And for them I am thankful

Despite the Rau family fighting illness, we had a great Thanksgiving. We did miss Tammy though... 

Trey isn't supposed to be in this picture... that's why he is chillin down there in the bottom. 

Kara is due in February... yay! 

TJ broke his nose and thumb T-Day morning. Check out his face (he is hiding the thumb)

Grandparents and Grandchildren

Mama and her little man

I love both of them a lot.... I certainly love my little man

Ps. Every year we have to go around and say what we are thankful for. This year my little man said trains, of course. The best though was my dad who said he was thankful for Dr. Murphy, his heart surgeon. I am pretty sure that should have been all of ours. Mom is probably thankful that we have finally all learned the value in doing this little yearly activity. 

We finally stopped fighting her on it. 

A Rau Family Tradition

A Rau family Thanksgiving ends with a Rau family slumber party to usher in the holiday season. Thanksgiving 2008 ended with Stephanie and Dave sharing the best room in the house (as usual) while I snuggled up with Trey and Taylor in the extra bedroom. Froggie  (as we lovingly called Trey since he lost his voice) tapped me on the shoulder just as I was falling asleep, "Aunt Tatie... Let's make a fort!" So while Stephanie and Dave caught some zzz's in the queen size plush bed I struggled to first make, then fall asleep under a suffocating fort with Trey and Taylor in a full size bed. You be the judge of how fair that is. Trey continued to cry in his sleep and snore like an old man until the four am alarm sounded. I am pretty sure I got about two hours of sleep before I found myself blinking into the bathroom light while listening to Steph and Amy complain of their stomach woes from the overconsumption of T-Day goodness. Long story short, by five am we were at Walmart in Chesterfield with every other crazy person in St. Louis County. 

We didn't make it out the door without waking Lou Lou, so she joined. She didn't make it long before she was sound asleep, sucking her thumb, in the cart at Walmart. 

The crew of crazies waiting in line to check out at Walmart (about 5:30 am)

Stephanie and Amy calling to verify the legitimacy of a purchase. 

Let me prereq this picture with a story: Not an hour before this picture we were in Kirkland Home. I walked up to Stephanie holding fleece blankets and asked her how much they cost. 

S: "I think they are 2 for $7"

Me: "Why does it say $14?"

S: "There was a sign. Where did that sign go? I know there was a sign"

Me: "Steph. I think you are wrong... I don't see a sign"

S: {three minutes later} "Oh, here's the sign" 

She was carrying an 8 x 10 plastic sign around the store frantically trying to find that very sign. 

All this to say, the girl was tired. She absolutely fell out in the car before lunch. 

A little less shocking... Sharon slept too... WHILE twiddling her thumbs. 

See pictures above for reason number 626 why it is stupid to wake up at 4:00 am on Black Friday AND then continue to shop for ten hours... 

The results....

Dear blogger friends, 

You weren't very good at playing along with my game. 

Sincerely, 

Katie 

Here are the reasons why those pictures were included: 

1. Station Plaza/Downtown Kirkwood

Although I fought it for many years of my life, I love Kirkwood. I don't see why so many Kirkwood graduates act like it's not a great place. It is. I especially love Station Plaza where I can't sit outside and eat sushi, drink at Bar Louie, and have coffee at Kaldis. In the summer I also get to enjoy live music with the fam. 

2. Imo's Pizza

I love it. Imo's lunch special with the house dressing and a pineapple pizza... delish. When I was in college they had Imo's in Cape, but it wasn't the same. St. Louis Imos is where it's at. 

3. Busch Stadium and the Cardinals. 

I love baseball season in St. Louis. I love free tickets. I love going with Abby. 

4. Castlewood State Park 

I have always loved Castlewood, but I adore it even more lately. Whenever it is nice out I sneak away from work and head to Castlewood. I hike around listening to worship music and singing by myself. I am sure I look crazy, but I really enjoy those afternoons. 

5. Forest Park

The greatest place ever. The zoo, art museum, sledding, boating, muny, history museum, running trails, balloon race... pretty much all things wonderful. I love Forest Park for many, many reasons. 

If you aren't from STL you should probably give all these things a go... they are the best. 

The Question on the Radio

I am not moving. I don't plan to any time soon. I love my job and could imagine staying here for another five years if all goes as planned. With that being said, I heard a great little radio show on my way to work this morning. The radio host posed the following question: 

If you were to leave St. Louis tomorrow, what five things would you want to do today? What five things would you miss the most in St. Louis? (this doesn't mean people... just St. Louis things)

Take a guess at the five photos below... I will elaborate tomorrow. 

Let me make a list...

It's been noted... I hate winter. Seriously, it just isn't good for a girl who LOVES sunshine, being tan, spending time outdoors, sandals, athletic shorts... should I go on? Anyway, during these months o' misery I sometimes become quite a crab. I decided it would be good for me to make a list of the things I am o' so grateful for during my less than grateful months. 

Here's a few: 

*The sun still shines 

*Lots of warm fleeces 

*Warm drinks (hot tea, chocolate, and lattes) 

*People to snuggle up indoors and watch tv/movies with

*Time spent with my sisters 

*The snow that WILL fall 

*Christmas Lights 

*Thanksgiving Dinner with family 

*Black Friday shopping with my sisters 

*All the holiday festivities 

*People coming in town 

*Christmas break on the college campus 

*Off Season 

I could go on... see, a good activity for me. This helps me to remember that although my toes are always cold, my lips are chapped, and I can't wear what I want to, life really isn't that bad :) 

OAKS!!!!.. and a touch of recruiting

I've been recruiting my butt off... or at least I am trying very hard. My goal is 12 athletes for next year. Truth be told, it's hard... absolutely not easy. Back in September I started talking to a player from Austin, TX and decided it would be a good idea to take a trip down for a tournament she would be playing in. Shortly after booking the plane ticket I was talking to a friend one night and discovered that unbeknownst to be she had up and moved to Austin. So, on this glorious trip to a fun city I got to see a friend I hadn't seen in a year and a half. It was incredible! We laughed a lot (mostly about Desoto) and had some good chats. I truly enjoyed my time there and am quite tempted to move there instead of Colorado :) I wish her husband, Josh, was in one of the pictures below... he is a great guy and they have the coolest relationship. Thanks for your hospitality, Amy and Josh, I can't wait to come back. (ps... sorry the pics are so small) 

All weekend I talked about how ridiculously proud Texans are of their state. I mean who else puts the flag and shape of state on everything? Then, I was given this shirt. Go figure. 

A favorite activity with a favorite person!

In college I became involved with the Young Life ministry. I LOVED it. I made great friends and still have contact with many of the high school girls. During my student teaching experience I taught 8th grade english at Nipher Middle School. Shorftly after I became involved with Young Life Kirkwood. It wasn't a very difficult experience because many of the kids I taught had entered high school. One in particular: Abby Mac. When Abby ended up at tailgating it was an easy and natural connection. She knew me from the classroom and immediately learned I was way more weird than I ever acted there. We clicked and our relationship began. Abby is now a junior in high school. I adore her. I have been privileged to stay with her when her parents go out of town, go to KU basketball, enjoy Starbucks, and recently have been invited to dinner with Reg and Carol... so fun! Below are some pictures during our pumpkin carving and recent dinner. 

Abby and I collaborated on this!