Family

Ally

Gracie

I can’t wait for Christmas when I can see my fantastic family again! I hate living so far from all of them. I had a horrible week, culminating with the worst day ever yesterday. My parents were on vacation, so I couldn’t talk to them. I am so grateful for my WONDERFUL friends who are always willing to help and talk. My parents came home today and I spent about 4 hours talking to them and other members of my family. I just love my family so much and can’t believe I live in a different country than them. I am crazy! I am seriously counting down the days (maybe we’ll start with months at this point...) until I can move back.

Thanks for the pictures, Ave!

Yes, I am.

First of all, I can’t believe I actually signed up, paid for, and went to an event where I had to make a craft. I am so not crafty. I would much rather spend the money on a completed-by-someone-else craft. But I am so impressed with my amount of craftiness! My friend, Emily, and I went to my ward’s enrichment day. We both made these signs.


I am so glad I brought her! Not only was she great company, but she helped make a nice color. The only options for paint were fire engine red, black, or bright green. So we mixed the red and black to make this nice burgundy color. I really like the way it turned out. We painted around the edges with black, and then sanded them down. I would almost pay money for this craft. Almost...

chaos

This is what my table looks like right now. I am too embarrassed to show you the rest of my apartment. It is so hard for me to have a messy, cluttered home. I used to be so on top of things and organized. My classroom is one big pile of piles. I have been frantically getting 6,852 tests given and graded before the end of the trimester (which is today). Now I have two “work days” which really means one full day of meetings, and one day to clean up my mess, do report cards, finish my statistics, and plan for next week. That just isn’t possible. I’m so upset and frustrated by how crazy this semester has been. I used to be the teacher who would have everything clean, organized, and ready to go by the time 3:45 rolled around. I never stayed late, and NEVER went in on weekends. This semester I have had several late nights, and have gone in almost every weekend. And I still feel so behind. Everyday feels like a Friday in May. Wild, chaotic, loud, tired, etc. If I want to look on the brightside… I am learning how to ask and accept help. I realized I simply can’t do everything by myself. I have relinquished my control (against my will). I am so grateful for friends and parents (of the children I teach) helping in SO many ways. I don’t think I could function on my own. I hope it gets more manageable in January. Then hopefully my life can be simple again. Like how my table should look on a daily basis.


Instead of when I clean it up at midnight.

Go Stella!

Do I love the Twilight books? Yes.

Do I love the Twilight movies? Not even close.

Did I just buy my tickets for New Moon? Yes.

Did I buy them simply because my friends are going, and I do whatever my friends do? Of course.

Would I rather watch Firelight? Oh yes!

Dear Carrie,

Thank you for writing such a remarkable album. Play On is filled with so many deep and meaningful songs. It seems like you took the words right out of my head for the song, “Undo It”. You’re right, it is a mean song, but sometimes I have mean thoughts. I have been told that's okay. “Quitter” gives me hope that there is someone, somewhere (maybe in Brittany’s matchmaking books...) that will change my views on love. :) Carrie, you help me remember my one true love... country music. For that, I am ever grateful.

Sincerely,
Your number one fan,

You Rock, Taylor...

This is why I love her. Oh, and not to mention her amazing songs! Have you heard her new songs released on Fearless (Platinum Edition)?! They are absolutely incredible!

Tis the Season

If you were to ask me what my favorite thing about the holidays is, I wouldn’t say the beautiful snow falling from the sky as children happily build their clever little snowmen. I wouldn’t say a marvelously decorated Christmas tree with presents pouring out from below. I wouldn’t say watching the magnificent Forgotten Carols in Idaho Falls. I wouldn’t say the feeling of warmth and love that comes each Christmas season. I wouldn’t say the two short weeks off from work. I wouldn’t say the lights which brighten up Main Street. I wouldn’t even say spending time with my wonderful family that all live so SO far away! Nope. All of these would be on my list, but definitely not the top. I would say my favorite thing about the holidays is:




And yes, I ate an entire box in just a few short hours. Don’t judge me.