A First Time for Anything

If you’re like me, you took a look at your calendar this morning and realized you have something almost every night from now until after the New Year. Our calendar is full of fun, family, and work events, as well as some “us” time scheduled in, which I am grateful for. It seems like every January we seem to look back on December and realize we saw each other less than we saw everyone else. *PLUS* This is our first “real-life” Christmas. Many couples count their events after their wedding as their “first Easter” or “first Thanksgiving” but we count everything as our “first real-life” event because these are the first events we have with both of us out of school and in the work force (that may not sound like much, but if you’ve ever had a spouse in graduate/law/medical school, I know you understand). So this year, instead of watching Tay study for finals, we get to do fun GROWN-UP stuff – or fun stuff that makes these almost-grown-ups feel like little kids again!

Here are some of the fun “first real-life” events we get to experience this year:

• First Thanksgiving with Taylor not leaving dinner early to work on outlines for class
• First 2 weeks of December where I actually get to see Taylor in the evenings, for longer than the 30 minutes he took out of studying to eat dinner with me
• First December in Oklahoma City
• First December where there isn’t already ice/snow on the ground
• First time we are going snow tubing at the Bricktown Ballpark!
• First time we BOTH have work Christmas parties
• First time I wasn’t so busy helping him study/stay sane that I actually have Christmas shopping done, presents wrapped, and cards sent out before December 24th
• First time we both have to request off work to visit the in-laws and friends
• First Christmas we won’t see Tay’s sister (we are SO sad!!)
• First Christmas we have put up a tree, decorations, and lights because it’s the…
• First Christmas we will be home to enjoy them!

The great thing about Christmas is that it’s always a great time for new beginnings, and for us as a newly married couple, it’s fun coming up with our own traditions.

WHAT ARE SOME FIRSTS FOR YOU THIS HOLIDAY SEASON?

-C-

Thankful!

Another thing I’m thankful for – Airfare Sales!

I bought our tickets to Phoenix to see Taylor’s family almost a month ago, after watching fares for over 2 months. But every fare I found back to Oklahoma City was almost twice what it cost to get out there. We had even begun to contemplate driving to Phoenix – 15 hours there and back. And 1,000 miles I do not really want to put on my car (hello, resale value!).

Luckily, on Monday, American Airlines decided to grace me with some slashed fares – and the lowest fare was at the time I wanted to come home! So now we can still spend most of the day we return with Tay’s family, and still be home at a decent (read: before our usual bed time) hour.

I’m Thankful For…

If you follow me on Twitter (@ladycatie) or on Facebook, you probably know that this month, I try to post something every day that I am grateful for. Well, I didn’t necessarily feel that I had enough time/space to list the many things I am thankful for, and what better place to do that than my blog? So here is my list. Leave me some comments on what you’re thankful for!

*health*happiness*my loving husband*my wonderful dogs that put a smile on my face every single day*my job and the fact that i love it*comforts that some take for granted such as heat, food and shelter (not to mention a nice one at that)*ice cream*my iPhone (yes, i said it)*being able to work from home*living in a city i love*my amazing friends, near and far*living in close proximity to said friends (3 hours by car!)*warm fuzzy socks*cuddling*Thanksgiving break*pie!*my awesome family that’s so crazy and i love them*wonderful in-laws*wine*dessert*the fact that my husband tries everything i cook – and pretends to love it*that my grandmother is still here and healthy*that my brother and i are closer than ever*Facebook*GChat*the fact that somehow, we always make it through*health*happiness*feel-good movies, even if they are super-cheesy*anything that makes me laugh*Diet Dr. Pepper*cable*Twitter*social networking in general (without which i wouldn’t have a job – see ‘iPhone’ above)*brownies*snail mail*coasters (i live in humidity)*health insurance*comfy pants*post-its*candles that smell like cinnamon or fresh laundry*

I could go on forever, but know that I am also thankful for you. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Charity of the Week: DonorsChoose

I am trying to get in a regular rhythm so that I bring you guys fresh content and have something to post (almost) daily. I have done the charity thing before, but now that my blog is getting a bit more traffic, I’m going to do it again – and try to keep it up.

This week I want to feature one of my favorite charities, and one that is especially close to my heart. I think teaching is one of the noblest professions out there. It takes grace, dignity, compassion, firmness, and strength to be a teacher, especially a good one. My in-laws (mother-, father-, and sister-) are all teachers, my husband taught for a year before attending law school, and I hope one day to teach as well. Many of my best friends are teachers. So when I read about DonorsChoose, I had to spread the word.

Through DonorsChoose, teachers can post projects and needs they have in their classrooms. You can browse the projects and pick which ones you would like to donate to, and how much you would like to give. You can sort by urgency, location, type of project and more. I love this project, and I especially love when the teachers include pictures of their classrooms and kids, because it always makes it more fun when you can see the people you’re helping!

I know money is tight for everyone right now, but some of these projects need as little as $25 to be completed! Please spread the word, and let’s get these teachers the help they need so these kids don’t miss out on GREAT learning opportunities!

It Could Have Been Me

So for those of you who don’t know, Taylor and I met on the first day of law school at the University of Tulsa – August 11, 2006. We were both first-year law students, and quickly realized we were meant to be together. Long story short: Before the end of our first year, I had withdrawn from law school and Taylor and I were moving in together. Now, almost 3 years have passed, we are married, and last Saturday, May 9, 2009, Taylor graduated from law school. I realized while sitting in the stands that I could have been there, too, and I immediately realized how relieved I was to be a bystander, not a participant. I am so proud of you, Tay!!

B. Taylor Clark, Esq.

Apologizing in Advance

So I am going to go ahead and apologize in advance, but I will probably be MIA for the next few weeks. We have a LOT going on and I will have to be around to help the Hubs as much as possible. Just to show you what we are up against, here is a very brief timeline/countdown:

April 18-21: I just got done with a work conference in Raleigh, NC

April 27: Taylor’s last day of law school (!!!)

April 29: Taylor starts finals

May 4: Taylor finishes finals

May 5: My brother-in-law and his wife find out the sex of their baby

May 8: My 25th birthday, and Taylor’s mom and sister arrive for graduation weekend

May 9: Taylor graduates from LAW SCHOOL, dinner with the fam for his graduation, my birthday, and mother’s day

May 10: Mother’s Day, Taylor’s mom and sis leave

May 23-25: Memorial Day Weekend (lake with friends)

May 29-31: Shawna’s, Mindy’s and Blake’s weddings and surrounding events

So if I don’t have anything fun/new/interesting to post for a while, that’s why. Sorry!! Leave some love!