I literally Googled "How to get yourself out of a funk" last night. 

I sat on my couch, Joel in the other room, giving me my space like the smart man he is, and I read to myself, taking mental notes and then found laughter in what I was doing. We all have days or weeks that you're feeling funky, you're in a funk, things that don't usually annoy you, make you want to cry or just drive and not stop for anything but maybe a salted caramel mocha. Well, I am in funky town, people. And I'm not talking about the place that Lipps Inc. sung about in 1980.

I don't know what it is, but it has taken me over. I have always had a hard time with this. I am an emotional person, but can usually put bad moods into perspective. Right now, negativity is on me like white on rice. And I don't have the answers to why. But chocolate does sound amazing so perhaps I need to look at my planner. Ladies, who's with me? While reading up on how to kick this bs in the tush, I realized that I should probably blog. This was one of the things in the article to destroy a funky mindset. It's been a bit since I've blogged last. The classic phrase of, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all" really does ring true. Usually, if there's a lull or a nice, long break in posts, this is probably the conversation I'm having with myself. Do I blog about my thoughts and feelings, with a chance of making people in my life uncomfortable or possibly a little hurt; Make them wonder if it's them that motivated a blog post of mine? Or do I just not write down my thoughts at all? There's your answer. 

The other weekend, I had someone in my life, bring up a time I had hurt them. In middle school. In middle school. I can't stand those years and have a hard time being sensitive to such undeveloped, terribly immature brains, even though I know I was there. I was an awful 14 year old. I felt bad, I apologized but that wasn't enough. I didn't even remember the situation that was brought to my attention, but it obviously hurt her enough to mention it to me in our twenties. I was disgusted at the fact that I hurt this person so much that, as a grown woman, an adult, she felt the need to belittle me, to say something hurtful, to 'get back at' me for something that was said during our middle school days. After my apology for how immature I once was, I quickly realized that the conversation was going nowhere and that a good click of the 'defriend' button, was the best choice. Although, I felt bad for the past, the fact that she came off as immature and hurtful as she did, as an adult, well, I by no means have room for someone like that in my life, even if they are just an acquaintance on Facebook. I like to think that I've done a lot of growing and maturing since middle school and I am nowhere near who I was then. Joel and I have talked various times about how we think we will parent our children some day. I know I will be the more disciplinary one and one hundred percent, he will be the more sensitive one, the more understanding one, mainly during those lovely teenage years. We would hate to hear that our child was bullying or disrespecting others, or not being accepting of people's differences. Mine and Joel's conversation came a day before this woman had mentioned how I had hurt her. I felt so bad about hurting someone's feelings to the point where she was thinking about it 12 years later and if I could go back and change things, I would. But that's just not how life works, is it? 

It reminded me that all I can do, is live from this point on, the best that I can. I can try my best to accept that people are different and at times, people can change and do, for the better. I've also realized in my life lately, that some people aren't understanding of people's differences. There are adults in this world and in my life that still judge and still talk down about how people live their lives differently. I, for one, feel confident about who I am and how I live my life. I blog about things in my life that I find funny, interesting, beautiful, things that make me feel good. Blogging, in itself, makes me feel good. I do it for me. And as adults, aren't we supposed to lift each other up and encourage each other to continue to do things that make us happy? We aren't supposed to discourage each other because we live our lives differently. 

At the grocery store this morning, I had a number of strangers smile at me, I had various workers ask me if I was finding things alright, I even had a man at the check out, who let me go ahead of him, when he had about half the amount of groceries that I had. I left, still in my funk, but feeling better. I came home to someone who kisses me and loves me, even when I'm a giant brat and now you're listening to my thoughts. Strangers, friends, you're listening. You're listening to me slowly put myself in a better mood. If you are, by chance in a funky mood yourself, go to the grocery store smile at a stranger, give someone a compliment, listen to "Funky Town" by Lipps Inc. and then get out of that place. 

Listen to me, because I started this post in a worse mood than I'm in right now.

Happy First of November, friends! 

Everything about Fall rocks my socks off. Although, I'm not currently wearing socks, like you would think at this time of year. I long to be cuddled up, wearing wooly socks right now. Yes, friends, it's been in the 80's. 87 degrees today, to be exact. What is up with that? This girl is ready and wanting Fall, needing Fall. I want to be in a sweater with the windows wide, not turning our AC back on. 

Cheers to the freakin weekend! My goodness. I said to my Co-teacher today, "If there was a sixth day of this, I don't think I could do it." I also asked everyone yesterday if there was a full moon, because my GOSH, are my kids nuts today. I live for my weekends. What would I do without them? Praise the lord, it's the weekend.

