Giving thanks (late)

I'm grateful for being here, for being able to think, for being able to see, for being able to taste, for appreciating love -- for knowing that it exists in a world so rife with vulgarity, with brutality and violence, and yet love exists.  I'm grateful to know that it exists.  

-- Dr. Maya Angelou

This year we celebrated Thanksgiving in Dallas.  It was a lovely day full of family, friends and delicious culinary delights.  

Sherry with her delicious apple crustada.  

Jamesy and Erik watching the parade.

Carving the turkey.

Perfectly delicious rolls.  

Reesy getting started.  

Thanksgiving means pumpkin pie.

Stevie's peas.  

I have much to be thankful for this year:  a loving and unique family, new friends, old friends, stability, new adventures, new additions, loss, love, hope, health, challenges, work, time to name a few.  I hope to have a thankful heart all year round.  

That's what friends are for

I have great friends.  During my little jaunt out to Utah, my friends drove up from SLC/Bountiful to stop by the Waterfall residence and see me (thank you Flinters).  We're all off doing different things, living different places and moving different directions.  But I was so flattered they'd carve out some time on their Sunday afternoon to come sit around the kitchen, eat ice cream, and discuss such topics as how Crystalyn's hair-do and vertically-striped shirt add another 6 inches, who-kissed-who back in the day (even involving my sister), as well as what's going on in our lives.    

It was a lovely afternoon spent with equally lovely ladies.  Thanks friends!

Brief visit

I got to go out to Utah for a brief visit not too long ago.  The timing could not have been better because Megan had two showers planned and Lizzy was coming in town.  It was so, so much fun to be with my mom and sisters and celebrate Meg's little girl on the way.  I can hardly wait for that feisty little girl to make her entrance into the world.  And I am beyond excited for Megan and Ben to be parents.  

My best friend Lucy

You all know I love my dog.  Even when she destroys things (as evidenced above) I still love her.  And this is why.
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/shiba-inu-puppy-cam

This is why I love Fall

Me

I'm working on a little project at work that has taken off from the American Express ads, "My Life.  My AmEx."  Basically it's a survey of really dynamic celebrity-type individuals, i.e. Diane von Furstenberg (amazing!), Ellen, Scorsese, etc.  But the questions are a bit more open-ended and allow for some creativity.  So I'm taking the liberty of doing my own AmEx ad.  

my name...Katie Waterfall Rees

childhood memory...riding banana-seat bikes, playing dress-up and jumping on the trampoline with my dad

fondest memory...8.20.2005

soundtrack...loud 

retreat...there's no place like home

wildest dream...world peace, really

proudest moment...when I didn't have to pick out the wheat bread

biggest challenge...overcoming myself

alarm clock...the worst invention ever

perfect day...sunshine, long walk, dave, dog, dinner

first job...watering the trees with my sister megan

indulgence...candy and ugg boots

last purchase...a $5 shirt from the gap

favorite movie...any movie where we buy greasy, hot, movie-theater popcorn (usually with my mom)

inspiration...those who live what they know

my life...will soon change with the introduction of a boy

my card...has my picture on it and gets me into costco

Nauvoo

We met Tyler, Amy and little Kate in Nauvoo.  So fun!  I loved every minute of it.  The Nauvoo temple was everything I wanted it to be and more.  Really, it's one of the most beautiful temples I've ever seen and/or been in.  

But aside from the temple, getting to play with Kate and Ty and Amy was so much fun, too.  Kate is the cutest little almost-two-year-old ever.  She is so funny, has such cute a personality, darling curly hair and beautiful blue eyes.  I love that girl.  

Who says you can't jump on the bed?

In front of the temple, overlooking the mighty Mississippi. 

In the blacksmith shop.  Kate loved her "prairie diamond" ring.

Cute family!

Can't thank you enough

Dear Lion's Choice and Panera Bread,

I can't thank you enough for the sustenance you have provided in the last months.  I may have well starved to death had it not been for the delicious "cub meal" roast beef or the delightful tomato soup, both of which I have several times a week. 

 

You keep me from being sick and I will keep coming back for more; it is the least that I can do. 

Blast from the Past

Last week as I was getting to leave work I had a phone call from an unknown number.  I typically don't answer phone calls from numbers I don't know (yes, I screen calls), but I answered this one anyway.  It took the person on the other end all of saying "hello" for me to know who it was.  Who?  Jeff "Skippy" Kendall.  This dear friend who I have gone to school with since the pre-school was passing through St. Louis for work and tracked down my phone number (which apparently was a little bit of a task in itself).  I was so happy to hear from him; what a fun surprise!

We picked Skippy up to go get some ice cream later that night.  Apparently there was some convention going on and traffic was a joke.  So we missed out on Old St. Charles and good hard ice cream.  Instead we opted for Culver's custard.  I felt bad, like we were taking him to McDonald's to experience St. Louis; lame.  But whatever.  Skippy probably felt on the spot because Dave and I reeled off question after question.  

All in all, though, I was just so happy to see a familiar face and sort of reconnect with this long-time friend.  I never gave Skippy the credit he deserved.  He was always nice to me; and I know I didn't always return that kindness.  

So thank you, Skippy,  for your years of friendship to me, even when I didn't deserve it.    

Skippy drives all over the country in this monster of a truck for GoreTex.

Skip giving me (and Dave) the low down about what he actually does.  There's this rain/wind chamber (sounds like a hurricane simulator to me) where people dress up in all GoreTex and stand in the back of the truck and get pelted with rain and wind, then come out dry as a whistle; proof of how GoreTex works.  

Wedding bells

Eric and Jessica were married just about a month ago.  I know this is late, but better late than never.  

Ike Strikes

Sunday morning as we headed to church, this is what greeted us just about a mile from home:  

Hmmm...do we skip church?  Nah, we go home, get the camera, shoot some photos, and find another way there.  

In just a few hours it rained about 5 inches!  This little creek rose about 10+ feet to cover the bridge and completely flood the area.  But about four hours later, it was back to normal -- with the exception of the mud and silt everywhere.  

I love the weather in the Midwest; it keeps life interesting.  

Finish what I started

I never quite gave justice to our Destin trip this summer.  The two mini blog entries really only display my and Dave's unfortunate/completely inconvenient arrival itinerary and the ice cream thief.  

And since photos are much more eloquent than my words, please enjoy the following visual description of Destin '08:

This accurately displays Reesy's love for the pool/beach/anything water.

We bought snow cones from, yes, the snow cone stand on water.

Laura always gets the best tan (next to Stevie who can lie in the sun for days at a time).

About 90% of James' pictures looked like this, always a little bewildered, but so so cute.  
What would Destin be without a ride on the train? 

Little girl

Little Lizzie came to visit me in St. Louis not to long ago.  I wish I was half as cool as this girl.  

We had lots of fun.  Free art museum.  Paddle boats at Forest Park.  Rams game.  Lots of Olympic viewing.  Delicious Dewey's Pizza.  Sunday brunch.  Fitz's.  The Loop.  Muddie Buddies.  

I already miss her.  Love you long time, Liz!