Post-Thanksgiving Thanks

Sunday, November 29 and we’re officially in the holiday season! Thanksgiving was held at our new house this year and it was pretty awesome, and not really stressful at all! We had a full house all week, with Heather and Lily staying for 5 awesome days, and then my parents for Turkey Day, and Tyler’s parents through the weekend. Plus 3 dogs! It was great. I’m really thankful that we have a big enough house now to entertain and have guests, and keep everyone comfortable. I’m also super thankful for a big kitchen and an oven to bake delicious food in. And nothing burned! Yahoo!

However, now that it is quiet in the house, I have some time to recollect on the week and all that I’m grateful for. (As opposed to worrying about tomorrow, and the near future, which is typical.) I didn’t verbally say thanks on Thanksgiving, so here goes…

I have an amazing family that took the time to drive out here – 5 hours with a baby and a dog is not so easy! I also have an amazing niece that brings smiles to everyone around. Thank you Mom, Dad and Heather, I love and miss you already!

I also have a truly awesome family-in-law. Mark and Cindy, you guys have helped us so much since I first came on the scene, and your generosity has been overwhelming. Thank you, thank you, thank you for being there for us!

I’m so thankful every day (even if I don’t show it) for my partner in crime and our love child. Almost 4 years we’ve been together, through sooo much already, and he still likes me 🙂 I love you TMW!

And my for sweet, darling Josie girl… you’re almost 3 and you’re not a baby anymore. You change a little every day, say more words, do new things, and it constantly floors me. You snuggle me, kiss me, challenge me, and make me laugh. You’re the best Josie Jos.

In addition to the people in my life, I’m thankful for little (and not so little) things: living in a beautiful place, in a nice home, and being able to choose the opportunities for myself that can improve or change the direction of my life. For me, its easy to get bogged down by the decisions I have to make, and stress out and yadda yadda, but I have to remember that one missed opportunity can open up several more, and I’m thankful for that freedom of choice.

(Note for future Erin: And also, one decision does not equal the rest of your life! I can do anything I choose to!)

Unrelated but Fun Fact: I read today in a magazine that when you feel stuck in a rut as an adult, that you should think back to what you were doing as a 10 year old, and do that. Except on a slightly maturer level. In my case, that would have been… gymnastics and spelling. I really liked both. In fact, I wanted to be an Olympic gymnast and could almost do a split! And I could spell the words ‘Connecticut’ and ‘hospital.’ So that’s impressive right. Perhaps I should start spending more time on my head and learn some new words? I’ll interpret that as actually doing yoga and write some more 🙂

 

 

Here I Am!

It has been a looong 9 months since I’ve been on here! A lot has happened… As always, life doesn’t go as planned, so we (yes, still Tyler, Josie, me and the dog) have taken a slightly more grounded nomadic approach and moved from house to house and state to state, as opposed to living on wheels.

For the summer, we had the opportunity to live rent-free in my grandfathers house on an island. Deer Isle, Maine to be exact, where my older sister, niece and parents live. I had the intention of turning the Wonder Drive blog into a story of renovating/fixing up my grandfathers house, but honestly, I just didn’t have the creative urge! I took a part-time job working on an oyster farm, while Tyler took the full-time lead working in a kitchen at Haystack, an art school on the island.  We had an interesting summer for sure, even taking Josie camping twice, and hiking in Acadia National Park. (Maybe some other time I’ll write up some of our adventures.) We were there for 6 months, and though it had its high points, there was quite a bit of stress of deciding where to go once our seasonal gigs were up. So that probably was the majority of the reason I didn’t feel like publicly sharing.

But here we are, spending the winter months in… guess where?? The White Mountains of New Hampshire! In the tiny little town of Campton, at the foot of the mountains. Tyler landed a very cool job as the videographer for Waterville Valley Ski Resort, which is awesome for him because he’s back behind the camera, using his creative mind. Plus he gets to ski! (Though he may be a bit rusty… love you, old fogey!) I also got a job at the mountain, as Guest Services Supervisor. So fancy, right? I, on the other hand, have never downhill skiied and have no idea what I’m in for. But we’ll see what the job holds!

We’ll also see what New Hampshire holds. Its only a state away from Maine, but so different… Instead of ocean views, which I’m very used to, we can look out our windows and see these huge 3- to 4,000 foot mountains! Its pretty amazing. So far, the people we’ve come across seem to be really friendly, and everywhere you look there’s a puffy coat -definitely an outdoorsy crowd. The town of Plymouth is about 10 minutes away, and because of the University, its a pretty hip town. Their library is fantastic! (Yes, I always scout the libraries out first when I move.) I think this place could be really good for us, its just all new and scary, and a little lonely.

Thankfully, its Thanksgiving week, which means my Maine family will be coming to visit and we’ll see Tyler’s big family this weekend. And then the holidays are upon us! I’m not sure where the blog will go – I may rename it and come up with something else. Perhaps Josie takes on the White Mountains! Or Erin becomes a true writer/painter/yogi! Or Tyler and Erin buy a house! Who knows. I guess thats the beauty of it right? Though we may not be livin’ on wheels, its all a crazy ass adventure.

Until next time! -Erin

 

Testing, testing

” A life should be planned inning by inning.”  -Peppermint Patty