So Many Blogs...

... so little time. I have such a growing list of blogs and images to share and just not enough time to punch them out. A wee-little update will just have to suffice for now. As usual, Wes and I have taken on several fun Christmas projects, and extra hours at work, making the week before we leave quite the busy one. Though I am really in no state to be talking about such things because I am very tired. And well folks, I'm sure even you know that I get very illogical when I'm tired. So while we do have a nice sized to-do list,  right now I will tell you: its 5 miles long (and that's really not true!!).

When I'm tired and stress is looming, I usually cry, and over-exaggerate, and sometimes throw the occasionally pity party. I also like to dream up even more to-dos, pretend that they are pressingly important and feel even more sorry for myself. But this isn't my pity-party. Really. I promise you. If I was partying in pity right now I don't think I'd be sitting here writing about it... no.... I think I'd be crying. And my eyes are tear-free! (I mean as long as you don't include the two that I shed an hour ago.) I really am completely fine. I'm just in a fog... and a full nights sleep will make me feel as good as new.

So, onto more fun things than me being tired... Winter break has been so lovely!!! We went on a wonderful (seriously-- magical!)  date which Wes does a great job recapping on his blog, in this post; some Christmas shopping has ensued as well as some viewing of Christmas movies. We have been enjoying ourselves for sure. And we can hardly wait to come home! 5 days in counting!!!

Countdown

It's FINALS WEEK everyone!!!

I somehow managed to finish my last paper of the quarter lastnight. You can ask Wes how many times I whined: "ooooohhhh myyy gossh...." or "whaaat am I dooooing???" It was for my art-philosophy class. I was writing about an art critic named Clement Greenberg, then I had to relate him to Modernism, and THEN I had to relate those two topics to Kant. Fabulous. and what do you know? I'm bored again already which means I bet you are too!


Moving on...

Tonight is my Art History final, Thursday is my Critical Theory final, and last week I finished up Meaning and Making.

4 days until I'll be on Christmas break! Now back to studying...

and trying my hardest not to daydream about seeing you all in a couple of weeks. ;)

Can't wait! Thanksgiving blog is soon to come.

-Katie

Can I?

So if you talk with me on a somewhat regular basis you will know that I *love* the girls I nanny. And I  have quite a special bond with the 2 year old, seeing as how I have known her since two months of age. You would know that I love them because I talk about them constantly (thank you for listening! - especially you Wes who hears by far more than everyone else!). But my point here is that the internet hears little of this love. On a rare occasion I will share a story or two, but I am very cautious about respecting their privacy, etc. Anyway! my point here is that today my post is about my work. Rather, it is about Miss 2 year old who is changing faster than ever (seriously, today it felt like she got smarter with every passing hour). She has been putting sentences together for a while now, but only recently has she been asking questions, and building bigger sentences. This week her "favorite" phrase has been "Can I..(fill in the blank)..??" Can I RUN? Can I read-a-book? Can I EAT string CHEESE? and on occasion it will simply just be: "CAN I???"

Now prepare for me to get all cheesy on you but this is where I'm going with this. Today while we are eating lunch together instead of mindlessly spewing "Can I?" out of apparent habit, she appeared to be intensely thinking... She then looks at me and says "Can I?..... I can." With a head nod and then continues eating.

And the cheese in this is that I am sitting here all inspired. As I reflect on my day (which wasn't a great one) I'm exhausted, completely overwhelmed with school and life and my ongoing water-works about moving away (that for another day- though really does it need an explanation?) I am inspired by my little Miss. I mean really, I know I'm not alone in saying this... that's one of the beautiful things about having kids right? You see life through new eyes.... you remember the amazingness that lies in all of those little things....

So, I'll say it:

CAN I???? I can. I can finish up two more quarters of school. I will graduate in June. We will move to Europe for a hunk of time. And.... I'll just be.... crying.... every so often. As I think about saying goodbye to this family that I care about. Our apartment. Our walk to the grocery store. Our church. Portland.
hOKAY! Time for bed! ;) Nighty night. I'll be fine because...I can.

Sometimes I get Overwhelmed...

