To Midwest Summers and Marriage Equality.

I read an article awhile ago, something along the lines of "Things You Must Refrain From Doing Once You Pass the Age of Twenty Six." I think it was shortly before my twenty sixth Birthday, or soon after, so I was intrigued. One of the things, was 'posting albums to Facebook.' Another thing was 'shopping at Forever 21.' Well, considering photos make me happy and I love taking them, have always taken too many, and the fact that I'm a teacher and don't make bank, I'll continue to do both those things forever, at least for a little while. Perhaps, just to rebel, I'll continue to do other things on the list too. No one likes to be told what to do.

So, after posting an album of pictures to Facebook just now, I can tell you about how wonderful it's been, living back in the Midwest and diving head first into Summer. We've been constantly surrounded by our best friends, family and familiar people. One of the first Friday nights back home, Joel didn't have a show scheduled, which is an extreme rarity, so we decided to have a small gathering around our fire. After laughing way too hard over hilarious face coasters, (look here to have a giggle) feeding our salt water fish and being huge nerds over our predator tank, beer drinking, brat eating and of course, the best company, everyone left and Joel and I laid on our hammock, talking about how phenomenal it feels to be back, listened to the trees and then fell asleep until we woke up shortly before 4AM and moved inside.

This weekend, the one that's happening as I type, has been probably my favorite so far. Friday morning, I woke up feeling irritable and wanted chocolate for breakfast. I got to work and the toddlers were all cries and mostly whines and well, they were on my level. I was with them! On my lunch break, I watched the "Breaking News" snap story on marriage equality and cried a little bit. Then I laughed to myself and thought, "You know you're getting your period when the marriage equality snap story makes you cry." I felt so extremely happy and thankful to live in a place where being able to marry the person you love, is finally legal, in all 50 states.  And then I thought to myself, "Is this really happening now? Why hasn't this already happened? How was this an issue for so long?" I love that I'm able to remember this day in history and am able to live it, be apart of it.

Friday night, I made my way to Minneapolis to spend the night with one of my very best friends. I hadn't yet seen her place, since she moved while I was still living in Colorado. Her place is perfect and in a perfect location. She treated me to, like 7 or 8 courses of delicious, to die for food that they serve where she works, restaurant Alma. We sat at the bar and started with champagne, progressed to each course, each paired with a different glass of wine and then had 2 or 3 desserts? Gosh, it felt like my freaking Birthday. After each bite, my world was rocked and I couldn't stop laughing at the fact that I must not get out much. I felt so happy. The first glass of wine we drank was straight from Malaga, Spain, the place Joel and I stayed together back in 2012. This fun fact really got me going.

Not even half.

Even after a belly so full of delicious food and a serious wine buzz, I couldn't say no to cappuccinos that looked straight out of a movie. Of course, I took pictures of everything. 

After spending a little more than 4 hours, content at the bar, chatting with the fun people she works with, we decided it was smarter to go back to her place, drink a ton of water to balance out the great amount of wine we drank and watch a funny movie like we used to do when we were younger.

We slept in until noon and then I was treated to mimosas and brunch. 

 We have been so busy, constantly going, going, going, that I haven't had much time to think about Colorado. The one thing that I do think about daily is that I would much rather bask in the Colorado heat, where there's no humidity, like there is here in the Midwest. I get snapchats of my best friend in Colorado and her little boy and for that, I am thankful. I don't even have to ask for them. Every day I drink out of the coffee mug that my co-teacher bought me before I left and I know, more often than not, I would go straight for that mug, even if all my other mugs were unpacked and stored in the cupboard with it. 

My first couple weeks back to work at KinderCare have been great. I love the Summers there. The smell of sunscreen just constantly wafts through the halls. I'm enjoying getting to know all the kids and new co-workers I spend my days with and am loving bonding again with all the old ones I've missed. I can't get over how big all the kids are, considering how little they were when I left them 3 years ago. I've gotten so many hugs from parents that tell me that seeing my face around the school again is something they love and look forward to. "You were one of the hardest to watch go and I'm so happy you're back. You are one of the best teachers." Spending my days with little siblings to some of the kids I had before I moved, make me feel like I never left. Some of them, I wasn't even aware that there was baby number two or three. "It just wouldn't be the same if you didn't take care of all three of our boys." 

 The constant "Welcome backs" make me feel even more at home than I already do. 

I feel so freaking thankful life brought us back to this point. 

Cheers!