30 Days of Thankfulness Day 9

Today I am thankful for books!

I love to read. As long as I can remember, books have been a big part of my life. Very rarely am I not in the middle of multiple books. I read almost every single night before I go to bed a lots times throughout the day (if allowed) and I have been like this as long as I can remember.

Since my mom is a teacher, she started reading to my brother and I before we can ever remember. Both of my parents are avid readers, so we were exposed to reading all of our lives. We always had dozens and dozens of books to choose from at home. We took trips to the library some times multiple times per week.

Growing up, I loved what I consider classic kids books, but I don't know if everyone else read them. Characters like Francis, Clifford, The Berenstein Bears, Curious George, Harry, and so many more were huge parts of our lives.

When I was a little older, new friends were introduced: Ramona, Laura Ingalls, Anne Shirley, Aslan, Sara Crewe, The March Family, Charlie Bucket, The Aldens (can you name all of these books??), and for several years, the most important; Kristy, Claudia, Mary Anne, Stacy, Dawn, Abby, Jessi and Mallory. I loved reading the same books over and over again. In fact, I still do. It's like meeting up with old friends. I still re-read the Chronicles of Narnia, Anne of Green Gables and The Little House books ever year, along with several others.

I still love to read. I find new series to read and get hooked on. Harry Potter, Twilight, True Blood, Dan Brown, and many, many more. I still make regular trips to the library, especially now that I'm a mom. Kalaya has literally been read to since she was 4 months in the belly. She loves books, which just tickles me to death. She has dozens of board books and probably 300 picture books from when I was teaching. Though she won't sit still very long to have a book read to her, she will quietly sit and look at board books for 30-45 minutes at a time, which is amazing to me! We love books in the Sigrah household!

30 Days of Thankfulness Day 8

Today I am thankful for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One, which comes out next week!! In a way, it makes me sad too, because after the next movie comes out...no more books or movies to look forward to. : ( They'll all be done for good.

It may not be known to others just how much I love Harry Potter. Many of my college friends know that another friend and I started a Harry Potter Fan Club on our campus. And yes, it was totally nerdy. And totally awesome!! We found out later that we were the first official chartered Harry Potter club on a college campus in the US, which is pretty sweet. : ) We had several members each term, which was a pleasant surprise! And, everyone was so fun!

My favorite question that we used to get was, what do you do at meetings? We actually did a lot of different activities. We had trivia and game nights. We had debates and discussions about all of the different books. At that point, not all of the books were out, so we had big talks about connections and theories about what was going to happen before the series ended. (I said it was nerdy : )

We also did volunteer work with a local elementary school reading program. We went to the movie premiers at midnight, many in costume. (including yours truly!) We had white elephant parties with HP themed gifts. Probably my favorite activity we had were our feasts. We did them for holidays and the beginnings of the term. We would have a potluck and everyone would bring a HP themed dish; butter beer, poly juice potion, pumpkin pasties, cauldron cakes (what would we have done without Google??), Dumbledore Hair Pasta, Mandrake Leaf Salad and sooooo many more. We would decorate the room to look like Hogwarts; we put black paper over the lights and poked holes through the make the 'night sky', we made banners for all the houses and we hung candles from the ceiling.

I love those books. I love that JK Rowling created and entire world of magic and fantasy. I love all the creative ideas she came up with. I love the characters. The story lines are great and keep you hooked until the end. I love that she got so many kids and adults to start reading! I love that she brought just a little more magic and make believe into this world, something we can never have enough of!

One of my favorite parts of my summer in Europe, Platform 9 3/4!!!

And yes, those are the official club sweatshirts: The front says 'Be All the Muggle You Can Be' and the back says 'Dumbledore's Army' which a golden snitch. Yes, WE ARE AWESOME!!

30 Days of Thankfulness Day 7

Today I am thankful for cute babies and family portraits. We went today to get pictures taken because, for some reason, we haven't had portraits taken in a YEAR! I am actually pretty disgusted with myself for this, especially since I didn't get 1 year pictures taken of her. : ( Oh well. We actually went to 2 places today, which may have made me crazy, but it went exactly how I wanted. Maybe I should explain.

This is what I wanted to accomplish with pictures: a family portrait for Christmas cards, some cute Christmas themed pictures of Kalaya for family members and some 18 month pictures in the dress I wore in my 18 month pictures. (my mom has saved a LOT of outfits from when I was a baby. Good job mom!)

