Thanksgiving Week Four

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!


I am Thankful for...
Family.

We celebrated Thanksgiving at our house this year and had most of my (Amanda's) family in attendance. We had a great time catching up with each other, playing games, doing our annual family craft and eating yummy FOOD.


We just had to put Keedan in his Turkey costume one last time.

I am Thankful for...
The joy I get from cooking.
I cooked most of the day on Thanksgiving and loved it! Keedan was great, and played in the kitchen banging pot lids and plastic spoons onto the tile. It was a fun day.

I am Thankful for....
Texas weather.
It is nice to put on flip flops nearly everyday. It will be a bit of an adjustment if we end up moving somewhere that is supper cold most of the time.


I am Thankful for...
The time we've had to spend at the Sunny Side Branch.
It might be small, but there is a plenty of heart and soul.



I am Thankful for...
Ryan taking me to the Rennaissance Festival.
Ryan won some Rennaissance Festival tickets at work.
I had never been and always wanted to go and check it out (especially now since we will be moving).

We almost didn't go b/c we have so much to do around the house to get it ready for sale. Ryan being the sweet guy that he is let the work slide for a day and drove us to have a merry ole time.
We met up with our friends Kenny, Texas & Carson and proceeded to enter a land of fairytales and bad English accents.



I could not stop starring at people and either laughing or gasping. Ryan described it as being in the movie Water World (flopped movie starring Kevin Costner)


We thought it would be funny if we (me-lady's) took a picture with this man woman.
I do have to say that it was much funnier in person.

The funniest part of all (I totally missed but was told about)was when Texas went to give the man woman a tip and he bent over for her to place the money in his cleavage and she said..."I don't do that"
LOLLLLLLoollolololol.
I think they would have had to lift me off of the ground to carry me away had I actually seen that :)

We had a memorable time.

Keedan @ 8 Months

Keedan has a fun loving personality and has a super cute giggle. He loves to give the ladies lots of smiles and vice versa(major flirter - I wonder where he gets that from?).

K to the A

Keedan & our dog Astro have become quite fond of each other. Astro is not allowed anywhere in the house except for the kitchen and that is usually where you will find Keedan.



Astro is such a sport b/c Keedan will pull chunks of his hair and slap him as he lays there (content as ever). I think he really just likes the attention.

Since Keedan's been around Ryan and I don't really pay that much attention to Astro any more (I know it's really sad). I guess he just takes it where he can get it.




In an attempt to spend more time with Astro, we have been finding the time to take him to the dog park.


This past Wednesday we ventured out and Astro was so excited that he jumped straight up into the car....literally and woudn't budge until I clobbered him down to the ground.


Don't worry no animals or children were harmed during this smack down.



Once I got Astro in the front seat we left on our way to the dog park.....land of various breeds of pooches....slobber mania....good times.....(& don't forget to pick up your pooch's poop)

Thanksgiving Week Three

I have been looking at old photos this week which brought back such fond memories that I would like to share them.




I Am Thankful For....
Ryan's Family & there supportive, fun & loving personalities.
This picture was taken at a bridal shower that Ryan's mom and sisters threw together for me when I was up in Utah to attend my brother's wedding. I had such a fun time. We played games, ate delicious delicatessen desserts and wore cute fun hats.

A quick funny story is that I actually forgot my luggage for this trip and aside from going on a shopping spree to buy new clothes (jk...I only bought three shirts) Ryan's mom and sister Marietta graciously let me borrow their clothes.

Your probably wondering "How did you forget your clothes, especially when you can't miss the big bright blue suitcase???"
All I can say is....I really can't answer that. :)



I Am Thankful For....
Friends and their thoughtfulness!
I had three baby showers when I was prego and never posted the pics...well better late than never. My friend Laura made the above sign which is super cute!


My friend Texas makes super fancy cakes and this is one of them. I don't recall eating or even tasting that cake...but I did eat a cupcake and it was GOOD.


This shower was a couples shower....hence the attendance of Ryan :)
We played a baseball trivia game and guess who won? Ryan.....I believe that Kenny was trailing pretty close though.

My other two showers were pretty girly (a.k.a.- no fellas).


My friend Jeni made this cute & delicious cake.


I'm not sure what game this was, but I remember I definitely had a Fabulous time with all the Branch ladies.



My last shower was in my hometown of Dayton...actually it was in nowhere land b/c where it was held is actually not named....it is outside of the Dayton city limits through the woods of Kenefick and almost to Tarkington. I had a great time with friends and family.



I Am Thankful For....
Chapstick...Burt's Bees in particular...need I say more?!!!




I Am Thankful For....
Staying in touch with old friends.



My old roomies Daranee (D), me (AP) & Hayley (Hayley Bailey)



My friend Jessica and I on a Walmart excursion....(our escape from late night studying for a World History Final).


Susan, me, Sam, & Aubrey Out on the Town




I Am Thankful For....
Opportunities to have a Good Ole Time.

Checking out the news...


Ooooze Ball (a.k.a. mud volleyball)


Mitt head & Gangsta Wannabe


I gave in and became a Mitt Head


Cheese in the Photo Booth (Ryan's mom, me & Ry)

Thanksgiving Week Two

I Am Thankful for....
Ryan passing the Texas Bar.



He worked very hard to prepare for the three day exam and it payed off!
We celebrated last Thursday night by eating at our favorite Chinese restaurant.




I Am Thankful for....
Pacifiers....
It's amazing how a pacifier soothes a baby. When Keedan was a newborn he would scream & howl to keep "the binky" out of his mouth. Now he screams & howls for us to pop "the binky" into his mouth.




I Am Thankful for....
The vast beauty of the world around us!

I need to do better at enjoying it and appreciating God's creations more often. Except for mosquitos & ants :)


I Am Thankful for....
Music and the opportunity I have to hear it.
My favorite music is listening to a child laugh. I thankfully get to hear Keedan's sweet giggles everyday.

Thanksgiving Week One

Because of the wonderful example of others, I am going to start posting a weekly Thankfulness posting for the month of November. That being said, I will now begin.

I Am Thankful for....
The freedom I have to believe how I choose.
I believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the Lord's true church that was restored by the Prophet Joseph Smith.



I believe that we have a living Prophet on the earth today and his name is Thomas S. Monson.



I believe that marriage between a man and woman is ordained of God.



I believe in the power of the Atonement and that Jesus Christ died to pay the price for all of our sins and to succor us in our times of need.



I believe that when you read the Book of Mormon and pray sincerely for an answer of its truthfulness, that you will receive an answer.


I Am Thankful for....
Keedan and the opportunity I have to be a parent.
It is amazing how his sweet spirit has enlivened our home and how the love that I feel for him is immeasurable.
I am definitely making it a priority to cherish the time I get to spend with him b/c he grows so fast.


I Am Thankful for....
My husband and the hard work and effort he puts forth to care for our family.
I truly enjoy spending time with him and absolutely adore watching him interact with Keedan.


I Am Thankful for....
Seeing unexpected friends.
I was shopping for some curtains a few days ago(with Keedan on my hip) when I heard my name being called. Low and behold it was Redessa, my former co-worker from Aon. We were on
the same Team together and she was always a tremendous help when I was in a pickle (a.k.a. I needed help).
Although the conversation was brief (she was on her lunch break) it satisfied my want (temporarily) to catch up with an old friend that I had thought about frequently.



I Am Thankful for....
Living in America, the land of the free and for the many brave soldiers who are fighting and have fought to protect our great country.
Compared to other countries, there is really no comparison. We live in a land of plenty!