LoveLoveLove

Gratitude Attitude #66: I'm thankful for love, hugs, and chocolate martinis.

Not necessarily in that order. :)

Kids!

For anybody that knows me even peripherally, you know that I will not have children anytime soon.

Don't get me wrong, I love them, I'm just very aware that now is not the best time for me to bring children into this world.

Maybe after graduate school? Maybe after a postdoc? Maybe after 3 years in a tenure-track position?

Who knows?

That's why I take advantage of time spent with other children!

Gratitude Attitude #65: I'm thankful for kids!

Here's a great photo of Scotty, Sandra, me, and the kids. I love it.

Santa was kind of creepy, though.

I guess spending that much time sitting down can mess you up in the head.

I also got plenty of time to play with Kayden and Ava. I love these kids as if they're my own, but then I get to give 'em back when they're whiney.

It's a win-win.

Family time

The new location for the advent calendar:

Gratitude Attitude #64: I love family time and am very grateful to be able to spend time with my parents.

My mom's been having hip problems, so I found her like this:

My dad likes to attack me as I'm randomly surfing the internet, but I love him regardless.

Hooooome!

Gratitude Attitude #63:

I am grateful to be hoooooooooooome!

In other news, here is my mother's view of statistics.

Airplanes

Gratitude Attitude #62

I'm thankful for:

-Airplanes

-Flight 2033 (my flight back to Seattle)

-Parents willing to drive 1.5 hours to pick me up from the airport

[Mom joked about making me take the Airporter.]

Secret Pals

Only one more day until I fly back to Washington (if you were counting; I am) and I will be reunited with the fam yet again.

I cannot wait.

Gratitude Attitude #61: I'm thankful for secret pals!

My church has a secret pal program for women (mostly over the age of 30, with two youngins, Jessica and me). Each month, we give our secret pal a gift, usually less than $10, just to let her know that someone is thinking of her.

I'm thankful for my sweet secret pal, who this month gave me the cutest serving bowls ever.

Flowers

Gratitude Attitude #60: I'm thankful for nature's beauty.

Especially when it's chopped down and given to me by my gorgeous boyfriend.

I especially loved the two roses that just happened to be intertwined.

♥ ♥ ♥

Kitty kisses

Gratitude Attitude #59: I'm thankful for kitty kisses.

There is something pure and wonderful about a baby kitty, snuggling her little wet nose up on my bare skin just to say, "I love you, Mom!"

Kitty kisses are the best ever.

[In other news, yesterday when Nick and I were giving Jordan and Rae their gift, I told Jordan that he was my gratitude attitude for yesterday and he got so excited that he blushed. Shout out to Jordan, the only person who has ever been so ecstatic that he became speechless for being my gratitude attitude.]

Great friends

Gratitude Attitude #58: I am grateful for wonderful friends.

I go to school with some amazing people. I could write a novel about the things they've done for me, but most recently, I've noticed a dependency on my friend Jordan.

Jordan and his wife Rae are two of the most glorious people I know.

Definitely two of God's people, for sure.

Jordan has been my saving grace this past semester for multiple reasons, and I am very grateful for his--and Rae's-- contribution to my sanity.

This gratitude attitude goes out to people like Jordan and Rae, who are loving, caring, hilarious, gorgeous people.

The "date night" Christmas gift for Rae and Jordan from Nick and me (full of chocolate, wine, popcorn, and a movie).

OTC Medication

Gratitude Attitude #57: I'm grateful for over-the-counter medication.

Most notably Tylenol for my massive headache.

In other news, 5 days until I fly back to Washington!

Cheap decorations

Gratitude Attitude #56: Cheap Christmas decorations!

Chloe and I now have stockings.

I'll probably put a treat in hers. Adorable right?

I think hers is the snowman and mine is the Santa.

Or maybe the other way around. I haven't quite decided.

But I love them regardless. Adorable.

Christmas cards

I'm starting to feel that putting up my advent calendar a day at a time was a bad idea.

Mostly because I think my family is sick of reading my blog.

Maybe y'all (ha!) are just sick of the monotony?

I dunno.

Regardless:

More than halfway to Christmas!

Gratitude Attitude #55: Humorous Christmas cards from family!

If you can't read it, it says: "Happy New Year! Uncle Joe & Aunt Peggy. Heard you have a new friend in your life. Hope everything works out for you. You're great. -Peg"

I picture her smiling and raising her eyebrows while saying "new friend," which makes me giggle.

Or "new friend" as if I'm such a loner that my family is excited that I'm making friends.

My family rocks.

Warm blankets

Gratitude Attitude #54: Warm blankets are necessary for cold December days.

I'm thankful for the ability to curl up in a warm blanket.

Brr!

Christmas parties

Gratitude Attitude #53: Christmas Parties!

Last night was our annual Psychology/Neuroscience graduate student party at the Blakeleys' house (so sad that Hillary and Bryan are moving; who will throw the party next year?!).

The party involved a beer tasting (Bryan's a Beer Master, basically) and a white elephant gift exchange.

Nick and I had another engagement before the party, so we missed the first half of the beer tasting.

We did, however, take full advantage of the white elephant fun.

Aimee, Heather-Jade, and Karenna are first-years in the program.

LaRae and Jordan are two of my favorite people in Texas; Jordan will defend his disseration in the spring and they'll move, thus I'm secretly mad at them for eventually abandoning me.

Nathaniel was on top of his game as far as white elephant gifts go; he painted a portrait of himself drinking a beer to give away.

Nate's a beautiful man (general consensus of the masses), thus frequent jokes are made about his vanity. He's actually fairly humble (among many other good qualities), so for him to have humor about his stunning good looks makes it that much better.

That being said, enjoy a picture of Nathaniel admiring himself.

Overall, a good time was had by all. I brought one nice gift (a candle set I received from my Secret Pal at church which was not really my style) and one joke gift (an extra extra extra large martini glass I had left over from my cousin Rosemary's wedding). I was surprised at the popularity of both gifts.

Guess it's true one they say: one woman's trash is another's treasure.

:)

Ridiculous promotional products

Gratitude Attitude #52: I'm grateful for ridiculous promotional products.

I'm not talking about the calendars your insurance company sends (thanks, Keith from Farmers, but I recycled mine) or the rubber jar openers you hoard from counties fairs.

Oh no.

I'm talking about this.

Baylor University Graduate School's newest promotional product:

It's hand sanitizer on one side...

And chapstick on the other.

Ridiculous glory.

Heat

Gratitude Attitude #51: I'm thankful for heat! It has been cold enough to warrant my central heat being on, and I am very thankful to have the means to be able to use it.

Although I keep my condo's temperature relatively low (63-65, depending on if I'm sleeping or not), I love being able to turn it up if necessary.

I also love being able to take a hot bath. Wonderful.