December Favorites

I have not done a very good job at keeping up with all I've been doing lately, but being back home in Kansas has been wonderful! It will make it tough to go back to Seattle in a week or so. I'll be sure to update you on all the cool things I've been up to over the holiday season. But for now, here are my favorite things for this month!

• My new Kindle Fire! As an unexpected Christmas present from Andrew, this little guy is so fun! I never thought I would've needed one of these things, but I've used it a ton already. I can get on the internets, download music, and get read lots of books! He thought it would be great for when I ride the train everyday and won't have to worry about hauling around a big book that doesn't fit in my purse. The best part is that before he gave it to me, he downloaded some of my favorite music, and a book from my favorite author onto it for me. Such a thoughtful guy :)

 

• Giving gifts! I know I have mentioned it many times before, but for me, the best part of the holiday season is making/picking out gifts for my close friends and family. My parameters for gift giving are ones that are personal, thoughtful, and useful. I will be sure to show some pictures of my favorites that I made in my post-holiday blog.

•  The beginning of justice! This. My family, and our close family friends have been waiting for this to happen for almost 10 years. In 2002, Mike and Karen were found shot at Karen's residence. I have had the privilege of knowing the Mike's children, and the Boots family for my entire life. I remember the funeral. I remember hearing the buzz about Dana showing up. It was creepy and disgusting. Mike's children, Dustin, who is my age, and Haley, who is older, have turned out to be successful, bright adults. I have never seen such strength and perseverance, despite this horrible, prolonged process that they have had to go through. Every time I think about having a bat shit crazy mother, or testifying against her, all I think is "I can't even imagine." Almost every day, I think about what will happen in the next few months, and what will happen. I can only pray the prosecutors keep up the good work like they did for the hearing, and justice finally gets served.     

 

 

• Hobbies.  I have also mentioned this aspect of my life before. I am sometimes a jump-around jack of all trades, master of none. Well, as I get older, I would kind of like to hone my talents in on some of those activities. This interest to find my own special hobby was sparked when Andrew got his very own, remote control airplane for Christmas. And let me tell you, he is borderline obsessed, but more on that in the next post. I figure I'm going to need something to be as equally enthusiastic about so I can suck him into one of my interests, as I have been sucked into pretty much all of his. Mostly airplanes. Not that there's anything wrong with that! We can just grow together while investing in each others interests :) And since I know he probably wouldn't be too keen on crafting, my list so far is crew, skeet shooting, and more wine stuff. (That's a picture of a wine bouquet aroma kit. I'm gonna train my nose!) I am sure this will prove to make many interesting memories in the future!

O is for Ode to the Preschoolers

Did you know the average preschooler asks 437 questions a day?


Did you know the average Kelsey says "No thank you!" an average of 829 times a day? (No thank you, is our nice version of "What the hell are you doing??" or "STOP IT.")


Though my career as an assistant preschool teacher was short-lived, it was a good experience that let me bond with some children, learn a little bit about how I would and would not parent my future kids, and get some insight into early childhood education. 


I never realized how I would get attached to the kids so quickly, or that I would get the opportunity to intern for the Seattle Aquarium the very first time I interviewed for it. It left me in a tough situation. I do not pride myself in leaving jobs after only 4 months, but I would be crazy not to. My boss did not seem to agree that this was such a great thing for my career, but you can't please em all. I will always try to live my life for what is best for me, and though that may sound selfish, I feel like there is no other way if you truly want to be happy. 


So here is a collection of my favorite quotes from my little buddies at Little Acorn.  May you read them and get a laugh at the innocent, unfiltered language of 3 year olds.


"Are you a good pole dancer??" A very enthusiastic question asked in reference to his favorite America's Got Talent act, an acrobat who did flips and tricks like a monkey between two large poles.


After staring for a good 5 seconds at my chest area...."I've got little titties!"


"I've been watchin' a whole lot of Star Wars. My favorite character is Astrodoodle."


I gave a worried look to a little boy after he did an uncomfortable, almost painful looking dance down the hallway, without having to say anything to him, he replied, "Don't worry Miss Kelsey, I'm just fixin my weewee." 


I asked one little guy what he was asking Santa for as a Christmas gift. He told me ever-so nonchalantly, "money." And when I asked what he would buy with it? "More money." Ah, an entrepreneur's early start. 


Finally, my most recent and favorite conversation with the most hilarious, feisty, 3 year old girl.
"You know who said a bad word?" No, who?
"Somebody said a bad word." What did they say?
"Somebody said something." Well you can tell me. 
So she she leans down very close to my face like she is going to whisper in my ear....
"DAMNIT!"
"My daddy says that." Oh! Well I am glad you don't say that.
"No I just whisper it to myself so I don't get in trouble."


Some of these kids I wish I could carry around in my pocket for the conversations and entertainment. Even when don't listen, or tell me I look like a boy when I wear my glasses, they always would find a way to put a smile on my face. Preschoolers are sometimes a very good solution to a crummy mood. Emphasis on the sometimes. 


I will hopefully get the chance to sub for the school, and get to see my little buddies soon. I made sure they all knew where to find me at the aquarium. 


Until next time....


Cheers,


KLM

L is for Lollygaggin' Around the City

December is here; everyone is all wintery and Christmasy and cozied up in new sweaters. I have discovered that the dinky lights I attempted to hang up on my own, (very difficult for a 5-footer with no ladder), and mini Christmas tree on the coffee table, never get me as pumped for the holidays as the smells do. It's true. I have turned into an obsessed seasonal candle collector. For the fall, it was pumpkin spice and cider ones, but now I've got evergreen, and cinnamon, along with applesauce cinnamon gingerbread dudes baking in the oven.  Now I know if I ever need a boost of some seasonal/holiday spirit, I will just light up. The candles. I wonder what smells go with Valentine's Day....

Speaking of love and mushy stuff. Last weekend Andrew and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary :) along with the OSU v. OU football game. I booked a flight without his knowledge, planning on showing up in Stillwater, where he was supposed to be watching the game, as a surprise. However, that is tough to pull off when you date someone who figures everything out. It never fails. He just asks the right questions at the wrong time! I swear I don't give the secrets away! Needless to say, when he suggested he come home to Seattle for the weekend, and I said nooooo thank you, the jig was up. At least he was still surprised. After a 5am flight, layover in snowy snowy Denver, and a few exhausting hours later, I arrived in OKC and got to spend a quick weekend with the manfriend.

We ate at a nice wine bar/bistro, and then watched the WONDERFUL OSU victory in the hotel bar. A quick weekend together was a great way to break up the monotony of being apart. It was certainly better than not seeing each other at all. Here's the only picture we took. MIND YOU I had been awake since 3 am. And wine was in my system. But I do look like a happy happy girl.

In more recent news, today I spent about 8 hours downtown today. True, part of that I was volunteering at the aquarium, but LOTS of that time was walking. And shopping. I didn't want to do too much Christmas shopping to avoid bringing home a whole bunch of stuff on the flight home, but I couldn't help myself. Giving thoughtful, wonderful gifts is the best feeling in the world to me. Andrew and I's first date involved driving around to look at Christmas lights, so this time of year it always makes my heart smile when I see the city lit up. Not too much longer though, and he will have a break from air drop school, so we can check out some together! Here's a little taste of what Seattle looks like this time of year....

Until next time my friends. Don't forget to take time to stop and enjoy the lights :)

Cheers,

KLM