Thanksgiving in Utah/Colorado.

I am so blessed to have such amazing friends.

Thanksgiving Part One:  My Place!

Or as we liked to call it "Friendsgiving", happened last Sunday.

My roommate Liz and I hosted at our new-ish apartment.

We decided that we'd make it easy on ourselves and buy a pre-made Thanksgiving meal from Smith's.  Turns out it was all cold food...So, it was a delayed start but we had a wonderful time!

None of my friends showed up (still bitter about that), but any friend of Liz's is a friend of mine so we made the most of it.  

This is my roommate Liz, making her debut appearance on my blog.

It was our first Thanksgiving meal that we prepared and hosted.  We felt so grown up!

The whole crew minus Liz...From left to right, me (eyes closed), Noodle, John, Lacy, and Cassie (who stayed for 5 minutes).

Cassie, Liz and I....And John and Lacy's unplanned pose in the background!

We were so lucky to have a guy at our Friendsgiving to carve our turkey.  I don't think we would have stood a chance if it were just Liz and I.

Liz and her Best Friend Lacy.  She's a doll.

The majority of my meals this past week.  I'm not complaining one bit.

Thanksgiving Part Two:  Rifle, Colorado.

So i don't think I have ever talked about my good friend Kari on my blog.  She is one of the most amazing ladies I know.  I met her online through a military girlfriend/spouse support group (when I was dating a guy in the military in 2008) and we quickly became friends.  We've kept in touch since then through facebook.  She is married, has a husband just recently out of the military, and they have the most beautiful daughter named Piper.  I met Piper and Kari for the first time on my drive out to Utah this past summer.  After 4 years of hearing about her love story, I finally got to meet her husband Aaron this time!  I felt like I already knew him..He was probably creeped out, haha.

She was kind enough to let me spend the holiday with her little family.  I had such a wonderful time.  So many laughs and memories were made in such a short amount of time :)

That's Kari on the left.  In the middle is Katie, Kari's good friend.  We had a fun night.

My living quarters/own guesthouse for the stay, plus a goodie bag!  She spoiled me so much!!

I am seriously in love with Piper.  She is beautiful.
Sidenote:  Everyone always tells me spending a few days with babies is good birth control.  It just makes me that more excited to have a little one of my own in the distant future :)

 Piper and her best friend Pudge.  He is SUCH a big dog.  

Peace out, guys and girls.

Sad.

I need a job so badly.

Getting rejection e-mails on the regz is not the best.

I'm feeling pretty discouraged right now.

I have a confession to make:

I'm living my life vicariously through two elderly people leaving me wrong voicemails.

I get two voicemails yesterday from a man we'll call Jim.

Jim thinks I'm Edna's grandson.  He tells me that his Grandma needs assistance, that she needs to get rid of her cats and one has an eye infection, and that she shouldn't give her car away to the other grandson.

Edna called me twice and left me a two voicemails today.

She's putting her cat down tomorrow and wants her grandson to say his goodbyes.  Also, she's moving out soon and to not let anyone tell him otherwise.

It's like my own personal soap opera, courtesy of voicemails that are not meant to be sent to me.

I almost feel guilty.

Mostly sad, though.

Almost too random.

Who am I?

I'm a big sister.

I'm a daughter.

I'm an aunt.

I'm a friend.

I'm a roommate.

I'm a nurse.

I'm a Penn State grad.

I'm a lifelong learner.

I'm a human being.

I'm alive.

I am happy.

I'm sitting home on a Friday night in my bed.

It's snowing outside.

I feel like hibernating because it's dark all the time now (daylight saving's time is terrible).

Updates on me (I know you're eager to know):

Not much.  Job hunt is going really, really slow.

My brother turned 18 on November 4th and I was so proud he voted for the first time.

Here is my conversation with him on his birthday:

Me: So what are you doing to celebrate for your birthday?
Matt: Gambling my life away. I won $2 on scratch offs.
Me: Do you feel old now?
Matt: Yeah, actually dad signed me up for the retirement home today. I think I have dementia. It happens to the best of us.

I absolutely love that sarcasm runs in the family.

My sister turned 22 on Halloween.

My niece Audrey is now 7lbs 10oz - HUGE .  Haha Just kidding on the huge part.

Cassie and I have been unemployment buddies.  Sadly, I have to say goodbye to her on Monday when she starts her new job.  She has kept me sane for so long!

We voted (Cassie did 2 minutes before the polling place closed).  And sadly our man didn't win.  BUT, I'm done with politics for a while.  It has taken it's toll on me to read people's statuses every day on Facebook.  All the arguments, yuck.

I'm planning on coming home for Christmas -  First time in two years that I'll be able to spend it with my family!  This makes me really happy.

This may or may not be the most random post ever.  Bam.

Eek!

I haven't posted lately.  My life hasn't been all that exciting.

