#249: Of Monsters & Men

Since discovering this band late this summer, I've been listening to their album My Head Is An Animal, and my favorite of their songs "Little Talks", on near repeat. I love falling in love with new music!

"Little Talks"

#248: Wonderful Weather Forecasted

After a stormy Saturday, it was so lovely to wake up to a beautiful Sunday morning, and even lovelier to follow that ambiance with a 7 day forecast that looks like a dream. Clear skies, sunshine, cooler temperatures than we've seen in months. Sure, it could rain any (or every!) day this week, but there's something so wonderful about seeing that long block of wonderful weather forecasted, you can't help but start your week feeling good about the days to come.

#247: Football Season

Games. Snacks. Pools. Sunday afternoons on the couch. Snacks. The Superbowl. Hoodies. Snacks. Brings the Fall. Reason to see family and friends. Something to look forward to every week. As Kegan adds, "Hope."

What's not to love?

(Did I mention snacks?)

#246: Going To Bed, Bone Tired

For all the joys of summer, one aspect of it that I always struggle with is that my days are often so restful, it's often hard to get to bed. On summer nights I will often lay awake for quite a while, just waiting to fall asleep, which is often frustrating and makes my summer nights' rests not as satisfying.

Then the school year begins, and my days become anything but restful. While it's easy, often, to look at the challenges of that, this week one benefit of the hustle and bustle has become apparent: I'm back to going to bed, bone tired.  It's hard to be grateful for feelings of exhaustion, but then your bed never feels better than when you finally fall into it after a long day...and that's definitely something to be thankful for.

#245: My Cubs Teeshirt

During my Chicago trip in May Katelynn and I each bought Cubs shirts to wear to the game at Wrigley Field that we went to. Since that trip, this teeshirt has quickly become one of my favorite things to wear. It's unbelievably comfortable, and has more or less been part of my "summer uniform". With a new school year set to start comes the return of "work clothes", and it's made me all the more grateful for the comfort of my well-worn, softened Cubs shirt.

#244: Once

As an anniversary present, Kegan took me to see the Broadway musical Once this past weekend. I've wanted to see it for quite sometime (since even before it won the Tony for Best Musical) so I was thrilled to go. Once was first a movie, and many people who've seen it have suggested it to me, but I never got around to watching the film. I love a night out to the theater, and this was no exception. It's an unconditional love story with a subtle message about those that come and go in our lives, and the music is moving. The most popular song from the score, "Falling Slowly", is one that I had heard and have liked prior to seeing the play, but it was so much more powerful in person. I'm thankful to have seen this show, and more so grateful to have experienced it with Kegan in honor of our anniversary.

"Falling Slowly"

#243: Riley

Yesterday I went to my brother Dennis'  house and had the lovely fortune of spending some quality one-on-one time with my niece, Riley. When you have 11 niece and nephews it's hard to have that individualized time, and I so grateful when those moments occur. Riley and I spent a lot of time coloring and chatting while we did so, played dress up and with her toys. I had such a nice, quiet evening with her, and even in our simple play, I was aware of how grateful I was to be with her, and for her.

Riley is Dennis' second child and first daughter; I've always felt a special connection to Riley because she is the first and only of my nieces and nephews to really look like me, physically. I imagine this is how cool it feels to have a child, to look at your daughter or son and see yourself reflected in them.
Riley is a doll-- she's a total girls' girl, and has the sweetest voice to coincide with her very feminine personality. If you're looking for some girl time, look no further than hanging out with her. She has a sweet disposition, as well, evidenced best by how much she loves and cares for her baby sister. Riley loves to give Ella hugs and kisses, loves to be kissed and hugged by Ella in return. Yesterday Ella woke up cranky from her nap, and Riley immediately invited her to go play-- it was clear she wanted to do that both to cheer her up, and because she genuinely wanted to play with her. As someone who values the relationship sisters have with one another, this was a really touching moment to witness.

For all of her sweetness, Riley also has a playful deviousness about her, which I love and totally connect with her over. We laughed as she encouraged my brother to drink her brother's milkshake while he was out of the room "just because", and we've recently bonded over her newfound love of the Haunted Mansion in Disney. My heart literally melted when I received a phonecall from her when she vacationed in Disney this summer, wanting to ask me questions about the mansion and gush in how much she loved it. It was while I was on that call with her that I realized Riley and I don't just look alike but we are alike...and I am so thankful to have her as my niece.fami