Last weekend was a wonderful time, celebrating love. Beautiful, Fall, full of love, gosh, you guys, that's my jam. Joel and I flew home and made the, almost four hour, trip to Wisconsin Dells with his family for his Cousin's wedding. The last time I was at the Dells, I think I was like four? Maybe six? And I was on a dragon roller coaster ride and I was laughing so hard, I couldn't even bring myself to wave at the video camera someone in my family was holding. Hilarious. Lets take a minute to thank everyone who took home videos! And to those who still do! The conversation has come up multiple times lately, about how in this generation, nobody prints pictures off. Everyone takes videos, yes, but I'm talking pictures. When I was home over Christmas, my girlfriend said, "When Sloane grows up I'm going to have to say something like, 'Honey, when you were young, we had something called SnapChat and we have videos of you, but they're floating around in space somewhere, they didn't save to any of our phones.'" Joel thinks we need to print pictures off, at least of our life here in Colorado. We purposely bought a nice little mumble, jumble of frames last week, or one frame made into a cluster, simply to motivate us to print off some great moments we've shared. I said, "Well done" to a girlfriend about a week ago, in regards to a baby photo album I saw sitting on her coffee table. "Good job at actually doing this. I loved looking at photo albums of myself as a baby. Nobody does this anymore!" Cheers to those that still do this. I'm going to be that Mom that's always taking pictures of her kids. I mean, you guys know me with my cats right now. Imagine me with babies. 

I appreciate being able to fly, so much. The ability to just fly home for a weekend, a short, sweet weekend, well, that's something. We had lots of laughs and spent quality time with Joel's parents and extended family at the inside water park and all weekend long, actually. We spent time with his brothers and their wives and both Joel and I got to know his cousins a little more. I love spending time with family outside of holidays. It's just the opportunity to spend that time aside from just holidays. And who doesn't love a wedding? It was fun to be involved with such great people and, oh man, do I look forward to the day that I'm a Kachel and I get to be in the photo entitled, "The Kachel Wives." It makes me smile just thinking about it. Come our wedding day, I will be the last one to turn Kachel, until the day when one of our boys, gets married and turns some other lucky lady, Kachel. Life is so great to day dream about, oofta. I saw Joel's Mom, naked. Did I say, we had many laughs? We danced to Taylor Swift and many other beats and ate probably 6 cupcakes each, then left a trail of frosting back to our hotel room, literally. We saw so many beautiful, seriously, breathtakingly amazing looking trees filled with leaves of maroon, fuchsia, red, orange, you name it, it was that color. Ah, Fall, I want to be on you. We had great company from both sets of our parents the day after the wedding, over wine at a winery in Minnesota and I bought a super comfortable scarf that I realized was Broncos colors after the fact, but hey, I didn't return it. I giggled to myself, thinking how often I relate everything to sports colors. I refrain from decorating anything in my classroom yellow and purple because I won't have Vikings colors in my room. Green and gold! I'm going off on so many tangents tonight. Back to the weekend greats, we spent the morning of the day we flew home, with my girlfriend, her boyfriend and their baby who isn't even a baby anymore! You know when your friends have kids and they do such a good job at being a parent and you feel so proud and happy about it? That was me. Working with kids and seeing it all, I greatly appreciate the ones who do it right. Then again, is there really a right and a wrong way? Well, that's different for everyone, and is a whole other post entirely. It was amazing to just be in their company, eat breakfast and put colored links on and off and on and off Sloane's little wrist as bracelets, after she says, "Help, please," which is really, "ha peas" over and over. Weekend highlights in pictures, ready, go!

Like I said, "Short and sweet." So sweet.

This weather just makes me want to watch Hocus Pocus.

I'm laying down in my back yard and I'm wondering what in the world I would do without my weekends. A weekend is exactly like a good night's sleep; relaxing, recharging, calm. Unless you drank Zquil before going to bed, than your nights are filled with mind boggling dreams and appearances of all the men you've been with in the past, not the current one you love. 

So many times this year, Joel and I have sat in our backyard together and talked about how we got so lucky with our place. We think, "What a perfect 'first time' place for us... we'll never again be so lucky... I could just live out here... psithurism is my most favorite sound in the world." 

I don't think I would appreciate my weekends if I didn't spend 40 hours a week with insane, hilarious, potty training two year olds, that are literally like the energizer bunny. I kid you not, they run laps around my room at 7:30 in the morning and good thing I've had my coffee! "Friends, lets use our walking feet over to the circle time carpet and read some books!" I'm thankful of my ability to turn anything into a song and make everything ten times more exciting and inviting.

I have to say, the only thing cramping my style right now, is Olive to my left, scratching and very aggressively trying to open the door on her own and join me outside. Dear Olive, when you make the choice of trying to burrow your way under the fence and make an escape, you go right inside, love. I trust that you won't attempt it next time you're out. Love, your Mama whose just teaching you boundaries.

