Christmas Shopping!!!

The countdown to Christmas is on...only 16 days away! And, I'm leaving for home in just 10 days! So, while trying to finish up finals, work on my GA commitments, work at St. Mary's, and get ready, I fave been very absorbed in Christmas shopping. Amazon.com has gotten a lot of my attention this year. Today included browsing a few stores and a Walmart run for baking supplies, goody boxes, wrapping paper, and ribbon. I've been very good at being selective this year in what I buy. At this point, thank goodness, I'm almost done with just a couple presents left to go! Whew!

Seven Years

Happy Anniversary MomDad!!!

Seven years ago today, my family came together. And, while we've had some rough times here and there, we really have become a family and have amazing times together. I couldn't ask for a better family. Thank you Mom and Dad!

Here is our first "family" outing before Mom and Dad were ever married.

This is the unofficial engagement photo.

This was the first picture of us kids together. Of course, we didn't get it quite right on the first try.

So, here is the retake of the "first" photo. Thankfully, we've taken better ones since!

Crazy November

So...it's been awhile since I've posted anyhting new. And, it's not that anything hasn't happened...it's that too much has happened! I have had a very busy November. With semester's end coming so quickly, grad school has been crazy! My classes are just about finished and I've had the work to prove it. That doesn't mean I haven't found some time for fun, though!

This month has brought with it a lot of football. Some has been exciting, some depressing. The highlight: in the WVU-Louisville game, my boy Pat White rushed for 200 yards to set an all-time NCAA rushing record for QBs with 4,292 yards! In that same game, he became the all-time leading scorer in the Big East! Let's go Mountaineers!


Also, Wall-E came out on DVD. Devin took me to see this in theater on my birthday, and we both loved it. So, we had to get it the day it came out and have been spending some fun times since pouring over the bonus features.

Of course, an amazing Thanksgiving day falls into the time I've missed, too! I got to enjoy my first southern Thanksgiving dinner. While not entirely different from what I've always known, there were a few new dishes. My favorite was probably the green beans almondine, but I loved getting to help with the dumplings! Plus, I have so much to be thankful for this year that it made it extra special.

Now, I am just counting down until I get to go home with my family for Christmas. All nine siblings haven't been together for two years, and we will be in just three weeks!!! So, I'm at 21 days and counting!!! :]

Mary's Birthday

Devin's neice turned 2 just this past Saturday, so her family got together to celebrate yesterday. Her "Uncle Dinner" (Devin) and I got her a tea set, kid high heels, and a dress-up necklace. This went perfectly with the new ballerina/princess outfits from her parents. It mad for one very girly second birthday. Mary didn't mind though as she spent the rest of the evening doing deep curtsies, dancing, and parading around the living room.

Ensign Star

For any of you who know my sisters, you'll recognize this picture as Kassie!!! She was featured on page 90 of the LDS Magazine, the Ensign, in the November edition. This picture was taken as she was exiting the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, and she didn't even know it! Isn't that exciting?!? See more of it in the online copy of the Ensign!

Daisy, Daisy

Daisies are my absolute favorite flower. So, what can make me happier than getting a daisy? Having it come from an amazing boyfriend who picked it for me as a super cute gesture. I couldn't stop grinning for a very, very long time! :]

Halloween Fright!

This year, my mentee Kadeeja and I decided to visit the Haunted House on Atlanta Highway to celebrate Halloween. Kadeeja also brought her cousin Asia along. The three of us had fun eating doughnuts, dodging characters, and screaming our way through the super scary Dr. Horrible's House. After running from this clown in terror, the girls decided that it would be fun to pose with him...go figure!