LADDventure

Thankful Thursday - Survival Edition

Hi friends. I know. It's been a minute - well about a month to be exact. Tomorrow V and J will have been with us full-time exactly one month, and I feel like I'm finally starting to come up for air. I have so much to tell you, so much to say, but sometimes the best way to dive back in to something that feels overwhelming is with a healthy dose of gratitude, so here it is. What I'm grateful for right this moment...

Munchkin Miracle 360 sippy cups, Camelbak Eddy and Camelbak Eddy Kids water bottles. Hydration = a happy mama here in the desert. (Talked about these on the latest episode of The Girl Next Door Podcast too.)

The neighbors, friends, and family who have supported us in more ways than I can count with meals, bags of clothes, surprises left on our doorstep, and encouraging words. I can't express how much it has all meant.

Two girls who eat and sleep like champs. For real. How did we get so lucky to have such good sleepers and non-picky eaters?

Easter Sunday. Our first holiday as a family of four, and good gracious their dresses were cute.

Mr. Ladd. Where to begin? This guy is blowing my mind as a dad with his patience, enthusiasm, love, and support. I can't even.

**I am committed to getting the whole story of how we became a family and continue to grow together captured here on the blog, so stay tuned. In the meantime, you can catch up with these posts:

The Best News Ever

How I Met My Daughters Part 1: Red Filed

How I Met My Daughters Part 2: Chosen

Also follow me on Instagram for more daily updates**

Thankful Thursday - Sweatshirt Edition

Sometimes on Thursdays, I'm thankful for stuff...

The return of sweatshirt season here in the desert. It was 90 during the day still right up until November, so this is a big deal, and I'm enjoying every chilly, cozy moment.

The opportunity to write for a living. Well, I couldn't really live off of it yet, but you know, people pay for a book I wrote.

Inspiring friends who keep me motivated

Two little cuddle pup sidekicks

Mr. Ladd, who has been working so hard to help me get the house ready for our home visit on Monday

Chobani Oats Apple Cinnamon greek yogurt. Try it. You'll be thankful too.

My favorite time of year quickly approaching. Fa la la la la la la la la!

 

Thankful Thursday - Solitude Edition

I'm by my lonesome for a couple weeks, since Mr. Ladd is travelling for work.  I live like a filthy bachelor when he's gone, and lose all sense of proper meals or personal grooming. Even though I'm missing my better half, I do enjoy the solitude sometimes.  We both work from home and spend more time together than most couples probably do during an average week, so sometimes it's nice to miss each other.  On this solo Thursday, here a few things I'm thankful for...

January in Arizona - you know, that time of year when the leaves turn colors and fall off the trees, and it really just feels like a warm autumn day all the time with slightly chilly nights.  Before you throw ice-packed snowballs at me, Midwesterners, I want you to know I never take the sunshine for granted, and my guest room is always available.

Loyal beasts who curl up behind my knees, and bark a little more protectively when Mr. Ladd's away.

Lots of quiet and solitude to finish formatting my manuscript and get it officially sent off hopefully this week!

The house to myself and no one to judge me as I hit play on that third (or fifth) episode of Dance Moms. I'm not proud of it, but I can't stop.

A FaceTime chat last night with the kind of friend who's known you at 13, 23, and 33.

What's one thing you're thankful for on this Thursday?

 

Thankful Thursday - Labor Day Edition

I am packing up the marshmallows and laundering sleeping bags as I write.  Mr. Ladd has been in California this week for work, and I missed him over his actual birthday, so we're celebrating by headed into the mountains tomorrow for some camping in 75 degree highs and 55 degree lows.  Ahhhh.  There's like a 30-40% chance of scattered rain this weekend, and you know what?  I don't even care.  I will make the best of it and welcome the change if it does rain.  Worst case scenario, we pack up and head back down the mountain, right? 