This weekend we ventured to the mountains for the 20th Annual Oktoberfest in Breckenridge. It was our third year in a row and I cannot believe my two year anniversary in Colorado is coming up, and quick! We made too much coffee and left the house by 7:30 yesterday and hit no traffic whatsoever. We were already winning. We drank bier out of steins bigger than my head and enjoyed German Music as well as a handful of German chants and bier chugging only for a second. 

 

 I learned this weekend, friends, that I am fine with getting old older. After a stroll through the craziness of Main Street, we finished our biers, hopped in a gondola and ventured 12,998 ft. and played some mini golf on top of a mountain. Upon stopping back to the hotel and eating five pieces of pizza, we went to bed at 9pm. 9pm, you guys! I woke up this morning at 5:55 and felt like a million bucks. I felt like a million bucks because I had probably 4 biers yesterday and I am so cool with that. I am so cool with not drinking a lot and going to bed early. If this is what "getting old" is, "old" is what I want to be when I grow up! Wait, what?

 Joel and I have already decided to make it a point to come back out to Colorado every year for Oktoberfest, even once we move back to the good ol' Midwest. It somewhat marks a different chapter in our life together, maybe the second chapter, and it's a time to remember and a time that we've thoroughly enjoyed the last three years in a row. The changing colors in the trees on the drive there, well, that's something in itself. 

Needless to say, it was a relaxing very grown up weekend and time well spent with friends I hadn't seen in far too long, and my love, who I had been without for a little over a month. Yes, you read that right; a month! A month without kisses is far too long. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheers to Fall, Bier, reunions and getting older! 

 

Today, I am thankful for green tea and honey. 

I am thankful for beautiful weather. 

I am thankful for Joel's green thumb, and enjoy taking over for him when he's away. 

I am thankful for a delicious smelling house. 

It's not November but it doesn't matter. 

What are you feeling thankful for today? 

"To a great mind, nothing is little." -Arthur Conan Doyle

I bet you thought I dipped out of the gratitude challenge, didn't you? Well, alongside the fact that I am a stubborn, routine stricken Taurus, I very rarely start things and don't finish them. So, it's your lucky day, and mine, apparently. 

As it goes for most people, my weeks are extremely busy and my weekends are my time to recap and catch up in the web world. Perhaps, that's why my social media-itis is so bad. At least, that's my theory. 

So far, I've done two days of the challenge and then you lost me to the work week so lets make up for lost time, shall we? Here goes! 

I am grateful for my positive attitude, my ability to see the best in things, find that silver lining (that's sometimes so hard to see) in even the hard times. Right there with that little cleaning gene, I get this attitude from my Mother. I have no doubt in my mind that I will encourage this mindset upon my children, because I try my best to even with the people that surround me on a day to day basis. I actually said to my Co-teacher this week, that shes been great at finding the silver lining in situations lately, better than I have been. Her ability to bring me back to the good side of things, well, that's something to be grateful for, too. 

This can lead me right into the next thing...

I am grateful for my Mom. For the past 26 years and 5 months, she has done nothing but accept me for the person I am. In my younger years, I won't lie to you, I was a shit, and loving the person that I was at times, was hard, but she did it, unconditionally. I actually, until just recently, didn't want to have any girls, because I thought of myself as a teenager and well, I just don't want to go there. The thought of raising myself, especially as a 13 year old, terrified me. And, trust me, I will get what's coming. But, I know that my Mom will be at my side, coaching me along the way, and I have to say, I hope I do everything that you did, because, I think I turned out pretty great. Oh yeah, there's that confidence! Thanks for always loving me and encouraging me to be myself, and to love who I am. 

 

 I am grateful for seasons, but most of all Fall. There's something refreshing and renewing about the changing of seasons. The routine Taurus that I am, believe it or not, enjoys the changing of the seasons. It feels wonderful. I definitely enjoy the changing of the seasons in Colorado, because, lets be real, every season here is amazing. But I've come to realize that the seasons back home are a lot more intense. And I am down with intensity. 

I am grateful for music. Gosh, you guys, what would the world be like without our jams? To imagine the world in silence is kind of like imaging the world without coffee or love. Scarryyyy! 

I am grateful for technology (Skype, Face time, all those great social blessings that connect us). I'll even throw email in there. And Facebook, how could I forget? Because without those things, I would actually have to have a conversation on the phone and we all know I would rather go to the dentist than do that, so. 

