Through A Childs Eye

I may not have kids of my own and probably won't have one any time soon but I am so lucky to be able to be part of the lives of so many great kids. My friends have some amazing kids and I get to be there for some pretty cool moments.

Aboud a week or so ago I got to go to the Zoo with some of those great kids and it was amazing to me what they were excited about and what we thought they should be excited about. There were a few times when we would try and point out an animal that we thought was cool and all they could look at is the duck or goose walking around. But one of the coolest moments was when I have Ledger and Austin right up next to the glass by one of the gorillas and they had such big eyes. It was so cute when the gorillas would look at them they would lean back away from it and then it would turn away and they would move forward a bit but then the gorilla would look at them again and they would lean back. They would giggle each time the gorilla would look at them. It was like they were playing a game with the gorilla. It reallu was such sweet and innocent fun.

And most recently I got to go with Adam and Andrea when they took Austin to the Drive-In. I really had forgotten how much fun you could have there. It was so much fun to watch Austin there. He certainly gave us a few funny one liners while we were there. We did have to "encourage" him a few times with candy so he would smile for a picture or two. I was so afraid to give him to much and then he would be up all night but about 20 minutes into the second move he was out! We went and saw Hop, which for any of you out there is a great movie, and it was fun to watch him and see what he found funny. I think a few times he laughed because we were laughing but I know for sure there were a few times we were laughing more because of his reaction than to how funny it really was.

There is something very sweet, innocent and special about seeing things through the eyes of a child. It can help to remind you is really important in life. When life seems to be getting me down and I feel like things are getting to stressful just spending a few hours with these kids can make all that stress go away. I am lucky beyond words to be a part of the lives of these children and I can only hope and pray that I will get to continue to be. Right now there is not much more that is important to me than being Auntie Tegan. I just hope one day they know how much they mean to me.

Good Night for now!

The Elusive Couch Has Been Found!!!

After about a month of stocking Craigslist, furniture stores and lots of online shoping I am so excited to say that I am writting this blog sitting on my new, to me, couch! There were several times that I thought I would never find one and would be sitting on the single chair I have for a long time. This is such a huge deal for me because this is the first really big purchase that I have made since moving in. I did buy some shelves and a TV stand but a couch is so much bigger deal to me.

Through out the process of trying to find this couch I knew what I wanted and I wasn't going to settle for just anything. Maybe that is just me being stubborn but I just wasn't going to settle. And I have to say that I am so glad that I didn't! I got very lucky when I found it, they even delivered it to me! Whcih saved me from having to rent a truck and going to pick it up myself.

Can I just say that there are some seriously ugly couches out there that some people think are worth huge amounts of moeny. Several times I had to fight the urge to email hese people that they were asking way to much for it. Yes I know that is mean but if you saw some of these you would too!

Anyway, get ready for some blog about having people over because now that I have my couch I feel like I can finally so it!

Good Bye for now!

This Is Harder Than I Thought!

So I have been in my apartment for about three almost four weeks now and I feel like I can't seem to get it put together and completly unpacked. There are two boxes that are sitting in the corner of my living room just looking at me, taunting me, daring me to not unpack them. And as of now they are winning! I have a picture in my head of how I want things to look and I can't seem to get it there. I know that in time it will happen and look the way I want it. But as most of you know I am not a very paitent person and I usually want what I want when I say I want it.

I was very lucky that my friend Kammie came over and decorated two of my shelves, they look great! But I still need to get a couch, which I have found but it still hasn't been delivered, my pictures up, maybe a rug, and I think a desk. I honeslty thought that I had done really well and I had most of the things that I was going to need but as I start to think about it I realize that the list of things I need keep getting longer and longer! It's so frustrating!

I was very lucky and my friends and family have given me so many things and a ton of gift cards to help me get prepaired! I truely was spoiled by them on my birthday! I guess on my flex day today there is some shopping to do. As soon as I get things put together I will post pictures.

Good bye for now!

