Homeownership

Don't look too closely at how gross we look.
This was after all day moving, wearing the same clothes several days in a row, and probably a few skipped showers.

Owning a home is great. The day we realized that we could afford a mortgage payment was the best day ever. It is what all renters look forward too. There are things about owning a home where renting just doesn't do it. For example, we can put as many holes in the wall as we want. No more ridiculous rules demanding "there can only be one nail hole per wall" or "you can only use nails the gauge of a staple." To add to that, if we want to paint a wall, by golly we're painting a wall, and we don't even have to get the colors approved. No more of the insane asylum super gloss white that is easy to clean and nice and generic. Owning a home lets us decide who comes to visit and how long they stay. No landlords setting visiting limits that family shouldn't be stay for longer than a month because then they should probably collect a deposit from them. If we want someone to visit or even live with us, the door is open. Most importantly, the cats aren't an issue. The way I see it, kids have the potential to do more destruction that my cats; but landlords don't understand. Having our own house gives us full cat lady privileges: if we want more cats, so be it. And don't forget about the tax and investment benefits of owning a home. Now that is something to look forward to. But when you're renting, you can just tell that money good bye. Sounds great! But don't get me wrong, owning a home is only so fantastic until there are the downsides. Like the carpet. Surely it didn't look this worn when we looked at the house, did it? The house is about 2000 sq ft: that'll be a pretty penny to replace it all. And hear that rattling of the fridge? Yep that's the compressor going out. Better count on that being a couple hundred dollar fix. Or the fears of the "what if"s. What if the house burns down along with all of our belongings and life savings? You can't just replace that and now the lingering doom of possibility is on us. Or how about the water heater just unexpectedly going out. Yeah, its a $10 part but we can't fix it. Sure give me a book, give Bobby a computer, but a water heater?! That is out of our league. So we can call a repairman and he can come tell us that it just seemed to be a wire that had a slight short and worked when he giggled it. Yeah, we actually could've done that and saved money had we known; but that's just the joys of homeownership. You win some and you lose some; but in the end, you are just thankful for actually having a home and know that things could be worse.

I cant believe it is December.

I can't believe it is already December and Christmas is here

Barry's mom gave us her old Christmas tree so we have a beautiful big tree for our house

Life is such a blur! 

This was our first time hosting Thanksgiving. Bobby's parents and brother and sister in law and my mom and step dad and sister were all here. It was a full house! And there were our two cats and Bobby's parents' two dogs. 

It was great having everyone here though. I really wish we were closer to everyone

This is one dog Tige. She stole the kitties' bed and they were not very happy

The semester is coming to an end! I can't believe I only have one semester left. That is what is most surreal. The stressful thing is that I have so much to do in the next two weeks. Between school and English Society and I just got promoted to co manager at work. Ahh! Just one thing at a time!

Trinket Shelf

There is a shelf in my house full of special things. I have moved three times; but in every house, the shelf follows holding a main spot on our walls. I like to call it my trinket shelf. But it is really a shelf of memories. Shells, a shard of pottery, pictures, wine bottles, animal figurines, miniature famous landmarks. While some objects do not hold as much meaning as others, I cherish them all because they remind me of the neat things life holds. There are also things on that shelf that would hold no meaning to others. Like a splintered drumstick: a memory of the roughest concert I was lucky to live through. A slip of paper from a cheap Chinese fortune cookie: holding my engagement ring, the promises and future of my husband and me, and the irony of the fortune. Yet that would never be apparent to an innocent onlooker. The items would be just that of trinkets. Thus giving the shelf more meaning to the curator. A shelf of deep meaning.

Food

I have been on a cooking frenzy as of late
I really do enjoy cooking.
Luckily my mom was a pretty good cook to teach me
and also luckily Bobby is pretty open minded when it comes to food.
He will eat anything I make for him.
He may not always enjoy it (tuna casserole)
But he always eats it which I am grateful for

I normally feel like I dont have time to cook dinner
but in reality, cooking doesnt take that long
and it is so much cheaper
and so much healthier

We have a ton of left overs though.
I used to love left overs
but a lot of the time when I cook the meal I am not even hungry for it anyways

There is something about cooking for yourself that is unappetizing
I am not sure why

Last week I made a one pot tomato basil pasta (Google the recipe [Martha Stewart], it is one of the cleanest meals I feel like I have ever eaten. Also it is beautiful)
I also made this green curry soup which was very good