I am grateful for the fact that Joel mentioned to me that he always wanted to live in Colorado and "why don't we move there together?"  Because, it's our home now and it started as just a simple thought. Moving here together has brought us so much closer as a couple and living with him is everything I thought it would be and more. Dating for 3 years before living together, well, I continue to encourage anyone and everyone to just take your relationship s l o w l y. Calling Colorado our home (right now) is wonderful and it's been a life changing experience for both of us. 

I am grateful for books! Ah, books! When we looked at our place, that is currently our home, all I had to hear was, "The Community Center and Library are just down the road!" Awesome, here's my money! Take it! I need this place! Well, for that and for many other reasons. I used to hate reading. I hated reading until my Junior year in High School and now I read religiously. I'm convinced reading makes conversing with people a whole lot easier and it makes a person more intelligent. The two year olds in my class are lucky that I enjoy reading the same book a thousand times a day. 

I am grateful for my cats. I'm bad about and overly enthusiastic about pictures and videos of my cats, and other cats, lets be real, and I can only imagine what it will be like with my children someday. My cats continue to entertain me and make me laugh, love and cuddle me when Joel is out of town. They greet me at the door every time I get home and Oscar jumps up on my lap every morning when I first go use the bathroom. They bring a whole lot of life and laughter to our place, even if they leave their hair on and in everything. My life is littered in cat hair and I would have it no other way. 

I feel like there are so many other things that I am grateful for... I'm having a hard time choosing to mention just one last one for this challenge, that isn't even really a challenge. So, I'll make a broad but simple; 

I am grateful for quotes, for other people's wise and inspiring words. Honestly, if I've had a bad day, the last thing I do before I go to bed, is read my quote books. Hm, does this tie right in with books? Perhaps not, since I find a thousand amazing words said by others, simply when I'm enjoying the other blogs that I regularly follow. There is a quote about everything! And those who know me well, know this about me. Heck, if we're friends on Facebook, not a weekend goes by that I don't post a quote as my status. In fact, I came across one I had never heard this morning and couldn't pass up the opportunity to share it with my people. There's just something about wisdom from others; it just makes you want to be better yourself. At least, that's the effect it has on me. 

Now that this Gratitude Challenge has come to an end, I challenge you, although it's quite simple, to note all the things in your life that you're grateful for. You don't need to make those things known, by posting them to Facebook or whatever, but think about them. Think about them on a regular basis and your life will truly be better. 

Love your life and it will love you right back.

 

 

 

Is it seriously September right now? Bring on the changing leaves, scarves and hot apple cider. Being at the drive in the other night and not caring for the second movie, I rolled over in the bed of the truck and watched the stars and wished so badly to make a wish on a shooting one. I thought how badly I want to go camping one last time this year. Can we, please? 

I obviously have a serious case of "social media-itis" this weekend. I can't get off this sheet. I've told Joel so many times, while I've been periodically on Instagram and Facebook for a handful of hours that, "Don't make fun of me, I'm doing what makes my soul happy!" And then I laugh because this statement can literally be applied to anything. The main thing is, if it makes you feel happy, content, thankful, you better keep doing it. It would be silly for you to stop. So, you can imagine how bad my social media-itis is when Joel is out of town and I have a relaxing weekend with literally not an obligation in sight. This is the good life, people! 

I cannot beleive it's September. Labor Day!  This weekend, along with many other summer holidays, I want to be back home. On the river. Or eating everything in sight and on a stick at the MN State Fair. Mini- dough nut beer, you guys? My mouth immediately watered upon reading about this great phenomenon and then I pouted because, once again, I won't be swimming in the state fair greatness this year. Chalk it up onto the list of all the things you take for granted until they're gone. I'll get over it, I will. 

I told myself yesterday that I would keep notes on my continued grateful posts and recap at the end of the week. That is clearly not happening. Let me break today's gratefulness down for you. 

 I am grateful for paid time off. The fact that I am getting paid today, to drink coffee, read way too much, sit in the sunshine with my cats, do even more laundry and gosh, the 65 something year old soul inside me thinks the list could go on. Well, that's just wonderful. 

I am grateful for kids. Especially the kids in my life. The kids in my class, the kids I babysit outside of work and the kids that belong to my dearest friends and family members, that I can't wait to be back around and apart of their lives. I would imagine I fell in love with kids, learning about and realizing how important every single second is that you spend with them. The fact of molding this little human's life into anything you want to teach them and show them and oh, my goodness, it's the coolest concept ever. And lets be real, the scariest. I realize more and more as years go on, that there are few ways of parenting "correctly." One must do the best of how they know and show constant love and encouragement and that's what it's about; showing them as much of the world as you can and constantly showering them with too much love. Kids are so much themselves, and that is something I love. They are so curious and expressive and 100% themselves. What you see is what you get, and that's admirable. While babysitting last night, the 5 year old looked at me with the straightest face and said, "I enjoy picking my boogers. Sometimes I roll them into little balls. It's awesome." I could not hold my silent mode, gut laughter inside. Oh my gosh, you guys! Absolutely no filter. At times, I understand this isn't always the best thing. But that's where you come in. Kids are just hilarious. I'm so lucky to spend my days with them.