... and last week was just such a time. You know that point in time where excitement meets reality and you feel all tangled up inside? That's me, I'm tangled. I guess it all started a couples of weeks ago when I ran into some stress at the peak of quarter papers and signing up for winter classes. I'll confess, 99% of the time, signing up for classes breaks me. It's always a stressful ordeal... but the reality that I'm speaking of is our moving away from this place, graduating, planning our dreams... its a lot to think about. In fact, I have officially reached the stage in which I start to get all choked up anytime I even think about moving (yes, even now as I type). It's true. I'm starting to feel like we are at the top of a very fast slippery slope. While 7 months sounds like I a lot, my adult self knows that it'll go by so fast, especially with this holiday season right in the middle of it. Anyway, just holding myself together, one cup of coffee and a good night's sleep at a time. And as I was crying to Wes all about it, in the midst of all of his wonderful validation, support, and encouragement he sang this:




How perfectly fitting. Hope the song puts a smile on your face like it did for me! I'm excited to put one foot in front of the other and head on home for Thanksgiving!!!  (Sorry that was SUPER-cheese). But seriously, we can't wait to see you all!

Hoping to post one more blog before we make the drive on Tuesday. We shall see. Happy (almost) Turkey week to you!

To Eggnog, Or not to Eggnog. That is the Question.

Happy Monday to you! This weekend I feel like I officially allowed myself to start thinking about the holiday season. It has just felt too early to be thinking about Christmas trees and all of the other festivities that come with holiday territory. However, now that thanksgiving is (dare I remind you?) ten days away, I figure its about that time. Last year I discovered the yummy-ness that is soy eggnog. I've never truly been a fan of the regular stuff... it's just too sweet. I take one sip and then I'm done. But this... this my friends, is yum. Just plain: YUM.

So, I'll confess, I've been stalking it at the grocery store. Ever time I pass by the dairy items I peek to see if it has arrived, and I am happy to report that it has. Now, I'm determined to wait until after Thanksgiving to purchase it. It just seems too early right??? (Says the girl who just ordered an eggnog latte' at Powell's -- I guess you can forget everything I just said.)

My point here is simply to say: I'm trying my hardest to wait until December to purchase this soy-goodness. If you have a hankering I strongly recommend it.

10 days until Thanksgiving and 8 days until we make the drive home. We can't wait to see you all!!!

Sexy Snotty Nose

I'm not sick again.
And I definitely don't have a pile of used tissues sitting next to my computer right now.
And I most definitely don't sound like Pheobe in this clip.

Dear Santa,

Some people have been asking us about what we would like for Christmas this year. I thought maybe you'd want our list too.

 Wes's List: 
Patagonia Men's Nano Puff Hoody, Medium, Black
REI Venturi Quarter-Zip shirt, Medium, Black
Band of Brothers DVD Series (Whole Set)
Road to Perdition
Whiskey: The Definitive World Guide (hardcover book)
Merrel Trail Glove Cross-Training shoes, size 11, Red
V for Vendetta Graphic Novel
Regions of Scotland Whiskey Tasting Set 
Bushmills 16 Year old Irish Whiskey
Amazing Grace (movie)
 

Katie's List:
 Wildfox Couture, Beach Jumper, black, small
Women's half dome hoodie, medium, black, or navy 
Madewell braided friendship bracelet,  black and white

Hue Travel slippers, size 2, black, red, Red space dye, or planet space dye 
Deborah Lippmann Nailpolish, "happy Birthday" 
Butter London Nailpolish, "The Black Night"
Onitsuka Tiger "Serrano" Sneaker, Size 8, Grey/Coral
Color by Jane Packer
Flower Design by Judith Blacklock
Stella (Perfume) by Stella McCartney (any size)
Fluxus Nomad Scarf in any grey, olive, or blush toned color
 
Gift Cards: Nordstroms, Powells, Sephora, REI, VISA

Wes & Katie's List:
Outdoor Dry Ditty Sacks set of 3 (2 please!)
Nalgene Travel Body Kit Medium
Rick Steves':
Florence and Tuscany 
Amsterdam, Bruges, and Brussels
Spain
Provence French Riviera

Inception (movie)
Any of the Madmen seasons
I Love Lucy Seasons (any except for season 2)
Friends Seasons (any except for seasons 5 and 8)

much love, milk, and cookies,

Katie & Wes