And then tonight I made a potato soup from scratch

We have been trying to buy more organic and healthier groceries.
It kind of kills me inside to pay $5 for milk and way more like this for things that could be so much cheaper
but it is way better
and its not that much more really
also our health will benefit from it

also, as I was peeling potatoes this morning
I was thinking about how good my mom is at peeling potatoes with a knife
that is hard work.

and on a side note
I went to UCTE this last week
it was fabulous as always
I am getting more and more excited to teach

also I am trying to use Twitter more

And I need to come back to loving reading and writing

I have been listening to a lot of audio books
I just need to write more

heres to this blog and writing more

So fasten your seatbelts, cause I'm gonna launch this vessel

You know those times when you just feel pretty happy and excited?
Yeah thats me about now.

Let's start with the weekend.
I was so productive yet had a great time.

First off.
I finished all my homework that I had set the goal to finish.
This rarely happens.
(Including my huge assignment!):

I wasn't sure if I would be able to finish by Tuesday but tada!

Bobby and I also had a nice weekend
We went out to dinner
Went and saw a movie
Did some clothes shopping for him.

It was just all around enjoyable!

And then tonight I tried out a new recipe that was super easy
(One pot tomato basil pasta)
It was pretty good
Bobby liked it which was a plus

I have an issue with cooking things and enjoying them
Like if I cook it, it is normally meh

So here's to the good times, tonight is mighty special

whirl of a weekend

Well, I had a crazy busy fun weekend. My mom and sister were here and we partied it up. As always. We always run run run and then are exhausted. They drove here from Colorado on Thursday night. They got here about 4 and then we went to a wedding for my mom's cousin. 

It was fun to see my mom's side of the family. We haven't been very close to them, so it was kind of overwhelming talked to so many people who know me but I dont really know them. Still fun to see everyone though. Also, ironically. We sat do for the wedding and pretty soon this couple come up and asks if these two seats are taken and it was Dr. Ostensen and his wife! I guess he is in the same ward as a bunch of my family and neighbors! It would have been even better if we were related but still funny.

 That night we went to Cafe Rio and then The Chocolate for dessert. We had another person take a picture of us but it is funny how those pictures never turn out or are really horrible

The next day was very fun filled. That morning Selby had a tour and interview at the Aveda Institute. And they showed us a good time! She was leaning towards another school, but after that tour she loved it! We got all of her application completed and she is on her way! I think she will fit in there really well. She wants to do hair, makeup, and costumes for film, plays, TV, things like that. And for being an applicant they gave us all facials! I was supposed to have class but ended up leaving early to join them! 

Since I left class, I had to go in that night and get caught up on some things. I have made a lot of bowl-ish forms! I need to work on perfecting it and on learning a new form

Then Saturday was awesome as well! Look at how cute Selby is! She cut off 13" of hair and donated it. And now she has this super cute cut. She got so many compliments. And the hair cut is extremely versatile. And she applied for a job as a front desk at the salon! We are crossing our fingers she gets it because she would do awesome there 

That evening we went up to Ikea and got some stuff for Selby's room here and shopped around. We also went to the Cheesecake Factory for some cheesecake. Yum. And then we shopped some more that night! 

Whew! It was a lot of fun! I didnt get very much done for sure. But it is always worth it to spend time with family. Sunday I slept all afternoon because I was so pooped. I just snuggled in bed with the kitties. And now I am stressing about homework. But that is okay because I would probably be stressing anyways ha. Here's to hoping Selby gets the job so she can move up here sooner! 

Seeeesterrrrr!

My sister is back! She has been in Florida for the last five months; and even though we don't see each other that often, I missed her dearly. There is something about at least being on the same side of the continent that is consoling. We have also become a lot closer in the last couple years. We are 2.5 years apart in age and fought a lot growing up. When we were younger, we were all we had because we lived out in the middle of no where so we had to be each other's friend. But as we got older, we started fighting a lot more; and I was too cool for little sister I think. But I am glad that we are way better friends now. In fact, I am anxiously hoping and awaiting for her to move up to Utah! She is thinking about going to esthetician or some sort of school up here and would live with Bobby and I for a while! I would love for that to happen as we have talked. I am really excited to have family close because it is something that I have really struggled with in the last few years. And then I would also then have a default friend that cant say no and has to do everything with me too! Exciting! Drink for sisters!

October Already?