One more, super simple thing I am grateful for today, that smiley mug up there. You read correctly, yes, that smiley mug. If you keep up with me, you've seen it before. How can something so ridiculous looking and simple make someone so happy? Maybe it's not the mug. Maybe it's my mentality. Either way, that mug makes me so frickin happy. I smile every time I look at it. 

I hope everyone is enjoying their Labor Day! I'll be right here, in my back yard, constantly blowing up your news feed. 

Cheers! 

 

 

This morning, my dearest Mother nominated me to do the Gratitude Challenge. You know, you've seen posts on Facebook about it, don't act like you haven't. Can't we all just take some time to voice what we're grateful for? 

My immediate response was, "Three things a day? There are way more than three things a day." So instead of changing up my status on Facebook daily, I'm choosing to just make it one, nice, grateful blog and call it good; better than good.

I figured I would make notes, daily, and then on the fifth day write a blog. But, since it's Sunday and I literally cleaned my entire place yesterday, top to bottom, washed all the floors, did all the laundry, I have a few hours to acknowledge some things that I have even come across this morning that I am grateful for. At the end of the week, you better count on me writing about the other things I feel grateful for. 

So, like I just said, I cleaned all day yesterday and after drinking my coffee, eating breakfast and chatting with my Mom, I felt motivated to organize a bit. In my world, there are always things to clean and organize, thanks to my Mom. This cleaning gene is sometimes a problem. ;) 

I came into our guest room and started to go through some things. I love throwing things away. The feeling of getting rid of clutter and making room for things that I actually use and find beautiful is a great feeling to me. One thing that I feel the need to keep, you're going to laugh, because cards are one thing that people often do throw away. Cards! Yes, cards! As many of you know, I'm a sucker for inspiring words and people's ability to show love and appreciation for others. This brings me to the first thing that I am grateful for on this Sunday. 

1. I am grateful for people who have shown me appreciation for my work and care for their children in my life. I came across cards from my Director, Co-Workers and parents that were written to me the week before I left KinderCare back in Wisconsin, before moving to Colorado. My director wrote, "Kelsey, thank you for being a part of my team. You are so creative, organized, caring and have a great sense of humor and positive attitude.  I appreciate all of your hard work, your ability to get along with everyone and all that you bring to the center. We are all so lucky to work with you." The end of one of the cards from one of my infant parents says, "Those kids and families in Colorado don't know how extremely lucky they are to have you. You will be truly missed." I came across the card that all my Co-Workers wrote in and I laughed out loud and you can bet that I got tears in my eyes too. One Co-Worker and friend wrote, "Thank you for being such an inspiring Co-Worker and for all of the help you've done for my teaching abilities. You have taught me a whole new side of positive attitude and living your life to it's fullest potential."  How did I seriously get this lucky, to work with such amazing women in my life? 

Of course, going through things I came across a trillion and one pictures of Joel and I. And now I'm just thinking about how I never print out pictures anymore and that I probably should. 

2. I am grateful for Joel's ability to have such a big heart and not be embarrassed to show his love. From his random post-it notes that I felt the need to keep (because I throw everything away, right?) to all the Birthday, Christmas, Missing you and 'just because' cards he's written to me through the years. If I was asked to explain to you the love I feel for Joel and the love we share towards each other, I don't even know if I could. There are no words. Alright, I'm getting sappy. 

"Lust may ebb and flow, but the friendship and gratitude never should."

I love our life together. Thanks for... just everything.

There are a million others things I am grateful for in this moment, on this day, but I'll refrain and I should probably go take a shower anyways. The last thing is: 

3. I am grateful for our abilities to change as people; to grow over time. Even in the last two years of living in Colorado, I see changes in the person that I've become and am becoming. I find my tastes in style, decorating, music, even my taste buds have done some evolving. I like squash now, you guys! I told my mom this morning that I wish she would have kept everything that I told her I didn't like over the years, or that I thought was ugly, because I probably like it now. I find it so interesting. Oh, life, how you continue to amaze me. 

Hang tight and by the end of the week, I'll have plenty more things to say, I always do. ;) 

Now, why don't you go ahead and acknowledge all the things that you are grateful for. It will make you feel amazing. I know I'm feeling pretty stellar right now, that's for sure. 

"There can be no joy in living without joy in work."

