December 26th

Well it was the first year that I think we felt the "empty nest" syndrome. It was the first Christmas we woke up knowing there was not going to be a houseful of people first thing in the morning. Pretty darn quiet!! We started off the day by driving around and making some deliveries to friends. We then camped out at home for the rest of the day. It was a good day for it.....it rained pretty much all day.

Even Nash was overwhelmed by all the excitement going on in the house :)

We did get visitors later. Grandma and Grandpa came over and so did Ryne. We had some dinner, exchanged presents, and just visited. And for the first time in a long time I took very few photos (this would surprise most people I know!) My third and last photo of the day was this view of the tree from the family room. It's actually the view I have from where I am sitting now at the computer.

I thought it was going to take an act of God to get the tree up this year. I just have not been in the Christmas spirit. But I did manage and it did turn out pretty well....considering.....

Well, that is all I have to say for now.....

Merry Christmas!!

100 Things

I have been doing some reading in blogland and came across this list thing. Well....I think I can safely say that there are a few things I would NEVER do (and a few things I would have preferred not to experience) but it was fun to see what I have done on this list. Easy to figure out....they are all highlighted!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Held a praying mantis
9. Climbed a mountain
10. Sang a solo (this will never happen)
11. Bungee jumped. (Neither will this!)
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon (does a half count?)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke (NEVER!)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48.Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China (someday...)
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving (another NEVER)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican (one of my dreams!)
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

That's all for now.....

The Morning After

I recently signed up for that sitemeter thingy. I learned something. Nobody....and I mean NOBODY reads this little blog. So I figure I can pretty much say whatever I want....So here it goes......On Sunday, December 7th, as a girl surrounded by ASU fans, I have only one thing to say.......

U OF A!!!!!! U OF A!!!! U OF A !!!! WOO HOO!!!!!!

31 -7....STOMPED THOSE DEVILS!!!!

WENT TO BED VERY VERY HAPPY!!!!

I feel so much better now! Waited three years to say that!!!! And have taken a lot of slack especially at work all those years!!!! It is very hard living in ASU land but when we win it's pretty stinkin' sweet :)

Just a Little Slow

I have to admit.....I am one of those people who has a lose of senses and ventures out into the retail world on Black Friday. I don't go to the malls or Walmart or Target. Nope...I still do have some sense. No....I only go to Michaels because I just can't bear to pass up on 25% off everything in the store (including sales items). I did go to JoAnns one year but that was just ridiculous. No more of that for me!!

Well this year I headed over to Michaels at about 8:30 a.m. and there was barely anyone in the store. Most everything I bought was on sale already for 40% to 50% off. And then with another 25%....well, it was pretty much worth my while.

And then I sunk into the abyss.....I headed over to the local scrapbook store. Now I am not really a project person. I don't alter anything or make any little mini books unless I have a specific need for them. But Christmas is different. Every year I see some project I just have to do....and I drive all over trying to find the supplies. This year is no different. This year's project is this little creation I spied at the Scrapbook Barn on Black Friday.

A really cool Advent calendar. Loved it the moment I saw it.....and I'm still working on it!!! December 1st has come and gone, and I am still working on it. I swear I am soooo slow at these things it is amazing I get anything done! Anyways, I have to finish this project, get my Christmas cards sent out, and do a little decorating. All while fighting off this sinus thing I woke up with. UGH!!

Well....I think I better get started....since it's 2 p.m. already!!

Legal Torture

Yesterday I went to my favorite semi-annual event......

To the dentist....for my teeth cleaning.

I remember when I was a kid, a grown up described a teeth cleaning as "refreshing". When I was young, my parents barely had two nickels to rub together so dental visits were rather infrequent. Needless to say I never had a cleaning until I joined the military.

I am still wondering though what is so refreshing about someone scrapping my teeth with sharp metal instruments!!! It's really like nails on a chalkboard. And I just love the dreaded "well you had a little more build up this time so I had to scrap more." Okay....so what do I have to do to avoid that.....scrap my own teeth EVERYDAY!

Well....you get the picture. I hate the dentist. Nice man and all.....Just don't like him and all his metal instruments of torture. And to think....I pay him for this!!

And I get to go back in two weeks. I can hardly wait!