 

I can't believe it is already October. I am getting so old. I am almost done with college! Registration for my last semester of class already starts the end of this month. And there are only so many options left for classes to take. I think the reason I want to be a teacher is because I have such a love for learning and school. I could be a student for life (minus the homework and tests). Take this ceramics class I am taking. As you can see I can make bowls (kinda). I can make a bowl form. It is not perfect and, by all means, I know I am making a lot of mistakes. But it makes me want to just stay in school and get a BFA. IT almost makes me question if I want to be an English teacher. And I have never doubted this! How can I doubt the things I have known and wanted my entire life?! It is too late for me to turn back on being a teacher! Perhaps it is just because of that moment in the semester when you just don't want to do anything... You just want to be done. Even though classes just started. I think I go through this every semester. Questioning myself. I think that is what keeps us hip and fresh though. Questioning life. And I think about it... what would I do if I didn't teach Engligh? ....teach art? I have a really strong belief that art and words are hand in hand.... that brings me back to being an English teacher. Perhaps all this questioning is just my anticipation to get on in life and be a teacher. Funny thing, I had that same anticipation in high school to get on to college. And now I see how simple high school was. Funny how that works. I am sure in a year and after I have had a hard day at school with kids misbehaving, I will thinking back to how simple it is to be in college taking classes and working at the cell phone office. Oh well. That's what a master's degree is for. Right?

Pit Fire, iPhones, Madness

First off. Let me let me tell you how sick of iPhones I am.

I have ordered so many and dealt with so many and so many questions. 

and holy cow. 

That means work has been bonkers. 

and I will be happy when it is over. 

We also just changed our plan. If you are a BYU employee, let me tell you, it is a killer deal. 

Everyone who is complain. Come on. Find me something cheaper. 

There was this random stuffed kitty cat head in the fire pit, so we deemed him our kiln god.
Or I suppose goddess because we named her Marie Antoinette. 

Those pictures are kind of in reverse order, but we did our pit firing in my ceramics class! It was way fun! I would love to do more controlled experiments to try and produce certain colors and effects. 

I decided that I needed to love me ceramics class

It really is awesome. And it is something relaxing and fun to go do 

I would love to get into art

in fact, i would love to get involved in an art outreach program

my professor got a teaching degree and then went back and get her MFA. 

maybe this is something i could consider

in the meantime, i need serious practice on the wheel 

it is serious hard work! 

i am excited though because Friday our TA is doing a throwing workshop

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On another note, I finished another book. I am on a roll. And really liking my new one. I will add a good reads widget on the side

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I ordered new glasses. They should be here soon! 

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They asked me to be the RS chorister. I can't handle it. I am really not one to get shy and not want to do things and ask to be released. Especially since I am the go getter get things do do anything type of girl/ But there is something about the pressure of conducting in front of all those upity ladies that was freaking me out. Like I had a serious mini break down. Perhaps it was other life stressed coming through. But still. 

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Breaking Bad. omg. that is all I have to say. 

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yup. that is all for now. 

work is crazy. school is crazy. one breath at a time. 

that is what yoga is for. 

(oh i did a head stand! several days in a row! not a huge achievement, but i was excited! and I am getting closer to doing chaturanga not on my knees! woo!)

till next time. 

Black Thumb

I have had two horrible experiences with plants in one day.

One.

My front lawn is browning. Come to find out from my lovely neighbor who is a gardening goddess, we have grub worms.

Let me share with you:

I have had the heeby jeeby creepy crawlies all day now. It is seriously gross. Supposedly they eat up all the grass roots and then that causes the grass to die obviously.

Two.

I have some baby cacti above my kitchen sink:

Sadly, the middle one died. I thought maybe I didn't water it enough (because I hadn't watered it at all), so it died. But it literally just turned to mush which makes me think it got too much water before it became mine.

And I still had the heeby jeebies when I discovered this and then the tall one fell over and scared me and I dropped the planter bowl and the cacti exploded all over the ground.

And then we went to Del Taco and I was filling up my cup of water and a ton of ice exploded into my cup.

Bobby said I am not allowed to touch anything anymore because it all explodes.

But! This got me thinking that both of these plant problems came to me this way. This made me think about how in teaching I may have students come to me struggling, but I need to not give up on them and just throw them away like I did the cacti. I guess for anecdote's sake, we are trying to fix the lawn. Or the HOA will...

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I finished another book. I have been reading like mad. Or I suppose according to Bobby not really reading because I just listen to a lot of audio books. But I feel accomplished. Especially since I have had at least 2 professors tell me that audio books count. Boom.

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I got my eyes checked. I knew I needed a new prescription. Now to find new glasses.