27 on the 27th

Today I turn 27 and as I always do on my birthday I try to take some time at the end of the day and sit back and reflect on the year I had. As always the year has brought some downs but mainly it has brought a ton of ups! And what I contribute those ups to are the all the amazing people that I am lucky to have in my life. With out them there is no way I would be where I am.

There are so many blessings in my life and I know that I don't appreciate them! I have been blessed with the best family any one could ask for, amazing friends that have been there for me through so many things, I have a job, which is something that many people can not say, and I have been able to be part of the lives of some really cool kids. Of course these are only a small number of the blessings in my life and there are some things that I wish were different but it is on days like these that I realize that I have a pretty great life and that God has a plan for me.

However, there is one thing missing from this years celebration and that is my Grandmother. I was the first grandchild on my dads side and I am one of only two girls. Needless to say I was spoiled by her. She was an amazing woman and I miss her so very much. The only regreat that I have is that I did not spend more time with her. But I do have some of the best memories of her and I feel so lucky to be able to call her my grandmother. I know that one day I will see her again but for now she is looking down on me and helping to protect me.

Last year brought many changes for me but for the most part they were good ones. And this is something that I have not been able to say the last few years. Each year seems to get a bit better and better so I have high hopes for this year. And if you know me for me to have a glass half full perspective about something is a big, no a huge deal! There are all ready so many great things planned for this year that I am really looking forward to and I know that there are things that I can't even imagine coming.

Today I got a chance to spend it in the best way I can imagine, breakfast with my girls and lunch with my family. I really could not have asked for a better birthday!

Well I have done really well at posting on here the last fews days, I am hoping that I am able to keep it up. I guess we will see, I think that I am out of topics for a while.

Good Night for now!

The Oh So Elusive Couch

So as you all know by now I have moved out and have an apratment of my own. As soon as I figured out when I was moving I started to slow buy the things that I knew I needed. So by the time the day actually rolled around I had most of the stuff I needed. But there are still a few things that I need to get, mainly pots and pans, which I don't cook a ton so I'm not in a hurry for those, and a couch!

Oh this stupid couch! Where do I even start. I thought that I had a few couches lined up and then those fell through. So I went to Furniture on Consignment and I couldn't find a single one. There was a brown leather sectional I thought about for a few minute or two but when it came down to it wasn't what I had in mind. For now I am stocking Craiglist like a cray person. Each day I log on there and say a small prayer that today will be the day that I actually will find one. Even Andrea is constantly looking for me. The other day we thought we found one, I got excited about it and I think she even did, but then I realized that it was in Abilene. As much as I liked the couch there in no way in you know what that I was going to drive and hour and a half to get a couch. So I guess for now the search continues.

Maybe my issue is that I have a clear idea of what I want but it's just not out there for the amount I can spend. I know that at some point in time I will find the "Perfect" one but it is such a frustrating process. I really just want to find one and get it so I can start having people over.

Well I will keep everyone posted on how this search ends, if it ever does. Sorry this wasn't the most exciting post. Hopefully my next one will be more exciting or at least a little more insightful!

Good Night for now!

It's Been Way To Long

Wow it has seriously been an extremtly long time since I have been on here. I'm going to try and start updating this more often since I kind of feel like I might be in an interesting part of my life. But before we get to that let me see if I can get your caught up on what has happened over the last year.

I just moved out and into my first apartment earlier this month. I know... I know... I know... It's about time right? My mom has always said I do things my own way and at my own pace. I guess I just wanted to make sure that she was ok, the last few years had been really tough on her. But she is doing so well now. So I made the huge leap and Nikita and I are enjoying our own space. I never thought that I would enjoy it as much as I have. The freedom and the space has been amazing and a little liberating. I have really enjoyed decorating it, while there is still a ton of stuff that I need to get, it is really starting to feel like home.