This is the time of year I get a bit cranky and stir crazy and need to get the heck out of this desert.  It's actually been cooler lately, but I'm just over it and ready for crisp air at this point in the neverending summer.  So, I'm turning my grouchiness into gratefulness with a little list of things I'm thankful for right this minute...

A morning helping out my teacher friend in 2nd grade.  It's fun being back in the classroom, especially when you don't have to be!  (She's new to the blogging world too, and just started The Second Grade Life.  Go check it out, and show her some love :-)

So much love and support after this post about our current family situation - Seriously, wishing I would have shared sooner, because all the encouragement has meant so much to me and been so helpful.  Thank you!

An impromptu coffee date on Monday night with two ladies I just adore

A visit coming up from my brothers (Citizen Way's in town next weekend!), Mr. Ladd's family will be here the next weekend to go the Badger/ASU game, and today one of our favorite WI couples booked a visit for October!  Yeah for a house full of people we miss!

Fall candles, and pumpkin beer, and Halloween decorations  on the store shelves.  I used to hate this, because it felt like we didn't need to rush the chilly air and cold nights that would be plentiful back in the Midwest.  But now I love it, because even though I'm holding off on purchasing any autumn goodies for a while, it provides a light at the end of the hot tunnel.

Thankful Thursday - Meal Memories

Memories often revolve around food for me, great meals shared with good friends or family.  So, I am dedicating this edition of Thankful Thursday to some incredible meals I've had this past week with incredible people that I'm oh so grateful for...

1.  Frank's Diner with the Sharkey's (pictured above) You might remember Vicki from this post.  I heart her.  She and her lovely husband hosted me in Kenosha the last two nights of my WI stay, and insisted I experience Frank's, of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives fame.  I'm so glad they did.  It was possibly the best Eggs Benedict and Bloody Mary I had ever tasted, and it was by far the best meal I've ever eaten in an entertaining lunch car where everyone speaks their mind.

2.  Villa D'Carlo the night before for pizza and beer definitely did not disappoint.  It was a beautiful night so we sat outside under colorful umbrellas with a view of Lake Michigan.  All the classic cars drove by that come out of the woodwork on a Midwest summer night.  Good pizza is by far one of the things I miss most since we moved so far from Chicago, and Carl's pizza did not disappoint.  It hit the spot, and I'm sure Vicki and Brian were sick of my sighs and yummy noises.

 3.  I stayed with my sister-in-law Emily, while my brother David was gone for a show too.  They eat mostly vegan, so they always have some creative, healthy goodness for me when I'm there.  Emily introduced me to many things including Archer Farms Spicy Six Grain tortilla chips from Target (and Mr. Clean all purpose cleaner with Gain.  I know it's not food, but holy entire house smelling like fresh laundry!)  But the most unexpectedly delicious combo was a toasted croissant, smeared with hummus and avocado, then drizzled with honey and sprinkled with sea salt.  Sounds so weird, but it was tasty!

4.  Wilson's Coffee, of which I bought two pounds to bring home.  Nothing like it.

5.  Seven Sisters danish pastry from Larsen's Bakery for breakfast at the in-laws more times than I care to admit.

Ok, now I'm hungry so I'm going to go make some lunch.  What are some unforgettable meals or treats that you are still remembering?

Thankful Thursday - Hotness

My head is crammed with blog design ideas and new things to write about, but alas...I have a book that is waiting to be written as well, so for now a list of gratefulness will have to do.  Today I'm doing some thanking for...

Air conditioning and a swimming pool - It's stupid hot in the Phoenix area right now, as in it's supposed to be 118 degrees this weekend.  Dumb, and I will be living in my pool until I get on a plane to cooler temps next week where we get to see these two faces!

A dinner double date with new friends, topped off with some gelato

 Friends and family who say things like, "I'm sad with you," join you on a mutual venting walk, or come over with chicken kabobs fresh off their grill at the last minute to drink beer and listen

Some serious productivity this week.  Sticking to the schedule is working.

Summer T.V. - Between Mr. Ladd's man crush on Gordon Ramsay and my obsession with So You Think You Can Dance, we are well entertained while it's too hot to do anything else.