Slice of Life

Back story. I am taking a writing class. English 423. Teaching Composition in Secondary Schools. Every Tuesday we have "Slice of Life" Tuesdays where we are supposed to either link up to a blog post or just write a little snippet about our lives. We have to do this at least 7 Tuesdays in the semester. I am going to try and do it every week.

Just some random thoughts:

I just did all of my homework, so all I can really think about it teaching haha. I need to write this when I don't have teaching on my mind. Not that that is a bad thing, but it can get boring to read about. The biggest thing is that I can't believe I am almost done with college and will be teaching this time next year. Crazy how time flies. 

I am taking a ceramics class. I mainly wanted it as a source of relaxation. It is proving to be more difficult than I had expected or worked up in my mind. And this stresses me out. I am a major stresser to so that doesn't help. I suppose I could switch the class out for something else, but this new add drop deadline makes things difficult. We only have one class period to decide if we like the class or not. I will keep the class. Hopefully I grow to like it more. I just need to figure out what I am going to make. That is my biggest dilemma currently. I tried throwing on the wheel and that is what started this stress. Oh well. I am going in on Wednesday to work on things more. I just need to make things and stop stressing. If I keep stressing over it, it is going against the whole reason I signed up for it. 

I want to change my hair somehow. I like my asymmetric thing I have going but am ready for something different. I don't know what that could be. 

This is Chi (also known as Ki). I got her this bed at a yard sale. Bobby hates it. I think it is fitting for her. She is a princess. 

My grandma gave me this mirror for our house. (Oh, yes. On the not of blog documenting things- we bought a house) She told me "Look into it together and tell each other you them. Makes a marriage happy every time." She is a sweet grandma but also a goofy one. Still glad I have gotten to spend more time with her recently

Chuck Palahniuk (and raw gritty novels of the such) is my guilty pleasure. Imagine my excitement when he was quoted and referenced in my teaching grammar textbook (Mechanically Inclined, Jeff Anderson)

I had a horrible wardrobe malfunction first day of classes. My shirt wouldn't stay button. So i rushed about and ended up in this polkadot beauty. $5 bookstore sale. I got lucky

Story: I sold a bunch of stuff on Facebook on those Provo For Sale groups. I do not like using Facebook as a means for selling things. People are just all to comfortable with being rude on there. Like I didnt respond soon enough for someone so she messaged me all hateful. And then a girl tried to tell me I lied and told her the lawn mower didnt have issues... I mean for $20 what would you expect when I said the lawn mower smoked! Ugh end rant. 

This is Luff. I like to call her my urban jungle meow. Because she hides in my clothes like a wild cat would in trees haha

I eat eggs now! This is a big feat because I havent ate plain eggs for 10 years? So now every morning I have a fried egg and Morningstar sausage patty. I just woke up and started eating them for some reason. Still haven't tried scrabbled eggs though 

This has been my go to meal. Fresh guac. So nom. 

I will end with this picture. While mom was in town this last weekend, we went to PF Changs. I was so excited this was my fortune! It is so fitting for me! I am now wishing I would have kept the actual paper though!

Alright. That is all for now. Look for more photo and word dumps. I have been sitting at my uncomfortable kitchen chair for too long now. I need to go do some yoga now.

For any of my new English teaching traffic: has anyone taken the TMA 457 Media in Contemporary Clssrm? What was it like? Would you suggest it?

2012

Happy new year! 2012 brought many great memories and adventures! I got a scooter; we sold Bobby's car; we went to Moab, Durango twice, Montana, Denver, and California; we moved houses; I was put in yw's; I got a new job; I cut off 10" of hair; bobby was promoted at work; we both got raises; my family visited several times; we ate a lot of good food; I cooked and baked a lot; we got a new couch; we celebrated our first anniversary; Bobby got a motorcycle; we got a new kitty; I became English Society president; we went to four concerts in two weeks and met Slug; I went to UCTE conference and met Taylor Mali; I went to Yellowstone; I saw the Nutcracker; we saw several movies; I saw several plays; I finished two semesters of college; I read many books and wrote many papers; I went to the zoo twice; I finished many crafts; and I spent time with great people. Whew and that's not even a comprehensive list! To 2013! May it be even greater!

sleepy.

I offer you these darling pictures of ki
and a funny story

So i often get very very tired
and bobby will stay up late and play games
but i typically dont like going to bed
alone that early so i fall asleep on the couch

and then he will wake me up
when he goes to bed

i guess being half asleep
makes me say crazy things

ie my other belly hurts

and on monday:

me: where is the other ki?
bobby: we dont have another ki
me: we usually have more kis

ten inches!