My brothers are doing really well. Mac is in the process of resigning with the Air Force. He truely loves it and I have to say that at times I'm really jealous that he has found something to do everyday that he loves. There are so many people in the world that can not say that. I may be ones of those. He was a little disapointed that he didn't get called up on the last deployment but my mom and I are both happy that he is home and safe. Jarrett is doing so well in school. He spends so much time studying and I'm so proud to say that it is really paying off for him. He actually just got a 92% on a huge test! I know that one day he is going to be an amazing doctor. My mom is doing really well and I'm beyond proud of her. She actually just joined a bible study at church and I'm hoping that her faith is starting to return to her. She has been working on redoing several of the rooms in her house and they are looking so great. The bigget project is redoing all the wood in the rooms and staining them.

On a heavier note I lost my grandmother in July. It has to be the hardest thing that I have gone through in my 26 years. In the last few years I didn't get to spend as much time with her as I would have liked to. She was a very special women and I know that no matter what I will always be her little princess. What has helped the most is that I know I will see her again one day and I know that she is looking down on me and guiding me through some of my tougher days. She will forever have a special place in my heart!

Other than those few things, things are pretty much the same. Work is still work and I still wonder if it is the place for me and if it's where my calling really is. My friends are still the most amazing women I know. I feel so unworthy of them many days. They really are the best "cheerleaders" that I could ask for and give some of the best pep talks a girl could ask for. The best part has been watching their kids grow up so quickly, I really want to make them stop. However hearing them say Tegan or Auntie Tegan is way cooler than I thought that it could ever be. My family is growing again this year. Last July we got to welcome baby Liam into this world and I have to say he is one of the cutest McCall grandkids out there. And we are waiting for baby Henry to get here in June!

Well that is it for now. Keep checking back here as I will be updating this more frequently than I have the last year.

Bye for now!

Colorado, Cross Canadian Ragweed and More

It has been onver a month since I have been on here. Life has been so busy this last month that I havn't really had the time to get on here. I will try to do better in the up coming months. So this might actually be a long one, sorry in advance!
Ths first part of the month Kammie and I went out to Colorado to see some of our close friends that live there. We both really love the state and look for any and all chances to get out there. The main reason we were out there was for Corynne and Brian's Wedding Reception. They got married last Novemebr on the top of a mountain in a really small ceramony and then decided to have a big reception later. It was so much fun to get out there and get to hang out with them. They really are a very cool couple. The reception was so much fun. The best part was getting to met their friends from Chicago, who turned out to be some of the coolest and nicest people, as well as their families. On Friday we drove up to Ft. Collins and went to the New Belgium Brewery. I have never been a huge fan of Fat Tire but I am after being there. We had so much fun on our tour as well as trying some of the beers that we may not be able to get in Kansas. Our tour guide was so much and you could tell that she really loved her job and what workign for that company. I really hope that one day I can be as passionate as she was about her job. Later that night we went into Boulder for the Bachlor/Bachlorette parties. We had a scavanger hunt against the boys. We had so much fun and I am happy to say that the GIRLS WON. We were told that the boys were more creative but we actually followed the rules, so we won and honestly that is all that matters! On Saturday Kammie and I drove down to Colorado Springs to see Amanda and Susan Beth. Even though Jarrett has trained out there for two years I had never been out to the training center. We were able to go on a guided tour of the training center, it was very cool to get to see where my brother and friends have spent so much time of their lives! We spent the rest of the day haning out, talking and eatting. I can't wait for July and the chance to be able to go back out there!
The Thursday we got back Jennifer, Kammie and I went and saw Cross Canadian Ragweed at the Cotillion. We had a ton of fun just hanging out and listening to great music. The band was really good and they put on a pretty good show. I would definitly go back and see them again. It was really nice to have the day off after and to be able to sleep in and not have to get up crazy early to go to work.
The most exciting part of this last month came yesterday when my mom and I got to go out to the base pick Mac up from his deployment. They had a breakfast all set up for us while we waited for them to get in. They even had toys, coloring books and movies for the kids that were there. They then loaded us up on buses and took us out to the flight line. It was really cool to get to see Mac's unit get off the plane and all the kids that ran up to their parents that they hadn't seen in over two months. It really was a moving moment!!!
Well that is all for now, I will talk to you all later!
Tegan