I watched "A Little Bit of Heaven" last night.  Kate Hudson is in it.

Never watch that movie, ever...Unless you want to cry your eyes out -  I did.  I usually wait post-movie to cry.  In this case, I was peeing on the toilet (TMI I know) and just started bawling.  It was a humbling moment. I woke up with tissues surrounding me in my bed.  

I carved pumpkins with Burt, Megan, Sherra and Tommy last night.  

I think it's safe to say Burt and I made the coolest pumpkin carving ever (even if he carved more than I did).  This pumpkin is sitting outside of my apartment door.  If anyone smashes it, they are done for.  And I'm starting to feel like I live in the projects -  There is a baby crying upstairs all the time and a couple screaming at each other in expletives that shouldn't be written on a blog.  (Don't worry mom and dad, everything is fine!!  Until my pumpkin gets smashed...)

We also watched The Breakfast Club.  Easily one of my favorite movies of all time.  I just love how intense and raw it is, and it's set in one place, during one morning. (Don't laugh at me)

Let's take a moment to love on this video.  I'm secretly hoping that someone else will have this song stuck in their head and showing up in their dreams even a year after watching it....

I miss my family and my niece a lot.

I also didn't get my first choice of a job...This is the second time I'm telling anyone.  If I tell it to someone, why not just tell it to the blogging world?  (or the two that actually read my posts).

I'm in love with a girl....

I'm an Aunt!!

My little sister Ali is a Mom!

Ali and Zach's first family photo.

From 9:30 am on Wednesday until 7:45 pm on Thursday, my sister was in labor.

Her water broke at 9:30am on Thursday 10/11/12!! made the 4 cm mark at 6 pm, and she was ready to push within the hour.

Audrey Jane Prentice obviously waited until 10/11/12 to make her appearance, since it is one cool birthday.

Erythromycin is a biatch on those eyes.. Sorry girlfriend.

My sister did amazing.  You have no idea.

I was an extern at Lenox Hill in labor and delivery, and my sister was probably the best patient I have ever seen in labor.  She took it like a pro.  One amazing mom.

Her fiance Zach was the best support partner/soon-to-be-daddy ever.  To be honest, my mom and I were just the lucky people to be there.  It wasn't even necessary because of Zach...He was amazing.

BUT, I was SO happy to be a part of that birth!!  It was beautiful...Yes, it was a long labor but I wanted to be there for everything.  Ali and Zach, thank you so much for allowing me to be there in that one, beautiful moment.

I am a first time aunt, and I am SO HAPPY!!!!!

Aunt Amy, are you kidding?!  I am so happy to take on that role!

Right after I got there on the second meeting (today), she was wide awake....I enjoyed every minute of it.

Matt first meeting and holding his niece.  He was so nervous and careful.

My hair is still messed u.  I don't get it.

I was trying to wake girlfriend up so she could get some sleep tonight.  And I was so happy.

Look at those beautiful baby toes.

Most beautiful picture by far..... (copyright Grandpa Madden).

But she is even more beautiful in person.

Oh, I am so in love!!

My Little Sister, a Mama.

Amy & Ali :)

Tonight I had dinner with my sister and family.

It was the last night that my sister wasn't a mom.

(well, she had a baby in her belly, but tomorrow it becomes official).

Christmas 1992 maybe?  I hit her on the head with a shovel that year.

Tomorrow, she becomes a mom.

That little girl on the right...A mom!!!  And me, a big sister always.  (Matt's first Christmas)

I become an Aunt.

A first time Aunt, to a little girl named Audrey Jane Prentice.

2010 or 2011

I will be a very proud Aunt.

Proud of her sister, her boyfriend, and the future that the Little Miss will have.

Bahamas 2010 -  Why didn't we meet J. Biebz?!?!!?

Ali Cat, I will be there every step of the way.

Little Mermaid forever.

I will try my best to be the best big sister I can be for you.... Because I know you will take it from there for Audrey as her Mama. 

Halloween 1992.  Devil/Angel Bride.  Jkjk

I love you, I have always loved you, and I always will.

Tomorrow, you will be the strongest I have ever seen you and I know that.

I am crying because I am so happy and excited for you!!  

I hope we can always laugh like this.

But remember, you will always be my little sister.

And I LOVE that, Ali.

I love you more!

Love,

Your big sis Amy :)

Family Love.

Even

After

All this time

The sun never says

To the earth

"You owe me."

Look

What happens

With a love like that.

It lights the

Whole

Sky.

-Hafiz

I'm back in New York for a week to become an Aunt.

I love family.

Time sure does fly.

I enjoyed a rainy fall New York day today.

I love rainy days...Mother nature must know that.

I cuddled with Taz all day and read books.  

Tried to find crafts to make and then I realized, I'm not creative.

Overall, a dream-like day.