I havent significantly cut my hair 

since i started dating bobby

thats three years

i finally gave in a did it. 

ten inches!

little monster

so we decided that Chi is actually a girl.
we though for sure she was a boy but now that she is older we are pretty positive he is a she haha
she really is a little monster though
she has so much energy and loves to play non stop
but at least she is cute otherwise bobby would probably kill her

at least she is willing to be festive

This is her most favorite toy

we did get her a cube that she likes now in replacement

she climbs into everything

including drawers and some how she got back behind all of the drawers and we had to take them all the way out
crazy cat

so when she gets annoying we lock her up in a box
jk but it was funny for the five seconds

and she does sleep just normally at the wrong times
and if we let her sleep in the evenings
she wont sleep at night
however last night she slept all night long
so she is slowly growing up

what a cute little kitty huh
we are taking her to colorado with us for christmas
so that will be an adventure!

oh and look what i broke down and bought myself :)

 i was sooo excited
now i just need to buy the add ons

Christmas Time!

I love Christmas....

Bobby is kinda a scrooge. 

We went to my grandma's for Thanksgiving. And just to preface, my grandma really likes Christmas, so I must run in the family. But her house is decked out galore. Bobby said it looked like Santa puked all over....

He also told me I couldnt have Christmas decorations. 

Well we have two trees hahaha

and he made me change my ringtone...

im just going to make a new sneaky christmas one 

But Along with picture of my decorations, I would like to share my all time favorite Christmas story. 

This was written by my great grandma. 

THE GOODY BOX CHRISTMAS

By Faye B. Gardner 

           It was Christmas time during the beginning years of the Great Depression in a little valley town nestled in the Wasatch Mountains. In this little town there lived a small family consisting of a daughter, two sons, and their parents. The family loved one another and seemed so happy. The parents enjoyed having the children's friends come to share dinner, parties, picnics, or just to play in the bit yard beside the modest home.

      This particular Christmas, however, the atmosphere seemed a bit different in the home and in the town. Missing was the gaiety that usually accompanied the Christmas shopping season. There was less caroling, and the older people of the town went about with somber looks on their faces. Not much was said about the Christmas season at all. The depression had come to the little town and many people were not only out of work, but out of money and food as well. The father of the little family had lost his job a few weeks earlier. There were no other jobs to be found and money was very scarce.

      As Christmas approached, both he and the mother seemed preoccupied and quieter than usual. But the daughter, who was quite a bit older than her brothers, wasn't worried. She knew everything would be all right for their Christmas; it always was. She looked at the many lovely things in the store windows and could think of just dozens of items she would like to have.       On the afternoon of Christmas Eve, the father brought home a much smaller than usual Christmas tree and put it in its stand. After supper was over, the family gathered around the tree and each one got to hang his favorite ornament. The candles were placed in their little holders which clipped onto the branches. They lit each candle as everyone watched with bated breath. The tree seemed so beautifully alive with light. After the candles were lit, the little family listened to the mother read the Christmas story from the Bible, after which they sang some songs, said their prayers and all tumbled into bed.

      The children were awakened every hour by the striking of the clock and lay wondering if they dared ask if it was time to get up. At last it was five o'clock and time to dash into the living room to see what Santa had left them. Father was there already, and had the candles glowing brightly on the tree. The little boys ran for their toys, of which there were only a few this year. After watching .and laughing with them for awhile, the young girl went to look for her own gifts. She looked around but saw nothing except her Christmas stocking hanging over her chair .She glanced at her mother and saw her watching with sadness and anxiety in her eyes. The father was sort of helping the little ones with their toys and pretended not to see the questioning look on his only daughter’s face.

      Forcing herself to smile, she dived into the contents of the stocking. There were some lovely candies and nuts, a large red apple and an orange, and in the very tip of the stocking, a small package. Smilingly, she pulled it out and carefully tore the wrappings off. It was a small box with a lovely bracelet with blue stones in a silver setting; inexpensive, but very, very lovely.

      "Oh, how pretty! It will just match the dress you made me for my birthday, Mama!" she said.

      Tears filled the mother's eyes and the anxiety seemed to fade away a little bit. The father, too, looked relieved and said, "It's not very much, honey, but being out of work this year..."