It's my favorite time of year, you guys! The windows are open, it feels like Fall and all I want to do is go buy a new pair of boots and a pumpkin spice latte. I'm choosing to not think about the fact that I'm missing out for the second year in a row on the 'Great Minnesota Get Together', deep fried pickles, giant beers and my favorite ride, "Techno Power" and choosing to think about how amazing the weather is here in Colorado instead. One of my bests is home from San Francisco, back in the Midwest and I can't stop thinking about how badly I want to be there with her. Lets be honest, I've been thinking about home since I've been back on Mountain time. 

Last week I had a serious case of Vacationitis. I had been back in Colorado for a week and felt homesick. Homesick for the first time since I've lived in Colorado. That's almost two years, you guys! Two years here and I have never felt a longing for home like I did last week. If you must know, I feel better now! Between me being gone for a week at work, and my Co-teacher being gone for a week after, my kids were Tasmanian devils and I seriously questioned my profession, every single day after work. I even cried two of those days. I laugh now, as I look back and picture myself in the shower, shaving my legs and crying and Joel walking in and wondering what the heck was going on with me. 

This week's mood, I'll have you know, is right up there, where it usually is; up on the high road, appreciating all life has given me, with a smile on my face. Joel had musician friends in town last week and at this time last Friday, I was getting home from work and locked myself in my room with my cats and laptop and had a serious pity party. Pity City, population 1! I figured, lock myself in our room instead of be a giant bitch brat to whoever I talked to. The Great Gatsby saved me that night, as it usually does. 

With both my Co-teacher and I being back this week, things are slowly starting to get back to normal. I hugged the shit out of her upon her arrival to work on Monday. Every day, I see my new toddlers listening better, using their words instead of their hands and I'm confident that last week was probably the worst, mainly because my kids didn't have the security and consistency of both of us. One of my little boys has cried at drop-off for the two weeks that I was gone and my Co-teacher was gone. We laughed the morning that both of us were back and he came right in smiling. Trust me, little man, it feels good for me too. All feels right in the world again! 

Today was great! Our school was closed to families and was an in service day for us teachers. I slept in, ate breakfast, drank double the amount of coffee and washed my bedding, all before I had to work at 8:30. My Co- teacher and I had a chance to clean our room, without anticipating toddlers waking up every few minutes and I got to focus on putting up new boards. I excitedly asked my director to come look at my finished products and smiled to myself as it reminded me of all the times I would invite my mom into my room when I was little, eagerly showing her the dance I had just made up to my favorite song, or the fact that I learned all the words to a song that I needed to sing to her. My Mom, my favorite audience; I felt so proud. 

I'm ending this post by honoring another wonderful Mother I know. The one who asked my age the first time she met me, who had to make sure that this baby face that I've had since I was two, wasn't a minor down in her son's bedroom. 

I've already told you today, but I'll say it again; you deserve the best day, after helping raise three crazy Kachel boys and continuing to love them and their significant others. I imagine I'll be calling you for help someday, with my insane, ADD, ADHD children. 

Happy Birthday, Diane!

 

Every Day Was Wonderful.

Welcome home to myself and cheers to being back on mountain time. I was just thinking to myself that I felt so much more motivation to blog back home in Wisconsin and felt overly inspired but had less time to actually do so. I'm loving all the reactions, hugs, cheers and high fives I've gotten regarding my last post. To say that Joel and I are ecstatic about moving home into a house. to call our own. is one solid understatement. Oofta! 

The last ten days back in the Midwest were dreamy. Yes, I said dreamy and no not specifically because the majority of my thoughts were day dreams of living in the house I grew up in and remodeling it and filling it with children but that's accurate. Let me tell you friends, I have baby fever. There are so many ridiculously awesome and adorable babies filling my life. I'm reminding myself every day to just enjoy the days with Joel and that we have the rest of our lives to procreate and lets just enjoy our friend's babies for now. The times that we are naked and giving each other massages to spa music, are times we tell ourselves we wouldn't want to go comfort a crying baby. 

After a 15 hour drive that I slept through entirely, we made it to Durand, Wisconsin and the first person we saw was my sister in law and her new puppy. Intending to catch up on sleep before even setting up our tent, we laid in the sun and caught up on life but never on sleep. As my close friends and our families filed into the land, I was like a five year old on Christmas morning, cheesing from ear to ear. That night, I also found out that I'm not only going to be an Aunt for the first time, but I'll be an Aunt to a little boy, who I hope learns all his dance moves from his Dad, my hilarious Brother. 

After an amazing weekend cathing up with my girlfriends, playing flip cup with water (because that's what you do when you're 26 and refuse to be hung over the following morning) endless laughs, a perfect weather river float and too much delicious food, the weekend I wait for all summer long, came to an end. And it couldn't have been a more perfect way to start my ten day long vacation, where summers are the absolute best. 