So, we first went to JC Penney's, because I had good coupons for them, to get all of the pictures of Kalaya. Here is the site: https://viewimages.jcpportraits.com/myalbum My email is mcmahonkp@yahoo.com and the password is apollo11. We had a free session fee coupon for only one person, so we didn't do the family portrait at Penney's. We did get some fantastic deals and saved a lot of money. We did several with Kalaya in her Christmas outfit and several with my dress from when I was a baby. So cute!! In fact, there is one Christmas picture that will be used at our local JC Penney's to promote Christmas pictures this season!! (picture P13) I'm totally psyched, it is adorable!

It was crazy how well she did this time. Last year we had portraits taken for Christmas and she hated every second of it. We didn't get one smile in over an hour. Not ONE! In fact, we had to settle for catching a picture when she wasn't sobbing. It was a disaster and we paid waaaaay too much for a private studio. (although they were very helpful, very tolerant and really good quality pictures) This year was like a different kid! (major difference between 6 and 18 months!) She wore both outfits, allowed the change, let me change her hair style, sat or stood exactly where she was told and smiled big for the camera each time. She even said "cheese!" for almost all the pictures. And, it was during nap time on the day after changing back the clocks after having to wait longer than expected. She was fantastic, we are so proud of her.

Then, we went to Sears to take one of the family. I didn't want anything fancy, just a basic, quick picture. They also have really good coupons. They insisted on a few of her, which are cute, but I didn't buy any of them. (we have PLENTY from Penney's) We bought several of the family picture of us sitting on the ground together. I think she looks cute, but the picture isn't anything fantastic. However, it was cheap and we look nice and that was all I wanted!! You can see those here: http://www.searsphotos.com/Default.aspx Then log in with my email: mcmahonkp@yahoo.com and the password is apollo11. Click on My Albums at the top. She looks like such a big girl!

30 Days of Thankfulness Day 6

Today I am thankful for shopping and new clothes!

One of my best mommy friends and I have our birthdays exactly 2 weeks apart, so the last two years, our families have celebrated on the weekend between the days. We had planned to do a mommy overnight to the beach this year, but it didn't work out. Instead, we did a mommy day of shopping instead. And it was fun!!

We (Sarah and I) are starting to think ahead to Christmas. Actually, we've been thinking about it for a couple of months. I am determined not to run up a credit card bill this year. For the last several years, all of a sudden it's 2 weeks before Christmas and Nelson and I run around grabbing presents for everyone, not giving it a second thought how much we're spending and put it all on credit, not thinking about how much we're spending. And then it takes awhile to pay everything off.

This year, I've been paying attention. I made a list of everyone we need to shop for, from family members to co-workers and everyone else in between. I brainstormed ideas for each person and gave myself an approximate amount to spend on each person. I've been buying a few things, here and there, waiting until good sales. I've checked prices and ads online to find the best deals. I'm paying with debit, instead of credit cards, which is scary, but such a relief when the bills come. And, I am SUPER excited, because Sarah and I are going to go out early on BLACK FRIDAY! I used to think those people were crazy, but this year is going to be great. Sarah is my veteran shopper, and I've gotten tips from other people who have done it. My goal is to be done with most, if not all of my Christmas shopping before December. Hooray!!

So, today we started out our trip with some Christmas stuff. We went to Ikea, Marshall's, Ross and Home Goods. We found some really good deals and got some good stuff. Sarah got almost all of hers done, which was great! I'm officially done toy shopping, except for Kalaya's kitchen, which I'm still debating about. I'm still looking on Craig's list, but Toys R Us is having a really good sale right now...I'm still thinking. I also got a lot of my relatives gifts taken care of. Hooray!

But, the best part was going to Target and doing a (mini) shopping spree just for ME! Sarah and I told ourselves that we were ONLY looking in women's clothing. NO KIDS CLOTHES OR TOYS Ever since our daughters were born, neither of us has really gone shopping for ourselves, other than the occasional necessary replacement of something basic or something on super clearance. I know that (for me), it's been a tough adjustment getting used to having a mommy body. Yes, I lost all of my pregnancy weight and a couple more pounds, but my body isn't the same. I can no longer fit into "junior" clothes, simply because of my hips. My breasts are different. There is extra skin (okay and maybe a little pudge) in places it wasn't before. It's not that I think I am fat, I just don't like clingy clothes any more or clothes that show my middle. I am just not comfortable showing off my body like I used to. Plus, as a mommy, I don't feel like it's really appropriate anyway. (it's okay for other moms, just not me)

I know that I am getting some birthday money. I told myself that I wouldn't look at prices. I would only look to see if I felt good in each item and not think about price. For once, I didn't even look at the clearance rack!! (this is a huge accomplishment) I figured, I'm shopping at Target, not Bloomingdale's, it's not like I'm going to find something more than $30 anyway!