      And then, all of a sudden, the awful truth hit the young girl. This WAS her Christmas this year! There were no other gifts! It was then, at that very moment, that she began to realize what the word "depression" really meant. She sadly reflected how things had changed since the father had lost his job; how there were less of luxury goodies around the house, fewer new clothes, more "making do." She knew that somehow she was being tested.

      "It's the very nicest gift I could ever want. I love it!" Then she gave each parent a hug then turned her attention to her two young brothers' frolicking to hide her tears of disappointment. It was the family tradition to always go to their grandpa and grandma's home for the Christmas dinner. All the aunts, uncles, and cousins came bringing fun and their specialty food. The mother had also prepared her best dishes and she soon had everything ready to take to Grandma's house. The father loaded the sled with various mysterious boxes and they set out for Grandma's house which was only a few blocks away.

      They had gone only one short block, however, when they stopped and the mother said, "We'll be stopping a minute while your daddy takes this small box of goodies into Mr. Ross and Louie."

      Mr. Ross and Louie were close neighbors. Mrs. Ross had died a long time ago and the girl knew there was no mother in the house for Louie.

      ''What's in the box?" the young girl asked.

      "Well, just some bread, a little fruit and cake, and the chicken we fixed for them. There are some apples and a bit of candy. It's not much this year, but it will help brighten the day for them."

      How can they be giving things away? the young girls thought. They don't even have enough for themselves. But she remembered other Christmas mornings when she had played with her toys while the father had gone around with boxes visiting all the neighbors. Giving was vitally important to him.  Another three blocks down the road, they stopped again to visit old Mr. Kreykendall. He was a strange man; even his name was strange. He lived all alone, and sometimes the kids were scared of him. Father had said he was kind and wouldn't even hurt a flea; that he was just a lonely old man. After the goody box was left, Mr. Kreykendall followed the father out to the gate, thanked the family, and wished them a Merry Christmas. He invited them to come back again sometime.

      Just a couple of blocks from Grandma's house lived another strange person that all the kids called "crazy." She used to wear an old scarf around her thin hair, and she would sometimes jump out of the bushes and scare the kids as they walked home from school. But that didn't bother the mother and father any. They stopped and left the last box with her. When they left, "Crazy Kate" was peering through her grimy window, smiling and waving at them.

      At Grandma's house, all was laughter, talk and excitement as they put the dinner on the table. It was a very small pioneer-type home, there since the early days of the little town. It had always been full of people, warmth and love. Grandma was always certain that she had food enough for everyone and one or two besides. If anyone came while they were eating, she would say, "Pull up a chair and have a bite with us." If the person hesitated because of the inconvenience or the crowd then Grandfather would say, "Come on! There's a-plenty! If there's room in the heart, there's room in the house! Pull up a chair!" And they usually did.

I know about all of this because, you see, I was that young girl, those were my dear parents and my two little brothers. Those were my neighbors who received the goody boxes and it was to my grandparent's home we went on to that long ago Christmas. I tell you this story because this was the Christmas I really grew up. I was twelve at that time. Afterwards, as I lay in my bed reviewing the fun of the day, I remembered my early morning disappointment, but I still felt the love for my parent's hugs! I saw again the happiness on the faces of a lonely neighbor and his young son when someone remembered them on Christmas, the thanksgiving and joy in an old man's heart because he knew that he had a good friend, and the toothless grin of an old lady as she waved through a dirty window pane to her friends.

      I felt again the warmth and love that flowed all through Grandmother's kitchen as family gathered together to share what they had. It was then that I realized Christmas was a joyous time of loving, caring and sharing. That night I made a promise to myself that I would like to make my family's Christmas just like it. I would make it a time to share what I had with someone who had need of a friend.

      Many Christmas seasons have come and gone since then, but I am happy to say I have kept my promise. We've had many kinds of Christmases these past fifty years: when there was sickness, when someone's chair stood empty at the table, when we were richer, or much poorer. But there has never been a Christmas without the goody boxes! The little silver and blue bracelet is long gone, but the great lesson of sharing and caring that it taught me has never been forgotten. It all began with one memorable Christmas in a valley town in the Wasatch Mountains.

<3

Now i have to at least explain this picture.

I have this giraffe. My grandma gave me a bunch of decorations and this santa head was in it.

I didnt know what to do with it so i put it on the giraffe. I know it is creepy but i think it is hillarious.

So it  will stay.

Yay for Christmas!!! I love it :)

and my new favorite Christmas song:

Baby, Its Cold Outside- She & Him

last year's favorite:

Mamacita, Donde Esta Santa Claus - Gunther 

All time favorite:

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays- Nsync haha