 

Before Joel and I even came home, we agreed that a trip to Valley Fair was quite necessary, partly because that last time I had been there, I had braces and I couldn't remember the last time I indulged in Dippin' Dots a couple times in one day. Conveniently, my girlfriends had already planned a date to go and it worked out for us to be at their sides. We couldn't have asked for a better day, weather wise and we even got stuck on a ride, but only for a few minutes. Joel and I ended that day with a send-off dinner at his Grandparent's house for his Cousin who just moved to London for the next year and a half. Eating delicious food and sitting on the grass, blowing bubbles and sharing funny conversations about 'the secret ingredient' in the bubble mixture, it's times like those that I feel lucky that I'll be marrying into the family someday. I chuckle to myself each time I've said that in conversation the last couple days because, hey! I can now. I'm not being crazy. Being with someone for over five years and already having gone to look at rings with them, I can say that and not be a crazy female. ;) 

I visited the Early Childhood center that set the bar high for me. The amazing management and co-workers that I had there all turned into family and I was devastated to leave them but at the time, was excited for our adventures in moving our life to Colorado. I saw kids that are now three that I had in the older infant room prior to leaving. I saw one little girl I used to babysit and hugged her way too tight after she shoved her chair back, threw her crayon down on the table and came right over to me as I walked into her Pre-K class, in hopes to see her. I sang "Happy Birthday" to a former co-worker, gave lots of hugs and feel confident that I want my job back there, upon returning home and of course, I'm bringing my babies there someday. "I will hire you back tomorrow if that's what you want," was a sentence that made me even more excited to move home. 

Last year, Joel's Aunt had the wonderful idea of each of the grandchildren having a designated month to do something special for their Grandma. Our month was August and could not have worked better, us both being home for a little over a week. Joel and I picked up his Grandma, spent the day catching up, eating lunch and filling her in on our life plans all while enjoying life's natural beauty at the Minnesota Arboretum. I can't even tell you how beautiful it was, you guys. The colors! Ah! I live for that stuff! 

I would imagine Spring there is insane. I couldn't stop thinking about how great it was for us to spend that one on one time with his Grandma and how badly I wanted to go back during every single season and take an obnoxious amount of pictures of the Crab Apple Tree field. 

We also made a trip to Vino in the Valley, which is the cutest little vineyard between two valleys in Wisconsin. We drank delicious wine with my parents and my Brother's Godfather and his wife, ate amazing food, listened to great music and witnessed two hot air balloons, filling up and taking off. 

We ended our trip home with a celebration at the cutest wedding venue you've ever seen. 

At the rehearsal, I said to Joel that I thought the venue was perfect and "Hmm, would Kevin and Kristen mind if we got married there, as well?" Unfortunately, the venue closes down by 10:00PM and I would like to avoid having the same exact wedding photos as our family, so we'll be looking elsewhere. It was a fun thought.

Congrats to Joel's Brother, Kevin, and his new Wife, Kristen. Aside from the scalding hot sun during family photos, the day couldn't have been more perfect. 

We love love.

Yep, I want to get married now.

Home Sweet Hudson

I can't believe I haven't taken the time to thoroughly fill you in on Joel and I making the move back home to the Midwest. I know I mentioned it briefly in my last post but went into no details whatsoever. Shame on me! 

If you are one of my close friends or family members, in the last week you've heard this story, perhaps a few times, so bare with me here. My Dad has been talking about retiring now for the last couple years, knowing when he was going to be able to do so. Both my parents are from small towns farther in Wisconsin. They are the only two, between both families that ventured away and made home in Hudson, Wisconsin, right on the border of Wisconsin and Minnesota, literally on the border, happily alongside the St. Croix River. Being the outspoken child that I am, I've always told my Mom and Dad, jokingly, but not really, to just give Joel and I the house. My mom always laughed and told us, "yeah right" while my Dad never said much, because the possibility wheels were turning. Recently, my Dad has said that he's been crunching some numbers and mentioned to us that once he retires, the house can be ours. No, they aren't giving us the house, we will be paying it off over time. Anyone who knows Joel and I, knows that our professions, are ones we aren't in for the money, by any means and that we can't save money to save our lives. Truthfully, we would be spending the rest of our lives saving money to buy a house. This way, my parents don't have to remodel and put time and money into changing things around the house in order to sell it (we plan to do some remodels at some point) and we don't have to go through all the time and stress one puts in through the process of buying. They will continue to get income from us to put towards anything new with their house, payments, whatever. I'm laughing because I don't even know buying and selling house terms and thank the sweet lord baby Jesus that honestly, I don't ever have to. This is one area that I will happily avoid during my years of 'becoming an adult.' Get out of jail free card? 