I ended up with 4 sweaters, 3 shirts, and 2 pairs of pants. I didn't end up spending more than I had planned for and I hadn't even checked prices!! I love the stuff I got and it's just in time, because we are getting family portraits tomorrow. I love the stuff I got and I actually feel cute in all of it!! And, I bought a pair of skinny jeans, which I am still in shock about!! Sarah convinced me to try them on and they actually fit and I actually like how they look!! I feel really trendy : ) Maybe I'll actually post some pictures of my new clothes. Fun!!

30 Days of Thankfulness Day 5

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been holding this in for so long and I am so thankful to finally share:

NELSON GOT A NEW JOB TODAY!!!!!!

I am over the moon excited!!! He started applying back in May, so we have been playing the unsure-of-our-future game for several months. And this afternoon, the wait is over!

This means so many changes are in store for us. It is a new area of work for Nelson. He has worked in admissions offices ever since college graduation, both under grad and grad and was really worried about getting stuck there the rest of his life. But, his new job is in the advising office at Portland State! He is excited and I'm so proud of him! This means we can move back to OREGON!!!!!! I am over the moon about that. It means a pay increase, which is fantastic. (not a major one, but it will make a huge difference!) The only detail is that we signed a lease until June, but I am hoping to talk my way out of it first thing Monday morning. These are the new changes coming soon:

~We will be temporarily moving in with my parents. They are wonderful to let us do this, especially with an 18 month old. They have a large house, so it won't be too bad, but I still feel bad intruding. The plan is to be out by March. We hope. I have offered to take over cooking dinner every night, which my mom is thrilled about, since she's still teaching full time.

~The majority of our house will go into storage, for now.

~Once we get out of our lease and save up for a couple of months, we will be meeting with a financial advisor to figure out what we can afford as far as loans go....

~....so that we can buy a house!! This feels like such a major step, so adult and so exciting. We are going to take it slow and make sure we have a down payment of some kind, but we hope this will happen early next year! We are so ready to be done with renting and ready to have a house of our own!! We're hoping to buy in Northwest Portland/Beaverton, so our kids can go to Beaverton schools. Crazy to already be thinking about that, but we are hoping to be settled in our new place for at LEAST 5 years, if not many more. It's also near our church and my parents.

~Dependents of Oregon state school employees get 75% reduced tuition, so I will be going back to grad school, at least on a part time basis. Though, this probably won't happen until spring term. Which means I have to transfer credits from WOU or transfer to Portland State. Most likely, I'll transfer.

~I will be nannying 2 days a week for a new family, but not until May. The baby isn't even born yet : )

SO, I am very, very, VERY thankful for new jobs. Hopefully next week, I will be able to be thankful for breaking leases. But, one thing at a time, right?

30 Days of Thankfulness Day 4

Today I am thankful for FOOD!!

I am very thankful that I've never really known what it is to be hungry. I am thankful that I have always had plenty of food, more than enough, available to me. I'm thankful that Nelson and I have been able to always provide healthy food for our daughter. (and our dog too :)

I am thankful that I met friends who opened my eyes about our food industry. Even though it's horrible to learn about, I'm so glad that we've made so many changes in our family about how we buy food. I'm grateful to the people in this world who are opening the eyes of so many people about all of the horrors of the food industry: the poor treatment of the workers, the horrible conditions of the livestock, the terrible ingredients that make their way into so many of our foods, the chemicals, etc, etc, etc.

I'm thankful that people are casting more and more of their votes in favor of organics and foods with limited processing, so that companies out there are being forced to have better, healthier options for us and for our planet when it comes to buying food.

I am also thankful for the Food Network. Seems silly, but watching those shows is so inspiring to me! I love checking out and buying new cookbooks to try new recipes. I have slowly become obsessed with cooking and food. I think about it a LOT. I am always thinking of what I'm going to prepare for our next meal and how to do it. I love that I'm starting to be able to think up or modify recipes in my own way.

I am thankful for the women (I'd love to say people, but I haven't seen any site that men are in charge of) who have created the couponing movement. I'm grateful that I can find more ways to save money for my family.

I am thankful for the people who inspired me to make and create my own baby and toddler foods. It's so fun and so satisfying knowing exactly what goes into my baby. I love that she sees that food is grown, picked, bought, prepared, and cooked, rather than just coming from a box or jar. I love that she's tasting a wide variety of healthy foods.

I LOVE FOOD!! (and I'm very excited to eat a lot of it on the 25th and beyond!)

30 Days of Thankfulness Day 3

Today I am thankful for good health. It's definitely something I take for granted and need to be more grateful for.

