About Me

Where I come from...
I was born and raised in central Iowa. I lived on a farm for the first ten years of my life before moving five miles north to a small town of 800 people. Growing up in a small town was perfection. Summer nights were spent jumping from one hay bale to another, sitting around bonfires, shooting fireworks, pasture "safari rides" in old beat-up pickup trucks, guitars, dollar movie theatres, and spending sleepless nights in crowded basements cuddled up with my best friends.

Beautiful Iowa

My family...
My parents have the marriage I hope for. My mom is the most loving person you could ever imagine and still smothers her (adult) children, nieces, and nephews with an abundance of hugs, kisses, and baby talk. My dad is a lover of golf, reading, power-saws, flannel shirts, liver and onions, and miller-lite. He doesn't realize how funny he is and makes me laugh without ever trying.

My parents, Dean and Marcy--Summer 2010

They love biking together--Summer 2012

My sister, Abby, is five years older than me, but is often mistaken as my younger sister (she truly hasn't changed since she was 18 years old). She is such a kid at heart...she loves throwing themed parties and is known for having ridiculously fun birthdays (scavenger hunts, rollerskating, etc). She will soon be marrying her fiance, Dave, and I couldn't be happier for the two of them.

Dave and Abby's engagement pictures--Fall 2012

My brother, Dane, is two years younger than me. He is the quietest of us siblings and the most babied by my mother. Growing up, his nickname was Baby Dane and even some of his high school friends called him this. He is very athletic and has excelled in every sport he has ever participated in. He is currently a student at Iowa State University and is dating the most adorable girl named Jenna.

Jenna and Dane in Vegas--September 2012

Both sides of my extended family are absolutely amazing. My mom's siblings (and their children) live all over the country (California, Colorado, Florida, Texas, and Indiana), but we get together very often and have always been very close. We enjoy singing made-up family songs, dancing, drinking, and laughing together. Every other Christmas the whole family (as many as can make it) head to my aunt and uncle's cabin in Colorado where we spend several days skiing, snow-shoeing, camp-firing, and making gingerbread houses around the kitchen table.

...Grandma got run over by a reindeer. Christmas at the cabin--December 2011

My dad's side of the family (and their children) also live all over the country (Texas, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa). Many of these cousins are getting married and having babies and it is so fun watching this new generation grow up. Most holidays are spent with this side of the family where the days are spent eating, drinking wine, and fighting over who gets to hold the new baby next.

Some of us Kaufman girls--Summer 2010

My friends...
I am lucky to have several friends who I know will be the life-long kind--the ones who you might go for months at a time without seeing, but will pick up right where you left off the next time you're together, the ones who can make you laugh until your stomach hurts, and the ones you want to be around just to be around...even if it is just to spend the entire day sitting around doing nothing at all.

Me...
There is not much more to say after describing the biggest parts of my life in the paragraphs above, but I'll give it a go...

To those who don't know me well, I probably come off as a very quiet person. However, those who I am most comfortable around know the real (and somewhat weird) me, and would most definitely not consider me quiet.

I am a CPA (I love being able to say that!), and work as an auditor for the State of Iowa. I moved back in with my parents after graduating college in May 2011 and hope to buy a house of my own sometime in the near future.

I do not have any children (yet) and am not married (yet), but can often be found hanging around a big lug named Trent.

Me and Trent at an ugly sweater party--December 2012.

For more "about me," check out the following posts:
The Facts

For more about my loved ones, see my "family" and "friends" labeled posts:
My wonderful family!
My friends!

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to say hello!

xo,

Andi Janelle