought I would have a go with planning a Christmas party with some of our friends.
Even though it was not a huge decorated affair, nor was it planned down to the minute I think it turned out just dandy.  Everyone who we invited came (all 18 people) and everyone brought something to eat and a white elephant gift. So though it was a successful party I don't really think entertaining is for me (I did not pick up that gene from Grandmother unfortunately, You are soo good at it!)
But again it was a fun night.  We had a round of White elephant which my won gift included a creepy Russian doll and a jock strap and then after the white elephant some of us played a board game and  some just talked and ate.  Here are some pictures:

Christmas Party 1-success.

Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving was far better than last year for multiple reasons:  One Zach and I are married =) (that makes life infinitely better)  Two, Lisa got to spend it with us and she always makes anything more fun, Three, We did not get the flu from the squirts, Four, We got to spend a ton of quality time at Christie's with her, Tyler and the kids.
Zach and I spent Thanksgiving day itself with one of his mission companions, Marcus, his wife and his entire family.  It was a very loud, boisterous, fun and fulfilling day, there was tons of good food and company.  The rest of the time we spent watching Christie's kids, which was just an enjoyable and just a tad bit more exhausting.

Since Christie has moved she now lives very close to the Tranverse Outlets so one day, Lisa, Zach and I walked down to the mall.  On the way down we took the "less traveled" route which included fence hopping.

Once there we spent time window shopping, sitting by the fire and looking at the very large Christmas tree.

(I am the one behind the camera)
But besides going to the mall for the afternoon, eating Thanksgiving dinner, hanging out with kids and going to see Hunger Games: Catching Fire, we mostly just relaxed.  During the this time of no schedule I was able to reflect about what I am grateful for.  I am grateful for a hospitable older sister and her husband (even when she bosses me around ;) )  I am grateful for kids, they make everything so much more lively.  I am grateful for family, I love having Lisa around.  I love my parents and everything they taught me, especially the rule of hard work and how it can pay off.  I am grateful for Peter and Jill, who allow us to crash at their place constantly.  I am grateful for Drew and Jess who do everything above and beyond the call of duty.  And I am grateful for Katie Jo, who I wish would hurry up and be brilliant, graduate early and come out here =).  Again I am just grateful for my family.  I love you all.  I am grateful for Zach's family, who raised him to be who he is today and his sister (who we missed dearly this thanksgiving year).

(These are just videos from last year's Thanksgiving, but they have Emilie in it)

(So athletic our cousins are ;), love you all!)


Lastly and surely not least I am grateful for Zachary.  I love him and I am grateful for his patience and his persistence,  without either we wouldn't be where we are today.

Happy Thanksgiving!