How we SORT OF went to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

You guys, I am seriously KICKING myself right now for not going to the Parade on Thanksgiving!! I knew I'd regret it, but I got nervous because I experienced NYC icy winter for the first time a few days before and I didn't think I could take my baby out in it! It was probably the right mom move to not expose him to the elements, but I'm so so sad we didn't go!

But, as a consolation, we decided to go the night before and see all the balloons being inflated! This was so cool, and in some ways better than the parade! It was crowded, but not cattle car crowded! Plus, you walk across a few blocks and you're constantly moving so your body maintains a little heat! My favorite part of this experience was that we were SO up close and personal with the balloons! we were like within 15 feet of all the balloons!

I know its sort of a cop-out, but I'm counting this towards our bucket list for Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! I wish we had gone to the actual parade, and if we end up staying here for a while, we will definitely go! Thanks to a few blogs I follow of other moms in the city, now I know the trick is to go to the mall at Columbus Circle and watch from the inside! Hello!?!? Why didn't I think of that?!

Anyways, Zack is applying for a bunch of PhD programs over the next few weeks and we're getting closer and closer to knowing where we'll be headed in May! I'm not sure if I'm praying to stay or leave NYC! Besides a few rude cab drivers and mistakes with public transportation, I've really loved this experience! Half of me is loving every second and never wants to leave, and the other half of me is begging to move closer to home! Unfortunately, none of the 8 schools Zack is applying to are within a days drive of home! :( Whatever is next for us, I know it'll be grand!

XOXO SD

Happy Thanksgiving

Gunner's first parade!!! Sad we didn't go downtown to see it, but we did check out the floats! I'll post about that soon! 

(This was all written yesterday!)

Let me paint you a little picture of the house right now... My husband and baby are laying on the couch napping, surrounded by piles of clean laundry that haven't been folded yet. My dishwashers are full and beeping every few minutes to remind me they need to be emptied! I've got piles of toys and clothes and boxes strewn about my living room and an unmade bed covered in laundry (clean or dirty?!?). I am sitting on a barstool that has dried food on the seat and a pair of blue jeans drying on the back while I write this post! I am wearing the same jeans I wore yesterday, my hair is a mess, I haven't brushed my teeth, let alone put on makeup (unless the leftovers from last night count?) You may think I'm complaining... And on a normal day this rant would probably be a complaint.

But today I'm reminded to be thankful!! Something I wish I could remember everyday! I can't complain about having to empty and reload my dishwashers because I actually HAVE a dishwasher! A year ago I didn't even have one dishwasher, let alone two! In the city it is so rare to find an apartment with a dishwasher! I am SO blessed to have a dishwasher! Even more than a dishwasher, dishes, and food to fill those dishes! I am so grateful to have food to fill my belly everyday!

I can't complain all about all the laundry because I am so lucky to be able to do laundry at home! No laundromat for me! Plus, the fact that I do like 12 loads of laundry a week means we have an abundance of clothes! (Although you wouldn't guess that because I'm wearing last nights jeans?) As my family grows, so does my laundry pile! I'm so grateful to have a husband and baby to dirty those clothes! 

My living room is a mess because I have a busy, bright, baby that crawls around pulling wipes out of cases and unfolding my laundry and pushing cereal boxes across the floor! Gunner is absolutely one of my greatest and most precious blessings! I would never trade him for a clean house! 

I can't be annoyed at an unmade bed because I'm grateful that I have covers to keep me warm at night! Not only covers, but a house, with heat, and a roof! My heart aches for the people who are forced to sleep out in the cold! I am so deeply blessed to have a roof over my head and two amazing boys to share it with! 

My house is a wreck, and frankly I'm a wreck, but I'm so grateful to have a baby that keeps my life so happy and so busy that I rarely find the time to get the entire house clean at once! I'm grateful to have a husband that helps me hide things in closets and vacuum the crushed crackers off the rugs before guests arrive! I'm especially grateful for a husband that understands when he comes home and I'm still in my PJs and dinner isn't made. 

He is so great at celebrating the little victories with me! I did a load of laundry today! I made some cookies! I kept the baby alive another day! He'll tell me how I'm the best ever. Then I'll say, "No! You're the best ever!" Then we look lovingly into each others eyes and ignore the huge mess around us! Haha! I married the best man! I am so grateful for him and his hard work and dedication to creating a rich and full life for our family!

Although sometimes I curse him and resent him for taking me so far from home, in my heart of hearts I am grateful for the adventures he is taking me on! I'm grateful that he challenges me and pushes me to be better! I'm grateful that his parents taught him how to be an excellent Husband and Father! He is 100% the best decision I have ever made! 

I am so happy that I am a mother! I feel deeply and sincerely blessed that I was able to have a part in creating life, and now nurturing that life! I have learned more in the last 9 months than my entire life combined! Gunner has brought me more joy and happiness(and worry and shear terror) than words can describe! I am so grateful for his giggles and each new thing he learns, and when he falls asleep in my arms and when he waves to me from across the room. I'm thankful that he is healthy and growing strong and smart! I'm grateful that Zack works so hard so that I can be a full time mom! 

I could go on and on and on and on and on and on, because my life is so rich and abundantly blessed! But truly, it all comes down to just a few things! I am grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ! I'm thankful to have a Savior who knows me and loves me and has atoned for me! I'm grateful that my sins can be forgotten and forgiven! I'm grateful for a Heavenly Father who is constantly aware of me and knows my potential! He is patient and generous with me! He is quick to pour out blessings upon our family and I'm thankful to know Him and to feel His presence in my life! Without my relationship with my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, I would be lost and much more fearful for our future! I know that all that I have, all that I am, and all that I hope to be, is only through my Savior and my God! 

I am so excited that its officially the Christmas season because now I can openly jam out to Christmas music! I'm so excited to experience Christmas time in New York City! Holy Crap! How lucky am I?!? Christmas time is my very favorite time of year! I can't wait to watch Gunner experience his first Christmas and be surrounded by family and celebrate the birth of our Savior! YAY!

Happy thanksgiving everyone! I hope that you all are feeling as blessed as we are! Now bring on the snow and ringing bells and twinkly lights and hot cocoa and christmas trees!

XOXOXO
SD