Thankful Thursday - Stopping the Sad

I read this fantastic sentence this morning in a guest post by Chrissy on Momastery, one of my very favorite blogs...

"If you survive the circumstances…don’t let the sad get you."

Yes.  I needed this little piece of truth today.  There have been some circumstances lately, and they suck, but the sad sucks more.  We can get through and around and past the circumstances, and in fact they will probably bring exciting new circumstances our way.  But, the sad is what will get you if you let it - where you'll stay stuck in a dizzying circle around your own mind.  So I'm stopping the sad the best way I know how this morning, with a little thankful.  Currently incredibly grateful for...

The most incredible, adorable husband.  I don't know how I was so lucky to nab Mr. Ladd at the age of 15, but I knew even then to hang on tight. 

The kind of neighbors who show up at the door with rhubarb soap as a summer surprise, or share their snuggly new babies and make me feel as if I've always known them.  I love our street.

Family and friends who I cannot wait to see and hug in a cooler, green Midwestern summer soon.

A pool, and friends who bring San Diego strawberries and drink lemonade around it with me.

Our dogs, who are love and acceptance and comfort in fur.

Thankful Thursday - More

I have some major stuff on my heart and mind today.  This morning, I was just mindlessly watering flowers and starting laundry, when a conversation surprised me with messy, complicated feelings of wanting more in certain areas.  As usual, I find the cure for the sometimes painful yearning for something more or something different, is noticing what you have right now.  So today, as I often do on Thursdays, I'm noticing these things and just being thankful for them...

• Mr. Ladd, who I adore, and who is always striving with me to grow closer & stronger
• Red Rover Ale and Rampant I.P.A. on the patio with twinkling tea lights in mason jars
• Mico and Buddy, my quirky little fur babies, who keep me smiling and scolding daily
• Flowers, herbs, and vines overflowing in a pile of color in my backyard
• Watermelon Feta Salad with garden mint and sharp red onion
• New friends, fresh conversations, and next steps
• Summer waiting around the corner with blueberry mojitos and friends poolside
• Trips planned to catch up with Wisconsin in July and Jeep through Colorado in September

Thankful Thursday - Pinching Myself

I am quite literally bursting with gratitude these last few weeks, so here are just a few of the things I am currently thankful for...

• Spring in AZ...enough said

• A kick start to my exercise level with an awesome visit from this lady last week.  We walked, we hiked, we yoga-d, we gabbed like it was a sport, and she called me out lovingly on thinking myself much weaker than I am. 

• The truth of "All Things," (a song off the new album which comes out the 23rd) from 4 of my favorite guys, Citizen Way, available for free download today!

• An incredible opportunity to write a book with Prodigal Press this year! Meeting (via Skype) the co-founders Ally and Darrell, made it so much more real.  I am crazy excited to work with them to make this book happen, and I literally skipped around the house incessantly Tuesday evening.

•  Getting real, community, and healing for people I love

•  These words from Joy in This Journey on the whole marriage equality debate.  Sometimes you read something that expresses your thoughts so exactly it makes you want to bookmark it, read it aloud, and share it with others, so that's what I'm doing.

• An upcoming 8th wedding anniversary with Mr. Ladd, and a weekend away complete with wine tasting and exploring new places to celebrate it!

Thankful Thursday - Spring is Perfection Here

Right this minute I am crazy grateful for...

• March in Arizona.  Picture the perfect weather.  That.  All month.

• Orly's nail polish in Terracotta on my toes - my favorite orange-y coral for spring

• Coffee date at The Coffee Shop with one of my favorite teacher friends this morning who is seriously as loveable as a labrador retriever. (I'm looking at you, Mrs. Johannes) I miss working with her face every day.  

• Lots of productivity with the office to myself and dogs who have been stuck to me like glue while Mr. Ladd is away for work this week

What are you thankful for today?  It's impossible to stay grumpy while thinking of things you're thankful for.