Being home and being surrounded by our friends and family, seeing the house that we plan to start our family in and it's amazing location, makes us want to speed up our life a little and that is a thought I'm telling myself to throw out the window, there's time. We walk around the house; inside, outside, the backyard, the front yard and talk about all our plans and then we just jump up and down like children hug and are so happy. We feel so blessed. 

Now, our move home won't be for another year and half, two years, so, Colorado friends, fellow employees and employers, don't fret. We'll make the most of our time together while we still have it. I know there will come a day when I will be driving down 94 and I will frantically look left and then right and see no mountains. I know the sunsets and sunrises won't compare, simply because there aren't mountains in front of them. I will appreciate our time out West and the oppurtunities it gave us as a couple to grow together and be thankful of our ability to move our life 17 hours away from all the people we love, to somewhat show us how blessed and appreciative we should be towards them. I've learned to drop the tendency to compare, but in all reality, there is no need to; the mountains are breathtaking and beautiful but they just don't compare to the love and closeness you feel from friends and family and the familiarity of home. I can't stop thinking about how happy I am that my kids get to have the childhood that I had, be close to the things that I was so lucky to be close to, and literally grow up inside the walls that I grew up in. 

My heart feels so full, you guys!  

"Time flows in a strange way on Sundays."

I'm as happy as a cat in a garden.

     You know those Sundays, when everything is just so great? Sundays when you sleep in. and wake up to a heart filled ceiling that you honestly never want to deconstruct. Sundays filled with farmers markets, sun flowers and cucumber water in a mason jar that has the sweet name that we decided to name our baby someday. The Sundays filled with Dave Matthews. Sundays filled with cheap entertainment from our cats being psycho and excited over a box that Joel's sound system was shipped back to him in. The Sundays filled with meals containing food that you've grown in your own backyard and tasty meats off the grill courtesy of my awesome other half, who is my own personal chef. He continues to fill my tummy and my soul with greatness. Sundays more like most days lately, thinking about the day that Joel and I get to buy my parents house and start our own family there. Yep, couldn't hold it in anymore. Thanks, Mom and Dad for the great opportunity. The thought consumes our life lately. The Sundays that make you feel refreshed and ready for the work week. The Sundays where the weather can't really decide what it wants to do but you experience comfortable, breezy cloudy weather and then the sun comes out just in time to go down. Sundays chatting texting girlfriends about the excitement of seeing them in just a couple short weeks. Twelve days, beaches!  Sundays you receive hilarious Snapchats. Gosh, Snapchat. Thanks, friends, for being so damn funny. The Sundays you're actually productive because you spent the entire day, cozy on the couch with your man yesterday, finishing the last two seasons of WEEDS and finishing where you left off in Dexter right after. "Time you enjoyed wasting (watching a great series), was not wasted." Sundays where you started your day with a warm mug of coffee and an enjoyable Skype session with your mother. Sundays filled with laundry. I love doing laundry. Sundays spent thinking about not just moving home, but having chickens in the back yard, giving us fresh eggs to devour on the regular. The Sundays you also spend eating an entire bag of dark chocolte covered raspberries between you and the one you love. Sundays filled with fresh air coming in through the windows instead of the hum of the AC unit. Sundays filled with the new Afrojack song, that I really want to dance with my girlfriends to.

It's one of those Sundays. 

It's also going to be a Sunday filled with freshly washed bedding.

Mm. 

I love these those Sundays. 

Saying.... "I hate to say it, but it's almost too hot to be outside.".
Obsessing.... over Lana Del Rey's new album.
Grilling.... chicken breasts and french bread and making the most delicious sandwich.
Listening.... to Joel play guitar in the other room.
Surprised.... by the greatness of our Farmers Market trip this morning.
Eating.... fresh raspberries.
Wearing.... my flower crown because I'm proud of the things I create.
Getting.... exercise on our walk to the library.. to find out it doesn't open for 50 minutes. 
Reading.... other people's wonderful blogs. 
Feeling.... inspired. Always.
Looking.... forward to Durand and seeing my bests in 19 days. 
Realizing.... that I'm really going to miss the mountains someday.
Wanting.... chickens. I can't wait to have chickens.
Smelling.... sunscreen and bonfires.
Drinking.... microbrews. 
Appreciating.... other people's brilliant minds and inspiring words. 
Feeling.... the softness of my cats warm fur in the sunshine. 
Laughing.... at our ridiculous looking succulents. 
Excited.... about becoming an Aunt in January.
Capturing.... my life via Instagram
Tasting.... wine from a local Vineyard. 
Seeing.... blue skies. 

but seriously, look at our succulents.

Making.... the most of every minute.

Happy Sunday, friends!