I forget that even though my child has gotten colds, still doesn't always sleep through the night, sometimes won't eat what I put in front of her and sometimes screams bloody murder when being told she can't do something, she is a healthy, healthy child! She had no problems what-so-ever in the belly, at her birth or through out her infant months or toddler time so far. She has met each milestone more or less when she was supposed to. She has always been a healthy weight, length, etc. She got to come home with us right away from the hospital. All of her body parts function correctly and are forming developmentally appropriately. I forget these things and need to remind myself more often.

Along with that, I am grateful that if something does go wrong, we have doctors to take her to and it will be PAID FOR. I am incredibly thankful for this. I only wish all mothers and fathers were able to have this right (not privilege, EVERYONE is entitled to getting affordable treatment) that they wouldn't have to debate about whether or not to take their child to the doctor when they are sick or hurt, because they can't afford it.

I also need to be thankful for my own body. Yes, there are more days than not (unfortunately) that I focus on that extra roll, sag, zit or bag under my eye. That shouldn't be my focus. My body parts all function exactly as they're supposed to. (except for my eyes, but I am lucky enough that I have had vision correction as long as I've needed it) I am not in pain. I have no chronic illnesses. I've only been in the hospital twice, for my own birth and for the birth of my child. The only surgery I've had was for the greatest joy in my life. I've only had 2 minor injuries in my life. I am a healthy weight. I am not on any regular medications. I can do almost any physical activity I put my mind to. I am lucky, lucky, lucky. Most importantly, my body carried and delivered a beautiful, healthy baby for 40 weeks and has nourished her with my milk for almost 18 months.

I am thankful for good health and health care in and for my family and pray for those who don't have those joys.

30 Days of Thankfulness Day 2

Today I am thankful for living in the Great Northwest. I never appreciated just how much I love living and being in this part of the country until I left for a year, while Nelson went to grad school in Indiana.

There are many different aspects of living here that I enjoy:

~I love that we are close to both sets of Kalaya's grandparents, as well as one of her uncles and cousins. (if only my brother and his daughter would move here, it would be perfect! Though, I don't think that will ever happen)

~I love the mild climate. Until I lived in summer humidity and winter temperatures well below freezing, I didn't not realize what a joy this truly is. Sometimes I think that I get sick of the rain, but then I remember how beautiful and GREEN it is here all year round!

~I love the diversity of all aspects of life and the acceptance of those differences.

~I love that local, fresh produce is so readily available.

~GREEN takes on a whole new definition here with all of the options for recycling, reducing and reusing!

~I love living in BLUE states.

~We can drive to the beach, the mountains and almost any other climate within a few hours.

~Lots more that I can't think of off the top of my head.

Halloween

Hanging out at home to give out candy

Halloween didn't go exactly as we had planned, but we had a nice time just the same! Kalaya got to wear her costume several times. Last year I decided on a gender neutral costume, so that we could use it with our next child:


This year, I went totally girly and passed the torch of my costume for the last several years and Kalaya was Belle from Beauty and the Beast:

(by the way, it is next to impossible to get a posed picture of a toddler smiling!!)

The costume is gorgeous and she totally loved/s it. She wears the crown around the house and goes and brings the dress to me to wear it. It's surprisingly well made too and I got it for only $14.99!! It will last a long time for dress ups.

We started off the Halloween festivities back in early October with a trip to the pumpkin patch with our friends Sarah and Elena, as we did last year. We went back to Roloff Farm, from the TV show "Little People Big World", although the cameras weren't there this year. That's okay, because we were on the show last year!! The girls had a lot of fun going on the tractor ride, picking out and playing with pumpkins and looking at all of the different animals.

I still haven't figured out why there was a lion at the pumpkin patch, but it was neat!

Stopping for a snack in the old western town.

Picking a pumpkin

Running around!

Taking apart a hay bale

Tractor ride

We went to 3 different parties, including a birthday party for a friend, a Halloween play date with our mommy group and a party for another friend, all at which she got to wear her costume. It was a HUGE hit. She also wore it to Nelson's work one day and they loooooved her. You could totally tell she knew she was cute and she pranced about and waved to everyone. Such a princess. : )

Halloween itself started off with a cold and 3 teeth coming in, so we were up until 2:30am with a crying toddler which wasn't fun. Needless to say, we slept through our alarm to church and decided not to take her out to see anyone Halloween night. Instead, we went home and gave out candy at our house, which I think she enjoyed more than actually trick or treating. Here she is helping out:

She kept getting sad if there wasn't anyone coming to the door, so we had to go outside and trick or treat for her. We will probably wait until she's 3 before we start actually trick or treating. We'll see next year.

Thankful November

We had a fun Halloween, which I will post pics of later. But, I'm joining the 30 days of thankfulness for the month of November and will be posting something I'm thankful for each day.

Today, I'm thankful for my wonderful little family that I love so much!!