Fun With McKenna

So if you don't know already, I'm unemployed. Yeah, a shocker I know. Anyway, this means that I have a ton of time on my hands. I clean the apartment, do the laundry, and so forth, but sometimes I get to escape the hum-drum of housework and go to my In-Laws' house to play with the cutest baby. (Yes, I'm a bit bias). McKenna Jo is Eric's brother and sister-in-law's girl, therefore, my niece.

I usually go over to play once a week, when my FIL goes into the Chicago, and my MIL could use an extra set of hands. And of course these hands want a sweet baby in them! I love the days that we are able to play, go on walks, and just hang out.
Here are a few pictures of the little darling:

Kenna and her AuntieTastes good!

I love her expressions!

(She's looking at Grandma)

Silly Aunt Brina, haven't you taken enough?

I'm gonna miss going over for our play dates when I get a job, but it's been great practice!

Brina*

Changes

So I was evaluating my life while sitting on the couch, watching the endless amounts of awesome daytime TV (not being sarcastic, I love it!) And this conversation with myself continued as I finally got off my butt to take a shower. I started to think about how my life has changed in the past month and a half, and I have to say, it hasn't changed as much as I thought it would. Yes, I got married, and yes, I moved away from my family, permanently for the first time in my life, but as for EW and I, I don't think that much has changed.
Before we got married, I had all these visions of married life and how things would be different. Well, hello, they aren't. We're finally living under the same roof, but other than that, nothing has changed. I'm don't think this is a bad thing, because we are who we are and we co-exist together quite nicely. There are however things that I didn't expect to bother me, and yet I'm having a hard time dealing with these changes.
These changes are: 1. Moving away from my family 2. Leaving my great support group of family and friends 3. Leaving a place in which people had common courtesy, and usually very polite, for a place where people don't understand kindness for your fellow man.
As for #1. I knew that I would miss my family, like I did every time I left them (college, first job, etc.) but some days, I jest feel like getting in my car and driving home. (Yes, it's not really my home anymore, but Watseka feels more like home to me than any other place ever will)
#2. I know I haven't had much time to adjust to this new place, but I horribly miss my support network. There was always someone there to talk to no matter what. EW tells me to give it time to meet new people, but I need some new friends now (see #1).
#3. People up here are plain rude. For example: Walking around the store, people do not say excuse me, thank you, or any other common courtesy. When they run into you, they give you a look like it's your fault. I don't know how many times this has happened to me! And don't even get me started on the traffic. Most of these drivers are nuts! They will cut you off just to get to the RED light first. I hate driving here, and my driving nervousness is not getting any better.
Ahhh, that felt good to really just lay it out there. Now you are probably wondering why in the heck I stay. Yeah, I don't know either. HA, j/k. Of course I stay for EW, because this is where he needs to be right now. But as for just raising children here, I don't know. I can tolerate it here for awhile, but for how long, I'm not sure. I always thought that I wasn't a small town girl, and that I wanted to live where you could go to a movie without driving 30 minutes. However, I don't really think I knew myself, and really, I'm a small town girl. Bring on the corn fields and cows!

Brina*

7J Reunion

Hey everyone! Hope you were enjoying the summer-like weather! Although, today it seems that fall has caught up with us. The morning storm most likely had something to do with that.

Anywho, on Monday, I had the privilege of meeting up with some awesome girls for lunch at Giordano's in Oswego. Jessica my senior college roomie lives in Tennessee, came up to visit some friends on her Fall break, and was able to visit with our other roomie, Larisca, who lives in Hoffman Estates. Lis and I met Jess at the restaurant. We had some yummy stuffed pizza. It was great to talk to both girls and see what was new in each of our lives. We have come so far from our college days in 7J Stevenson Hall. I am married. Lis is getting married next July and has a new teaching job. Jess is a homeowner, has two of the cutest kitties, and is in her second year of teaching.

I am so blessed to have these ladies in my life. I can't wait to see where life takes us in the next 5 years. I really can't wait for another Reunion! We'll have to get together again, and I'm thinking road trip to sunny TN! What you think Jess?

Then.

Now.

Brina*

1 Month

Hey Bloggy friends!

Yes, I have been absent for quite awhile, but please cut me some slack. Great, Thanks! Ok, now that that is over with, let me tell you how the last few weeks have been.

EW and I have settled into a routine. He gets home from work around 6pm. I have dinner on the table. (He really likes this.) After dinner I clean up, and we get ready for our night of...you guessed it: TV. As some of you know, at my house in Watseka, we didn't have tv, so it's great having entertainment again. We have our shows we watch, and dvr some things and watch on other nights that there isn't much else on. So as the night goes on, I make EW's lunch for the next day, and do some odds and ends around the place. Then bedtime comes and then too soon the alarm clock beeps at 5:45. EW gets up and ready for work. After he's ready, he comes back into the bedroom and kisses me goodbye.

My day starts a few hours later, when I drag myself out of bed. I eat cereal, and plan out my day: laundry, dishes, overall cleaning. I try to get as much as a I can done between all the daytime tv. Love HGTV and DIY, I'm ready to buy/reno a house for sure! Dinner usually gets started around 4-5 depending on what's on the menu for that night. Around 6, EW comes home and we start another night.

Yesterday was our 1 month anniversary. I really can't believe it's been 1 month already. It seems like yesterday when I was waiting at the back of the church to marry my best friend. Last night when he got home EW handed me a rose. At first I was confused, and gave him a questioning look, and he even had to tell me it was our 1 month, not sure how I forgot in the span of 1 day...but I did.

Yes, that is a Foundry mug (a bar/grill down the street) I didn't have any vases available, so I had to improvise!

I'll try not to let this much time pass again without updating!

Brina*